BEATFOR114 - Best 2008

BEATFOR113

Richard Mazda's first ventures into recorded music were with his band The Tours. The Tours never really had much chart success, but their two great single releases in 1979 were trendsetters of the mod-revival that followed in the early 80s. In 1981 Richard formed his next band Cosmetics. Released two singles, Guilt is an underrated melodic punk powerpop number. Their second effort The Crack was a minor club hit, new musical directions when the times are changing. Later, IRS’s capo Miles Copeland made Richard Mazda an offer to be a producer. He made a name for himself producing records for Wall Of Voodoo, The Fleshtones, Suburban Lawns, The Fall, The Birthday Party, Tom Robinson, Alternative TV…

Cosmetics - Guilt [7" Virgin Records 1980]

One of the reasons punk rock took root so strongly in the late '70s, despite the fact you couldn't hear it on the radio and had to go out of your way to see it onstage, was that there were so many kids waiting for something to happen. There was so many punk bands to see, some of them such obscure like Corridor One. Five lads from Stockport, UK. Visceral power and angry-young-men.

Corridor One - Working On The Papers [7" Hip Records 198?]




From Dearborn- Michigan, The White Lines was a quartet combo featuring Joe Kidd, recorded this single on Automotive Records (Roseville, Michigan).
Marvelous fractured pop song, 60’s voices-tradition, a sunny familiar tune. Great cover…mm…not turn the back page.

The White Lines - Cos You're Not [7" Automotive Records 1980]

BEATFOR112

Recorded in mono and produced by Milk N’ Cookies leader Ian North in 1975, this Legendary Knickers lonely disc is a fresh primitive 60’s garage-pop, that supposedly was the band's demo tape. A rumour went around about their members: Ian North, the Blondie Jimmi Destri, Ira Robbins of Trouser Press fame… never clarified by North.

The Knickers - Denunciations [7" Reckless Records 1978]



The Badbeats were a power pop group from New York in the late 70's, who began recording songs that were written by The Beatles, but never released in USA by The Beatles. John Sheridan played drums and guitars on their first record, Bill Kern played guitar and vocals, and Barry Knoedl, bass and vocals.
Later, John recorded a single bringing out some of his country rock influence on this great song.

John Sheridan - Countermove [7" Beatbad Records 1981]


According to an early issue of Trouser Press, "The Bees were a NYC outfit whose growing reputation was snapped when the bassist and guitarist were hired away by David Johansen" (They credited him with a "no thanks to" on the third 45).The other half of the Bees went to form the Bounce. http://bubblegum.the.punk.free.fr/.
Ruby is a vintage favorite from their first extended play.

The Bees - Ruby [7" Obey-My-Brain 1979]

BEATFOR111

Here we go again...

John Mellor (same name as The Clash Joe Strummer) aka Johnny Darke, rercorded this rare single for Carrere label. Released in November 1979, the best year for powerpop, contains all the powerpopper ingredients. A gem to discover for many fans.

Johnny Darke - I'm Not A Beliver [7" Carrere 1979]

From Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, the line-up was Alex Kinder on vocals, Tracy Graham playing bass, Den Pugsley and Tony Skeggs on guitars and the drummer Steve Bay. Recorded 'Catch Me' at Majestic Studios in April 1977, a strong powerpoper tune with punk overtones, only isusued as a single in Holland, Belgium, Germany and Scandinavia with differents pic covers. Jetz broke up in 1979, people disappeared in all directions : Steve Bay went to The Physicals, Tracy Graham with The Hollywood Killers, Skeggs and Pugsley formed The Pencils.

The Jetz - Catch Me [7" Rebel Records 1977]

The Pencils were more oriented pop, but also enjoyable, released three singles between 1982 and 83, If You Really Wanna Hurt Somebody was their second one effort.

The Pencils - If You Wanna Hurt Somebody [7" The Next Record Co. 1982]

BEATFOR110 - February Singles Weekender II

The mid 80's saw a renaissance of guitar music, which echoed throughout the world. Bands such as Rain Parade, Green On Red in the U.S.A. to The Hoodoo Gurus, and Scientist in Australia plus many more from all points in between. Sweden is one of this places where guitar pop music have been always top of the class.
Cod Lovers formed in late ‘88 in Norrköping, a seaport city of Sweden. After a few explosive gigs they soon gained the interest of their friend Ola Hermanson and his record label Ceilidh Productions. The single Best Friend was released, media coverage was soaring and the band played the Hultsfred festival in 1990. Two albums and the last single Kill The Time in 1991. Six years after their glorious beginnings at Yule-tide, they gallantly disbanded, after a final awesome show at a Christmas party.

Cod Lovers - Kill The Time [7" Celidh Productions 1991]

One of the great lost pop singles of the decade. One of the great lost band of the decade. The Chairs are a group to rediscover for all pop guitar aficionados. Formed in 1986 from the nucleus of Essex psychedelic feedback farmers The Gene Tryp, The Chairs began as a three piece before engaging the services of roadie Dave Read, whose organ stylings soon became central to the band's sound. They released a string of independently produced singles between 1987 and 1990, difficult to tell which was best. Factor in a Radio One session, Single Of The Week in the NME, and lavish praise from the likes of Steve Lamacq and Elvis Costello.
Paul Sullivan (singer, guitarist, composer) following making pop gems under the moniker The Liberty Takers. (Beatfor30).

The Chairs - Honey I Need A Girl Of A Different Stripe [7" Pink Halo Records 1988]

The Leatherwoods were a loose duo comprised of Kansas-to-Minneapolis transplants Todd Newman and Tim O'Reagan, with assistance from utility man "Pablo Louseorama" (aka Paul Westerberg, who co-wrote songs while contributing guitar, bass and keyboards).
Minneapolitan Todd Newman has made records for a variety of labels including Medium Cool, the Bus Stop Label, and Barber's Itch, sometimes using the Leatherwoods moniker, sometimes not, playing with such bands as Lions and Dog, The Swingin' Dicks, Rocky and the Bluelighters, Curtiss A, The Hayley Mills Brothers, The Beatifics, Grant Hart, Lori Wray, and The Hang Ups.
O'Reagan went on to play drums with Joe Henry and the Jayhawks, and piecing together a solo album.

Todd Newman & The Leatherwoods - To Win You Back [7' Reverb Jr 1988]

Seattle power-pop pioneer Jim Basnight led the Moberlys visibly in the late '70s and nearly out of sight for another decade, creating a body of work dripping with quality and excitement, garage rock meets pop sound. This was their second single after the high collected Live In The Sun released in 1977. Flipside is a outrage cover of The Sonics’ Cinderella.

Jim Basnight & The Moberlys - I Want To Be Yours [7" Precedent Records 1983]

BEATFOR109 - February Singles Weekender I

Great mod-punk single that is not very well known, with amazing fast primitive mod songs. Three English piece band, like The Jam, but more garage sixties influences. Any info beatfortwo readers-listeners is welcome.
The Starlings - Plastic Cards [7" Ruffin Records 197?]


The Last first single echoing the exciting reverberated sounds of the classic real punk bands of the 60's: The Standells, Shadows of Knight, Electric Prunes, etc. Not particularly a 'big bucks' production (they did it themselves), sounding as if it could have come out of any garage in 1966 with its cheesy organ, slightly off-base guitars and crude vocals. A punkadelic classic with shaded of the Lollipop Shoppe, Love and the Strawberry Alarm Clock.


The Last - She Don't Know Why I'm Here [7" Bomp Records 1978]



Kiderian Records was out of Chicago. The label was launched somewhere in the mid 60s and released some authentic garage 45s. The Boyz were the Oak Park band on Kiderian Records, contemporaries/friends of Pezband. This band dates back to the mid 60s, with two releases on Destination and an earlier issue of this beatlesque Laughs On Me on I.R.C. Genuine pre-cursor to punk-power pop. They were supposedly born out of The Phaetons and from The Boyz went on to Grim Reaper, Fuse and eventually Cheap Trick. Pretty good disc. These guys had more tracks available on the label-sampler Goodbye Dolores – A Kiderian Records Sampler. The comp is none too spectacular, some nice enough 70s pop, but the two songs from the Boyz 45 are the only stand-outs.

The Boyz - Laughs On Me [7" Kiderian Records 1975]


Talented guy Marc Thor, first appeared is on Live At The Ratz compilation. Trak was his second and last record for Indy label. Stomper rock’n’roll. (Beatfor78)
Marc Thor - Trak [7" Indy Records 1979]

BEATFOR108 - January Singles Weekender II

Some really ace stuff for you today.
Bill Kern was a passionate musician, and a gifted songwriter. He began writing songs at 13 years old, and continued writing throughout his entire life. His Beatles collection was legendary. He had the most complete collection of Apple records in the world.
He was a master songwriter, and this are one of his best songs from the New Wave era, you can imagine the sound.
Bill was one of the founders of Beat Bad Records, and along with Barry Knoedl, the driving force behind the Badbeats, a partnership formed for lasted 32 years, until Bill's death in 2005.
This record was released as a double 'A' side. In order to reinforce the idea that it was a double 'A' side, they put both songs on the 'A' side. The other side of the record is blank. Then people would still assume that the first song was the intended 'A', so they made two versions with each song leading off, using distinctly different mixes on each from the same takes. Each version comes with a different color picture sleeve. You're Not Coming Home is Red, Don't Listen To Them is Blue.

Bill Kern - Don't Listen To Them [7' Beatbad Records 1979]

The Trend hailed in a barn in the Derbyshire hills, overlooking Manchester’s Airport. A pop band led by the charismatic Mark Revell from Stalybridge. Released their debut single Teenage Crush in 1979 on their own label Trendy Records.
Then, they were picked up my "MCA" Records and went onto release three more singles before disappearing. Polly and Wendy was their second one in 1980. Rumour has it that this song was written about two sisters who went to their gigs.

The Trend - Polly & Wendy [7' MCA 1980]

Bleeding Hearts were a rare Cannot area –UK- powerpop band on the UXB label Crazy Plane Records; people said that most of these release were destroyed. ¿? Produced by Little Winston, local dj and record label owner. A must for all good pop tester. Great stomping sing-along.

Bleeding Hearts - I Need To Know [7' Crazy Plane Records 1980]

Led by JP McLain, who compares vocally to a poppier Elvis Costello, The Gems were a slightly under-developed but good new-wave pop. Also features Barry Shank later of The Unclaimed and The Long Ryders. On the power pop label, their lonely single for Titan Records out of Kansas City.

Gems - Didn't Like It Anyway [7' Titan Records 1978]

BEATFOR107 - January Singles Weekender I

Digging up some records on holidays, so today we have an eclectic singles session.
A favourite vintage punk rock and roll radio stations intro, back in 1979. From California, The Beans released two singles for Lima Bean Records, the first one let it in, but this Surf’s Up is an stormy punk surf instro with spicy girls inviting to dance it on the beach.

The Beans - Surf's Up [7' Lima Bean Records 1979]



Go Feet label did not have the same level of fame as the 2 Tone Records, but was an important sister label to the 2 Tone genre. The Beat's first release was on 2 Tone Records, but when Madness struck a deal with Stiff Records, The Beat left to form their own label.
The three original members of the Mood Elevators (David Ditchfield, Noel Green, and Jenny Jones) met after literally being thrown together following a street fight. A group initially named Inside Out was soon formed from the three. Once ready to gig in early 1980, the band began to book spots at pubs around Birmingham. Impressed by the performance they witnessed, The Beat offered them an opportunity to record a single on the Go Feet label along with the supporting spot on a UK tour.
Only two 7-inch singles were released by the band. Their first, Annapurna, was a big hit on the indie scene.

The Mood Elevators - Annapurna [7' Go Feet 1981]


The Piranhas were formed in 1977, and were originally part of the Brighton punk scene, achieved their biggest success (classic one-hit wonder) with their cover version of the South African kwela song "Tom Hark", an instrumental hit in 1958 for Elias & His Zig Zag Jive Flutes. With new lyrics written by the band's frontman "Boring" Bob Grover under the Stock-Aitkin-Waterman partnership, it was a Top 10 hit in 1980. It was the first song to feature on BBC Television's pop music programme, Top of the Pops.
Jilly was included in their first single, an infectious punky singalong.

The Piranhas - Jilly [7' Attix 1978]


The Rivvits were a West London-based punk band formed by vocalist and guitarist, Chris Burne. They played all the influential punk/new wave clubs and pubs in and around London, such as, The Marquee, The Roxy, The Vortex, alongside (then) fledgling punk bands such as, XTC, The Lurkers, Subway Sect, The Slits, Jilted John, The Buzzcocks, among others.
The band signed to Alien Records in 1977, run by their new manager, Nigel Lucas, jointly with Chris Burne and Martin Godfrey as artistic directors.

Alien Records continued to bring out singles into early 1980, using personnel formed from the Rivvits under various band names; The Beaks and, Nathaniel Halcrow & The Mastodons written by Burne, which is a classic organ/bass riff pop song with a very catchy chorus. It's about liberty versus the dangers of extremist politics, both right and left!

Nathaniel Halcrow & The Mastodons - Move To The Right [7' Alien 1979]

BEST SINGLES 2 0 0 7

1- Correcto – Joni [Domino Records] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4bYeb6lsRI
2- Frightened Rabbit – Be Less Rude [Fat Cat Records] http://fat-cat.co.uk/fatcat/release.php?id=234
3- The Long Weekend - Record [Mother Tongue] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xnYfVVpH7g
4- Alterckicks – Good Luck [B Unique] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-o6G9Do14w
5- Nine Black Alps – Bitter End [Island] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95gRVPmQ80o
6- Havana Guns – N.Y.C.S. [Cigarette Music] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0IayUIona0
7- The Enemy – It’s Not Ok [Warners] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o03awtSlbkY
8- Mumm-Ra – She’s Got You High [Columbia] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mZkYCbgxTo
9- The Thermals – A Pillar Of Salt [Sub Pop] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Iobo18U9w
10- The All New Adventures Of Us - St Crispin's Got Our Backs [The Mannequin Republic] http://www.myspace.com/tanaoumusic
11- Fanfarlo – Fire Escape [White Heat] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e6453HyewA
12- The Sweet Vandals – Too Much [Unique] http://www.myspace.com/thesweetvandals
13- The Fischers – Down The Days [Lost Music] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5k1kPK5C1U
14- Wake The President - Sorrows For Clothes [Electric Honey] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spQDwqXYfEE
15- It’s A Buffalo – Divorce Song [Akoustik Anarkhy] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gchQYxlXmf8
16- The Nightjars – Cease To Exist [Reveal] http://www.myspace.com/thenightjars
17- The Troubadours – Gimme Love [Mod Art Sounds] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=436hj5gE-zQ
18- The Brightlights – Inspired By [Distiller] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3xTk-5UWbY
19- Bedroom Eyes – Valentine Vacancy Ep [Clodberry Records] http://www.myspace.com/bedroomeyesosd
20- Stalkers - Let's Get It Together [Heron] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRSc0jPsuGg&feature=related
21- Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse – Valerie [All Do/Sony] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI_xYIxUTE0
22- Polytechnic - Cold Hearted Business [Shatter Proof] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXKQOYHYJs
23- Shout Out Louds – Tonight I Have To Leave It [Merge] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MVlPV7AF7k
24- Andy Lewis & Paul Weller – Are You Trying To Be Lonely? [Acid Jazz] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DopJRqfJg8
25- Pete & The Pirates – Knots [Stolen] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfgmPqsJQj4
26- Herman Düne – I Wish That I Could See You Sonn [Source] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGAmnjZYxdU
27- Tuomo – Don’t Take It Too Hard [Jupiter] http://www.myspace.com/organkane
28- Buen Chico – Choosing My Religion [Faith & Hope] http://www.myspace.com/buenchico
29- The Shallow Call – Frank Bruno [Cherry Bomb Disco] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcq46xcRnxQ
30- Butcher The Bar – Get Away [Morr Music Germany] http://www.myspace.com/butcherthebarband
31- Scouting For Girls – Elvis Aint Dead [Epic] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFzREgP3RiU
32- Goodbooks – Passchendaele [Columbia] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SsIOWEWOfY
33- College Fall – Gravity [Ride] http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=17464492
34- The Lionheart Brothers – Hero Anthem [Racing Junior] http://www.myspace.com/lionheartbrothers
35- My Psychoanalyst – We Disagree [Hungry Kid] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPk9WmxQcVA
36- Jersey Budd – Bright Soul [This Feeling] http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=99824484
37- Grandmagneto – Night Fever/Tainted Love [Big Single] http://www.myspace.com/grandmagneto
38- The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters ep [Fat Cat] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFCanLfBuMY
39- Scouting For Girls – It’s Not About You [Epic] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Tn4FE1i0U
40- The Bees – Listening Man [Virgin] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opm-qsGxzNY

BEST LPS 2 0 0 7

1- The Innits – Everything Is True [Sunday Service] http://www.theinnits.com/
2- The Enemy - We'll Live And Die In These Towns [Warner] http://www.theenemy.com/home.php
3- The View – Hats Off To The Buskers [1965 Records] http://www.theviewareonfire.com/
4- Wilco – Sky Blue Sky [Nonesuch] www.wilcoweb.com
5- Richmond Fontaine – Thirteen Cities [Décor] www.richmondfontaine.com
6- Loney, Dear – Loney Noir [Regal] www.loneydear.com
7- Midlake - Milkmaid Grand Army Ep [Bella Union] www.midlake.net
8- Grand Drive – Everyone [Loose] www.grand-drive.com
9- Softlightes - Say No to Being Cool Say Yes to Being Happy [Modular] www.thesoftlightes.com
10- The Rumble Strips – Girls And Weather [Island] http://www.myspace.com/rumblestripsuk
11- 1990s – Cookies [Rough Trade] http://www.myspace.com/1990sband
12- Hard-Fi – Once Upon A Time In The West [Atlantic] http://www.myspace.com/hardfi
13- The Shins – Wincing The Night Away [Sub Pop] http://www.myspace.com/theshins
14- Band Of Horses – Cease To Begin [Sub Pop] http://www.myspace.com/bandofhorses
15- Little Man Tate – About What You Know [V2] http://www.myspace.com/littlemantatemusic
16- Good Shoes – Think Before You Speak [Brille] http://www.myspace.com/goodshoes
17- The Basement - Illicit Hugs And Playground Thugs [Zealous] http://www.myspace.com/thebasementofficial
18- Edgar Jones – Getting’ A Little Help [Viper] http://www.myspace.com/edgarjonesandthejoneses
19- Shack – Time Machine [Sour Mash] http://www.myspace.com/shacktheband
20- The Right Ons – The Right Ons [2Fer Records] http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=109356602