That was a big hit around my office at Stereo Review at the time, if not alas with the public at large. Shear, of course, went on to considerable success writing for other artists like The Bangles; in fact, it was listening accidentally to one of those songs that prompted me to revisit the Polar Bears.
More on THAT, however, will have to wait for Wednesday's posting. 😎
I dunno, it sounds like a thousand other power pop songs from the late '70s to me.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually not as good as I remembered. Wednesday's post will justify it, however. 😎
DeleteMaybe like Doug and the Slugs?
ReplyDeleters
The 1970’s began the wimping out of Power Pop.
ReplyDeleteConfrontational Captain Al. :-)
Raspberries and Big Star were wimping out? I guess we have different definitions of power pop. And wait, what was power pop before the 70s? And don’t say The Who.
DeleteCleveland Jeff
The first time I heard the term "power pop" Townsend used it to describe the Who.
DeletePete coined the term. But The Who don't fit the definition that has been applied since the early seventies. And Pete is just full of himself. Jeex.
DeleteMelody Maker, May 20, 1967
Delete" Power Pop is what we play
What the Small Faces used to play
and the kind of pop the Beach Boys
played in the days of Fun,Fun, Fun which I preferred"
"I Can't Explain"
Delete"Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere"
"The Kids Are Alright"
"Much Too Much"
"Disguises"
"Happy Jack"
"I Can't Reach You"
"So Sad About Us"
"Substitute"
"La La La Lies"
"Our Love Was"
"Little Billy"
"I'm A Boy"
That's a lot of power pop before the 70's.
The reference to “Doug and the Slugs” prompts this remembrance:
ReplyDeleteWhen we were in high school circa 1965, and the British invasion was going on, everybody was forming bands. This is a true story.
I had a friend named Dan Drapp. I literally begged him to start a band and call it “Dan Drapp and the Drips” He said he would only do it if I agreed to be the main drip.
As much. As I regretted declining the honor, I had already cast my lot with the Weasels and felt obligated to see where that went. (Spoiler alert: nowhere).
But all these years later, I can’t help wondering “what a huge Drip I could’ve been!“
Jai Guru Dave
Guru Dave - being a "drip" is nothing.
DeleteOur high school garage band leader, who was a fan of Zappa, wanted to call us - Joe Prune and the...
The the...is what happens. If you eat Taco Bell lettuce 🥴
Sorry Steve, sorry gang
(Typo in the next to last line. But you know what I meant. “As much as I regretted declining the honor…)
ReplyDeleteJai Guru Dave
I tripped over this album a year or so ago. I really like it. Power pop with a little Thin Lizzy-hard rock for the era. It also "sounds" like the late '70s both sonically and characteristically in ways that one can hear the next decade of music.
ReplyDeleteCan you tell when I’m cranky in the morning?
ReplyDeleteCaptain Al. :-(
Just another So Cal Power Pop band of the period like the Knack and the Plymsouls who were basically one and dones.
ReplyDeleteMan, tough room.
ReplyDeleteI still like the song. I bought the 45, which is edited down a bit from the album version, on the basis of Mr. Simels' positive write-up of their album in STEREO REVIEW. Still have the 45 in my collection.
ReplyDeleteMy mind is blown by that, Chris. 😎
Delete