E-I-E-I-O — That Love Thang

• Artist: E-I-E-I-O
• Title: That Love Thang
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1988 – Please tell me it was a promo…
• Keeper: No

These guys play well and with conviction, but it just ain’t my “thang.” After the first side of this E-I-E-I-O album I had a dilemma. I was really unmotivated to get off the couch to flip it, but I really wanted it to be over. Just then Mary walked in the room, problem solved. So, I got through it, but that’ll be the last time. My beef with this record started early. The first song is “Hey Cecelie.” When he sings it though he pronounces it “Cecelia.” You know, like the Simon and Garfunkel song, except they knew how to spell it, and their song had a rocking percussion break. The sound here I guess can be described as roots rock, with horns. If that sounds like your thing and the title That Love Thang appeals, you may dig it.

Wolfmother to the rescue with some ear cleaning…

INXS — I Send a Message

• Artist: INXS
• Title: I Send a Message
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987? – Used at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA
• Keeper: No

This INXS single, “I Send a Message”, is decent. I think I remember it from the radio or MTV. The back has “Mechanical” which does in fact have a lot of mechanical sounds mixed in with some strange too-arty ska groove. I doubt many people would recognize it as INXS. I think I bought one of their albums way back, but I really know much about the band. That said, I do have a story.

My friend John Hurlock and I went to see the Go Gos at the amusement park King’s Dominion. Please don’t tell anyone I told you this. Anyhow, we were in high school and it seemed like a good idea at the time–have fun at the park all day and see the Go Gos for cheap, $5 or something. This would have been in the very early 1980s. INXS was the opening band. At the time I had heard of them but that was about it. When they came on stage all the girls in the audience started losing it. They were screaming and rushing to the front. John and I were completely baffled since we had no idea Michael Hutchence was such a teen idol. It was like those films of the Beatles at Shea Stadium. Crazy.

The Cars — Since You’re Gone

• Artist: The Cars
• Title: Since You’re Gone
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?

I really liked The Cars when I was a teenager. I even bought a couple albums, but they’ve never been a big part of my life. That said, I always enjoy their music whenever I hear it. “Since You’re Gone” was a radio hit, maybe it still is on the “classic rock” stations or XM. I dig it and the flipside “Think It Over” is a more upbeat rocker with a very 1980s sound, a sound created by them as much as anyone. This single was from their fourth album Shake It Up and came out in 1981.

Even if The Cars never existed Ric Ocasek will always be my hero for his work on the early Bad Brains records.

Van Halen — 1984

Van Halen -- 1984

• Artist: Van Halen
• Title: 1984
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Not sure when, bought it used at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA
• Keeper: Yes

Guess when this record came out. Incorrect! Or maybe, correct! I don’t know. Everything on the record and sleeve says 1983, but according to some sites it was January, 1984. Anyhow, what’s more important is that this was the last Van Halen record with my hero Diamond Dave. The guy’s lyrics were excellent, his singing was crazy, and he was, is maybe, a world class entertainer like no other.

The album starts off sounding like Eddie has OD’d on Human League. The synth stuff is over the top. Maybe that’s the reason I tend to forget how great this record really is. It’s chock-a-block with hits and lesser-known gems. At the time I thought the hit “Jump” was a bit cheesy, but of course it’s an excellent song with excellent lyrics which explains why someone like Aztec Camera/Roddy Frame would make a cover of it.

Another popular winner is “Panama” which I always associate with one of my many lessons in humility. Back when 1984 was new I remember being at a guitar store with my friend Tom Bundick when he started playing “Panama” and I think I responded with something like “what the hell are you doing?!” To which Tom replied “that song is great!” Of course, he was right and I was too punk, too cool for my own good. I’ve mentioned that affliction before, but at least I eventually got hip to these records.

1984 was their best selling album at the time. 10 million! Everyone knows the hits, but I also really like “Top Jimmy” and “Drop Dead Legs.” Of course the most awesome classic is “Hot for Teacher”, even the video is a classic. And awesome. For real.

“I don’t feel tardy.”

Inca Babies — Evil Hour

• Artist: Inca Babies
• Title: Evil Hour
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Promo at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.

I was thinking this Inca Babies record, “Evil Hour”, sounded familiar in some way, but I wasn’t sure why. I thought maybe there was some milder Birthday Party thing happening, but that seemed like a lazy comparison. Then, I read this article about the Inca Babies at Trouser Press. Turns out, I’m not lazy. It looks like this was their last release and apparently they had started finding their groove, but overall this record wasn’t as exciting as I remembered.

Update: Inca Babies’ new site is up and running, and they have a new “best of” called Plutonium out on Cherry Red Records.

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.

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)

Joe Jackson — Will Power

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Will Power
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987 – Promo Mary got when she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

The first time I played Joe Jackson’s instrumental album “Will Power” the other day I didn’t quite get it. And I couldn’t help thinking it was going to take some will power to play it again. Since then I’ve played it a number of times and like most good, but challenging, music it has grown on me. I don’t know if I’m sophisticated enough to describe it accurately. This isn’t The Joe Jackson Band; he’s working with a full orchestra here. Let’s call it “symphonic.”

I think the original album artwork was just the pattern of red and blue circles on fabric, but at some point the label must have insisted on that circular sticker with his name on it. Or, maybe it’s just that way on the promo since they don’t usually come with shrink wrap.

More about Joe Jackson at Wikipedia.

Joe Jackson — Memphis

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Memphis
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984 ? – When Mary worked at Tower Records in DC.
• Keeper: Yes

This single was part of the soundtrack to the movie “Mike’s Murder” starring Debra Winger. Yeah, I’ve never seen it either. Anyhow, the primary riff in “Memphis” sounds so much like the Spencer David Group song “I’m A Man” that I can’t help but think of that when I’m listening to this. Despite that the “Memphis” vibe is more new wave than classic rock. I like it, but it bothers me. “Breakdown” on the flip is an ethereal instrumental number, and unlike any Joe Jackson music I’ve ever heard.

Paul Kelly and The Messengers — Under The Sun

• Artist: Paul Kelly and The Messengers
• Title: Under The Sun
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1988 – Ordered for her at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

This falls into the decent-music-that-I’ll-probably-never-play-again category. It’s sorta roots rock with steel or pedal steel guitar thrown in occassionally. I could listen to all day and it wouldn’t bother me, but it doesn’t excite me either. Should we keep it?