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!!!
24 comments:
The Hollies
“Look Through Any Window”!
Captain Al
Glad All Over, Bits and Pieces, and Any Way You Want It, all by The Dave Clark Five.
The Left Banke- She May Call You Up Tonight
Most Easybeats, especially "Friday on My Mind."
Bob in IL
The Hollies - Bus Stop
Really, we could probably just say any hit by Graham Gouldman
"Savage young Floor Models!" Love it!
Bobby 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.
Two greats from the Midwest (discovered on the Pebbles comps way back in the day):
The Next Five Talk To Me Girl
Ides of March Roller Coaster
Two fantastic records.
Bob in IL
Nice pick, nice song, always a pleasant surprise when GL and the Playboys make the cut!
Which we also used to cover. 😎
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.
rs
"Lies" by The Knickerbockers
Absolutely.
Yes! First record I ever bought! Guess I have liked Power Pop all along.
Merry Go Round - "Live"
Did someone say "...that drum opening..." ?
The Strangeloves: 'I Want Candy' and 'Cara-Lin'
The Monkees - Pleasent Valley Sunday
Here 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.
The Small Faces - Itchy Coo Park
YES!!!! A THOUSAND TIMES YES!!!!!!!!!!!
Hmmm. No love for The Move’s “Tonight”? 😎
Glad All Over predates You Really Got Me. But you have a point. There about 25 clear definitions of Power Pop.
Night of Fear
and the wonderful "One Track Mind" by the band.
Bob in IL
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