The Rubinoos - The Rubinoos (1977) 1997 Flac

For a brief moment, the Rubinoos seemed to be the last hope for pure pop music, carrying on the tradition of the Raspberries with an engaging blend of innocent bubblegum and power pop. The band was formed in 1973 by teenage friends Jon Rubin (vocals, guitar) and Tommy Dunbar (guitar, keyboards, vocals) along with Royse Adler (bass) and Donn Spindt (drums), but it wasn't until 1977 that they made their recording debut for Beserkley Records. The single, a cover of Tommy James' "I Think We're Alone Now," made an appearance in the lower reaches of the U.S. charts, giving the indie label their first hit. The same year, their self-titled debut LP received rave reviews all-around but failed commercially. Back to the Drawing Board (1979), another solid collection of bouncy pop songs, again went ignored despite its classic single "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend." The band effectively broke up the following year. Rubin and Dunbar returned in 1983, contributing a pair of songs for the Revenge of the Nerds soundtrack and then teaming with producer Todd Rundgren for the Party of Two EP. "If I Had You Back" from the EP saw some airplay on MTV but it failed to ignite enough interest for the band to go on. In 1989, Tommy Dunbar formed a new band, Vox Pop, with former-Rubinoos Al Chan and Donn Spindt, along with John Seabury, formerly of Psychotic Pineapple. The band's self-titled release arrived in 1998 on Sandbox Records. Two collections of lost Rubinoos recordings were released in the early '90s. The group returned in 2000 with Paleophonic, which was originally a fan club-only release, and headlined that year's International Pop Overthrow festival. Coming back like they had never left in the first place, the band chose to release an all-covers album (Crimes Against Music, Vol. 1) in the fall of 2002.

This little gem is a celebration of pop music. There's no other way to describe this record. Catchy tunes with a touch of tongue-in-cheek, mixed with exuberance and joy make this record as much fun as when it was first released. (allmusic.com)
Enjoy
         Frank
Flac

Blue Ash - Around...Again: A Collection of Rarities from the Vault 1972-79 mp3@320

Blue Ash's fate mirrored that of fellow power poppers like Big Star -- not enough sales to back up all those critical hosannas. Youngstown, Ohio residents Bill Bartolin (vocals, guitar), David Evans (drums, vocals), Jim Kendzor (vocals), and Frank Secich (bass, vocals) formed in 1969, and soon won comparisons to the usual suspects associated with the tag: the Beatles and the Who.

Strong regional interest secured a deal in 1973 with Mercury Records, home of the New York Dolls. Both bands even had the same champion in A&R man Paul Nelson, who plucked Blue Ash's demo from an unsolicited tape pile. No More No Less appeared that year, and is best remembered for its raucously melodic leadoff track, "Abracadabra (Have You Seen Her?)." Critics fell all over themselves, but sparse sales dashed hopes of continuing with Mercury.

Evans was long gone when Front Page News finally appeared on Playboy's ill-fated label in 1977. The group's talent burned as brightly as ever -- though snowed under horns and strings -- but failed to improve its fortunes. There the story ended, although Blue Ash won a brief burst of notoriety when Anglo-poppers the Records covered "Abracadabra" for a 12" single in 1979. (The original version is also on Rhino's Poptopia! 70s Power Pop Classics compilation.) (allmusic.com)

– A collection of rarities from the vault 1972-1979 –
I am sorry to admit that I’ve never had a chance to hear Blue Ash’s two studio albums (No More, No Less, 1973 & Front Page News, 1979), even though I did want to, after reading power-pop fairytales about them.
Now, after hearing this collection of unreleased demos and rarities, the fairytale becomes a pretty real one, for me AND for the band too! According to the last count, there are “no more, no less” than 219 unreleased recordings in the vaults, of which we get to hear 44, most of them firm proofs that the “B-bands” list should be extended.
Sharing the destiny of their soulmates Raspberries or Big Star, the critical acclaim towards Blue Ash was not really proportional to the thickness of their wallets, so let’s hope that this late hype will contribute to the matter at least some.
The sound itself, is divided between glammy (the vocals sometimes reminding of Noddy Holder) power-pop crunch (highlighted by the Slade-ish Abracadabra (Have You Seen Her?), Badfinger-ed Halloween Girl, T-Rex-tured Lover Boy, the Raspberry-flavoured Baby Baby, the imaginary Tommy-outtake The Boy Won’t Listen, the Eastern-tinged Magic Words.
Or Mind Reader, kinda showing off the buzz that Supergrass were caught by at their beginning), mid-sixties jangle (It Won’t Be Long Now, having much more in common with the early Beatles besides the similar title, and the same Mersey moisture can be felt in Plain To See, With You On My Mind, She’s So Nice, I’m Your Man, Baby I Just Want You and Things Have Changed Now.
While the Byrdsy folk rock jangle is featured through I Remember A Time and also When You Rock, taken to the ‘70s Smokier-feel) and a bit of more traditional Americana (as shown in the countrified folk of I’m A Bad Actor and Oh No, Not Again! or another Raspberry-flavoured one, by way of Wally Bryson, called When I Come Home).
The one that is a bit surprising compared to the rest of the album, and among the highlights at the same time, is the string-leaden baroque popsike Silver Horses.
This should be more than enough a reason for us not make them come “around… again” for the third time, because they should really stick around.
Released by Not Lame 2004

The album is on amazon in ''used'' condition between 80 and 250 dollar. For a new copy the price is 366 dollar. What the f...?! Sorry that's just crazy and if i see things like that i love to share the music here one million times all the more.
Great music here. If you haven't this and love seventies pop rock music and power pop this is a must.
Regards
             Frank
 mp320

The Exploding Hearts - Shattered (2006) Flac

Punkish Portland, OR, power pop quartet the Exploding Hearts had been playing together for over two years before their debut recording, Guitar Romantic, was released by Seattle-based indie Dirtnap Records in spring of 2003. Taking influence from bands like the Clash, the Undertones, and the Only Ones, the group comprised bassist Matt "Lock" Fitzgerald, drummer Jeremy "Kid Killer" Gage, vocalist/guitarist Adam "Baby" Cox, and guitarist Terry Six; early on, the band also included keyboardist "King" Louie Bankston and original bassist Jim Evans, but they both left prior to Guitar Romantic's release. The album won the guys (all in their early twenties) a well-deserved buzz among music fans, scribes, and labels, and the band was in high demand on the West Coast touring circuit. Tragically, though, just as the group was gearing up for a nationwide tour and rumored to be signing with Lookout! Records, their van veered out of control while returning home on July 20, 2003, from a San Francisco concert, killing Gage, Cox, and Fitzgerald. Six managed to escape with only minor injuries.

Dirtnap released the LP Shattered in the fall of 2006, compiling singles from the band's much-too-brief career, including alternative versions and mixes, as well as their unreleased final recordings; the album also featured five songs of live footage from (what became) the Exploding Hearts' final show at San Francisco's Bottom of the Hill.

The van accident that claimed the lives of three of the Exploding Hearts was tragic on many levels; musically, it wiped out the future of possibly the best punk band since 1977. They were one of the few bands to transcend their obvious influences (the Clash, Johnny Thunders, the Only Ones, the Real Kids to name a few) and come up with something worthy of being rated right alongside the originators of the sound. Their album Guitar Romantic is simply thrilling from beginning to end and the thought that there will never be a follow-up leaves a huge hole in the hearts of their fans. Luckily, Dirtnap realized this and put together Shattered, a wonderful and melancholy collection of rare single tracks, unreleased songs, their original demo form 2001, and alternate versions of tracks from Guitar Romantic.-Tim Sendra (Dirtnap)

What left to say? I don't know really. I had bought the ''Guitar Romantic'' album as it was released. And it was a very strange feeling as i read later the news then. I think it is a tragedy because these guys was so damned young. Music journalists often lament the loss of great musicians and that is also true. But hey, in first line they were young kids. I know it's no nice theme but that was my thoughts when i remembered this tragedy. Okay Folks, normally i wanted post the debut album but can't find it at the moment. And i have only a 320 on my HD drive. I will keep searching... ''Shattered is full of energy and fine power pop/punkrockin' songs. Hey ho let's go! Have fun

Cheers
           Frank
Flac

The Groop - The Groop (1969) flac

This is the one and only album from ''The Groop''. It's a very nice psychedelic pop album, lushly orchestrated with some folk pop influences. The musicians which are involved in the project soon after the release split up. There is not much more i know about  the record. If you want more infos about it take a look over at ''Solidboy Music Blog'' where ''adamus67'' wrote a fine bio. Hope you will enjoy!
Greetings
               Frank
Flac

A lot more than a bass player: James Whild Lea

James Whild Lea - Therapy (2007) Flac

Therapy is the 2007 debut album from English musician Jim Lea, best known as songwriter, producer, bassist and multi-instrumentalist for the rock group Slade.Therapy is Lea's first full album of solo material although he has released other material under various pseudonyms since the early 1980s. Since Slade's split in 1992, Lea released a few singles of new material, as well as the 1992 album A Day in the Life of The Dummies, which collected early 1980s recordings from Lea's side-project band The Dummies.
In 2007, Lea re-emerged with Therapy - an album written, produced and recorded by Lea. The album's artwork features a 1976 sepia drawing of Lea. On his official website, Lea stated: "I was never a naturally public figure, but now I am re-emerging as an artist in my own right, mostly free from the restrictions of the industry. There will be more to come soon, but for now make the journey, step on the train, and get some Therapy." He also stated a reason for the website, "The reason I have adopted this website approach, for now at least, is that every time I have spoken to a record company about putting my music out there, it always seems to be inexorably linked with touring, which is a great consumer of time, energy and of course money, in other words, a great obstacle."
 The album was received well by Slade fans and critics. The album was not promoted and no singles were released from the album, although the opening track "Heaven Can Wait" appeared on a magazine promotional CD titled "Now Hear This! 54".
 Since the album's release, Lea has announced his future music plans which include the "String Theory" project and a future pop-themed album.

 The opening track "Heaven Can Wait" was rated eight at the time on the cover mount from the Word magazine with the following message: "They used to call him Jim Lea when he wielded the bass, sharing the songwriting credits and got most of the girls in the mirror-hatted heyday of Slade. Since then he has only rarely been seen outside his home in the Midlands and has dedicated himself to know as much about the workings of the human mind as possible. In the years since he left Slade he has played only two shows, both benefits."

"Dead Rock U.K." references numerous musicians, mainly from the 1970s, including Marc Bolan, Freddie Mercury, Phil Lynott, John Lennon and John Bonham. During Lea's 2002 live performance at the Robin, he revealed that "Go Out in Style" was written about Keith Moon, the drummer of the English rock group The Who.
The album contains a remake of "Universe", a song that was written by Lea for Slade, originally released as a single in 1991. This song was Slade's last single, lost to the Christmas rush that year and failing to chart. The song came to Lea when he was about to head out to an Indian restaurant for an evening meal.

In 2002, Lea performed live for charity event at the Robin 2 venue in Bilston, near Slade's old local pub, The Trumpet. Lea performed two original songs titled "Great Big Family" and "Over the Moon" which both later appeared on the "Therapy" album, with the latter being re-titled "Go Out in Style".
The entire Robin 2 gig was released in 2007 as a download-only option on Jim Lea's official site. Later in 2009, the gig was added as a bonus disc on a double CD edition of "Therapy". Although the disc covers the entire setlist, it does not feature the encore tracks which included Get Down and Get With It, Teddy Bears Picnic, Johnny B. Goode, Gudbuy T'Jane, Twist and Shout, and Purple Haze.
During the Robin 2 gig, Lea also performed covers of Slade hits "Cum On Feel the Noize", "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" and "Far Far Away". A cover of "I Saw Her Standing There" was also performed, a track which rock band The Red Beards from Texas released as a single in 1986, produced by Lea himself.
On a life timeline via Lea's own site, Lea was asked to play live again in 2003 but he declined to do so, asked what he was going to do he replied "I'm going to make an album and it will be Therapy."

Release

Aside from the original 13-track CD and digital release on Jim Jam Records, the album was also released as a double CD to include the Robin 2 gig on the second disc. In September 2016, the album was re-issued as a double CD by Wienerworld. In addition to an altered sleeve, the reissue features three previously unreleased bonus tracks: "21st Century Thing?", "Thank God It's Friday Right Now" and "Am I the Greatest Now?" The 16 page booklet features new liner notes from Lea, as well as memories of the Robin 2 gig by owner Mike Hamblett.
A vinyl edition of the 2016 reissue is slated for release in December 2016. It will feature an additional three bonus tracks, two of which are previously unreleased: "Misty Morning Light" and "Dare to Be Great". The other bonus track, "I'll be John, You Be Yoko" was released in 2000 as a single under the name Whild.

This is NOT the 2016 edition because there is no 2016 published ''Therapy'' until now as far as i know. This is from 2009.
I highly recommend this album. I will make two parts. One ''Therapy'' without the bonus disc and the second part the bonus disc. So you can choose whatever you want. Hope you have fun and
three cheers for Mr Lea
                                     Frank

James Whild Lea Disc 1
James Whild Lea Disc 2

More and more from Mr Nick Gilder! ''Rock America (1980)'' Flac

Hello Folks, more Nick Gilder here and more will follow. He's a great musician with great songwriting skills. He wrote also a lot for other musicians and that with big success. Today here is ''Rock America'' of 1980. I can remember the first time i heard the album i noticed the big influence of the ''New Wave'' sound on the songs. At that time i wasn't in ''New Wave''.
For me it was a cold sound then. So i needed several times to listen to the record before i really enjoyed the music. For me it is a good album. For shure not his best but really enjoyable.I love the guitarwork here on the record, good ''Rock''-feel. I hope you enjoy it and i will post more Nick Gilder later.
Cheers!
           SB1 (Frank)
 Flac

 

Everyone knows ''Mars Needs Guitars!'' of the Hoodoos but... (Flac)

Like most bands, Australia's Hoodoo Gurus were largely the product of their influences; unlike most bands, however, the Hoodoos channeled their inspiration from the vast entirety of the American pop cultural landscape, drawing on such disparate sources as B-movies, bad sitcoms, and junk food -- in tandem with the usual suspects like garage rock, power pop, and surf -- to create a distinctly kitschy and catchy sound. Formed in Sydney in 1981, Le Hoodoo Gurus (as they were originally dubbed) were led by singer/songwriter Dave Faulkner, who along with drummer James Baker previously served as a member of the short-lived Perth punk unit the Victims (best known for the autobiographical single "Television Addict"). Ex-Scientist Rod Radalj and Kimble Rendall rounded out the group's initial lineup, and their unique sound (three guitars, no bass) -- along with Faulkner's infectious songs -- quickly earned them a record deal.(excerpt bio)

The Hoodoo Gurus followed the excellent Stoneage Romeos with the equally swell Mars Needs Guitars!, a second helping of Dave Faulkner's wonderfully skewed kitsch-pop confections. While the band's basic m.o. hasn't changed all that much in the interim -- '60s-era pop, garage rock, and cowpunk remain their key musical reference points -- Faulkner's skills as a songwriter have grown perceptibly: the opening "Bittersweet" is an absolute gem, with other highlights like "Death Defying" and "Show Some Emotion" trailing not far behind. Also commendable is the Gurus' sharp wit -- from the hillbilly freakout of "Hayride to Hell" to the primitive B-movie stomp of the title track, their affection for the guilty pleasures of trash culture is infectious. Irresistible fun.(allmusic.com)

...i believe this is a record that can't post enough. And because i listened yesterday after a long time again to the band i thought it's a good idea. If you don't know the record, listen to it. It's a lot of fun and well worth it. Okay, see ya later folks.
Cheers
          Frank
Flac

@Request: Sweeney Todd - If Wishes Were Horses (1977)

If Wishes Were Horses is the second album of the Canadian glam rock band Sweeney Todd. The album was recorded during late 1975-1976 and released in 1977. It is the only Sweeney Todd album on which a 17-year-old Bryan Adams appears as the temporary singer. The producers deliberately sped his voice up to sound younger than it already was.(wiki)

Nothing more to say, i think i already posted the bio of the band in my first Sweeney Todd post.
Sorry folks, it's only in 160kbps. I don't own the cd  and it's hard to find. Sometimes '' a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush''. If anybody have a better copy please feel free and post it or email me.

cheers
          Frank



 new link@ 320 here

I removed the 160 link.

Classical Thing! Sagittarius - Present Tense (1968) Flac

Although it only reached number 70 in the national charts, Sagittarius' 1967 single "My World Fell Down" is one of the great experimental psychedelic pop gems of the era. Sounding very much like a lost Beach Boys classic from the "Good Vibrations"/SMiLE era, the record had beautiful California pop harmonies, exquisite symphonic orchestration, and a downright avant-garde middle section of carnival and bullfight noises. It was perhaps too weird to become the Top 40 smash it deserved to be, but in any case, Sagittarius would have had a difficult time launching a successful career, as the group didn't really exist. It was a studio project of noted producer Gary Usher, who wrote several great Beach Boys songs with Brian Wilson and produced classic albums by the Byrds.

Usher made the recordings that came out under the Sagittarius name in his spare time, with help from such prominent friends as Beach Boy Bruce Johnston and Glen Campbell (who sings lead on the "My World Fell Down" single). The most important of Usher's associates, however, was fellow songwriter/producer/singer Curt Boettcher, who has a cult following of his own for the sunshiny California pop with a touch of psychedelia that he produced during the era, especially as part of the Millennium. Boettcher wrote and sang much of the material that ended up on Sagittarius' 1968 Columbia album, Present Tense. Unlike the "My World Fell Down" single (included on the LP in a brutally edited version), the album wasn't reminiscent of the Beach Boys at their best and most progressive. It was California good-time pop with a mild dab of psychedelia, relentlessly and sometimes annoyingly cheerful, although immaculately crafted and produced, particularly in the layered harmony vocals. Not as commercial as the Association (with whom Boettcher also worked), it still had a lot more in common with the Turtles and the Mamas & the Papas than Pet Sounds or the Byrds. Although it only sold in the neighborhood of 40,000 to 50,000 copies, the record has a cult following, and has been reissued several times, usually with numerous bonus tracks.allmusic.com

I'm a big Curt Boettcher fan and i think all of you knows that meanwhile. So it is a natural thing that i post the classical ''Present Tense'' here. Great songs and a lot of top notch musicians here. I have also the follow up album ''The Blue Marble'' if anyone is interested.
Cheers
           Frank
Flac

Gigolo Aunts - The Pride Of Potsdam: 20 Years Of Sonic Splendor (Compilation '06)

Taking their name from the Syd Barrett song, the effervescent power-pop unit Gigolo Aunts first came together in 1981 in Potsdam, New York as Sniper. The group -- comprised of vocalist/guitarist Dave Gibbs, brothers Phil and Steve Hurley (on lead guitar and bass, respectively) and drummer Phil Brouwer -- went through a series of subsequent names like Marauder and Rosetta Stone before settling on Gigolo Aunts (a suggestion from Gibbs' father) and moving to Boston in 1986.

In 1988, the band issued its debut Everybody Happy to little notice, and receded from view until Gibbs began playing guitar with fellow East Coast popsters Velvet Crush, whom he joined for a U.K. tour. While overseas, Gibbs made a number of crucial contacts with the likes of Creation Records' Alan McGee and the members of Teenage Fanclub, and interest in the Gigolo Aunts began to build. A series of assured EPs -- Gigolo Aunts, Gun and Full-On Bloom -- appeared to strong reviews, as did 1994's full-length Flippin' Out. After Gibbs and Phil Hurley turned down offers to join the reunited Big Star, they issued the 1995 EP Where I Find My Heaven; shortly after its release, Phil Hurley was replaced by Jon Skibic and Brouwer was replaced by Fred Eltringham. ''Minor Chords and Major Themes'' appeared in 1999.

This is a wonderful compilation of the band and a fine Jangle/Power pop record. Now stand up, pump up the volume, take your Rickenbacker out of the case or the air and play on with the band :-).

Cheers
          SB1
mp3@320

The Lovin' Spoonful 5/5 - Revelation Revolution (1969) Flac

The band is billed here as "the Lovin' Spoonful Featuring Joe Butler." Just when everybody had written them off after Sebastian's departure, this flawed gem came out of left field. Butler's smooth voice had graced a few tracks on all of the past LPs, in addition to having a few of his own tunes included. He comes into his own here, but unfortunately, his three originals are the weakest songs on the LP, especially the ultra-hip sound collage "War Games.

" However, the great pop team of Bonner and Gordon came up with three strong tunes, including the hit "Me About You" (previously done by The Turtles) and the fine "(Till I) Run with You" (the title of the LP as written on the label), with John Stewart supplying the best track, the gorgeous "Never Going Back."




Okay, here is the last of the five records from the ''Spoonful'' box.
                                                                     Kind regards           
                                                                           SB1
                                                      Flac

Flying Color - Flying Color (1987) Flac

In the wake of the Rickenbacker revolution started by R.E.M., Flying Color formed in San Francisco in 1984 when bassist Hector Penalosa, from the Southern California cult band the Zeros, hooked up with guitarist Dale Duncan from the San Francisco underground band Love Circus and guitarist Richard Chase and drummer John Stuart. The band released one single in 1985, "Dear Friend," followed by the album Flying Color in 1987. Upon the album's release, Chase left the fold and guitarist Chris von Sneidern joined the band. There was no mistaking Flying Color's jangle and harmonies as Beatles influenced -- they even wore the requisite mod clothes -- but at a time when the college charts were dominated by English synthesizer bands, Flying Color's clean, harmonious pop sounded amazingly fresh (and years after its release, it still does). The band broke up in 1990; all members continued to perform solo or with other groups, to varying degrees of success. In 1996, Duncan, Stuart and von Sneidern reformed and began recording again, just around the time Flying Color was issued on CD for the first time.allmusic.com

Wonderful album, great musicians. Three cheers for Flying Color!

SB1
Flac