Okay, I mentioned this guy and this CD a couple of weeks ago, but I've finally got a copy and...words fail me.
In any case, here's a representative track -- the quite astonishing "Precious Love." Sounding pretty much exactly like it would have if, like moi, you'd been lucky enough to catch a late 70s/early 80s live performance by genuine power pop underground legend Mark Johnson (doing business with The Wild Alligators) at Kenny's Castaways (which is where and approximately when the album cover was photographed, BTW).
A postcript: These guys were -- and remain -- the single most exciting never-signed band I ever saw. Drummer Don Costagno was a monster groove player, guitarist Drew Zing was good enough to later join Steely Dan, Johnson himself was a riveting front man, and the bass guy (on the right in the photo) -- well, I thought he sucked, but that was mostly because I was desperately trying to figure out how to weasel my way into the band, which never happened. I've forgiven Mark for that lapse in judgement, obviously, if for no other reason than I wouldn't have been motivated to join The Floor Models -- whose decades in the making retrospective album will drop sometime before the end of the summer -- otherwise.
I should also add that I caught MJ & TWA countless times back in the day, and they never failed to induce goose bumps; you can't imagine how many great songs they had, and most of them are on the CD. So get over to Mark's website and order a copy now.
10 comments:
I guess you had to be there.
Boy, there's no pleasing you people lately.
:-)
I'm pleased you posted.
That's what I thought.
:-)
Do you know the 12 In A Room album? Absolutely gorgeous. I was introduced to Mark's music through The Roches, who I'd see lots in the 80s and who covered a bunch of his tunes. It's a must listen. "Cold Weather," especially.
I have a workplace firewall filter that ousts all file-sharing spots, so I was unable to listen to these Alligators. But I linked over and bought the disc, unheard, in hopes of unexpected pleasures.
This has frequently worked for me in the past. Ending somewhere in 1979. . . .
I hope I didn't post this here before, but I have to brag a bit about "12 in a Room." It had been out of print for quite some time and I was going crazy trying to find a copy. Well, through the magic of the internets, I actually met somebody who knows Mark Johnson personally and he gave me Mark's phone number. I guess this was back before email addresses were ubiquitous. So, I called Mark Johnson, all in my insane attempt to get a copy of his album. Why he took my call is beyond me. He must be way too nice.
During the course of the call, he mentioned that he'd love to get "12 in a Room" reissued. As luck would have it, I know Bruce Brodeen, late of NotLame fame, and I put Mark and Bruce in touch. And that was the genesis of the NotLame "12 in a Room" reissue. I'm even listed in the "Special thanks" section of the liner notes. My claim to fame!
As for this CD, I'm off to order it.
And if anybody who may read this doesn't have Mark's song, "To Have And Have Not," then your life is sadly incomplete.
Tasty! I do hear the smackerel of Merseybeats and maybe even a whiff of Knickerbockers. Choice.
Trey
OK Blue Ash fan I've gotta say it:
That's an awesome story!!
Back in the day, 1979-1980-1981, Mark Johnson made every other Bleecker Street would-be songwriter want to throw his guitar out the window and himself right behind it.
LR
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