Overlooked & Forgotten Power Pop (Never Reissued)

 THE ELEVATORS - FRONTLINE (1980)

 

Though two members of the Elevators lived in Boston, the band was based mostly in the Pioneer Valley's Northampton area. The band was most often likened to the Cars, and this comparison was apt in several ways. Both units had a prominent keyboard sound, both featured a rock-solid lead guitar, and the lyrics of each group could be characterized as quirky. Perhaps most importantly, both the Cars and the Elevators released exceptional first albums. The album opens and closes with great Tommy Myers songs, "Frontline" and "On the Wire," respectively. "Girlfriend's Girlfriend" was released as a single. Some ELO (due to vocal harmonies) and 20/20 reminiscences (maybe Earle Mankey production) can be heard on some tracks. The LP was produced by Earle Mankey (ex-Sparks) who was the producer of many power pop bands of the time (such as The Pop and 20/20).

WU (260 mb)

"Solitaire" is a Power Pop Gem (Never Reissued)

THE POP - HEARTS AND KNIVES (1981)

 

"Hearts and Knives" was the final 12" EP recorded by The Pop. By this time Tim McGovern had left the band to join The Motels - and then they were four...The album was self-produced but the sound engineer was still Tori Swensson who had worked with Earle Mankey on "Go!", so if the album may sound lightweight, The Pop was back to their 60's roots...David Swanson never sounded better on his Rickenbacker 12 string than on this Mini LP.

WU (128 mb)

Go! Go! Go! (Never Reissued)

 THE POP - GO! (1979)

 

The second and famous album "Go!", this classic Power Pop masterpiece was produced by Earle Mankey, an original Sparks member and also a renowned Power Pop producer (20/20, Elevators, The Quick, The Three O'Clock... and others). The overall sound of "Go!" was very different from the "more garage" first album, evolving, pushing the boundaries of pop to include not just their original influences which rapidly developed into a pop-punk hybrid sound of crunchy and jangly guitars but also the more modern sounds they were listening to on David Bowie's "Low" and Brian Eno's "Another Green World" as well. The bands guitarists liked to boast that they could do anything on guitar a synthesizer could do but cooler and one listen to "Beat Temptation" or "Under The Microscope" backs this up.

WU (254 mb)

A Power Pop Classic (Never Reissued)

THE POP - THE POP (1977)

During the recording of the first LP, (titled simply The Pop) the band added Tim Henderson on bass guitar, freeing up David Swanson to move to rhythm guitar on his Rickenbacker 12 string and Roger Prescott to concentrate more on lead guitar and noise effects. They also added Tim McGovern to fill in on drums for the often missing Joel, and who soon revealed additional talents as guitarist as well.

The album was first ranked #135 best albums of Power Pop in the first "Shake Some Action" Ultimate Power Pop Guide (2008) and climbed to #95 in the Shake Some Action 2.0 book (2019) both written by John Borack.

 

WU (221 mb)

 

Note: Beware of a cd-r of the album which includes the first single plus "Easy Action", because it was probably burned from the vinyl rips that were posted on PPC in May  2007.

The Second 7" (Back Door Man 5001) (Never Reissued)

 THE POP - DOWN ON THE BOULEVARD (1977)

The anthemic "Down On The Boulevard" is a certified power pop classic that can be found on many compilations, (like Rhino D.I.Y L.A Scene 1976-79). If the Kinks cover is also featured on their first LP, "Easy Action" was not included on the album.

WU (62 mb)

The First 7" (Back Door Man 1001) (Never Reissued)

THE POP - HIT AND RUN LOVER (1976)

The Pop started out in the mid-70's as a three piece, with Roger Prescott on guitar and vocals, David Swanson on bass guitar and vocals and David Robinson (who had just quit The Modern Lovers) on drums. It was through one fanzine, a ballsy little magazine called "Back Door Man" that The Pop met writers Gregg Turner and Phast Phreddie who would help them release their first two singles and their first LP. (Gregg Turner later formed his own punk band, the infamous Angry Samoans).

 

WU (57 mb)

Werner Power Pop (Never Reissued)

 DAVID WERNER - DAVID WERNER (1979)

I can't remember how many requests i've been receiving since the first time it was posted on PPC in June 2007, it was one of the first LP posted on PPC (at the time in mp3 format only). And over the years, it was re-upped in FLAC over and over. It could be one of the most power popular item i've shared, and that's funny to think i bought the LP in a $1 bargain bin just because of the sleeve: skinny tie, jacket, famous producer... and later i learned there was an inner sleeve (that wasn't included with my bargain purchase). It was so many years ago.

Anyway, David Werner failed to make its namesake the star he should have been, and he has not issued a record since. As this album shows, Werner is far too talented to be so obscure. Read the full review on PPC

WU (277 mb)

 

Perfect Power Pop

HAWKS - PERFECT WORLD RADIO (2003)

Despite being signed to Columbia and garnering a loyal cult following, the Iowa band never achieved great success with their 1980 eponymousd debut "Hawks" and 1982 follow-up, "30 Seconds Over Otho", eventually fading into obscurity. Fortunately, Not Lame Recordings created a third Hawks album of sorts, proving the band had much more up its sleeve. Compiled with the assistance of the band, Perfect World Radio features various demos and unreleased tracks.

 

WU (423 mb)

Record Dedicated to "Bully" Holly and Majic Sam (Never Reissued)

 CUB KODA - LET'S GET FUNKY (1983)

In 1983, the french label New Rose released a six song mini album "Let's Get Funky". It was later available in the USA (1984) with two bonus tracks and a different artwork.

 

WU (162 mb)

The only "Brownsville Station" album (Never Reissued)

BROWNSVILLE STATION -  BROWNSVILLE STATION (1977)

After the non-success of Motor City Connection (1975), the band wanted an album of "heavier" sounds that the record company absolutely detested. The band wanted an album that would give them FM radio respectability; but Big Tree Records wanted the band to steer towards The Osmonds and The Partridge Family. Brownsville parted company with Big Tree after the previous album's nonsuccess, signing with the newly formed Private Stock label (home of the first Blondie album). The album features "The Martian Boogie", a seven-minutes-barn-burning set-closer recorded live in one take, spaceship noises and all. A totally overlooked album which should have deserved a CD reissue.

WU (272 mb)

The Roots of Koda (Never Reissued)

 CUB KODA - THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE SOUTH (1984)

As Cub Koda began to back away from the group's loud, overdriven rock sound - at least in private. He purchased a multi-track tape recorder and started producing one-man-band tapes, where he overdubbed all the instruments and vocals. For the next several years, Koda made home recordings of rockabilly, blues, R&B, country, jazz and early rock & roll -- the exact opposite of Brownsville's heavy rock stance; the rockabilly tapes were eventually released as "That's What I Like about the South" in 1984, with other tracks showing up on compilations as late as 1993. The album was also released in France with a different artwork.

WU (188 mb)

New York Psychedelic (Never Reissued)

 MAD VIOLETS - WORLD OF... (1986)

Formed by Wendy Wild and Dino Sorbello in 1982 when they met at Privates niteclub (NYC) where she was the MC and he was the busboy. A common interest in psychedelic music and mushrooms started them off writing songs and forming a band. They were featured on "Battle Of The Garages Vol 2" (1984) with Psylocybe. In 1986, Keith Streng (Fleshtones and Full Time Men) joined the band and they released a mini album "World Of..." on Lolita, only released in France.

WU (132 mb)

 

Bob Segarini R.I.P. (1945-2023) (CD Reissue)

 SEGARINI - GOTTA HAVE POP (1978) (Reissue 1996)

A couple of weeks ago, i read the news about Bob Segarini passing away, of course he was the leader of the famous Wackers but he also released plenty of albums with other bands: Roxy, Family Tree, The Dudes, The Anger Brothers, Cats & Dogs but after the Dudes demise, Segarini managed to sign a solo deal with A & M, issuing a 4 song EP called ‘Starlight’ which went nowhere. However, he was immediately picked up by fledgling cutting edge Toronto label Bomb Records to begin work on his debut album. "Gotta Have Pop" with the famous lyrics:

I loved the Beatles up to Sergeant Pepper

Then they ruined pop for what could be forever 

WU (387 mb)

 

The album has been reissued in 2005 by Bullseye Records with bonus tracks

LP Side 4 Only + 1 (Never Reissued)

 VARIOUS - STARDUST SOUNDTRACK (1974)

All songs were produced, played and arranged by Dave Edmunds except "Dea Sancta" by David Essex. The Dave Edmunds & The Electricians track "Da Doo Ron Ron" is Dave Edmunds backed by Brinsley Schwarz.

 

Songs
When Will I Be Loved / Need A Shot Of Rhythm & Blues / Make Me Good / You Kept Me Waiting / Let It Be Me / Some Other Guy / Take It Away / C'mon Little Dixie / Americana Stray Cat Blues / Dea Sancta / Da Doo Ron Ron (originally on side 1 of the vinyl LP)

WU (229 mb)

 

Power Pop True Believers

 VELVET CRUSH - TIMELESS MELODIES (2001)

Timeless Melodies is a career-spanning anthology issued only in Japan, It was released between two other anthologies "A Single Odyssey" which compiles all of the group’s non-LP singles & EP tracks and "Melody Freaks" an album of 18 demos and outtakes dating from 1990 to 1996.

MZ (605 mb)

From My Vaults

CUB KODA - LET'S GET FUNKY (1984)

Another single from the archives, never posted in FLAC.

Both sides are unavailable elsewhere

"Let's Get Funky" is the single version, shorter than the mini album version

or the one that can be found on the Cub Koda anthology "Welcome to My Job"

"Ten Little Women" is a Terry Noland cover

WU (35 mb)

 

From My Vaults (B Side Never Reissued)

 CUB KODA & THE POINTS - SHAKE YO' CAKES EP (1980)

Two songs from the eponymous LP "Cub Koda & The Points" which had been posted a long time ago on PPC. It includes 2 songs unavailable elsewhere, a cover of Ten Years After's "Baby Won't You Let Me Rock 'N' Roll You" plus a cover of Howlin' Wolf "Break of Day".

WU (93 mb)

 

Roky SVT Groovies Related

YANKS - TELL ME NO LIES (1984)

The Yanks were from San Francisco. After SVT had split, Paul Zahl and Jack Casady left to form the Yanks with Jack Johnson and Owen Masterson. Then Jack Casady quit the Yanks and was replaced by bassist Steve Aliment. This line-up released a mini album "Made In The States" on the DTI label, it was expanded with their first EP "Only Lovers Left Alive" for the french LP "Tell Me No Lies". The same year "I Don't See Her Anymore" was released as a single in France. Before joining the Yanks and later the Flamin' Groovies, Jack Johnson played with Roky Erikson and co-wrote with a couple of songs for the "Gremlins Have Pictures" album. After the Yanks, Paul Zahl joined the Groovies with Jack Johnson, they played on "One Night Stand", "Step Up" and "Rock Juice". "Tell Me No Lies" was produced by Karl Derfler who would later produced the Groovies' Rock Juice (1992).

The album was posted in 2007 on PPC in mp3 format only.

MF (285 mb)