Head Over Japan (Power Mop Pop)

VARIOUS - IT'S KITCHEN (1999)

 

A little known compilation of six Japanese bands providing two tracks each (although we can wonder if it isn't the work of one artist). A hook-filled pop goldmine for everyone who love the fab four and '60s pop. For info, i had included one of those songs on the third volume of my Beatlesque compilations: "Let It Beatlesque".

WU KITCHEN (321 mb)

One More Worldwide Power Pop Compilation

VARIOUS - SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD (1998)

 

From Japan and compiled by power pop fan Make Kobayashi, this was another in the great list of must have compilations. Many unreleased tracks from Spain, Sweden, England, Japan, Canada and USA. 17 excellent songs for a fully passion fueled pop project.

WU ROAD (471 mb)

Another Worldwide Power Pop Compilation

VARIOUS - WIZZARD BREW (2002)

 

Excellent compilation from Japan`s Wizzard In Vinyl label, one of the best and then growing indie power pop oriented labels (sadly now defunct, so there never was a vol. 2) around, so this is a good primer on what they are all about. All these songs were exclusive to this compilation as well so take a gander at the selection of important bands and you`ll see what it`s not one to miss.

WU BREW (499 mb)

A Worldwide Power Pop Compilation

VARIOUS - BEAT PARTY! (1997)

 

This compilation was only released in Japan by 1+2 Records, featuring all sorts of power pop bands from Australia, USA, Japan and all over the world. A lot of cool bands to discover and a few classics to hear new stuff from, like The Shambles, Chevelles, Kwyet Kings, Challenger 7 and The Marlowes.

WU PARTY (483 mb)

The First Battle (Never Fully Reissued)

VARIOUS - BATTLE OF THE GARAGES (1981)

 

This is the first American press which was on Voxx "blue" label. Later pressing were on Voxx "silver" label. Five songs were dropped for the CD reissue which was actually a best of the first two volumes, it was released in 1993.

The five songs dropped were

The Stepmothers - Let Her Dance

Pete Holly & The Looks - Look Out Below

Brad Long - Tell Me

The Embarrassment - Pushin' Too Hard

Billy Synth & The Turn-Ups - I Dig Your Mind

WU BATTLE (341 mb)

Withdrawn Edition (Never Reissued)

CAMPOS DE FRESAS

DISFRUTANDO CON LAS CANCIONES DE LOS BEATLES (1995)

 

A tribute to the Fab Four featuring 16 spanish bands. It was first released in 1995 until it was withdrawn due to some legal matters. Then, within some weeks it was reissued with a different  & terrible artwork featuring only 14 bands (the Los Brujos & Nando Gonzalez songs having been removed).

WU CAMPOS (373 mb)

Nick Gilder Goes Solo (Never Reissued)

NICK GILDER - YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE (1977)

 

After leaving Sweeney Todd, Nick Gilder and James McCulloch released "You Know Who You Are", a terrific album of power pop / glam that has never been reissued on cd even tough six songs were included on the 2001 Best Of.

WU ROLLER (258 mb)

A Flop, still a Power Pop Gem (Never Properly Reissued)

NICK GILDER - ROCKAMERICA (1980)

 

After his successful collaboration with Mike Chapman "City Nights (1978)" and Peter Coleman "Frequency (1979)" Nick Gilder produced his underrated fourth album "Rockamerica" with Ken Mansfield, an album which was a flop maybe for being too distant from the power pop of the first albums or the Cars' inspirations. It has never been reissued on cd, even though it is available on some streaming sites in fake lossless format.

 

WU ROCK (252 mb)

Forgotten Bomp LP (Never Reissued)

JIMMY LEWIS AND THE CHECKERS - YEAH, RIGHT (1980)

 

Jimmy Lewis & The Checkers released Yeah, Right on Bomp Records in 1980. One song ("Think") from the LP was included on the "Experiments In Destiny" compilation. Little is known about the band, but it seems they were coming from Tulsa. Jimmy Lewis (guitar, vocals) and Jerry Naifeh (drums, vocals) were the core of the band, the same way Twilley & Seymour were the Dwight Twilley Band. So , this is no surprise to know Jerry Naifeh was the original drummer with the Dwight Twilley Band. Even more about the Twilley link, side two was produced by Noah Shark & Max and some of the musicians playing were Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench.

WU YEAH (224 mb)

Ranked #128 (The Ultimate Power Pop Guide 2008) (Never Reissued)

R.F. & THE RADAR ANGELS - PICTURE OF LINDA (1982)

 

Great rock and power pop from Atlanta. With evidence of numerous positive influences — from rockabilly to Anglo-pop - Russ Fowler & The Radar Angels lean mainly toward Buddy Holly and early Tom Petty, playing hard and loud (but melodic) one minute, slow and pretty (but spirited) the next. Fowler's originals on "Picture of Linda" are so excellent that the great sounding covers of "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" and Buddy's "Everyday" are almost superfluous. (Incidentally, Hib-Tone was the local indie label that first released REM's "Radio Free Europe.").

WU LINDA (239 mb)

OFB (definitely not Power Pop) (Never Reissued)

OFB - SATURDAY NIGHTS...SUNDAY MORNINGS (1987)

 

OFB (a.k.a Our Favorite Band) was Maury O'Rourk (vocals, washboard, percussion) and Donald W.Spicer (all guitars, synthesizers). The duo released the Pink Cadillac 7" EP (1981) on Praxis Records (home of Jason & The Scorchers). A few years later, OFB recorded their sole album for Big Time / Praxis Records (it was also licensed to New Rose Records) with Michael Stipe, Steve Forbert, Jason Ringenberg and more as guest stars. If you've never heard of OFB, this is definitely not a power pop album but only a great album with heartfelt singing, popping instrumental breaks, and a freshness that could never exist in a museum of dead legacies. A lost gem produced by Donald Q.Spicer never reissued on CD. OFB was featured on the Buddy Holly Tribute.

  

WU OFB (282 mb)

The Midnight Special (Never Reissued)

VARIOUS - HANGIN' OUT AT... MIDNIGHT (1986)

 

A sample of 10 bands from the Midnight line, plus 2 bonus tracks from the Fuzztones (a 1982 demo with the original drummer) & The Love Pushers (featuring Mick London of Mod Fun and Howard Wuelfing of Paid Vacation) & cuts from Midnight Records LP's 117 thru 126.

WU MIDNIGHT (256 mb)

Another flawless Tribute (CD only)

HE'S A REBEL: THE GENE PITNEY STORY RETOLD (2002)

 

Produced by Lisa Mychols and Gary "Pig" Gold, this is a seventy-nine minute, twenty-six track homage to a great songwriter in flawless fashion. And, unlike some tribute albums that are more of a show-off of influences than a thank you, "He's A Rebel: The Gene Pitney Story Retold" is a true classic that walks alongside Pitney's own songs without needing to feel ashamed. The front cover is a pure rework of the original "Gene Pitney Story" album with Lisa Mychols replacing the original girl.

 

WU REBEL (509 mb)

Summer Songs Vol. 18 (2026)

VARIOUS - SUMMER POP (2026)

 

Just one week ahead of the 2026 Summer Day, here's my new volume of summer songs for this year. It's a PPA exclusive featuring 27 bands with many fresh releases of this year. As usual, the full set of artwork is included, every song has the original album image embedded. Now you can enjoy.

 

WU SUMMER (533 mb)

CD Edition with a Bonus Track (1993)

E-I-E-I-O - THAT LOVE THANG (1988)

 

Ranked #166 in John Borack's Ultimate Power Pop Guide (2008)

 

Here are the few words written by John Borack in the book.
"A nice mixture of sassy roots-rock and pure pop, highlighted by the harmony fiesta "Words Falling Down" and the groovin' "Andy Warhol's Dead But I'm Not". The latter tune was penned by bassist Richard Szeluga, formerly of the late '70s Midwestern power pop act The Names (Why Can't It Be)".

WU THANG (281 mb)

Criminally Overlooked Gem (US LP Edition)

INTERVIEW - INTERVIEW (aka Snakes & Lovers) (1980)

 

Hailing from Bath (UK), Interview released their second album "Snakes & Lovers" (aka "Interview" in the USA, different artwork, different track order) in 1980 with no support from their record company. It was ignored by radio and the music press but it's a brilliant album which was produced by Mick Glossop.

 

It's only 30 years later that a member / writer of the band Alan Brain surfaced again with a solo album "One Way Ticket to Happytown".

 

The UK release had the following track order with the single opening the set:
Hide And Seek / Adventurers / It's Over Now / The Conqueror / To The People
Style On Seaview / A Gift  / I Hope It's Me / Crossing Borders / Until I Hold Her / Union Men

WU SNAKES(284 mb)

Another Tribute From Atlanta (Ga)

HERE NO EVIL - A TRIBUTE TO THE MONKEES (1992)

"Here No Evil", a predominantly New South and roots rock tribute to the Monkees, was released on an Atlanta, GA, label and displays a distinct regional sensibility. The most famous Contributors include Peter Holsapple ("You Just May Be the One") and Mitch Easter (a great version of "Valleri" on which he plays all the instruments).

 

WU HERE (405 mb)

Back Of My Hand Anthology (PPA Exclusive)

VARIOUS - BACK OF MY HAND (I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER) (2026)

 

Here's a special PPA collection featuring the three different versions of the famous power pop anthem plus 18 covers (some really good ones but also a few flaws) of the song.

 

1- The original 7" and 12" EP version was produced by Jon Astley and Phil Chapman.
 

2- The LP version uses the same recording as version 1, but Chris Blackwell schlepped in The Buggles who remixed the song with additional synths and keyboard parts. Nick Watkinson's opinion about the Buggles duo was "a waste of bloody time, they butchered everything we did. It was frightening"
 

3- The third version is a complete re-recording produced by Simon Humphries and The Jags and it was included on the compilation The Best of The Jags.

  

WU BACK OF MY HAND (477 mb)

The 1st Jags LP (French Edition)

THE JAGS - EVENING STANDARDS (1980)

 

As a matter of fact, "Evening Standards" is long out of print and has never been reissued on a standalone CD, but it was included along the band's second LP, "No Tie Like A Present" on "The Best of the Jags" CD. Nevertheless that anthology didn't include the LP version of "Back Of My Hand" (remixed by the Buggles) and therefore different from the version of the original UK single and also the 12" EP of "Back of My Hand" aka the "4-Track 12inch E.P", it was instead a complete re-recording produced by Simon Humphries and The Jags. The french LP has the same track order as the UK LP but is totally different from the U.S. LP edition which had "Back of My Hand" opening the album.

  

WU FRENCH LP (342 mb)

An Overlooked Tribute from Atlanta (Ga)

LOVE IN SONG: AN ATLANTA TRIBUTE TO SIR PAUL McCARTNEY (2000)

A year before the two Oglio Records tributes "Coming Up" & "Listen To What The Man Said", there was this little known tribute featuring 20 bands from the Atlanta area. A surprisingly consistent and listenable tribute. It is also interesting to find Star Collector (the U.S. band) on this independent tribute but also on the more widely available "Listen To What The Man Said".

WU ATLANTA (451 mb)