The Partridge Family — Up To Date

• Artist: The Partridge Family
• Title: Up To Date
• Year: 1971
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 3
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Late 1980s, birthday gift from her sister Jolly
• Keeper: Yes

Not sure what to say about this one. I just know we have to keep it. If you want to join the Partridge Family Fan Club see the info in the pic below. “Add 25¢ for rush handling.”

Here’s a page with more than you ever wanted to know about The Partridge Family’s “Up To Date.” Also, be sure to check out the main page of this same site.

The Olympic Sideburns — Self-titled

• Artist: The Olympic Sideburns
• Title: Self-titled
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy / Mary – both had copies
• Acquired: Not sure.
• Keeper: Yes

When you meet a woman who has the same Olympic Sideburns record as you, just marry her. That’s what I did. It’s not like you’re gonna get another chance. Though it’s the same record, we have different versions. Mary’s was released on Epitaph for the US, but made in the UK. My version is on New Rose, and it came with a “Limited Editon FREE 12′ EP.” That’s right, it’s a 12 foot EP. It’s huge! Look at the sticker on the pic below. This one also came with a cool songbook/comic book.

By looking at these guys you might be tempted to think this is just another 1980s band doing the ‘6os garage rock punk thing. Or maybe you’re not that hip. Anyhow, these guys are way deeper than that. I mean, they’re from Australia, so they can’t help but be weird, and cool. They were somewhat of an Aussie underground super-group, with rotating members who were all in other bands. I can’t explain the sound beyond saying that it’s energetic, slightly noisy, and rocked out in the weirdest way. I know they would’ve been great to see live.

New Model Army — The Ghost of Cain

• Artist: New Model Army
• Title: The Ghost of Cain
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986 – When she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

I liked this New Model Army record more than I remember. Lotsa energy, and you can feel the anger. I don’t know much about the band, but I always thought frontman Slade The Leveller was too intense to be taken seriously. If there was a “hit” on “The Ghost of Cain” I think it must’ve been “51st State”, or at least I remember a video. Mary got to see them live in Richmond. My favorite song is “Lights Go Out.”

Here’s an article about the band at Wikipedia.

Madness – Madness

• Artist: Madness
• Title: Madness
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Kempmill Records in Springfield, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

I’m not sure what the deal is with this self-titled Madness album. Mary thinks it was a US-only release that the label put out after the single “Our House” was a hit everywhere else. Before that tune nobody in the US knew who Madness were. Nobody, except the cool kids that is. It includes songs from their first four records. Anyhow, I couldn’t find any info about it on the official Madness site or Wikipedia’s page about Madness.

I like everything on this record, but I think my favorite is “Grey Day.” The piano, bass and concert chimes together sound so heavy.

“Madness is all in the mind.”

Anita Lane — Dirty Sings

• Artist: Anita Lane
• Title: Dirty Sings
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Bought it at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

I saved the sticker on the shrink wrap to this EP “Dirty Sings” from Anita Lane. Except for that she was in The Bad Seeds for a bit, I didn’t know anything about her when I got this record. So, I’m guessing it was the words “in a musical collaboration with Nick Cave, Barry Adamson, and Mick Harvey” that prompted me to grab it. The first song, “If I Should Die” is so unbearably arty that I didn’t think I could make it through the whole thing. But I did make it through all four songs and I’m happy to report it got much better. I think the best cut is an excellent remake of Sister Sledge’s “Lost In Music.”

Killing Joke — “HA”

• Artist: Killing Joke
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 10 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: I really don’t know when or where, but it was a long time ago.
• Keeper: Yes

Yes, the name of this live Killing Joke EP is “HA”, in quotes. It’s in an oddball format, 10 inch vinyl. I have only a handful of 10 inch records, and I have no idea why they ever bothered making them this size. This was recorded at what sounds like a small to medium sized club, Larry’s Hideaway, Toronto. Somehow Killing Joke manage to produce their usual heavy and dense sound, even out of the studio, and I think the excellent drumming is a big part of that. Overall, it’s OK, but it is Killing Joke.

The six songs are:
“Pssyche” (not a typo!)
“Sun Goes Down”
“The Pandys Are Coming”
“Take Take Take”
“Unspeakable”
“Wardance”

Check out the official site for Killing Joke.

Joe Jackson — Blaze of Glory

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Blaze of Glory
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1989 – Our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Joe Jackon’s “Blaze of Glory” is very much an “adult” album. And I’m not usually in a very adult mood. The first time I played this the other day I was distracted, but also stunned by what I initially perceived as over-production and even some… cheesiness. At first I didn’t get it at all, despite being an adult, sorta. After a couple more proper listens it’s starting to make sense. This is a very complex, some might say “concept”, album. There are few if any audible gaps between the songs, and the lyrics move from youth to the reality beyond it. It feels almost like a musical.

It seems the single “Nineteen Forever” made it up the charts, but I don’t remember hearing it on the radio.

“This album is dedicated to my generation.” — Joe Jackson (from the liner notes)

Billy Idol — Rebel Yell

• Artist: Billy Idol
• Title: Rebel Yell
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1983 — No idea.
• Keeper: Yes

I admit that I think the title track “Rebel Yell” is a great pop song, probably Billy Idol’s best. The rest of the album is not so exciting, except for Steve Stevens excellent guitar work. I read an interview with Stevens in Guitar Player magazine back in the 1980s. He said people were always asking him to “do the raygun Steve”, and everyone wanted to know how he did it. The raygun was some killer effect/trick that he did twice in the song “Rebel Yell.” Steve didn’t want to say exactly how to do it. As I remember it, he thought it was kind of lame for people to just copy it and said people should just experiment and come up with their own stuff. I agree, but you can tell me Steve. Seriously.

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (and The Fuzztones) — Live

• Artist: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (and The Fuzztones)
• Title: Live
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1985 – Mail order from the label, Midnight Records.
• Keeper: Yes

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins made a special guest appearance at a benefit show by The Fuzztones. These are the four songs on this short live record:

“Alligator Wine”
“I Put a Spell On You”
“It’s That Time Again”
“Constipation Blues”

I suppose this record could be filed under “F” for Fuzztones, but Mr. Hawkins appearance is what makes it special to me. So, “H” it is. From the crowd noise this sounds like a small club. When Fuzztones frontman Rudi Protrudi enthusiastically introduces Mr. Hawkins the crowd doesn’t exactly erupt like I would expect. What was wrong with those people?

Gang of Four — Entertainment!

• Artist: Gang of Four
• Title: Entertainment!
• Year: 1979
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: ? Just glad to have it.
• Keeper: Yes

The problem of leisure
What to do for pleasure
Ideal love a new purchase
A market of the senses
Dream of the perfect life…

Those are the first five lines of “Natural’s Not In It” from “Entertainment!”, Gang of Four’s debut album. I read a quote by Bono where he describes Andy Gill’s lyrics as “…a smart bomb of text that had me ‘at home feeling like a typist.'” The latter part of that sentence is, of course, a pun referring to the song “At Home He Feels Like a Tourist” which is also on this album. That song is an all-time favorite of mine, although I like almost every song on this record just as much. It’s just that good.

I never got to see them live in their prime, but I did go stand outside a small club in Virginia Beach to hear the muffled songs rumble through the concrete walls at one Gang of Four show. It was tragic, but I was an under-age teenager and couldn’t get inside. They’re just that good.

If you’re not familiar with the band, know that they are definitely one of the most important “rock” bands ever and have influenced more artists than you would believe.

A very interesting article about “Entertainment!”, including its packaging, at Wikipedia.