Pearl Harbor & the Explosions - Live in Oakland, 8/24/79

Head over to Wolfgang's Vault to hear a great show from short-lived San Francisco new wave act Pearl Harbor & the Explosions recorded at the Oakland Auditorium on August 24, 1979. Best remembered for their single "Drivin'," the Explosions blended guitar driven, jerky new wave with rockabilly and power pop, all carried by the unmistakable vocals and presence of singer Pearl E. Gates (also known as Pearl Harbor).

The band released only one album, an eponymous effort from 1980, before Harbor embarked on a solo career with 1981's Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost Too (1981), Pearls Galore! (1984) and Here Comes Trouble (1995).

This particular performance includes all nine tracks from the sole LP, most notably the infectious "Drivin'," the effervescent power pop gem "You Got It (Release It)" and the frantic fun of "Shut Up and Dance." The band also plays some covers, including Nick Lowe's "Let's Eat," "Black Slacks" by The Sparkletones and "I Can Feel the Fire" by Ron Wood. Throw in a couple originals that didn't make the album, and you have a set that gives you a better idea of what the band was all about than what was released on record.

Listen here

Tracks:
1 - Let's Eat
2 - Up and Over
3 - Don't Come Back
4 - Stop Me
5 - Black Slacks
6 - So Much for Love
7 - Nerves
8 - Keep Going
9 - (Get a) Grip (On Yourself)
10 - Drivin'
11 - The Big One
12 - Shut Up and Dance
13 - You Got It (Release It)
14 - I Can Feel the Fire

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.

PEARL HARBOUR - Pearls Galore!

Pearls Galore! by Pearl Harbour is one of those "lost" albums that even many fans never knew existed.

The LP was the follow-up to Harbour's 1980 album, Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost Too, which was more widely known and consisted of short, clever rockabilly pop tunes. Before that, Harbour performed under the moniker Pearl E. Gates as front woman in new wave band Pearl Harbor and the Explosions.

By the time Pearls Galore! came out to limited release it was already 1984, and after four years of silence it's no surprise Harbour had fallen off the radar. Even so, the LP is a very worthy listen, with production by Richard Gottehrer (Blondie, The Go-Go's) and the material itself adding more of a 60s girl group polish to the singer's rockabilly base. Harbour even throws in a Shangri-Las cover (Out in the Streets) and an original track (He Ain't So Bad) that sounds remarkably like one.

Opener Killer Joe is another cover that pays tribute to 60s pop. The calypso-tinged Flirt and the latin and surf-flavored Spanish Bop are lots of fun. Nerves, Run Rhythm Run and the twangy Please Come Home hearken back to the sound of Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost Too. Get Outta Here is tough and catty, and wouldn't sound out of place on a Joan Jett record. Hula Love, yet another retro cover - this one originally by Buddy Knox - closes the album off with a laid back island vibe.

Flirt and Hula Love were pulled as singles (the latter released on 10" blue vinyl!), but unsurprisingly neither left a dent.

According to this site, the Japanese edition of the album contained some alternate songs - Voodoo Voodoo, You Don't Fool Me, A Love Like Yours, I Can't Tell You on the Phone and What I Should've Said. Apart from the first two, which were released on an earlier single, I've never heard these tracks. If anyone can help, PLEASE let me know.

One interesting fact to note is that during this time Harbour was married to Paul Simonon of The Clash. Check out this cool clip of her performing Fujiyama Mama with the band in 1982.

After releasing Pearls Galore! Harbour was quiet for over a decade, then released the raw Here Comes Trouble in 1995.

While Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost Too has seen digital release on iTunes, the elusive Pearls Galore! has never been reissued in any format. Check out a vinyl rip here:

Pearl Harbour - Pearls Galore! (1984)

Track listing:
1 - Killer Joe
2 - He Ain't So Bad
3 - Flirt
4 - Spanish Bop
5 - Nerves
6 - Get Outta Here
7 - Out in the Streets
8 - Please Come Home
9 - Run Rhythm Run
10 - Hula Love