Between Alfalfa and Dream Academy (Never Reissued)

THE ACT - TOO LATE AT 20 (1981)

 

Prior to Dream Academy, Nick Laird-Clowes led the more down-to-earth Act. On the band's lone album, impeccable production (by Joe Boyd and John Wood of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention fame) gives his controlled passion and the band's tight, tasteful playing a clearly deserved chance to be heard. Elvis Costello and Tom Petty appear to be the Act's major influences (there are also nods to the Byrds and Springsteen) but the quartet rises above derivation, giving such songs as "Touch and Go" and "The Long Island Sound" indelible emotional authenticity. (Trouser Press)

The album includes a reworking fo the two songs included on the "499 2139" compilation.

The Act also featured Mark Gilmour (brother of David) who joined Scarlet Party, a band having released "101 Damn-Nations", a beatlesque song included on plenty of compilations.

 

WU (224 mb)

Mod / Power Pop Compilation (Never Reissued)

VARIOUS - 499 2139 (1979)

 

499 2139 was a collection of thirteen UK 70's mod/powerpop bands. It was released on Rocket Record a young name record company which wanted to record the sound of then and get it out the following week. The bands had to ring "499 2139". The album included the Lambrettas' first recording, "Go Steady". Three months later Rocket released the Lambrettas track as a single. By the early part of 1980, "Go Steady" had sold modestly, but with enough interest to persuade Rocket to sign the band. The Act (with Nick Laird-Clowes later of Dream Academy) released a nice album " Too Late at 20 " in 1981. Malcolm Practice is also noteworthy cause of Matthieu Hartley who later joined the Cure.

 

WU (242 mb)

Teddy Don't Worry, Your Mommy Is Here (Never Reissued)

REDDY TEDDY - REDDY TEDDY (1976)

 

All of the founding band members were longtime friends who'd been in the same grade at school: Matthew MacKenzie (guitar), John Morse (vocals),Ted von Rosenvinge (bass) and Joe Marino (drums).
After the finish of Reddy Teddy , the members went their separate ways. John and Joe returned to school, and Scott joined Robin Lane and the Chartbusters. Matt went to NYC and after a brief hitch with Richard Lloyd to make a 1979 album, he took the rhythm section (Fred Smith and Vinny DeNunzio) upstate for a demo at Todd Rundgren's Bearsville, NY studios. Then, after returning to Boston, Matt joined the Taxi Boys (John Felice, Billy Cole and Bobby Bear). He rejoined Willie Alexander, and was responsible for guitar and background vocals in The Confessions.In 1988, at the age of 36, Matthew passed away from injuries sustained in an auto accident in Medford, Massachusetts.

 

WU (254 mb)

The Boston Lyres (7" Second Pressing)

LYRES - I WANT TO HELP YOU ANN (1983)

 

Formed by Jeff Conolly after DMZ had split, this is their third single, Rick Coraccio (DMZ, The Last Ones) will join the band later. This is the second pressing with new labels and Lyres logo. Back sleeve lists "I Really Want You Right Now" above "I Want To Help You Ann". It was recorded in 1981 and released only two years later on Ace Of Hearts, a label based in Boston, USA, founded in 1978 by Richard W. Harte.

WU (58 mb)

Circling Boston Scene (Never Reissued)

MARC THOR - HOLIDAY FIRE (1975)

 

First and excellent single by Marc Thor, he's backed by some Boston musicians Rick Coraccio (DMZ, Last Ones, Lyres), Richie Johnson (Last Ones, The Boize) and some other members of The Boize, a band also featured on Live At The Rat. The B side is credited to Marc Thor & The Boize.

 

WU (45 mb)

More Boston Rocks (Never Reissued)

MARC THOR BAND - TRAK (1979)

 

Second and final single from Marc Thor backed by some musicians of Willie Alexander. Marc Thor contributed one song on the Live At The Rat album. In 1980, he released a flexi disc which is really scarce. After moving to New York, Marc graduated summa cum laude from City University of New York, earning a doctorate in music composition with an award-winning dissertation on the music of John Cage. He has since been teaching music history and theory at CUNY campuses and private conservatories.

 

WU (44 mb)

Boston Rocks (2 LP's Edition)

VARIOUS - LIVE AT THE RAT (1976)

 

Originally called T.J.'s and The Rathskeller, the club changed name to the Rat in 1975 and played a vital part in helping the underground music scene. Jim Harold produced ten bands (nineteen songs) which were featured on this Bostonian answer to the "Live at CBGB's" album. Some of the bands (The Real Kids, DMZ and Willie Alexander Boom Boom Band) achieved cult status while most of the others disappeared or had some success under new monickers (e.g Tom Dickie from Susan). The most outstanding track (at least IMHO) of the album being Marc Thor's "Circling L.A.". 

The Real Kids, DMZ and Willie Alexander Boom Boom Band got their full performances released years later. The album was remastered and reissued in 2013, but this is the 1976 2LP's original edition which was never posted in FLAC on PPC.

 

WU (471 mb)

Between DMZ & The Lyres (Never Reissued)

THE LAST ONES - NUMBER ONE AGAIN (1982)

 

Hailing from Boston, The Last Ones were a side project from 3 DMZ/Lyres musicians: Rick Coraccio, Rick Carmel and Paul Murphy, they released this 12" EP in 1982 on Star Rhythm Records. They would surface again in 2000 with the Purgatory Cove CD, and Don't Follow Me (2001)

 

WU (60 mb)

Jack Lee (1952-2023)

THE NERVES - THE NERVES EP (1976)

 

Jack Lee died this year May 26 at the age of 71. He wrote two songs of this seminal 7" EP which has become quite scarce nowadays, whatever the white back edition, the black back one or any other genuine editiion . Anyway this is my black back edition, and this is power pop at its best.

 

WU (61 mb)

A Power Pop Anthem (Original Mix)

THE JAGS - 4-TRACK 12" E.P. (1979)

 

4 Songs from The Jags which are unavailable elsewhere, the classic "Back Of My Hand" and "Single Vision" are different from the first LP versions and the other two songs were exclusive to this 12" EP

 

WU (85 mb)

Demos 1980 (Unreleased)

THE LEOPARDS - DEMOS (1980)

 

Six demos (probably around 1980) which were mentioned in the insert of the Voxx single 'Psychedelic Boy". I got them in 2018 from a PPC blog reader (thanx to him). At the time I didn't know if i was going to post them, and finally they were archived somewhere on a hard disk, until i found them not so long ago and while i was listening, i thought they would be a nice contribution to PPA, Quality is more than excellent and genuinely lossless. With the demos, there were some live recordings but the quality was really average, so i've only shared the demos. I made a custom artwork for the fun.

 

WU (124 mb)

1975 Genius (Never Reissued)

THE LEOPARDS - THEY ALL PLAY LOUD (1976)

Their second single

Not available on "Kansas City Slickers"

 

WU (29 mb)

Genius Is On Its Way (Never Reissued)

THE LEOPARDS - DON'T GO AWAY (1975)

 

Their first single

Not available on "Kansas City Slickers"

 

WU (37 mb)

Blondie's Bass Player (Rare 7")

THE KNOW - I LIKE GIRLS (1980)

 

After Gary Valentine quit Blondie and wrote one of the best Blondie tunes ("I'm Always Touched By Your Presence, Dear"), he recorded his first single with a little help from the Mumps. Then he formed his own band "The Know" and released this scarce single ("I Like Girls" was later covered by The Point).

 

WU (40 mb)

Highly Recommended Power Pop (Never Reissued)

RACER X - RACER X (1984)

Hailing from New-York, Racer X were actually a shirt-lived project of Allen Zane, a former Speedies member. Allen Zane and Tim Whaler recorded this mini LP that was released in France only by New Rose. Keith Lentin (Spider) co-produced three of the five songs featured here. Very highly recommended. A totally overlooked powerpop gem.

 

WU (128 mb)

Solo Album Without A Band (Never Reissued)

REGGIE KNIGHTON - REGGIE KNIGHTON (1977)

 

Reggie Knighton joined The Grass Roots in 1975. Reggie was friend with their keyboardist/vocalist Dennis Provisor. Dennis and Reggie were mutual fans of one another's solo projects and when an opening in the 'Roots came up, Dennis Provisor got Reggie an audition."
After leaving The Grass Roots, Reggie Knighton signed a deal with CBS, and the eponymously titled album in 1977 was released. Reggie was given the freedom to produce it himself. Having been used to working parsimoniously with modest equipment in his 4-track home studio, Reggie Knighton was able to make the first record on a very small budget and yet all the while feel that he had all the resources he could possibly need at his disposal.

 

WU (197 mb)

Top of 2022 (Episode 23)

THE UNOFFICIAL 2022 DAVID BASH'S TOP 25 (2023)

 

After an 8 months delay, this is the latest collection (the 23rd) from the seasonal David Bash list which was cut to a Top 150 after the mighty 175 of 2021. The list also included a top list of EP's, and some compilations, tributes, reissues and more. Once again, the PPC compilation is limited to the first 25 albums of 2022. The 2022 list has been included, checking the ones i have

WU (185 mb)

Let me know if you want or need the FLAC version

L.A Catchy Power Pop (Never Reissued)

THE ZIPPERS - A SIX SONG MINI ALBUM (1980)

 

Ray Manzarek produced this six-song mini album for LA's Zippers, a longstanding punk outfit with strong power pop tendencies. Although once strictly a tough club band, the tracks here expose a mature, musical quartet with songs and skills aplenty; the mood runs hot and cold. The Zippers are most famous for their cover of The Crystals' hit "He's A Rebel" produced by a "Polar Bear".

 

WU (123 mb)