Song Of the Day: March 1, 2005
Tucked inside the awesome picture sleeve is a disc we like so much that our first choice for the name of this blog was lovelycrashes.com. The Dazzlers had at least three singles and an LP, though we've never seen the latter. Another example of the huge influence of the Who upon many of the major label UK power pop bands, even the ones who weren't overtly part of the Mod Revival spearheaded by the Jam. It's interesting to contrast this with US power pop bands of the same era who tended to have influences that were either closer to home (the Byrds), wimpier (Merseybeat), more commercial (AOR bands like Journey), or keyboard driven "new wave" acts (The Cars).
Song Of the Day: February 28, 2005
I'm sure everybody has their own particular favorite, but to me, the Cavedogs are perhaps the first band I think of when pondering the notion that maybe success in the music industry isn't always merit-based. Here were three guys who could all write, sing and play like hell, were a terrific live act, and made an absolutely smashing debut CD which heaps on hit after hit. And what good did it do them?
I always kind of think of this record as a parallel to Badfinger's Straight Up, an early 70s LP that began fetching ridiculous prices in the 80s when everyone discovered how good it was. I hope this album has a similar fate; it has elements of both mod pop and psychedelia, yet sounds absolutely contemporary even now. Check out also their follow-up, Soul Martini, a worthy effort, if not quite so immediate as the debut.
Any similarities between the guitar intros of "Tayter Country" and "Summer Everywhere" by the What Gives are absolutely no accident.
And a couple of geek questions: Was this ever issued on vinyl? Anybody have a copy of the "Step Down"/"Proud Land" 45 to spare?
Song Of the Day: February 27, 2005
Naked Raygun-Rat PatrolFrom Throb Throb, Homestead Records LP, 1984
"Napalm makes you vomit as it sizzles off your weenie." "I am a fetus, I am a tumor, I am the local slime mold." "Leeches! Let 'em Live!" "I am the Peacemaker. I'll pound sand right up your ass." Strange messages from space? No, just me and the guys sharing a few of our favorite Naked Raygun lines with each other. Except for that last one. Shammy was looking right at Mickey when he said it, and I think he kind of meant it. Throb Throb, recently re-issued on Quarterstick Records, gets our vote as the best of several fine LPs by this Chicago band, and one of the dozen or so best US punk albums. Borrowing Buzzcocks' rhythm guitar chug and "whoa-oh" backing vocals, and showing a remarkable facility for hooks, Naked Raygun managed to inject their songs with equal parts menace and humor. 
Song Of the Day: February 26, 2005
The Passengers-Girlfriend's Boyfriend
Phantom Records 45, 1980
The first 45 from Phantom Records, which would later bring the world such acts as the Hoodoo Gurus, Hummingbirds and Sunnyboys. The Passengers greatest asset was probably lead singer Angie Pepper, who besides being having several other releases to her name, is the wife of Radio Birdman's Deniz Tek. Here is a link to one of her more recent projects. 
Song Of the Day: February 25, 2005
It's really sort of appalling how little respect Ward Dotson receives. He started off as the guitarist on that one Gun Club album that everybody likes, wrote a bunch of great songs and played guitar on several Pontiac Brothers LPs, and then moved on to front his own band, the Liquor Giants. Unmoved by the fact that my mildly disparaging remarks regarding some of the Our Band Could Be Your Life units didn't result in the flood of comments I was hoping for, I'll try again. The Liquor Giants are what might happen if Paul Westerberg was as effective at channeling Alex Chilton as he's often given credit for. Imagine if the first two Replacements LPs on Sire were packed with songs as good as "Left Of the Dial" and "Can't Hardly Wait," and you get a pretty good idea of the quality of the LGs 3rd and 4th albums. (Matador Records. I imagine they're still being used around the office as coasters and doorstops.) Dotson is unfailingly smart and tuneful, and possesses a great knack for everyloser lyrics and knockout choruses. It could be argued, I suppose, that Dotson is never quite so anthemic as Westerberg is on songs like "Here Comes a Regular" or one of the four great songs from Let It Be, but on stuff like "Riverdale High" and "Just Might Cry" he's at least in the ballpark.
Song Of the Day: February 24, 2005
Available on Syde Trips Five, Wooden Hill Records, 1995
A particularly wimpy slice of Carnaby Street pop. The Toast probably got beaten up a lot, but then so did Vitreous Humor. They cut at least two swell tracks in 1969, a good example of the sounds to be found on the average volume of Syde Trips, many of which saw no official release. Shammy scratches his head and says "There's nothing very punk rock about this at all," but the rest of us like the typical psych-pop harmonies and the chorus that refuses to end.
Song Of the Day: February 23, 2005
The Rain Parade-What She's Done To Your MindFrom Emergency Third Rail Power Trip, Enigma Records LP, 1983
It is sort of interesting how bands that in the 1980s were referred to (usually with derision) as "retro" were merely twenty years ahead of their time. Take the Rain Parade, for instance. Their mesmerizing combination of the Velvet Underground, Byrds, and bubblegum-psych sources like the Lemon Pipers was regarded as pleasant but lightweight back in the 80s; yet contemporary bands like Beachwood Sparks and Jennifer Gentle play cut and paste with the exact same sources and reap critical praise. So, maybe, just maybe, the original sources are so good that they can withstand 40 subsequent years of being twisted into different shapes by successive generations of kiddies. In any case renewed interest in the Rain Parade (beyond that which occurred as a result of David Roback's creation of Mazzy Star) seems overdue.
By the way, have any of you guys read Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad? Great book, very entertaining, but the author's concurrent swipes at the "paisley underground" and lionizing of trendy sacred cows does grate a bit. As if a good chunk of Mission of Burma's non-Conley material wasn't weak. As if Dinosaur Jr. weren't to blame for a whole generation of alt-rock singers whining nearly on key. As if Big Black really had anything to offer besides a guitar sound that has since been beaten into the ground, funny liner notes, and the ability to articulate exactly one emotion. As if the Replacements, great as they were, actually ever made an entire LP that didn't have several tracks of pure crap on it. As if Mudhoney's career couldn't be anthologized effectively on two or three 45s. As if the bulk of Black Flag's output isn't completely unlistenable. Go on, put on Loose Nut. I dare you.
Song Of the Day: February 22, 2005
The first time I heard this song in a noisy bar I wondered if there was a new Tommy Keene release that had escaped my attention. I found out later that it was the Geffen Records debut of the Candy Skins. "She Blew Me Away" was the standout track from that LP; this earlier 45 on Long Beach records is missing a few overdubs. You tell me which is better. There was this really cool girl I used to hang out with whom I always thought this song could have been written for. I can't for the life of me recall what her last name was.
Song Of the Day: February 21, 2005
Not as splendidly fucked as most of the Siltbreeze 7"s compiled on the Gobs on the Medway CD, this track shows these intoxicated hippies at thier most task-oriented, but believe me, they won't get here for a few days yet. Folks who know about such things like to cite Skip Spence and the Incredible String Band, but really, the Fieldhands are way funnier than either of those acts. 
Song Of the Day: February 20, 2005
Another great 45 from the Susstones/Prospective empire, this one from a San Diego band formerly known as Manual Scan. Not so overtly mod as the Scan, The Shambles continued lead singer Bart Mendoza's development as a pop craftsman of consummate skill. His songs are simple, intelligent, and...kind. Using a very traditional (some would say "used up") vocabulary of boy/girl relationship settings, Mendoza is able to make his songs sound like pleas for respect and dignity without resorting to any cheesy hippie-isms. A look at the picture sleeves of the fine string of 7" gems the Shambles have fashioned betray Mr. Mendoza's longings for a mod, mod, mod, mod, world, but the sound is often as not based on 60s folk rock, with requisite harmonies and vigorously strummed acoustic guitars.
Song Of the Day: February 19, 2005
Midnight International Records 45, 1985
My friend John Kass has called them "one of the best American bands ever," and I think he has a good argument. While so many of the 80s garage revivalists used meticulous perfection of their imitations as the main criteria for greatness (and some of them produced very fine records in the process), Plasticland seemed more concerned with blowing the whole thing up. Lyrically, they were always awesomely over the top, and everything else about them, from their fuzz riffs to their costumes was just far more extreme than the competition. They still perform occasionally; I saw them in 2003, and they played a virtual greatest-hits set. They were magnificent. All of their early singles are available on the excellent Mink Dress and Other Cats CD (Timothy's Brain Records, possibly out of print already), but if anyone has copies of the "Vibrasonics From Plasticland" EP or the "Mink Dress" 45 that they'd like to sell, please do get in touch. 
Song Of the Day: February 18, 2005
If memory serves, I mail-ordered this disc after reading a rave review in a fine industry trade publication called The Bob. This brilliant performance, seemingly fueled by cheap beer and even cheaper speed should please fans of both the pop and punk genres. I must report unfortunately that the subsequent LP on Big Time Records, Soul Desire, was rather less bracing and energetic than this debut. Fortunately, our tale has a happy ending, as guitarist/songwriter JZ Barrell made a charming LP of spikey pop in 1996 enititled Here's the Surprise (NG Records).
Song Of the Day: February 17, 2005
Called in sick today. Feeling poorly. Here's a song about my favorite drug.
Song Of the Day: February 16, 2005
Protex-A Place In Your Heart
Polydor Records 45, 1980
When we were discussing Irish power pop in the Donkees entry, Mickey kept pawing at my leg and asking "What about Protex though?" So here they are. After a single on Good Vibrations they made three more for Polydor. An album was recorded, but never released, though I think it's been bootlegged. This veers close to Bay City Rollers territory (a band that tends to split power pop lovers into warring factions), but we don't mind a bit.
Oh, by the way, it was pointed out to me by the helpful Steve Mitchell that the Donkees were not actually Irish, but were instead from Lancashire. So the whole premise of that entry was screwed. I apologize for the misinformation, and I'll try to do better. But the song is still great, right?
Song Of the Day: February 15, 2005
I don't want to belabor the obvious, but I think it's appropriate to give a brief history lesson here. Rock and roll, as most of you know, helped give teenagers a voice. Unlike the "pop" music of the day, it took elements of black R 'n' B as well as other musics, and used them to create a new sound that not only appealed to teenagers, but also specifically addressed their particular concerns. It should come as no surprise then, that the rock 'n' roll canon is rich in songs describing that most prominent of problems facing white adolescents, namely the discovery that one's object of affection is a zombie. While this number by the Fall-Outs doesn't soar with the pure poetry of "Slug" by the Ramones which is perhaps the pinnacle of the genre, we here at Little Hits believe that this tune represents a significant addition to the literature.
Song Of the Day: February 14, 2005
I couldn't pass up a chance to be timely AND present you with a favorite 45 from the talented Darren Cooper at the same time, so here's the Parasol Records debut of Three Hour Tour, a nice blend of the Beatles and Cheap Trick that was very popular with the other guys in my old band, the Wilmas. Another 7", two full length CDs, and several compilation appearances followed. Mr. Cooper has recently been spotted helping out his friends The Velvet Crush. By the way, I'm not sure about the date on this; it's a guess based on who I was hanging out with and what other records came out at about the same time. For some reason there is no date on many of the early Parasol singles.
Song Of the Day: February 13, 2005
Tonight I made a trip to one of the local vomitoriums to see Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. Do not miss them should they venture into your burg. They are, as promised by MC/guitarist Binky Griptite, a "funky soul experience."
Anyway, I noticed a patron wearing what could have been a Salem 66 T-shirt. This piqued my interest, as they were a band that were making waves during the years of my formative musical experiences. I moved closer thinking "Hell, I don't know what the kids are doing these days; maybe it's some other band called something like, I dunno, 'Salem 60' or something." As I moved closer, it became apparent that this was in fact actually a Salem 66 shirt. I approached the gentleman upon whose person the shirt rested, and said something clever like "Hey, is that a Salem 66 T-shirt?"
I was taken aback by his curt reply, which was something similar to "Yeah, I know. I'm old." Perhaps my shock was apparent because he then informed me that he knew my name, and that I had approached him previously in a similar setting when he was wearing a Texas Instruments T-shirt. "Is that a Texas Instruments T-shirt?" I had asked. He responded in the affirmative, foregoing a wide variety of available sarcastic comments to the effect that, yes, in fact the shirt did represent the band named thereon as opposed to Aerosmith. I then tactlessly informed him, "You're old."
He quickly re-introduced himself in a much friendlier fashion. Turns out he's a faculty member at KU. We had a brief chat about common musical interests. The point here is not that I'm a bit boorish, as that is far too obvious. It's also not that I should try not to drink so much; again, perfectly clear. The point is...well, I'm not sure what the point is, but I'd like to thank him for making me recall how much this particular song meant to an 18-year-old kid driving around in Pratt, Kansas, blaring the tape player and looking forward to the time when he would leave the place he had lived all his life.
Song Of the Day: February 12, 2005
The sun has come out and is bearing down on the snow, causing it to form gray and brown lumps and then dissolve into dirty puddles. Which reminds me of a story. Grandpa loves stories.
I don't actually believe that a record can save anybody's life. I do believe that occasionally a record will create the illusion of doing so convincingly enough that it's practically the same thing. Consider: In early 1988 I had just been thrown out of school and was working at a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant to pay the bills, as my parents had decided that they no longer wanted to subsidize my drinking and long naps. I was living in a horrid basement apartment, with paint coming off the walls in damp chunks, and a puddle of water in a new and different place every day when I got home from work. Now, I realize that only someone who was terribly privileged and had never really met with any hardships in his life could find this so awful, but I was, and I hadn't, so I did. None of this, of course, kept me from spending whatever money I did or didn't have to spare on records, and one record that came around that winter was the first ChooChoo Train 45 on Picture Book. I believe I had mail-ordered it along with a few others on the label; the only other one I can recall is by the Witching Hour. Anyway, I went out and got the mail one morning, retreated back down into the dark hole, and played this record. Then again. Over and over until I had to go to work.
When I went back outside, the sun was shining brightly and the snow was melting, and I was so happy about finding a terrific new pop record that everything seemed much easier than it normally did. I was in love with the world at that moment. In a couple of months, spring would arrive. It was the start of a wonderful time in my life. I moved into a much nicer apartment with some new friends. Ric Menck and Paul Chastain became the standard-bearers of a renewed search for the true meaning of pop that continues to this day. I joined my first real band. How could anyone hope to convince me that this record isn't magical?
The songs on this 45 are available on The Ballad of Ric Menck CD on Summershine Records. I had intended to provide a link to the Velvet Crush here, but their website seems to be down.
Song Of the Day: February 11, 2005
The Cymbaline-Matrimonial FearsPhilips Records (UK) 45, 1967Available on: Rubble Four:The 49 Minute Technicolour Dream LP , Past and Present Records
Rubble 1-10 CD box set, Past and Present Records
This is a fine example of the slightly psychedelic, yet very commercial pop (sometimes referred to as "pop-sike") that many beat groups had moved on to after they heard Sgt. Pepper, and for that alone it would pass the grueling Mix Tape Test™. What moves it into the upper stratosphere for me is the perverse pleasure that comes with hearing glorious multi-part harmonies on the words "I'm using you, using you."
Song Of the Day: February 10, 2005
Yung Wu-Shore Leave
From the Coyote Records LP Shore Leave, 1987
If the intro makes you immediately think "Feelies," then you're nearly there. Yung Wu was simply the Feelies with percussionist Dave Weckerman out front, singing his own songs and a few covers, including a marvelous version of Brian Eno and Phil Manzanera's "Big Day." If you can imagine the Feelies strumming guitars around a campfire, you might get some sense of the relaxed, expansive nature of this LP, an atmosphere that doesn't often surface on their proper albums. A wonderful, but neglected chapter in the history of one of the most fascinating American bands of the 80s. Was this ever issued on CD?
Song Of the Day: February 9, 2005
It's snowing as I write this, and you know, we get a bit moody. The cats are all nestled snuggly in front of the various heat ducts, and we're enjoying one of the somber numbers from Tall Dwarfs' staggering body of work. While the most obvious American approximation of Alec Bathgate and Chris Knox's beautiful home-recorded weirdness is capable only of dealing in smug irony, these New Zealand hippie punks have zeroed in upon both the beauty and absurdity of existence over and over on geez how many albums now. This one was actually issued as three 10" records, but one CD holds 'em all.
Song Of the Day: February 8, 2005
The Tony Head Experience-Debbie One
"Sleeper EP," Big Internation Records, 1991.
Another indie-pop single picked up from picked up from Parasol Mailorder back in the days when it was housed in Geoff Merrit's basement. Although this UK band did have other releases, I really don't know anything about them other than this track resembles Blondie a bit, and it has made its way onto plenty of mix tapes over the past 14 years.
Song Of the Day: February 7, 2005
Bomp Records 45, 1978
Not exactly legendary in terms of collectibility/rarity, this gem from the Bomp Records empire has been known to change hands for as much as $5. It spins frequently in the Little Hits compound however, because as Mickey says "It's bold and brash and noisy and sweet - like me!" The Boyfriends had a second, much rarer single called "Wrapped Up In a Dream." It's a Wings-like affair, and we could use a copy, if anybody's selling.
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Bomp Records founder Greg Shaw late last year. He will be missed.
Song Of the Day: February 6, 2005
The Donuts-She May Be Your Girl
45, 1980
Great power pop 45 of unknown origin, no information on the sleeve, internet research proved fruitless. The only lead is the phrase "produced by Tchad Blake." Could this have been a Pacific Northwest band?
Song Of the Day: February 5, 2005
One of the weird blips on the indie radar in the early 90s was the brief re-emergence of the Postcard label. The Scottish indie, famous for releasing the works of Orange Juice, Josef K, Aztec Camera, and the Go-Betweens and generally spoken about in hushed, reverent tones started re-issuing some of the Orange Juice material. There was a singles comp called The Heather's On Fire, a re-issue of the "Blueboy" 45, and something called Ostrich Churchyard, recordings which would have made up the band's first LP had they not left for Polydor. Recorded live at the Hellfire Club in Glasgow, this take with it's brilliantly snotty guitar break, is to me preferable to the glossier version on their Rip It Up LP. Postcard then seemed to disappear as quickly as it had surfaced. Maybe we'll get that complete Postcard singles CD/double LP at some point...
Song Of the Day: February 4, 2005
Apparently a reissue of this LP is coming, hardly surprising given the amount of interest it receives on eBay. ( Here is a good link for keeping up to date on such matters.) Good thing too, as my vinyl is a little noisy. Most of the Midwestern power-pop bands of the era were caught in the whipsaw between wanting to play Beatles/Byrds/Costello-derived "new wave" and having to have a Journey/REO Speedwagon AOR bent in order to find work. Obviously the records that work best are the ones that avoid the latter as much as possible, and that's why power pop fans like The Late Show so much. Plenty of Rickenbacker jangle and harmonies, but the guitar player does not take long solos, and the lead singer does not sound like a cokehead studio hack recording a jingle for shock absorbers. One of the best US indie power pop LPs, along with the Heats, the Scruffs, the Wind, the Toms...what am I missing? 
Song Of the Day: February 3, 2005
British teens who released four singles between 1979-81. We like 'em all, but "Scab," the kitty who lives across the street and wears a leather jacket and fishes through our recycling for not-quite-empty beer bottles says that this one is the best. Okay then. The Stiffs' stuff is rounded up nicely on a compilation CD on Captain Oi Records. According to their website, they're still active as of 2004.
Song Of the Day: February 2, 2005
More state-of-the-art guitar pop from Australia, Adelaide division. The band's name was later shortened to The Mad Turks, and then later lengthened again to The Icecream Hands, under which name they still function.
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