JIMMY SILVA - REMNANTS OF THE EMPTY SET (1986)

A few months ago, "Fly Like A Dog" the second Jimmy Silva's LP was posted on this blog. Before "Fly Like A Dog", there was Jimmy's debut, the fabulous "Remnants of the Empty Set", with guest appearances by Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken and Beau Brummels singer Sal Valentino. After a stint in Vietnam, Silva played around the Bay Area with his band the Empty Set in the early '70s, but it wasn't until the next decade that he was discovered and embraced by indie-pop fans. Originally released in 1986 on PopLlama Records (home of the Posies and the Young Fresh Fellows) , the LP salvages some swell songs from the defunct band's repertoire, with the warm-voiced Silva sharing lead vocals with a variety of pals. In 1991, "Remnants" (featuring the original version of "Hand of Glory" covered the same year by The Smithereens) was included on the "Heidi" CD as bonus tracks plus 3 songs from the same sessions. So, you'll find below both versions of the album with the original artwork of the vinyl LP. So grab the one you wish or even both if you want to be able to compare the two versions.

The Vinyl Edition (1986)
Fair Exchange / The Hand Of Glory / Weight Of The Wind / Everytime A Gift / I've Got Time / Train Crossing / The Only One You Hurt Is You / Through A Faraway Window / Lathe

The CD Edition with 3 bonus tracks (as included on Heidi) (1991)
Fair Exchange / The Hand Of Glory / Weight Of The Wind / Everytime A Gift / I've Got Time / Train Crossing / The Only One You Hurt Is You / The Branch / Name That's A Number / Through A Faraway Window / Lathe / Doesn't Matter At All

CHARLIE FAWN - CHARLIE FAWN (1980)

1979 saw the release of "Blue Skies", Charlie Fawn's first single for Warner Bros / Hansa, a song which whilst rocking along with the energy of punk/new wave took a more melodic approach. There were high hopes of great success at Warners in Soho, London and at Hansa in Bruton St. W1. With a Mike Mansfield video made and personal appearances round the UK, all looked set for the charts. However, due to over-zealous promotion by the record company, the single was unceremoniously dispatched to the bargain bins amid great disappointment. Follow-up single "Hothead Handshake Tremble" was a wonderful Northern Soul / Mod influenced pop record. It received very favourable reviews and looked like going all the way, but yet again due to, this time, failure to air on Juke Box Jury, which didn't appear on the TV that week, the single quickly lost impetus and disappeared! At the same time as the Warners / Hansa singles, an eponymous LP was made, produced by Tom McGuinness and Lou Stonebridge. Engineered by Richard Dodd, puzzlement remains to this day as to why the LP wasn't promoted and received virtually no recognition. The extraordinary thing is that today the LP is a coveted and much-praised album amongst fans of power pop / New Wave. Vinyl collectors across the world buy and sell Charlie's singles and LP now, which is at last some vindication of their quality.punkmodpop 

Songs
Hothead Handshake Tremble / Blue Skies / Poet For A Generation / Paper Trails / Pull Your Punch / Playthings / One In Three / Death Or Glory Brigade / Your Place My Place / Man Of Wars / Step By Step / Alibis

ROGER C.REALE & RUE MORGUE - RADIOACTIVE (1978)

This is the third part of the Big Sound label. After the Hilly Michaels and G.E. Smith posts, it is time to go on with Roger C.Reale who involved both of the aforementioned in his band Rue Morgue. This band consisted of Roger on bass and lead vocals, G.E. Smith on guitar, and Hilly Michaels on drums. After the release of their first LP, G.E. left the band to take a gig with Dan Hartman who was touring in support of his big hit, "Instant Replay". Rue Morgue returned to the Trod Nossel studios with Jimmy MacAllister (see The Beckies and Sparks) and Mick Ronson on guitar. Some tracks were recorded but none were completed or released. All of the three band members are featured on Bionic Gold (a tribute to Phil Spector).

Special Note : The US version of the album was ripped by ian r. I made the artwork with the scans provided. The U.K version had two bonus tracks not included here.

Songs
High Society / Dear Dad / Stop and Go / Pain Killer / Kill Me / Reach for the Sky / Madonna's Last Stand / Please Believe Me / Inside Outside / I Can't Control Myself

G.E. SMITH - IN THE WORLD (1981)

Wayne's World, Wayne's World....excellent...It's a shame more people haven't heard this smart, unappreciated album produced by Bob Clearmountain. G.E. can craft a sharp hook and he knows how to say what he has to in three or so minutes and wrap it up neatly - no long fadeouts here. AMG
If you do remember the SNL years, you do know G.E. Smith. George Edward "G.E." Smith is an American guitarist. He was the lead guitarist in the band Hall and Oates and the musical director of Saturday Night Live. A session player who has performed and recorded with an exceptionally wide spectrum of influential artists, Smith's own albums include "In The World" (1981), "Get A Little" (with the Saturday Night Live Band, 1993) and "Incense, Herbs and Oils" (1998). As a teenager, Smith left the Poconos for the New Haven, Connecticut area, where he played for the legendary Scratch Band (see "Bionic Gold" the Phil Spector Tribute). SNL also provided Smith with a songwriting opportunity when Mike Myers asked him to help write a tune. Mike Myers had this bit, called "Wayne's World", and he needed a theme song. Aerosmith was the musical guest that week, so Mike and G.E. sat down and wrote a song that Aerosmith could sing and play along with. "Wayne's World" became a hit film, the soundtrack (and song) a platinum-selling smash hit....excellent...

Special Note : The album rip is part of a "swapping deal" between a huge american powerpop fan and me. I made the artwork and worked a little on the original wave files provided.

Songs
Heart Frozen Up / Real Love / Rita / The Blind Boy Rag / Nuns With Guns / Powerman / Sad About Girls / Fake O' the Land / James Brown / In the World

THE PATRIOTS - PHARAOH'S LAND...PLUS (1986)

As you may have read in the previous post, The Patriots were from Philadelphia. The merseybeat/fab four sound was a major infuence. Originally they only had four songs officially released on the Bam Caruso split LP with the Chicaynes. But they also recorded a bunch of demos. Those six demos, including a cover of a Left Banke's "Let Go Of You Girl", show how much The Patriots were a promising act. Just listen to the amazing "Last Night", one more unreleased lost gem.

Special note : The deal was for me to make a special artwork for an unofficial expanded Pharaoh's Land LP in order to get the demos. So, i included the four official songs to make a 10-song LP. Some of the sound due to an unknown generation tape is not always of hi-fi quality. We hope the listener will keep this in mind. This is an exclusive release to PPC.

Songs (as featured in the official release)
It Don't Show / She Loves You Too / Hey Don't You Know / That Way

Demos
Last Night / She's My Kind Of Girl / Let Go Of You Girl / The Spirit Is Willing / Polynesian Walk / No Radio

THE PATRIOTS / THE CHICAYNES (1986)
PHARAOH'S LAND / SECOND THOUGHTS

In 1986, Bam Caruso released a split LP with one side devoted to an english combo The Chicaynes and the other side was by an obscure US band from Philadelphia (PA). While you might already know The Chicaynes just because they had released a single in 1981 (Cry A Little/Further Thoughts). The Patriots was rather more mysterious. These four songs are their only official release even though it does exist some amazing unreleased demos. The Patriots were one of the best Beatlesque bands of the era. The LP was featured in the John Borack list at 148.

The Chicaynes
Another Pretty Face / Laughing Gas / Further Thoughts / Giedon 'O' / Cry A Little

The Patriots
It Don't Show / She Loves You Too / Hey Don't You Know / That Way

REGGIE KNIGHTON - REGGIE KNIGHTON (1977)

Reggie Knighton joined The Grass Roots in 1975. Reggie was friend with their keyboardist/vocalist Dennis Provisor. Dennis and Reggie were mutual fans of one another's solo projects and when an opening in the 'Roots came up, Dennis Provisor got Reggie an audition."
After leaving The Grass Roots, Reggie Knighton signed a deal with CBS, and the eponymously titled album in 1977 was released. Reggie was given the freedom to produce it himself. Having been used to working parsimoniously with modest equipment in his 4-track home studio, Reggie Knighton was able to make the first record on a very small budget and yet all the while feel that he had all the resources he could possibly need at his disposal. Then, Reggie formed the Reggie Knighton Band with Brian Ray (later with Paul McCartney) and released the second album, "Reggie Knighton Band", which was a whole different kettle of fish. It was very much a "band" affair. None of the Reggie's albums have been reissued on CD. Reggie Knighton

Songs

Every Night / Fidelity / Girl From Pluto / Drug Dealer/ VD Got To Idi / Public Servant / Tricentennial Woman / Glows In The Dark / Jenny / All Night Long.

DUCKS DELUXE - JUMPIN' (1975)

After Nick Garvey left, Sean Tyla, Martin Belmont and Tim Roper carried on with the addition of bassist Micky Groom. But their record company RCA dropped them and instead of a third LP, they recorded an EP released on the french label Skydog. The songs featured on the EP would be later available on the RCA compilation "Don't Mind Rockin' Tonite" (1978) and the 1998/2006 Slydog CD "All Too Much", an expanded version of the original EP.

Note: I included a special TV appearance of the band performing "Coast to Coast" on Old Grey Whistle Test (1974)

Songs
I Fought the Law / Something's Going On / Jumpin' In The Fire / Here Comes The Night

DUCKS DELUXE - LAST NIGHT OF A PUB ROCK BAND (1979)

Ducks Deluxe decided to pack it in just before the summer of '75. Although their music was great and while they had an audience in many parts of the world, they were right about it. They were practically broke, complications there were many, they hired Billy Rankin after Tim Roper's sudden departure and also Brinsley Schwarz to their line-up. Their had left their record company RCA and split with their manager Dai Davies. So with Sean Tyla and Martin Belmont trying to make the Ducks survive they saw other things happening and despite favorable criticism (they had a very fanatic following in France) but forced by poverty and bitterness they decided to quit it all came together that night at the 100 club in Oxford Street, they played practically their whole scale of songs. Martin Belmont and his Flying Fender take the honors in two Creedence songs and a great reggae version of "Here Comes the Night" on which Brinsley plays sax. It is also Brinsley who plays some fabulous Chuck Berry guitar on "Little Queenie" and "Run, Rudolph Run". Nick Garvey had left considerable time before and Micky Groom had taken his place, but they still played Garvey's "Coast to Coast". They also got a score of their friends on stage : Martin Stone, Lee Brilleaux (Route 66), Nick Lowe and Bob Andrews took the lead vocals on "Brown Sugar" and "Midnight Rambler".

Note for the listeners
Recorded live at the 100 Club July 1st 1975. Released semi-officially in 1979 on Dynamite Records. The recordings reproduced on this 2 LP-set were recorded with a simple two-track recorder. Some of the sound either due to limited recording facilities or poor sound on stage is not of hi-fi quality. We hope the listener will keep this in mind whenever.

Set List

Intro / Fireball / Proud Mary / Trouble / Midnight Moon / The Mighty Quuen / Here Comes The Night / Knocking On Heaven's Door / Have You Ever Seen The Rain / Amsterdam Dog / Jumpin' In The Fire / Run Rudolph Run / Teenage Head */ Coast To Coast / (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 / Encore / Little Queenie / Brown Sugar / Midnight Rambler / Going Down The Road

THE DODGERS (1976)

It started as a demo session for John Wilson and Dave Powell but then Tom Evans and Bob Jackson harmonized very good with the other two musicians, so that they decided to form a band together. Dave Powell made the proposal to call the band the Dodgers. They selected two songs out of their sessions for the first single, which was released in March 1976. Another two songs were released in June as the second single of the Dodgers. Shortly after the release of the second single Dave Powell left the group. In August Paul Hooper could finally join the Dodgers. The group started to record their debut album and a first single of this line-up was released in early 1977. In April the group's management decided that Tom Evans did not fit to the group's image and therefore he was asked to leave. Bob Jackson

Special note: All of the three Dodgers singles have been sent to me by a blog reader called Superflash. No artwork was included but the overall quality of the rips is quite excellent. Those singles are pretty scarce, so thank you to Superflash for these rarities. More Dodgers here.

Don't Let Me Be Wrong [Island WIP 6292]
Don't Let Me Be Wrong / Get To You

Just Wanna Love You [Island WIP 6342]
Just Wanna Love You / Don't Know What You're Doing

Down [Island WIP 6361]
Down / Don't Let Me Be Wrong

TRIBUTE TO THE FAB FOUR - 1965 (aka.. For Sale) (2008)

If you're familiar with the PPC blog, you can remember all the previous Fab Four albums revisited. Actually i posted the fifth part "Socorro!" before this one just because i had no worthy cover of "What You're Doing". So i asked Thierry from William Pears' fame to record a brand new version of that song for this tribute. Today, i can post the fourth part of the Fab Four Tributes Series courtesy of William Pears.

Special note: The booklet artwork is based upon the scarce french sleeve of the fourth album, 1965 was the name of that LP.

Bands
The Meatles / Pat DiNizio / John Doe / The Backbeat Band / David Ball / The Beats / Tribute To The Cats Band / The Punkles / Shoes / Marc Bolan & T.Rex / Left End / The Savoys / William Pears / Johnny Cash

THE COUNT BISHOPS - GOOD GEAR (1977)

After the Speedball EP (1975), Mike Spencer quit the band. And before Dave Tice stepped in, The Count Bishops recorded "Good Gear" one of the last two releases on Dynamite before fate dealt a blow. The album, never reissued in CD format was recorded in Holland with the Exalto Mobile live at Boddy’s for the first half and at the Zijkanaal-F Stdio in Ruigoord (near Amsterdam) for the 2nd. half. It is an album of R&B covers played at maximum energy. Then the Count Bishops recorded two full-lengths albums "The Count Bishops" (1977) and "Cross Cuts" (1979), both remastered and reissued in 2005.

Songs
Dont' Start Crying Now / Shake / Walkin' The Dog / Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight / I Want Candy / Wang Dang Doodle / Dear Dad / Confessin' The Blues / Little By Little / Carol / Johnny B Goode / Dust My Blues / Shake Your Moneymaker

THE BISHOPS - LIVE! (1978)

After dropping the "Count" from their name, The Bishops recorded a hunk of greasy rock and R&B that's not the most original record you're likely to hear; but it is fun, loud, sloppy and endearing. Vocalist Dave Tice's growl is a hoot, as are the Chuck Berry pyrotechnics of Johnny Guitar. Two great covers: Fleetwood Mac's barroom anthem "Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked in Tonight" and The Standells' "Good Guys Don't Wear White." As the old saying goes: made loud to be played loud! AMG
The Live! album (originally available as a 10" LP) has never been reissued in CD format, except a part of it available on "The Best Of". In 1979, a few singles were pulled out from the "Crosscuts" album (reissued 2005 in CD format) providing some unreleased stuff included here.

Live!
Too Much, Too Soon / Till The End Of The Day / Taking It Easy / Train, Train / Someone's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight / Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White / Don't Start Me Talking / Baby You're Wrong / I Don't Like It / (I Want) Candy

....plus some b sides bonus...most of them unavailable on any album or CD...

I Want Candy [Chiswick NS 3710]
I Want Candy / See That Woman







Mr Jones [Chiswick CHIS 111]
Mr Jones / Human Bean / Route 66 (Live At The Roundhouse)

THE ULTIMATE POWER POP GUIDE - VOLUME 9 (2008)

Tributes or not tributes, you may like them or not. One way or another, powerpop has its roots in the past, and tributes albums will always be enjoyable in their own way. This is the 9th volume of the Ultimate Power Pop Guide, the one devoted to the tributes. Most of them are easy to purchase, only two are really tricky-to-find: Bobby Fuller (Our Favorite Texan) & The Left Banke (Shadows Breaking Over Our Heads). Both of them are out-of-print. Now for your info, The "Bobby Fuller Tribute" was only released in Japan, so try ebay...or powerpop criminal$ sooner or later.

mp3 / 192 mb
ZS

The List (Tributes)
Rank Tribute - Band (Song)

The top 10 tributes (there are two Sir Paul tributes)
1 Right To Chews - Linus Of Hollywood (I Enjoy Being A Boy...)
2 Melody Fair - Material Issue (Run To Me)
3 Sing Hollies In Reverse - Tommy Keene (Carrie Anne)
4 Shoe Fetish - Jeffrey Foskett (Your Very Eyes)
5 Come And Get It - Paranoid Lovesick (Icicles)
6 Lowe Profile - Bryan Shaddix (Couldnt Love You (Anymore Than I Do)
7 Coming Up - The Shazam (Helen Wheels)
8 Listen To What The Man Said - Sloan (Waterfalls)
9 Our Favorite Texan - Richard Barone (Nancy Jean)
10 Shadows Breaking Over Our Heads - Phenomenal Cats (I've Got...)
11 Substitution Mass Confusion - Johnny Monaco (Dangerous Type)

 Ten excellent tracks from tributes that didn't make the top 10
12 It Was 40 Years Ago - The Lackloves (Hey Bulldog)
13 What A Concept - Walter Clevenger & The Dairy Kings (About You)
14 The Stiff Generation - Bill Lloyd (Whole Wide World)
15 Everyday Is A Holly Day - Shoes (Words Of Love)
16 He's A Rebel - Gail George (Mr Moon, Mr Cupid and I)
17 He Was Fab - Sparkle*Jets UK (Devil's Radio)
18 Preserved - The Rubinoos (Cruisin' Music)
19 What The World Needs Now - Splitsville (I'll Never Fall In Love Again)
20 Left Of The Dial - The Masticators (Bastards Of Young)
21 Bonograph - Skeletons (It's The Little Things)

THE ULTIMATE POWER POP GUIDE - VOLUME 8 (2008)

And now the ultimate part of the Ultimate Power Pop Guide. Three albums (Ian North, Beat Rodeo and Richard Barone) are not available in CD format. A few other ones (The Semantics, Red Letter Day, The Yum Yums, Loveless ) are more or less tricky-to-find items (try ebay). The Buster's album has just been reissued in CD format by Airmail Recordings in Japan.

Special Note: i'd like to thank everybody for all the nice comments posted about this "huge" series...which could have some kind of a sequel...

mp3 / 193 mb
ZS

The List (176 -> 200)
Rank Band - Album (Song)

176 Ian North - Neo (She Kills Me)
177 Lisa Mychols - Lost Winter's Dream (Lost Winter's Dream)
178 The Wannadies - Aquanautic (Lucky You)
179 The Yum Yums - Singles 'n' Stuff (Be With Me)
180 The Brotherhood Of Lizards - Lizardland (The Happening Guy)
181 The Semantics - Powerbill (Coming Up Roses)
182 Loveless - A Tale Of Gin... (Sex, Drugs & Rock'n'Roll Are Dead)
183 Farrah - Me Too (He Gives An Inch)
184 The Bloody Chicletts - Presenting (Kaos)
185 Blue Ash - Around Again (Around Again)
186 Tremblers - Twice Nightly (She Was Something Else)
187 The Candyskins - Fun (Tired Of Being Happy)
188 Red Letter Day - Red Letter Day (She´s Varispeed)
189 E - A Man Called (E) (Nowheresville)
190 Beat Rodeo - Staying Out Late With (Just Friends)
191 The Carpet Frogs - Frog Curry (Lisa's New Dress)
192 Brainpool - Stay Free (Here's A Boy)
193 Liquor Giants - Something For The Kids (Don't Ever Leave Me)
194 Richard Barone - Nuts & Bolts (Lost Like Me)
195 Pendletones - Nothing Happened, You Just... (Work It Out)
196 The Winnerys - And...The Winnerys (That Magical Wonder)
197 Buster - Buster (We Love Girls)
198 Barry Holdship Four - The Jesse Garon Project (Words Of Wisdom)
199 Chewy Marble - Bowl Of Surreal (Tiny World)
200 The Waking Hours - The Good Way (Jade)