More Excellent Things To Listen (Never Reissued)

THE THINGS - OUTSIDE MY WINDOW (1986)

 

"Outside My Window" was the second album released by The Things and might be a lost gem in pop rock history as it has never been reissued in any format. Part of the L.A. Paisley movement, the album is close to some famous bands of the era, Rain Parade (Everytime, You Can't Deliver), The Last (Take The Chance). The Things reached their peak with this excellent album released on Voxx. It was also released in France (Lolita) and Greece (Hitch Hyke).

MF (261 mb)

 

IMPORTANT NOTE

The vinyl rip was first posted on PPC in 2007 but was only available in mp3 format with a Dynamic Range of 10. This new FLAC version has a DR of 12 and it comes with a totally revamped artwork.

I made a new artwork to change things because you can check on discogs the entry of a fake CD release with the former artwork, and as i commented on discogs.

1. no proof the cd really exists
2. the images don't belong to a CD release they were made from the Voxx LP for the custom jewel cd artwork (available on PPC)
   
3. the font used on the spines is "BellBottom.Laser"
4. the left panel of the booklet was made from the center pic of the LP back using a photoshop artistic filter named "cutout"
5. if anyone try to sell the cd with this artwork, it won't be an official one, probably mp3 sourced.
   

Excellent Things To Listen (Never Reissued)

THE THINGS - COLOURED HEAVEN (1984)

Coming from La Habra (Orange County), California, The Things were part of the L.A. Paisley movement and they were fronted by Steve Crabtree who was the main and only songwriter. They released 3 albums between 1984 and 1988, and none of them has been reissued in any format. The first album include two covers along nine originals all penned by Steve Crabtree. Drummer Roy McDonald later joined Redd Kross and then The Muffs.

MF (254 mb)

From Zeros To The Top (Never Reissued)

HECTOR PENALOSA - HECTOR (1988)

After the Flying Color album, bassist Hector Penalosa recorded his first solo effort on New York's Cryptovision label, which had released the Flying Color's "Look My Way" single. The "Hector" LP includes contributions from Richard Chase and John Stuart (who plays drums on the whole LP and sings lead on one song), but Penalosa handles virtually all of the remaining instruments himself. Hector Penalosa released his wonderful second album "Music For Cats" in 1996 on the spanish label Bam Balam.

MF (201 mb)

HAWKS = Hearn Adams Wiewel Kaufman Steen (Never Reissued)

HAWKS - HAWKS (1980)

Ranked #162 in the first Borack book "Shake Some Action" (2007), it climbed to #85 in the second book "Shake Some Action 2.0" (2017).

The first HAWKS album was one of the great lost '80s albums, promotion on this album was nonexistent and it failed to sell. Their second album "30 Seconds Over Otho" (posted here on PPA) was also excellent but didn't sell and the band eventually faded into obscurity.

MF (261 mb)

The Second Scooters (Never Reissued)

THE SCOOTERS - BLUE EYES (1981)

The second and last album "Blue Eyes" was released in 1981. The LP which has never been reissued in any format has plenty of powerful dynamic songs. Their approach to songwriting was solidly pop with la la la's and handclaps. "Blue Eyes" was recorded in England and produced by Phil Wainman.

 

After the Scooters broke up, Larry Lee became a record producer, and he produced "Plastic Facts" by the Nu Kats for Rhino Records. After the Nu Kats had broken up, Bobby Wickland formed a band named "BOY" but then he got the call to join Badfinger. So, the bassist Larry Lee and drummer Bobby Dean Wickland toured as Badfinger with Joey Molland.

 

The album is dedicated to the memory of John Lennon.

MF (231 mb)

Skinny Tie Power Pop (Never Reissued)

THE SCOOTERS - YOUNG GIRLS (1980)

First posted more than 15 years ago on PPC and only in mp3, the first album released in 1980 was a really catchy hook filled album which has never been reissued in any format, i guess the master has been lost forever. The album was produced by Phil Wainman (Sweet, Generation X, XTC, Boomtown Rats).

MF (246 mb)

SSA 2.0: Volume 1

 SHAKE SOME ACTION 2.0

An Updated Guide To The 200 Greatest Power Pop Albums 1970-2017

VOLUME 1

MF (564 mb)

NOTE

First posted in 2019 on PPC, it occurred that the CVS song was mistitled and so badly tagged.

The  artwork (inner + tray) , the title and the tag have been fixed now.

This is the final volume of the SSA 2.0 series.

SSA 2.0: Volume 2

SHAKE SOME ACTION 2.0

An Updated Guide To The 200 Greatest Power Pop Albums 1970-2017

VOLUME 2

MF (547 mb)

SSA 2.0: Volume 3

 SHAKE SOME ACTION 2.0

An Updated Guide To The 200 Greatest Power Pop Albums 1970-2017

VOLUME 3

MG (568 mb)

SSA 2.0: Volume 4

SHAKE SOME ACTION 2.0

An Updated Guide To The 200 Greatest Power Pop Albums 1970-2017

VOLUME 4

WU (572 mb)

SSA 2.0 : Volume 5

SHAKE SOME ACTION 2.0

An Updated Guide To The 200 Greatest Power Pop Albums 1970-2017

VOLUME 5

  MF (560 mb)

SSA 2.0: Volume 6

SHAKE SOME ACTION 2.0

An Updated Guide To The 200 Greatest Power Pop Albums 1970-2017

VOLUME 6

  MF1 + MF2 (572 mb)

SSA 2.0: Volume 7

SHAKE SOME ACTION 2.0

An Updated Guide To The 200 Greatest Power Pop Albums 1970-2017

VOLUME 7

 

  WU (567 mb)

SSA 2.0: Volume 8

SHAKE SOME ACTION 2.0

An Updated Guide To The 200 Greatest Power Pop Albums 1970-2017

VOLUME 8

 

MF (607 mb)

From PPC to PPA (Byrd Is The Word Continued)

YOUNGER THAN YESTERDAY TODAY (2022)

 

Overlooked at the time of its release in 1967, "Younger Than Yesterday" is now considered as one of the Byrds' best albums with the emergence of bass player Chris Hillman as lead singer and songwriter. It is today revisited by 11 artists paying tribute to the first album to be entirely recorded by the Byrds without Gene Clark's participation.

 

  WU (276 mb)

Produced by Nick Garvey (Never Reissued)

SUSSEX - TREAT ME KIND (1979)

The first single released on Radar was produced by Nick Garvey. Their name 'Sussex', was invented in the dressing room of the Marquee Club when they debuted there in February, 1979. They recorded some demo tapes at Pathway Studios with Nick Garvey of The Motors producing and on the strength of these, the Stranglers producer, Martin Rushent signed Sussex as the first act on his new label, Genetic. They released their first single, "Treat Me Kind" in July 1979. Subsequent tours were enthusiastically received by local audiences throughout the U.K but this did not reflect in sales of the record and when Radar Records (Genetics distributor) collapsed, the group were left without a recording contract until they were able to release their first LP in 1981 on Mercury

 

  MF (48 mb)

Produced by Andy Scott (Never Reissued)

 SUSSEX - ENDS AND MEANS (1981)

Previously posted on PPC in 2007, it was one of the first posts on PPC, and at the time it had not been reissued in any format. Now 15 years later it remains unavailable even in digital on any streaming site, The vinyl rip has been slightly revamped and has now a better Dynamic Range of 12 instead of the original 10, some 15 years ago. A totally overlooked gem which was released in France only (don't ask me why). Over the years, the LP has become harder to find, so it definitely deserves to be listened.

 

  WU (271 mb)

Candy Oh Candy (US LP Edition)

 CANDY - WHATEVER HAPPENED TO FUN... (1985)

Previously posted on PPC around 2010, and slightly revamped with a better Dynamic Range 12 instead of 10 before, a power pop classic that eventually flopped. It was produced by Teeth (aka Jimmy Ienner, producer of the Raspberries albums), Wally Bryson being musical director.

 

The album has been reissued twice, the first time as a CD-R (available through Kyle Vincent site) with some live bonus tracks, the CD-R having a Dynamic range of 9, while the proper and official reissue was released in 2012 with a Dynamic Range of 12.

 

WU (275 mb)

New Songs To Remember (PPA Exclusive)

 VARIOUS - AN ODE TO THEIR HEROES VOL.3 (2022)

The first  two volumes were posted on PPC, the first one in 2013, and now only two years after its sequel, here's a brand new volume of "songs to remember".

The artists pay tribute to some of their heroes, and have written memorable songs to remember how stars or fictional characters become (sometimes) icons. This is the very first PPA compilation and it includes a PPA artwork that pays tribute to a fab artwork.

 

VOL 3 (556 mb)

Otho, Iowa (Never Reissued)

HAWKS - 30 SECONDS OVER OTHO (1982)

Though power pop enthusiasts claim that the band's debut (posted on PPC in 2011) is their true classic, this sophomore effort is actually more consistent and confident than that album and is all the better for it. With big production and even bigger hooks, "30 Seconds Over Otho" is as close as your going to get to a perfect commercial pop album. Taking their power pop sound into the AOR field may have killed a lesser band, but Hawks more than met the challenge. Practically every track on this album could've been a hit single. "Somewhere in the Night" is a song that both Cheap Trick and REO Speedwagon would've died to record. "Nobody Loses Tonight" should be played on every classic rock station for the next 30 years. "Angel" would've fit perfectly on one of the latter Wings albums, although ELO would've paid a pretty penny to have it for their own. Clarence Clemons' trademark sax on "(If We Just) Stick Together" adds to the commercial feel of the song, and it should've been a huge single. The whole album is full of gems like these. If only more folks heard it. Stephen Schnee's review AMG.

The album has never been reissued either in CD or made available on any digital download site.

WU (275 mb)