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)

Treva without Arrogance, but produced by Don Dixon

 THE GRAPHIC - PEOPLE IN GLASS (1984)

Two years after her solo mini album, Treva is now part of a band "The Graphic", they recorded this mini album produced by Don Dixon. They also released a cassette in 1987. The band was lead by Brad Newell who later was a member of two excellent Power Pop bands from North Carolina "Poppy Nosh" and "Stratocruiser".

The Graphic played extensively around the East Coast from Boston to Key West, and as far West as Nashville and Chicago. They opened for such 80s bands as Duran Duran, Psychedelic Furs, Living Color, The Smithereens, Marshall Crenshaw, Icicle Works, and many others

 WU (170 mb)

 

 Important Note

The latest posts were part of the old vinyl rips that never were posted on PPC, they were found recently

in my vaults. As a matter of fact, i'm totally unable to make new vinyl rips due to my hearing problem.

 

DIGITAL REISSUE

But, while i was browsing around, i found out that The Graphic mini album had been reissued in digital format on Bandcamp "Name Your Price" with  a bonus track "I Flew Like A Bird", a song that was originally included on two North Carolina compilations posted on PPC: "More Mondo" (1985) and "Welcome To Comboland" (1986).

Treva with Arrogance and Mitch (Never Reissued)

 TREVA SPONTAINE - S'IL VOUS PLAIT (1982)

 

Hailing from North Carolina, Treva Spontaine was in school at UNC- Chapel Hill when she first met Don Dixon. His band Arrogance provided the PA system for Chapel Hill's annual festival where Spontaine was playing with her trio. So, naturally she recorded this mini album with Don Dixon producing and Arrogance as the backing band plus Mitch Easter (Sneakers), a Sneakers song giving its name to the album "S"il Vous Plait".

She was later known as Treva Spontaine & The Graphic, releasing another mini album in 1984 as The Graphic. It's only in 1999 that Treva made another album "Better Late Than Never" with Don Dixon again as producer.

  WU (129 mb)

This Is The Story Of A Band Named Teddy Boys (Never Reissued)

THE  TEDDY BOYS - ON AIR (1980)

 

Originally known as Barrelhouse, Paul Asgeirson (guitar, vocals) and Steve Marian (guitar, vocals) formed the Teddy Boys in the late '70s with bassist Steve Ostick, drummer Julian Bernas, and keyboard player George Marian. The Winnipeg-based band signed with WEA and recorded their debut and only album "On Air", in 1980. Then the band later changed its name to Berlin and following the release of their Young Warrior LP in 1982 (more new wave than power pop), the band wound up embroiled and a well publicized lawsuit with the American act of the same name. After years of wrangling, the act folded due to their heavy legal debt.

 

  WU (237 mb)

A Power Pop Cassette Release Only (Never Reissued)

 POPKIDS ARE GO! (1995)

(A COLLECTION OF SO..CALIFORNIA POP)

 

An old and quite rare collection of power pop compiled by Tony Perkins, better known as Martin Luther Lennon. The compilation features some famous bands but also some obscure ones. Never posted on PPC, the album was a cassette only release and has never been reissued.

 

  WU (444 mb)