Comboland compiled for the UK (Never Reissued)

VARIOUS - WELCOME TO...COMBOLAND (1986)

 

Writer for North Carolina's "Spectator" newspaper, Godfrey Cheshire was producer of the "Comboland" package. The "Welcome To Comboland" album, released in England, compiles works from some of the best bands of the area. You can watch some of these bands featured on the YouTube channel Return To Comboland.

 

WU (309 mb)

More Comboland (Self Released Tape) (Never Reissued)

FLYING PIGS - MEXICAN DIVORCE (1985)

 

The Flying Pigs, whilst being new to most readers of the blog were formed around 1982 and released this self produced 15 song cassette in 1985 (out of print). Songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player Pat O'Connell previously served in a psychedelic band and nurses a fascination for The Soft Boys & Robyn Hitchcock. Guitarist Billy McCarthy was recruited from Hot Possum while the 'Pigs rhythm section - Robert Truedale ans Stacy Weaver had previously worked together. The band was located in Durham, NC and recorded this 15 song cassette at Wes Lachot's Tri Tone Studios. The tape was done on 8-track but the songs are strong and feature lashings of guitar, dynamic and tightly controlled. This stuff is for all intents and purposes on a par with the likes of the Windbreakers. In 1997, "Desi" was a retrospective compilation of The Flying Pigs recordings. Then P.J O'Connell released his first solo album "Dream Life" at the same time and continues his solo career (2 more solo albums), working with Terry Adams, Chandler Travis (NRBQ/Incredible Casuals).

 

WU (329 mb)

The Summer Collection That Never Was

VARIOUS - 1, 2, 3...SUMMER (2023)

 

In 2023, there was no PPA/PPC Summer compilation posted just because i didn't make any. But, while working on the brand new 2024 collection (which will be posted soon), I made up my mind to complete the series and filling the gap. So, enjoy Summer 2023, only one year later. Of course, it is available in both fomats and comes with a full detailed artwork.

 

WU (575 mb)

WU (197 mb)

Comboland Pop (Don Dixon Production) (Never Reissued)

X-TEENS - LOVE AND POLITICS (1984)

 

Part of the early-'80s explosion of Southern power pop, the X-Teens emulated the quirky wit and geeky tension of new wavers like Elvis Costello, XTC, and Talking Heads. The group was formed in Durham, North Carolina. Their debut release was the Don Dixon-produced EP Big Boy's Dream, issued on the local Moonlight label in 1980. Local legends Dixon and Mitch Easter both worked on the band's self-titled first album. The follow-up, 1984's Love and Politics, was the band's biggest seller, even scoring a little MTV airplay with the single "Change Gotta Come." However, that taste of success led to internal tensions, and the X-Teens split up in 1985. 

 

After a long hiatus keyboardist/vocalist Todd Jones-Jones was back in action around 2021 with Mike Nicholson (Bullwinkel Gandhi, Stratocruiser), Alan McGinty (The Stars Explode) and Gary Miller (Shake Some Action!) as what could be called a North Carolina power pop supergroup The Blusterfields (three albums available on Bandcamp).

 

WU (306 mb)

A Board Game (Reupped from PPC 2011)

 THE CLA$H

SOUNDS' BOARD GAME (1979)

 

Around Christmas 1979, the now defunct Sounds rock weekly gave to its readers a surprise gift. It was some kind of "Snakes & Ladders" board game about the first part of the Clash career (1977-79)

Spreading over a paper double page (70cm x 56cm or 27" x 21"), the game had the four members of the band, and some tricky cards (10 Clash Cards & 10 Street Credibility Cards) in order to play.

So, i have scanned the whole set, stitched the 8 parts of the board and sliced them in order to get them ready to be printed if you want to play the game. I also scanned the band members and the card games. You'll only have to cut out the cards and the figures to play the Clash events some 45 years later.

 

1 Board Game (70cm x 56cm or 27" x 21")

available in jpg "old patina", jpg "grey scale" and PDF 

8 A4 parts ready to be printed

10 Clash Cards
10 Street Credibility Cards
4 band members (Joe, Mick, Paul & Topper)

WU (180 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 14 (2022)

VARIOUS - SUMMER BREEZE (2022)

 

The end of 14 years of summer power pop.

It was the last and final post on PPC

Now a new story can start.

WU (564 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 13 (2021)

VARIOUS - THE BOOK OF SUMMER LOVE (2021)

 

Keeping the tradition alive!

WU (559 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 12 (2020)

VARIOUS - SUMMERTIME (2020)

 

Posted a little bit late in July 2020 on PPC,

and now reupped a little bit earlier in May 2024 on PPA

WU (574 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 11 (2019)

VARIOUS - THE RESTLESS SUMMER (2019)

 

Another very nice summer compilation

WU (582 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 10 (2018)

VARIOUS - LONG PROMISED BEACH (2018)

 

Another year, another summer compilation. Tenth in a row

WU (574 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 9 (2017)

VARIOUS -  SUMMER TAKES IT ALL (2017)

 

The official soundtrack of summer 2017

WU (568 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 8 (2016)

VARIOUS - SUMMER PARTY! (2016)

 

On the road to 2024

Title and artwork are an obvious homage to a BB album

WU (559 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 7 (2015)

VARIOUS - LONELY SUMMER (2015)

 

A Summer of melancholy

WU (566 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 6 (2014)

VARIOUS - SUMMER POWERPOP MAN! (2014)

 

Re-up of the sixth PPC collection of summer songs

WU (576 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 5 (2013)

VARIOUS - IN SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT HOOK (2013)

 

Another year, another summer and more to come...

WU (568 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 4 (2012)

VARIOUS - HOOKS ON THE BEACH (2012)

 

Continuing the countdown to the new compilation, here's the fourth one originally posted on PPC and the first one having been posted in FLAC. Full details of the bands featured are included.

WU (577 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 3 (2011)

VARIOUS - BACK TO THE SUMMER OF... (20

First posted in 2011 on PPC, it was available in mp3 only. Later in 2021, it was upgraded from lossless files and shared again in mp3 only. Right now, it is lossless for the first time.

WU (571 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 2 (2010)

VARIOUS - SUMMER SONGS VOLUME 2 (2010)

 

This was my second Summer compilation, 100% sixties free, even though the front artwork could show the opposite. I guess you'll find out who or what are featured on the front sleeve.

WU (584 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 1 (2009)

VARIOUS - SOME ALL-TIME SPARKLING SUMMER SONGS (2009)

 

First compiled and posted in mp3 (July 2009) on PPC, it was upgraded on 2021 with lossless files. It is now shared on PPA in lossless format for the first time.

WU1 + WU2 

(600 mb + 566 mb)

A Guide Through The Galaxies of Power Pop!

VARIOUS - POPGUN 2000 (2000)

 

This German-import, 24-track power-pop compilation features previously available material from bands like DM3, Waking Hours, the Double Naught Spies, and the Krispies, but the majority of "Popgun 2000" consists of then unreleased songs. Artists present in that category include the Shazam, Paul Collins, Martin Luther Lennon, the Chevelles, the Yum Yums, the Barracudas, and many more. It's a solid addition to the collection of most power pop fanatics. AMG

WU (607 mb)