CAPTAIN SENSIBLE - THE UNIVERSE OF GEOFFREY BROWN (1993)

Spiralling out of the punk explosion of 1977 came The Damned, famous for releasing the very first punk single "New Rose". In early '79, the Captain switched to lead guitar and with "Machine Gun Etiquette" Sensible came into his own, splattering brilliant guitar over the whole album, and demonstrating blossoming songwriting skills. Then came "The Black Album", "Strawberries" and the first part of his solo career with the hits (1982). A few years later, after the excellent "Revolution Now" (1989) Sensible worked on the ambitious concept album "The Universe of Geoffrey Brown" and the final results were a staggering achievement, fulfilling the true potential of the man, placing him alongside Robyn Hitchcock, Martin Newell and Andy Partridge as a truly creative force. Mick Dillingham.

Special note: The album was first released on Humbug Records (Sensible's company) and later reissued in 1999. This is the original OOP edition.

Songs
Holiday in My Heart / Come on Geoffry Brown / Getting to Me / Street of Shame / Geoff Loosens His Tie / Home / Govt. Dirty Tricks Dept. Luc1 / Life up in the Stars / Message / Trip to Cornwell / Universe of Geoffrey Brown

SPARKS - RELATIVITY (1979)


















"Relativity" is a HOAX.

It has never been released (promotional, official or unofficial). This was a total hoax launched by some guy who made the artwork and wanted to see how far this could go. If we consider the number of results with Google, we could see this as a successful move, but if you read some features about it, i would say this is rather lame to see a rock magazine not checking what it is written. Even better, some guys have tried to sell it on ebay or anywhere else. Finally, all the "torrents" shared around are fakes. So, if you read anything about, whatever it is, please don't believe it except this: HOAX and FUN TO BE SPREAD AROUND.

Special note: I got the HQ copy of the "HOAX" artwork by an european northerner mate. Please never sell, never buy this hoax, just give it. Of course, the album shared here today is only the "audio hoax" compiled with the best and most recent audio sources available.

Songs
Barbecutie / Lost And Found / Alabamy Right / Marry Me / Profile / Confusion / I Like Girls / Looks Aren't Everything / Gone With The Wind / Tearing The Place Apart / I Want To Hold Your Hand / England / The Wedding Of Jacqueline Kennedy To Russell Mael

SHANE FAUBERT NEWS

Shane Faubert (of Cheepskates fame) has launched his new blog, he intends to do a post per day. There won't be any download, but a journey through his all-time personal "best of"...but the best would be to read all about his "Album-a-day project". Feel free to support the project with your comments.

Apart from this new blog, Shane Faubert should release any day now his fourth solo album, a mere 12 years after his last album "Squirrelboy Blue".

THE ZARKONS - BETWEEN THE IDEA & THE REALITY (1988)

Hailing from Los Angeles, The Zarkons were led by Randy Stodola (vocals/guitar) and Dianne Chai (vocals/bass) with John McCarthy (drums). Formerly known as The Alley Cats (check their 1st album), this punk trio were a mainstay of the early L.A. punk scene. The name change along with an image and musical style change perhaps came from the fact that there were so many other "cats" bands around at the time (Stray Cats, Polecats, Rockats) and they were looking to differentiate themselves from that rockabilly sound that the other "cats" were making. They first released "Riders in The Long Black Parade" in 1985 and by the second album McCarthy was gone and Terry Cooley replaced him in the drum seat. Also added at this point was Freda Rente (vocals/bass). Source

Songs
Heart Full of Soul / Just Who We Are? / Rodeo Rider / Miasma of Illusion / Hunchback in the Park / Shoot the Moon / Among the Ruins / Dark Horse / In the Realm of the Zarkons

THE BREAKAWAYS - DEMOS EP (1978)

When The Nerves broke up in early 1978, Paul Collins and Peter Case formed The Breakaways (with a new guitarist Pat Stengl who played on the first Jack Lee's album). The Breakaways shared the refinement of The Nerves but had more of the raw, rocking style heard here on those four songs. The Breakaways split after they had recorded these demos.

Actually, The Breakaways recorded a bunch of 7 songs that were sent to Greg Shaw and Gary Sperrazza. So, three songs are missing in action, a reworked "Working Too Hard", the searing "One Way Ticket" (available on Bomp's Roots of Powerpop, plus "Many Roads To Follow" (available on the 2008's "One Way Ticket" Nerves Anthology). Of the four delivered here, "Everyday Things" was later recorded by The Plimsouls, "Little Susie" was only played live by Paul Collins while this "Walking Out On Love" version was available on Bomp's Waves Vol 1. Finally, Peter Case's "House On The Hill" remains unreleased.

Special note: The demos have been sent by a "fab" french friend who transferred them from his tape. I made a custom arwork based upon the original Nerves 7" EP.

Songs
House On The Hill / Little Suzie / Everyday Things / Walking Out On Love

MYSTICS - 33.33 (1985)

If you do remember the previous Mystics post of their "Dandies Are Back" LP (produced by Robin Wills of Barracudas fame)., you probably know The Mystics were based in Switzerland. You'll enjoy this limited edition (of 2000 on blue vinyl) of their final release, a 7-song mini album recorded live at Studio 11, Radio Suisse Romande, Geneva.

Special note: The rip has been sent by a spanish mate. I only stitched the parts of the scans provided

Songs
Strange Kind Of Man / Mother's Little Helper / Inside My Soul / Crazy 'bout My Automobile / 33-33 / Nightime / Love Have Mercy

AN UNAUTHORIZED TRIBUTE TO CHEAP TRICK (2009)

Of all the major Power Pop bands, Cheap Trick might be the only one with no proper "Power Pop" tribute (though there are a few ones i wouldn't categorize as Power Pop). And when it comes to review their 35-year career, this is totally weird there's not one, but maybe there's a Not Lame one in progress (i think i read about it a while ago). So, a couple months ago, i made up my mind to compile an unauthorized tribute with some "Power Pop" covers.

Special note: This album contains previously released material. Custom artwork included. Please check the CT Rarities at A.S.H. Blog.

Click on pix for details of the bands involved

DWIGHT TWILLEY - TULSA GIRL (1995)

"Tulsa Girl" was an unofficial album released around 1995. It featured outtakes and unreleased completed demos. As you may know it by now, Dwight Twilley has begun an amazing collection of "Rarities" (so far 5 volumes have been issued, there should be 8 volumes) available from Not Lame, Kool Kat as physical CD's or as digital downloads from iTunes, Amazon, eMusic.

Special note: Some of the songs featured on this unofficial CD have been totally remastered by Dwight Twilley for the official Dwight Twilley Rarities Collection. So, please purchase the real thing if you want to enjoy the HQ Twilley flood.

Songs
Tulsa Girl / I Wanna Be A Rebel / Shakin' In The Brown Grass / We Live In A Jungle / You Could Change It / Never Enough / Holdin' On / I Worry About You / I Wanna Have You / Gave It All Up For Rock & Roll / You / You Were So Warm / Rock Yourself Son / Come And See Me / Love Is A Train / Release Me / Hot Mama / Look Like An Angel / No Resistance / Lovin' Me / You're My Lover / Pop Bottle / Lightning

LAS CANCIONES DE LOS BEATLES - CAMPOS DE FRESAS (1995)

A tribute to the Fab Four featuring 16 spanish bands. It was first released in 1995 until it was quickly withdrawn due to some legal matters. Then, it was later reissued with 14 bands (the Los Brujos & Nando Gonzalez songs having been removed). This original edition is now out of print.

Click on pix for the details of the bands involved

TUBETOP
THREE MINUTE HERCULES (1997)THE LIVE ROOM KCMU SESSION (1996)

Consisting of the Posies former rhythm section Mike Musburger and Dave Fox, as well as primary songwriters Gavin Guss and Brian Naubert, TubeTop represents a gathering of Seattle power-pop veterans. The quartet's debut album "Three Minute Hercules", which contains two tracks produced by R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and was mixed by Posies singer/guitarist Jon Auer.

Here's a review by Bruce Brodeen in 1997.
"This foundational power pop features Mike Musberger and Dave Fox, both part of the ryhthm section for (classic era) The Posies and the producer of the Super Deluxe album "Famous" and a member of Popsickle. The results are even better than the combos above hint at!. This CD is like perfect combo of the Posies (a lot!) Greenberry Woods, Off Broadway and The Sneetches! Every song is a grabber...by the neck! High impact hooks, dead center, fastball plasma filled CD the kick start any self respecting pop fan needs on any given day! I, now expect big things from this band as they have crafted one of the best releases i've heard this year...sweet, sharp and delicious to the cream filled center. Transcendent Pop! 12 perfect songs."

Special note: This is a 320 rip of the album with artwork. I have also included a radio show recorded in 1996 for the Seattle radio station KCMU (now KEXP). I've made a special artwork for this show with elements of their original CD and of their first single "Bleeder".

THREE MINUTE HERCULES
Full Bloom / Erika Smiles / Passes For Love / M.I.A. / Bleeder / What You See / With You / If I Were You / Once Upon a China / Oceans Cracked / The Weight Of The World / The Rules

THE LIVE ROOM KCMU SESSION
Full Bloom / Wasn't Even There / Situation / Rope / Oceans Cracked / I Don't Believe You / Bleeder / With You / 5'1 / Interview / Passes For Love / So Blind / What You See / Rocking Chair / Erika Smiles / Love Germ / Achilles Word / Gonna See The Rollers

JOHN WICKS & PAUL COLLINS (2009)

Here are two videos from John & Paul's first appearance in May 2009.
The videos were filmed by Tom Weber Videos Services, Pittsburgh, PA.

"Her Stars Are My Stars" by John Wicks & Paul Collins from Tom Weber

"Hearts In Her Eyes" by John Wicks & Paul Collins from Tom Weber

I just received additional dates for Paul's tour. One thing to note is that the dates in France are not confirmed as of yet, so they are not as of yet included in the schedule. Here's the additional dates:

Italy
29th sep - Brescia - Lio Bar
30th sep - Cesena
01st oct - Roma
02nd oct - Thiene (VI) - Yourban
03rd oct - Piacenza - Madly Pub
04th oct - Domodossola (VB) - Oste live

Spain
10 Octobre - Viveiro - Teatro - Paul Collins Beat + Eric Blakely

Power Pop Kings Tour ( John Wicks - Paul Collins Beat - Eric Blakely )
15 Oct - Bilbao - El balcon de Lola
16 Oct - Madrid - El Sol
17 Oct - Valencia - Wah Wah

Note the "Power Pop Kings" dates. They will feature both John AND Paul with a full band, rockin' out.

VARIOUS - GET YOUR HOOKS ON ROUTE 66 (2009)

A few weeks ago, just after the "Illinois vs. California" i made with Curt from the PPO blog, Curt had the idea of a compilation about the Route 66. The process was rather slow 'til the day Curt hit the road and i had completed the "Summer Songs" compilation. So, a few days ago i worked again on the project and finally completed it. Of course, one 80 minutes compilation for the Route 66 is rather short, but all the states between Illinois and California are featured with some famous bands and lesser known acts.

Special note: Please take notice of the song title of the track #14 featured on the compilation.

Click on pix for details of the bands involved.

THE DECIBELS - CREATE ACTION! (1997)


















LINK REMOVED BY REQUEST

Originally The Decibels formed in early '93. When Dean & Joe (who knew each other from back in the day when Joe was in The Kincaids and Dean was in the E-Types) called up Kevin (former E-Type drummer) to try to get a band together. Joe played Bass, Dean Guitar and Kevin drums. Due to other projects, The Decibels were on a hiatus until 1996, when with a new drummer Brian Machado, the Decibels were back in business and in 1996-1997 "Create Action!" was recorded. In early '01 the Decibels released "The Big Sounds of the Decibels." ...and that brings us up to 2002 with "The Bart Thurber sessions". Source CDBaby.

Songs
Good / Change / But I Love You / She Cries / Allison / Kerosene / Whole Wide World / (So You're) In Love Again / Something Good To Go By / Go Away / Can't Play Tag Alone / Some People / Create Action!

GREG KIHN BAND - AUDIMAX, HAMBURG (1978)

The Greg Kihn Band recorded live for the famous german TV show in 1978. This is the complete set of which four songs were available on the Beserkley german-only compilation "Bezerk Times".

Songs

Future Girl / Madison Avenue / Love's Made A Fool Out Of You / For You / Cold Hard Cash / Satisfied / Untie My Hands / Secret Meetings / All The Right Reasons / Telstar / Roadrunner

Also available is the DivX rip of the DVD (see below)

Special note: Compressed from DVD to DivX 6.8. Two-pass compression. Resolution 680x480 NTSC. A custom DVD artwork was made for the PPC blog. You need all four parts to unrar the video. Running time: 59'23. Size: 610mb

Full resolution artwork: Click here.

Video 1 - 2 - 3 - 4

Future Girl / Madison Avenue / Love's Made A Fool Out Of You / For You / Cold Hard Cash / Satisfied / Untie My Hands / Secret Meetings / All The Right Reasons / Telstar / Roadrunner