Song Of the Day: July 2, 2005
Amelia Fletcher has contributed as a writer and/or singer to a pile of great pop tunes over the years with Heavenly, Marine Research and Tender Trap among others, but it would be hard to argue that she has ever clearly topped the final, eponymous 45 by Talulah Gosh (actually written by Amelia's brother, TG/Heavenly drummer Matthew Fletcher, who tragically committed suicide in 1996.) The 12" version might actually be the way to go on this, it adds a second B-side, "Escalator Over the Hill," another big fave with some great guitar sounds. There are several compilations available which contain all of the TG singles. 
Song Of the Day: July 1, 2005
The quest for this 45 by Boston's Tweeds was a formative collector story similar to that of "Mary's Got Her Eye On Me." After hearing it on a ROIR cassette called Trouser Press Presents the Best Of America Underground (CD re-issue please!) in high school, I became obsessed with tracking it down, a task that was much, much more difficult in the days before the internet. I did manage to find a couple of copies of the re-recorded version on Eat Records; it is more common but decidedly inferior. I finally managed to secure a copy from an editor of The Bob in the mid-nineties. It set me back $35, which was far more than I'd ever paid for a 45 at that point. (Boy, the things I couldn't have forseen.) You can probably score one for about half that now on eBay. Not that I've ever regretted buying it for a second. 
Song Of the Day: June 30, 2005
Such a charming 45 by Stuart Moxham's post-Young Marble Giants project, and perhaps the high point for the Gist. Something about this seems like a prototype for several mid-80s synth-pop bands, though again, I can't say exactly what it is. It just has the feel of something somebody like the Fixx might have done, although I never thought that that particular band had any songs this good. 
Song Of the Day: June 29, 2005
The Letters 45, like the Nasty Facts record discussed earlier, may well be worth the silly prices it fetches on the eBay. (I've never been able to score an original at a point when I had the disposable income, but I do have a nice boot.) Very typical of the era, with a bit of the then-pervasive Jam influence. Great fun. The Letters re-united a few years back to make an LP for Detour Records which was well-written and well-executed beyond any reasonable expectation. It could have been one of the great lost albums of 1981; the band sounds confident and assured, but also as if they're having a really good time. 
Song Of the Day: June 28, 2005
The first disc by the Pearly Gatecrashers has some 60s element to it that we can't quite get our hands and paws on, though others may hear Blondie as the main reference point. The songs were written by singer Lenore Betteridge and guitarist Tim Butt. The latter, if memory serves, was also a member of The Whole World. Apparently the PGCs have a not insubstantial discography, but the only other thing we've heard is the highly recommended "Handy Hints EP" on Spain's Elefant Records. 
Song Of the Day: June 27, 2005
This Gomez is not that Gomez. Chuck Cleaver led this interesting Ohio trio and then formed the Ass Ponys with ex-members of the Libertines when both bands splintered. As far as I know, this EP is the only evidence of their existence, a charming and low-key little record that fell through the cracks. 
Song Of the Day: June 26, 2005
Requested Music
Lazy day today, so we'll cover ourselves by fulfilling some requests. The Bird Nest Roys B-side is here. And here is another Primitons tune from the EP. Love Ya! 
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