Which leads us, inexorably and inevitably, to the theme of the weekend's business. To wit:
...and your favorite pre-Big Star/Raspberries proto-power pop song is???
Discuss.
Long-time readers -- by which I mean who've been around since the 'aughts, when NYMary first gave me the metaphorical keys to the car around here -- will doubtless have guessed MY candidate.
I mean -- that drum opening, the chimes and guitar riff on the chorus, the background "oohs"??? Power pop fer sure.
I should add that it's the first cover song the savage young Floor Models learned, and in fact the very first thing we ever performed live in front of an audience (at our sneak audition for a gig at Kenny's Castaways). Alas, no live version of that has survived, but it was a staple of our repertoire for the longest time, and it was an absolute gas to play.
Alrighty then -- what would YOUR choices be?
And have a great weekend, everybody!!!
The Hollies
ReplyDelete“Look Through Any Window”!
Captain Al
Yes! First record I ever bought! Guess I have liked Power Pop all along.
DeleteGlad All Over, Bits and Pieces, and Any Way You Want It, all by The Dave Clark Five.
ReplyDeleteThe Left Banke- She May Call You Up Tonight
ReplyDeleteWhich we also used to cover. 😎
DeleteMost Easybeats, especially "Friday on My Mind."
ReplyDeleteBob in IL
The Hollies - Bus Stop
ReplyDeleteReally, we could probably just say any hit by Graham Gouldman
"Savage young Floor Models!" Love it!
ReplyDeleteBobby Fuller Four "Let Her Dance" (it helps that two power pop greats-Phil Seymour and Marshall the C- covered it).
Really lots of melodic mid 60s pop could get a goose energy-wise and become power pop. My pal's band, the Untamed Youth, did that with a Gary Lewis B-side, "Without a Word of Warning."
Bob in IL
Wow -- don't know that one, but I'm gonna check it out toot sweet.
DeleteNice pick, nice song, always a pleasant surprise when GL and the Playboys make the cut!
DeleteTwo greats from the Midwest (discovered on the Pebbles comps way back in the day):
ReplyDeleteThe Next Five Talk To Me Girl
Ides of March Roller Coaster
Two fantastic records.
Bob in IL
Lesley Gore songs ' That's The Way Boys Are' and 'Maybe I Know' would qualify as proto power pop - aggressive a bit noisy and melodic.
ReplyDeleters
"Lies" by The Knickerbockers
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.
Deleteand the wonderful "One Track Mind" by the band.
DeleteBob in IL
Merry Go Round - "Live"
ReplyDeleteDid someone say "...that drum opening..." ?
ReplyDeleteThe Strangeloves: 'I Want Candy' and 'Cara-Lin'
The Monkees - Pleasent Valley Sunday
ReplyDeleteYES!!!! A THOUSAND TIMES YES!!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteHere I go rocking the boat. A lot of these submissions are all Pop, no Power. Nice, catchy tunes, but the aggro is zero; closer to Soft Rock (which I've eventually come to appreciate). Many Rock scribes call the early Kinks singles the genesis of Heavy Metal, but I beg to differ: 'You Really Got Me' is the Rosetta Stone of Power Pop.
ReplyDeleteGlad All Over predates You Really Got Me. But you have a point. There about 25 clear definitions of Power Pop.
DeleteTotally agree. Too many of these are more pop and too little power, including the Lovin Spoonful tune that's today's subject. Great song but doesn't fit my definition of power pop. Doesn't rock hard enough IMO.
DeleteThe Small Faces - Itchy Coo Park
ReplyDeleteTommy James and the Shondells
DeleteMonie Monie
Hmmm. No love for The Move’s “Tonight”? 😎
ReplyDeleteNight of Fear
DeleteAlzo makes a very good point. Then again I’m always the malcontent Roots Rock fan lurking around PowerPop.
ReplyDeleteCaptain Al
Agree a little with Alzo. I think it's rocking drums that push it into power pop territory. A few more:
ReplyDeleteCome on Let's Go-the McCoys
Off and Running-Mindbenders
Sunshine Games-Music Explosion
Raiders-Him or Me
Bob in IL
A reader over at my place asked for me to define "power pop," and also asked if I thought 10cc, Sparks and solo McCartney would be power pop. This is what I said:
ReplyDeleteI think all lovers of music will have a different answer. For me, power pop needs to be consistent- meaty, melodic, upbeat, preferably guitar based but that's not always necessary.
10cc & Sparks are two of my favorite bands, but they are all over the place stylistically. So, no.
McCartney certainly has songs that'd be considered power pop, but as an artist, I'd say no.
The Move's "Tonight" is one of the greatest records of all time. But it's more British psych to me.
I would never think of The Left Banke records as power pop, but "She May Call You Up" seems like the outlier on that debut.
Pick almost any track on The Who’s Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy and you have power pop with actual power (excluding I’m A Boy).
ReplyDelete- Paul in DK
Some of these choices blur the line between power pop and folk-rock, which I don't mind at all. But for myself, I've said it before and I'll say it again: Barry and the Remains - "Don't Look Back." Honorable mention: Love's version of "My Little Red Book."
ReplyDeleteYes to both!! I was about to nominate Don't Look Back, glad I scrolled thru the comments first
DeleteSince the definition of 'Power Pop' is subjective and varied, I propose a scale like a litmus test. Let's say one extreme is 'Pop' (1) and the other is 'Power' (10). Example: not long ago, this august blog showcased the Spindles' outstanding 'Getaway.' It had superb riffs and hooks, but its textures were consistently in the Hard Rock end of the spectrum– give it an 8. Likewise, today's Lovin' Spoonful track is a catchy bit of Sunshine Pop- but there is no grit. Give it a 2.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the sweet spot is 5. Listen to Something Happens' 'Hello Hello' (yeah it's from 1990, but still), which has a dynamic range from delicate beauty to electrifying, er, power:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PBzmpT0yQE
PowerPop post Hollies, The Who and Big Star is frequently too studied and wimpy. Without soul, without passion.
ReplyDeleteCaptain Al
Ohio Express
ReplyDeleteBeg, Borrow & Steal
Surprised that no one has mentioned The Nazz.
DeleteOh god -- `the Nazz? Hell, yeah.
ReplyDeleteBeatles - And You Bird Can Sing is a good one. For an obscure one, The Rumors - Hold Me Now from 1965 is catchy
ReplyDeleteSloan. Canadian, brilliant, 4 songwriters, 4 singers, I mean, They do this stuff perfect. Try Navy Blues or Never Hear The End Of It.
ReplyDeleteSubstitute, The Kids Are Alright, and Glow Girl are as good as it gets. She Said She Said is one of the best of Beatles powerpop. And following up on the Nazz suggestion, I’ll pick Rain Rider as my fave. And the Move’s California Man, except I like the Cheap Trick cover better than the original, even if it’s too late for the rules…
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure no one mentioned The Byrds - "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better"
ReplyDeleteAlzo - How about Talk Talk by the Music Machine for aggro
ReplyDeleteSince you asked: It's a fun example of Garage Rock. I'm still inclined to use the Power Pop tag on Rock artists who have dynamic and textural range from the pretty to the gritty in their material. I can be persuaded that the Kinks/Who/Troggs/Byrds fit the bill. Of course, it was all unleashed by the Fabs.
Delete"Go Now" Denny Laine's Moody Blues
ReplyDeleteAs I just wrote over at Sal’s blog this discussion shows each of us has a different definition of what “PowerPop” is.
ReplyDeleteCaptain Al