An idiosyncratic blog dedicated to the precursors, the practioners, and the descendants of power pop.
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Thursday, September 04, 2008
Deep Thoughts
Artful Dodger. "Honor Among Thieves." Live, in 1980.
Can somebody explain to me why these guys weren't huge fricking stars? Frankly, I'm baffled.
Actually, the management (Krebs) was the same as Aerosmith and the New York Dolls... One theory is Columbia Records emphasized mainstream artists and sales reps focussed on artists they knew they could make big money off of (Steisand, Springsteen, Joel). Only one rep who's beat was the midwest (Cleveland/Columbus/Pittsburg area) really pushed the band at local stations in that area. So after 3 albums with Columbia, the band left them and shopped for a new label. Agora records (part of Ariola/Arista) picked them up and the band put out "Rave On". A very strong album, but some touring company issues and Ariola not pushing them as strong as "New Wave" bands eventually did them in, and they called it quits. It's funny, because you look at the success of the Knack's debut and listen to "Rave On" which came out a couple months before it, you wonder why things didn't happen for them. It's great that American Beat Records is taking interest and reissuing their music. Also, Goldmine Magazine did a story on them in August 2008.
Shitty management?
ReplyDeleteI can only guess.
ReplyDeleteSeriously -- they're the Raspberries with sex appeal. They had it all, seemingly....
It's the Sergio Valente pants.
ReplyDeleteActually, I'm thinking maybe the bass player's mustache, which is truly heinous in a porn movie sort of way.
ReplyDeleteStill...great song, and the singer's got it.
These guys were huge in the Cleveland are. I've seen them dozens of times during their hayday. They always seemed to be opening for a national act.
ReplyDeleteBrooklyn girl's right, must have been lousy management.
ReplyDeleteSomething I know a lot about.
ROT(Plumber)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI remember them playing in Pittsburgh a lot. Saw them a couple of times and they always impressed.
ReplyDeleteActually, the management (Krebs) was the same as Aerosmith and the New York Dolls...
ReplyDeleteOne theory is Columbia Records emphasized mainstream artists and sales reps focussed on artists they knew they could make big money off of (Steisand, Springsteen, Joel). Only one rep who's beat was the midwest (Cleveland/Columbus/Pittsburg area) really pushed the band at local stations in that area. So after 3 albums with Columbia, the band left them and shopped for a new label. Agora records (part of Ariola/Arista) picked them up and the band put out "Rave On". A very strong album, but some touring company issues and Ariola not pushing them as strong as "New Wave" bands eventually did them in, and they called it quits. It's funny, because you look at the success of the Knack's debut and listen to "Rave On" which came out a couple months before it, you wonder why things didn't happen for them. It's great that American Beat Records is taking interest and reissuing their music. Also, Goldmine Magazine did a story on them in August 2008.