Video Rarities

I thought about titling this post "I'm Not Dead, Part 2" because again, it's been a while since I posted and again, I blame it on being extremely busy.

Until I have time to rip and write about more stuff more extensively, I thought I'd post some very rare video clips from bands I have written about here. Oh, the things you can find on YouTube.

Click on the links to check out what I have previously written about these bands.

Blue Peter - Video Verite (live 1981) - A really energetic live performance of one of my favorite tracks from this Canadian power pop/new wave act!



Karen Lawrence & the Pinz - Girl's Night Out (1981) - I heard there was a promo video made for this album, but never really thought it would surface. Well, here it is. Karen Lawrence (who now does bluesier stuff) in all her throaty, untamed new wave glory.



JoBoxers - Is This Really the First Time (1985) - This band is best known for the bouncy semi-hit Just Got Lucky, but in my opinion, this tune is just as good (and just as bouncy). It was culled from their second and final album Skin and Bone, which I still haven't been able to confirm was actually released.



The Reels - Prefab Hearts (1980) - This video by Aussie new wavers the Reels is just a tad bit scary (in a harmless 1980 sort of way), but the song is truly one of my all time favorite forgotten pop songs. Just try to get it out of your head. I dare you.



The Crocodiles - Tears (1980) - Before New Zealand's Jenny Morris went on to a successful solo career in her native land, she had this local hit with The Crocodiles. A very catchy, well-sung pop tune.



Pearl Harbour (live with the Clash) - Fujiyama Mama (1982) - The larger than life Pearl Harbour appears on stage with the Clash to sing this track, a Wanda Jackson rockabilly cover off her debut solo LP, Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost Too. At the time she was romantically linked with Paul Simonon. Fun stuff.

THE CROCODILES - New Wave Goodbye

One of the first posts I made on this site detailed The Crocodiles, a New Zealand pop band that emerged in the late 70s with a sound that mixed new wave and power pop. Here's a vinyl rip of the band's debut record, New Wave Goodbye (aka Tears), in full.

The Crocodiles are best remembered - when remembered at all - for the song Tears, which was a hit in their home country. It came from the 1980 LP of the same name, which was released elsewhere the following year under the title New Wave Goodbye.

The album is full of energetic pop that switches vocals between various members - most notably Jenny Morris, who later became a pop star in New Zealand and Australia. It covers quirky new wave (title track, In My Suit, Working Girl), 60s-style pop (Any Day of the Week, Whatcha Gonna Do, Tears, It's the Latest) and straight-ahead power pop (Young Ladies in Hot Cars, Ribbons of Steel).

The Crocodiles - New Wave Goodbye (LP, 1981)

Track listing:
1 - New Wave Goodbye
2 - Any Day of the Week
3 - All Night Long
4 - Tears
5 - In My Suit
6 - Young Ladies in Hot Cars
7 - Whatcha Gonna Do
8 - Ribbons of Steel
9 - It's the Latest
10 - Working Girl

FOR FANS OF:
Split Enz, The Dugites, XTC, early Elvis Costello, The Sinceros, Squeeze

THE CROCODILES - New Zealand New Wave

The Crocodiles were a new wave pop band from New Zealand that released two LPs - their debut, Tears, and Looking at Ourselves. Both albums were released in 1980, and Tears scored them a radio hit with its title track. See the link section below to watch the music video.


The music ranges from quirky, peppy new wave to more straightforward pop. Various members of The Crocodiles take turns with lead vocals, but the real star of the show on both albums is Jenny Morris, who went on to become a well known pop star throughout Australia. Morris takes lead vocals on only a few tracks on Tears, but on Looking at Ourselves she moves further into the spotlight, singing on the majority of its songs.

While I find Looking at Ourselves to be the stronger LP, it failed to produce a hit on par with Tears, and The Crocodiles dissolved in 1981. Before launching her solo career, Morris went on to become vocalist of QED. Her new band scored a hit with a revamped version of Everywhere I Go, a track that originally appeared on Looking at Ourselves.

Check out some vinyl rips I made from The Crocodiles LPs:

- The Crocodiles - New Wave Goodbye (from Tears)
- The Crocodiles - Whatcha Gonna Do (from Tears)
- The Crocodiles - Hey Kids (from Looking at Ourselves)
- The Crocodiles - Looking at Ourselves (from Looking at Ourselves)


THE CROCODILES LINEUP:
- Jenny Morris - Vocals
- Fane Flaws - Guitar, vocals
- Tony Backhouse - Guitar, vocals
- Tina Matthews - Bass, vocals
- Bruno Lawrence - Drums
- Peter Dasent - Piano, organ

FOR FANS OF:
The Dugites, Elvis Costello, The Sinceros, Squeeze, Pearl Harbor & the Explosions

WEB LINKS:
- The Crocodiles on Wikipedia
- The Crocodiles on RateYourMusic
- Informational site on The Crocodiles
- Jenny Morris official site
- Fane Flaws official site
- Video clip of Tears on Youtube