It's been a long time

Just to let you know that I won't be able to post much anytime soon, and when links expire that's it, my friends. Sorry about that, and hopefully better times will come soon.

Susan Jacks - Ghosts (1980)

I heard that Susan Jacks (from The Poppy Family fame), one of my favorite female singers ever, is having some health issues. Here's wishing everything will be OK, Susan!

To my knowlege, her solo albums haven't been reissued on cd yet. Here's her beautiful album from 1980.

Beyond The Clouds once again, oh yes!


Columbia Record Label JC 36417

Track list:

01 All the Tea in China (Jacks) 2:50
02 We Had It All (Fritts, Seals) 3:02
03 Elusive Butterfly (Lind) 2:46
04 Evergreen (Tanner) 2:48
05 Ghosts in Your Mind (Jacks) 3:46
06 Twice as Strong (Demmans) 2:38
07 Beyond the Clouds (Jacks) 2:58
08 A Young Girl (Aznavour, Brown) 3:12
09 Concrete Sea ( Jacks ) 2:40
10 Two Roses (Chaba) 3:29
11 A Fool Such as I (Trader) 2:21

Prod. by Terry Jacks

The blog will be back soon.

I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. So stick around...

THE PIPE DREAM - Wanderers/Lovers (1969)

About time I posted something new here...! Happy new year to you!

Here's a soft-pop, boy/girl vocals and harmonies album requested by a friend. I know nothing about these three guys and two girls other than their names (David, Steve, Pete, Chris and Pat), so if any reader can shed some light about it, please go ahead and do so, and thank you in advance!



Title is Wanderers/Lovers, but side 1 is actually the "Lovers" part:





Album arranged and produced by Steve Schwartz.

DYNAGROOVE is the product of research and development assuring that RCA records are as modern as the latest advances in engineering and science.

RCA STEREO RECORDS may be played on any modern phonograph with a lightweight tone arm. You will hear excellent sound reproduction on a mono player and full stereo sound on a stereo player.

Enjoy!

THE WILDWEEDS - Greatest Hits... & More!

NRBQ rule, that's out of question.
Big Al Anderson was in a band called the Wildweeds first, whose material may appeal to any NRBQ fan, that's out of question too.
You can find a short bio here. Myself, I dig the first and second version of the Wildweeds just the same. I can't recommend their 1970 self titled album enough.

This Lp was released in the late 80s and again in 1991, and features some rare singles and demos. My belief is that this was a grey area release, but even Mr. R.Unterberger talks about it, so:

A fine collection that presents most of the songs that appeared on their four Cadet singles (including "No Good to Cry"), some unreleased cuts, a live track, and demos that they used to get their Vanguard deal. Even by the standards of obscure latter-day '60s reissues, this LP (probably issued in the 1980s) is hard to find. It's certainly worth picking up if you find it, or worth buying the material if it shows up on some future, more widely available compilation.

In fact, such compilation finally did see the light of day, first in Japan in 2001, and then in the U.S. a year later, featuring a couple more songs (two more versions of No Good To Cry). You can listen to generous samples and buy it here.

However, some of the stuff featured on that rare Lp wasn't used in the compilation after all, and they are needed for completists like you & me (am I correct?), so here they are.

Excuse Me Baby
No Good To Cry (Live at Windsor High School with the Al Lepak Big Band)
John King's Fair
Fantasy Child
There You Go (Johnny Cash)
Belle

PINKINY CANANDY - st (1969)

Now tell me...would you take this guy seriously?

Well, you'd better do.

This record must look like a joke at first sight, but as soon as you drop the needle you realize this is another little treasure. Pop, rock, bubblegum, even an hilarious country track... but the word here is Pepper! Pepperisms can be found everywhere here, starting from Hello Hello and ending with its reprise, Goodbye Goodbye -what else? Tongue in cheek all the time, yes, so what, this is fun, and the melodic quality of the songs and the arrangements is fantastic.

The man wasted no bars. Many songs do not even reach the 3-minute tag.

In fact, it's like barely more than 2 minutes of pop bliss every time and you're left begging for more.

It seems this was the baby of a guy called Michael Chain -no musician credits on the record- so maybe he played all instruments, who knows. Very cool but somewhat strange concept-like album, with comic strips too, featuring the adventures of our hero Pinkiny Canandy. Beautiful gatefold sleeve, lyrics included.

A record you can easily play on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Someday... trust me!

We would like to say so long and thank you all for clapping for us
But we'd have to stretch the song by adding on another chorus.
Very glad to be here
Happy that we came
Here's hoping that you feel the same.

Now, this is one criminally forgotten record that deserves a prompt CD reissue -I'm just salivating at the thought of having access to bonus tracks too...
Rev-Ola people (or anyone)... what are you waiting for???
The Lp I found years ago wasn't in perfect condition, you know!




The songs:

HELLO HELLO
CHRISTOPHER CENTIPEDE
BARBARA
JENNY BROWN
MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, SOMEDAY
SADIE GODIVA
MR. KEILEY'S ROOF
MUTUAL INDEMNITY
BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP
GOODBYE, GOODBYE

All selections composed by Michael Chain
Produced by Mike Post

Three Hour Tour

One of my favorite non-sixties bands ever.
This is their most welcome third release.
Check them out, you won't be sorry!!

Ten new songs from Darren Cooper's Three Hour Tour. Coop's joined by Adam Schmitt (bass) and Brad Steakley (drums) and the recordings feature guest appearances by John Richardson and Velvet Crush duo Paul Chastain and Ric Menck. A milestone event for fans of Power Pop, Three Hour Tour is back with their first album in over a decade! Brand new tunes from former Choo Choo Train/Stupid Cupids/Artificial Limbs guitarist Darren Cooper's Three Hour Tour, the long-awaited follow-up to his 90s output on Parasol Records. Darren is joined by an allstar cast for this batch of Power Pop in maximum melodic mode, for fans of Beatles, Badfinger, Raspberries, Velvet Crush, and The Posies!