BRYAN ESTEPA - SALA MATISSE (2009)

In 2009, Bryan Estepa toured Spain to promote his second full length CD "Sunday Best", the show was recorded in Valencia at Sala Matisse on the 25th of September.

Part of Sydney’s music scene for an extended period, Estepa has been in such popular indie bands Down Under as Swivel and Hazey Jane. During a brief spell between those bands, Estepa stuck his toes in the water as a solo artist long enough to record an EP under the name Adeline in 2003. He fully embraced a solo career in 2006 when he released his first full-length CD, "All The Bells and Whistles", which was filled to the brim with catchy pop containing smidges of alt.country. Loved by the critics, the album was a great first step for Estepa to test his solo skills and try to find his footing.
"Sunday Best" is a stronger effort, with Estepa seeming much more confident and the songs more fully realized than his previous solo work. Self-produced with assistance from Dan Nash, "Sunday Best" seems to be a culmination of everything Estepa has accomplished and learned so far. Full of breathtaking melodies and inventive arrangements, this pop wunderkind makes one wonder how long it will be before he’s the next big thing. Gorgeous stuff and perfect for those who love the glorious sounds of well done pop music. Source

Bryan Estepa is currently working on his 3rd album which will be produced by Michael Carpenter.

Special note: I got the show from a spanish mate at the Alta Tension and i made a special artwork for the PPC blog.

Songs
Stars / Sunday Best / Different With You / Skipping Days / Western Tale / By The Window / Roses / Aches & Shakes / Carl Wilson / Right Now / Falling Through / Your Best Night / I'm Going / Be My Baby / Down By The River / I've Just Seen A Face / I Shall Be Released / Myself

GREEN PAJAMAS - HALL OF FAME, SEATTLE (1986)

This show was recorded at the release party for the "Monkey Business" compilation LP for Green Monkey Records, early 86. At this time, "Peppermint Stick" is new and "Kim the Waitress" single is coming out shortly. Joe Ross is canned and Bruce Haedt is new. The Green Pajamas were Jeff Kelly, Steve Lawrence, Karl Wilhelm and Bruce Haedt.

The show was mixed from a 4 track recording of the event by Green Monkey Records President,Tom Dyer and given to the blog this year. A custom PPC artwork has been included.

Green Monkey Records are absolutely delighted to announce the first-ever CD release of the Green Pajamas "Book of Hours". Originally released in 1987 on Green Monkey, with subsequent versions in Australia, Germany and Greece, this CD edition marks the first time all the tracks from the Book sessions have been released together. The album was remastered with love from the 1987 analog tapes by original producer Tom Dyer. It is now complete. You can purchase this gem of a record at Not Lame, CDBaby, or Amazon.

Songs
You're Such A Drag / Anna Maria / Under The Observatory / Big Surprise / Time Of Year / Fallin' Thru The Hole / Murder Of Crows / Jennifer / Kim The Waitress / Stand To Reason / My Mad Kitty / Peppermint Stick / Ain't So Bad / In This Castle

VARIOUS - SUMMER SONGS Vol.2 (2010)

Less than one year after the first Summer Songs blog collection, PPC is really glad to share with everyone a brand new compilation of Summer Songs. Once again, this compilation is 100% Sixties free and more than anything, listen to the music all summer long!!!

Click on pix for details of the bands involved

TRIBUTE TO THE RAMONES - ROCK & ROLL RADIO (2002)

The mastermind behind this spanish project was Mikel Biffs from The Safety Pins. In his Chockablock studio (Bilbao) he recorded most of his favourite spanish punk bands doing covers of the famous Forrest Hills combo.

Click on pix for details

GREG KIHN - GREG KIHN AGAIN (1977)

A fine follow-up to Greg Kihn as Kihn continues to grow as an artist and songwriter. His version of "For You" received some favorable comments from The Boss himself as well as first dibs on an original Springsteen tune "Rendez-Vous" for "With The Naked Eye" (1979). AMG

Special note: The second Greg Kihn album was ripped from the original Beserkley LP BSERK-8 in 24bit/96Khz. It is available here in 320 mp3 (click on title) and FLAC 24bit/44.1Khz (see below). The album was reissued in 1994 on CD (CLC 5058) and is now hard to find. Artwork included.

FLAC: 1 - 2 - 3

Songs
Love's Made A Fool Of You/Island / Last Of Me / Real Big Man / Politics / Hurt So Bad / For You / If You Be My Love / Madison Avenue / Untie My Hands

HIT ME WITH A FLOWER (THE NEW SOUNDS OF SAN FRANCISCO) (1993)

Pat Thomas was the former drummer of New-York's Absolute Grey and the svengali of this titillating San Francisco eighteen track (17 + one hidden version of Scott McKenzie's hit "San Francsico") compilation. Don't expect true power pop but any compilation with Viva Saturn is worth hearing.

Click on pix for details

DWIGHT TWILLEY - JUNGLE (1984)

After he had moved to EMI America for "Scuba Divers" (1982), Dwight Twilley released his follow-up album, "Jungle" in 1984, producing his second national hit single, "Girls", featuring a counterpoint vocal by Petty (replaced by Carla Olson in the MTV video hit), it reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart. His follow-up single, "Little Bit of Love", reached #77. Unfortunately, Twilley left EMI America at that point,and released what would become his last album "Wild Dogs" before a decade. "Jungle" has never been reissued on CD so far, even though four songs of it were featured on the remastered compilation "XXI" (1996).

Visit the Dwight Twilley iTunes page here.

Special note: This a brand new rip made in 24bit-96khz. Then it has been converted to 320 mp3 (click on title) and FLAC 16bit-44.1Khz (see below). Complete artwork included.

FLAC: 1

Songs
Little Bit of Love / Girls / Why You Wanna Break My Heart / You Can Change It / Cry Baby / Don't You Love Her / Long Lonely Nights / Jungle / To Get to You / Max Dog

EARTH QUAKE - 8.5 (1976)

Beserkley was founded in San Francisco in the early seventies by Matthew King Kaufman as a vehicle for Earth Quake, a local band he was managing. Ironically Earth Quake would soon be eclipsed by other acts on the roster. Namely Greg Kihn, The Rubinoos and the jewel in the crowns, Jonathan Richman. Earth Quake made their Beserkley debut on "Beserkley Chartbusters Vol 1" and soon released the live "Rockin' The World", now a five-piece with the addition of Gary Phillips (late of Copperhead and future Greg Kihn Band) on guitar and vocals - in some pretty inspired moments, and got them more notice than either of their A&M LPs had. "8.5", their first Beserkley studio album was released a year later.
Their final Beserkley album "Two Years In A Padded Cell" is still available here (posted June 2007)

Special note: The album was transferred in 24bit-96Khz and then converted to 320 mp3 ( click on title) and FLAC 24bit-44.1Khz. Artwork included.

FLAC: 1 - 2 (250 mb)

Songs
Finders Keepers / Little Cindy / And He Likes to Hurt You / Savin' My Love / Girl Named Jesse James / Motivate Me / Hit the Floor / Same Old Story / Don't Want to Go Back

THE LAST
FADE TO BLACK (1982) PAINTING SMILES...(1983)

Both rips are now available in 320 mp3 and FLAC 16bit-44.1Khz. Click here to read the complete post (May 2007).

If you want an upgrade, here are the new links.

Fade To Black : 320 mp3 or FLAC
Fade To Black / That's Just Life / Obsession / Subway Song

Painting Smiles On A Dead Man : 320 mp3 or FLAC 1 + 2

Wrong Turn / It Had To Be You / Isn't Anybody There / Lightning Strikes / Louie Louie / December Song /Everybody Had It With You / Weekend Girl / Failing Heart / Leper Colony / What Is In There / Up In The Air

RACER X - RACER X (1984)

Hailing from New-York, Racer X were actually the side project of Allen Zane, a former Speedies member. Allen Zane and Tim Whaler recorded this mini LP that was released in France only by New Rose. Keith Lentin (Spider) co-produced three of the five songs featured here. Very highly recommended. A totally overlooked powerpop gem.

Special note: The 5-song mini LP was trasferred from the original french album in 24bit/96khz and then converted to 320 mp3 (click on the title) and to FLAC 24bit/44.1khz (see links below)

FLAC: 1 - 2

If you've never heard of Racer X, listen to this "Mary Ann" excerpt

Songs
Later On In The Night / Looking Through You / Moving Fast / Driving Me Wild / Mary Ann

GREG KIHN - GREG KIHN (1976)

Greg Kihn became one of the first artists signed to Matthew Kaufman's now-legendary Beserkley Records. Along with Jonathan Richman, Earthquake, and the Rubinoos, Kihn helped to carve the label's sound - melodic pop with a strong '60s pop sensibility - a refreshing alternative to the bloated prog rock of the time. In 1976, after his debut on the compilation Beserkley Chartbusters, he recorded his first album with his own band consisting of Steve Wright (bass), and Larry Lynch (drums) with contributions from Earth Quake's Robbie Dunbar (guitar) and future full-time member Gary Phillips.

Special note: The first Greg Kihn album was ripped from the original Beserkley LP BZ-0046 in 24 Bit/96Khz. It is available here in 320 mp3 (click on title) and FLAC 24bit/44.1Khz (see below). The album was reissued in 1994 on CD and is now hard to find. Artwork included.

FLAC Links: 1 - 2 - 3

Songs
Don't Expect To Be Right / Any Other Woman / Emily Davison / Try Try To Fall In Love / Kid From Louieville / Worse Or Better / He Will Break Your Heart / What Goes On / Satisfied / Why Don't You Try Me

Message from Ray Paul

Hello Friends,
Here's an advance of a brand new track I recently recorded for an upcoming Emitt Rhodes Tribute CD. Some of you may know that Emitt and I are close friends and have performed and recorded together in the mid-to-late '90's into this past decade. I hope you enjoy.....

'Til The Day After

Hear more songs & get info & pics on:
www.myspace.com/raypaulonline

VARIOUS - IPO VOL 3 (2000)

This installment in the series commemorates the festival's third anniversary and includes a mixture of hits, album tracks, and rarities from bands that appeared at the summer 2000 festival. Some of the best bands of the late-'90s power pop movement, like Supremium, the Rosenbergs, the Andersons, and the Jellybricks, are featured here. In fact, the great Tories are featured with an exclusive track, "All of Our Crimes," credited here to Headset. The compilers have managed to create a great summer mix tape that should draw listeners in. AMG

Click on pix for details