DISCOVERED
I stumbled across this one a few years back, and threw this into music rotation on the spot. Everything that Power-Pop is supposed to be, fun, full of energy and melodic.
2-4-6-8 MOTORWAY
Riff Raff - Little Girls Know (1980)
DISCOVERED
Here is something that I just discovered and very happy I did. If a Power Pop Band called Riff Raff, that never made an album but have several singles.They reminds me of a rawer version of Dire Straits meet Steve Miller. Great Stuff!
LITTLE GIRLS KNOW
Angry Samoans - Inside My Brain (1980)
DISCOVERED
Never heard this but this will be going into musical rotation. This should and might have been played In Cutter's basement. This is very reminiscent of the music I was into at that time. I am featuring the longest track on this release, which is 2:04
Never heard this but this will be going into musical rotation. This should and might have been played In Cutter's basement. This is very reminiscent of the music I was into at that time. I am featuring the longest track on this release, which is 2:04
YOU STUPID ASSHOLE
John Carpenter - Escape From New York (Soundtrack) (1981)
Memory
One of my favorites movies of all time. Very surprised it hasn't been remade. I am not for redoing Classics, and to me this is a Classic however, apparently Hollywood doesn't agree with that. Call Me, Snake
One of my favorites movies of all time. Very surprised it hasn't been remade. I am not for redoing Classics, and to me this is a Classic however, apparently Hollywood doesn't agree with that. Call Me, Snake
MAIN TITLE - ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK
Flint - Flint (1979)
DISCOVERED
Never heard of Flint, so I didn't know what to expect. First song I heard, I loved it.It has a Chicago (The band) feel to it. After a little more research this band is what was left over from Grand Funk Railroad. There is some of the Funk from Grand Funk on some of these tunes.All in all, it's like Grand Funk with a touch of Hall and Oates. Good Stuff!
BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN
Tom Robinson - Tom Robinson Band (1981)
DISCOVERED
I stumbled on a song by these guys a while back and never gave them a good listen. Musically they remind me of Joe Jackson meets The Members with a little bit of Madness. The first three tracks could be classified in different genres and without any knowledge you wouldn't even think it was the same band. It's not as good as I thought but it may grow on me.
2-4-6-8 MOTORWAY
Madness - 7 (1981)
DISCOVERED
I am only familiar with their hits and never dove in their musical arsenal. This isn't as iconic as some of their other recordings after this release but definitely worth a listen. To me it lacks the energy and fun that they we are accustomed to, but Sugg's vocals never fail to deliver. It wasn't until the seventh song on this album named seven that I found something Madness worthy.
GREY DAY
Private Lightning - Private Lightning (1980)
DISCOVERED
I never heard of this band from 1980, and didn't know what to expect. Private Lightning is a Power Pop band. It has an Euro feeling and sound to it but these guys are from Boston. The opening track "Physical Speed" has all the elements of the early songs MTV played during it's debut year. The band sounds a lot like 80s pop version of Alan Parsons, mixed with Blue Oyster Cult , a touch of Kansas and Al Stewart. Wow, this is really good. I am three tracks in and it still has me wanting to hear more. This is going into musical rotation. It wasn't until the 5th song where it kinda lost me.. It wasn't bad, just not as good as the previous four.
PHYSICAL SPEED
The Searchers - Love's Melodies (1981)
DISCOVERED
At first glance I thought this was a reissue or a compilation of either unreleased songs or earlier hits. It's not. It a reinvention of their former selves. I didn't really know what to expect. It's fantastic. It has that 60s feel with a modern flair. I am putting this into musical rotation.
SEPTEMBER GURLS
Sharp Ties - Get That Beat (1981)
DISCOVERED
Obscure New Wave with a touch of Two Tone. LOVE IT!! Perfect example of why i am listening to everything I can find released between 1977 and 1981. If you like melodic synth Pop you will love this. Reminds me a little bit like Split Enz meets The Specials.
Obscure New Wave with a touch of Two Tone. LOVE IT!! Perfect example of why i am listening to everything I can find released between 1977 and 1981. If you like melodic synth Pop you will love this. Reminds me a little bit like Split Enz meets The Specials.
GET THAT BEAT
Glider - Glider (1977)
DISCOVERED
This is a nice rock release that failed to hit my radar in 1977. There are a lot of really good songs on this. Reminds me a bit 10cc meets Toto with a bit more grit. Now the song I want to feature doesn't have a link to it o this is a link to the full album, pointed to start where the song starts. Feel free to listen to it all. You should love it.
BUSTIN' OUT
Shot in the Dark - Shot in the Dark (1981)
DISCOVERED
From the first track I heard, it's a hidden gem that got buried in the onslaught of music in the overly music saturated year of 1981. This reminds me a lot of April Wine meets Blue Oyster Cult. Wow this is really good. Easily going into musical rotation. Doing a little more research on who Mark Santers is. It's made up of brothers Mark and Rick, and no other musical connections. SO an obscure band with an incredible sound. This is a HOLY SHIT!
TIME AFTER TIME
Carpenters - Passage (1977)
DISCOVERED
I have just come to realize something. I find the Carpenter's music soothing and enjoyable. II's her voice. It's hypnotic. I never even considered The Carpenters as something I would ever listen to. It deserves a place here.
ALL YOU GET FROM LOVE IS A LOVE SONG
Fist – Hot Spikes (1980)
DISCOVERED
Looking at the cover this looks like rock and roll, it isn't as hard as I was thinking it would be and this is more or less Power Pop. It has some keyboards throughout and at times are more dominant than the guitars. The title track offers either a more gravel type vocal that the test of the album and comes off as 'trying too hard.'Overall very easy on the ears.
IT'S A SIN
The Flesh Eaters - No Questions Asked (1980)
MEMORY
Another one from THE TAPE! SWEET! I forgot about this song. Now I can listen to the rest of the album to see what other gems are on here. From the first few songs, there is only one on here worth any mention. Pony Dress and Agony Shorthand are the only potential songs that to me is listenable. I was really hoping for a little more here. There are some really brilliant moments of music here, but ruined by some over the top goofiness. So All in All, I am a little disappointed.
SLEEPING SICKNESS
The Drones - Further Temptations (1977)
DISCOVERED
I don't know why this wasn't played in Cutter's basement. I never hear of this band or album. Although the cover looks very familiar,This has all the making of an AWESOME punk band from the late seventies. Instant rotation, this is the kind of music I grew up with in my late teens. Can't get enough of this stuff..and bonus... A cover!
BE MY BABY
Golden Earring - Grab It for a Second (1978)
DISCOVERED
For the life of me, I can't understand why Golden Earring never got an recognition other than Radar Love & Twilight Zone. ME included...There are many many bands that aren't as good that have a lot more popular. This is a solid 70s Rock and Roll album.
GRAB IT FOR A SECOND
Eddie & the Hot Rods - Life on the Line (1977)
DISCOVERED
Early Seventies Power Pop is one of my faves, and from 77 a definite must...Reminds me of The Knack meet The Romantics. Man, the bass on this kicks ass.
Early Seventies Power Pop is one of my faves, and from 77 a definite must...Reminds me of The Knack meet The Romantics. Man, the bass on this kicks ass.
DO ANYTHING YOU WANNA DO
The Cichlids - Be True to Your School (1980)
DISCOVERED
This has to be the result of the cacophony of music that erupted as this was something that I clearly missed when it came out. Female New Wave was one of my dominant genres. Some of the songs are funny and campy but still done very well. I appreciate the Male/Female vocal lead trade off, it gives them a little more depth. And what is this... a cover? NICE!!
THESE BOOT WERE MADE FOR WALKIN'
Shotgun - The Good, The Bad & Funky (1978)
DISCOVERED
It is so hard to find GOOD Funk in the late 70s that doesn't cross genre into Disco or R&B. Not every song is as good as the title track but still a decent listen.
GOOD, BAD & FUNKY
Bram Tchaikovsky - Pressure (1980)
DISCOVERED
Another found gem in the world of Power Pop. There is some fine guitar work on here. This reminds me a bit of The Knack meets The Vapors. Needless to say this will be added into Musical Rotation.
Another found gem in the world of Power Pop. There is some fine guitar work on here. This reminds me a bit of The Knack meets The Vapors. Needless to say this will be added into Musical Rotation.
THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
White Heat - In Zero Hour (1980)
DISCOVERED
Wow, this is fucking amazing! This is one of the best Power Pop albums I have ever heard. THIS, THIS is why I decided to do this....albums like this.
Instant add to the music rotation
THE CITY BEAT
Phoenix - In Full View (1980)
DISCOVERED
I never heard of this band or album before today. It's a solid rock effort with catchy hooks and excellent vocal harmonies. Saxophones with complementing keyboards and polished vocals. Loved it. This is going into rotation.
I never heard of this band or album before today. It's a solid rock effort with catchy hooks and excellent vocal harmonies. Saxophones with complementing keyboards and polished vocals. Loved it. This is going into rotation.
JUST ANOTHER DAY
Cats - Cats (1980)
DISCOVERED
I didn't expect to find much on this based on the Title, Cats in the 80s was solely pointed as the over rated craptastic Musical by over more overrated Andrew Lloyd Weber. Any how, I wish I could find more, the track I would is incredible.
I didn't expect to find much on this based on the Title, Cats in the 80s was solely pointed as the over rated craptastic Musical by over more overrated Andrew Lloyd Weber. Any how, I wish I could find more, the track I would is incredible.
CATS - ON THE PROWL
