Head of David — Dustbowl

• Artist: Head of David
• Title: Dustbowl
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Yes

I was introduced to Head of David by the 7 inch records that use to come attached to Sounds magazine (RIP). Of the big three British music mags it was always my favorite. I still have that four song 7 inch, but I can’t remember the other three bands. I’ll post that one if I live long enough. The HOD song was “Roadkill” (maybe it was live version) and I knew immediately that I had to get some more of that. That song is also on Dustbowl, which wasn’t their first release but it was the first for me. It’s produced by Steve Albini, which is usually a good thing, and this record is no exception. The sound is huge and heavy and still unlike anything else I’ve heard. The earlier stuff is good, maybe the later too, but Dustbowl is essential. My favorite songs are “Dog Day Sunrise” and “Cult of Coats.”

Etched in the run off margins:
SHADOWS side: “Many fine Budgie riffs”
RAYS side: Tortoise enthusiasts all

Long live Head of David.

Country road, take me home… to Asheville in the morning.

Gaye Bykers on Acid — Everythang’s Groovy

• Artist: Gaye Bykers on Acid
• Title: Everythang’s Groovy
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1986 – When I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Maybe

Live from Fayetteville, NC… where Gaye Bykers on Acid were hugely popular in the late 1980s. Who remembers Grebo? Raise your hands. OK, well I do, and GBOA was one of the first bands on the scene. The scene was possibly more about visual style than sound. The GBOA sound was a mash up resulting in a type of psychedelic punk rock. For a time I was really into the band. I think this three song record was their first noteworthy release. When I played it again the other for the first time in a long while I have to admit that I wasn’t that excited by it. After a couple days though, the lead track, “Everythang’s Groovy”, is still stuck in my head. I have a story about seeing them live that I’ll save for later.

More about Gaye Bykers on Acid and Grebo.

Fad Gadget — Under the Flag

• Artist: Fad Gadget
• Title: Under the Flag
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Olsson’s in DC
• Keeper: Yes

Tracy says it’s all about emotional attachments, and I have ’em to this LP. My logical grown-up self says, “This record screams early ’80s pretentious goth rock”, but my inner teenager says “I remember when I was in art school, the 9:30 Club played ‘Collapsing New People’ between band sets (a Fad Gadget song not on this LP), and I went to poetry readings.” Poetry readings? I must of had a lot of free time.

The music consists of keyboards, some neat sound effects, a drum machine, and topped with arty lyrics in a Bauhaus vocal style. Like the kids say (said) on American Bandstand, “it’s got a good beat and it’s easy to dance to”, or at least to brood to.

I bought this in Washington in early 1984 or late 1983 in that store on Dupont Circle, Olsson’s? I want to keep it. And why is it in the middle of The Fall records, and shouldn’t it be before Faith even? F-A-D. Oh Well. I also didn’t see the 12″ of Collapsing… If I had to choose between the two, I’d keep the 12″ over this. Oh, I’ll rate it a 5.

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…

The Damned — The Black Album (Again)

• Artist: The Damned
• Title: The Black Album (Again)
• Year: 1980
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy ?
• Acquired: I don’t know
• Keeper: Maybe

Hey! I’ve already posted this album, except it was a different. This version of The Black Album by The Damned doesn’t have the gatefold cover, the front is much simpler (boring), and there is no second LP with the live stuff. Anything else I could say I’ve already said. I did play it again, in case you’re wondering, because that’s the deal. Everything gets played, at least one more time.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — Kicking Against the Pricks

• Artist: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
• Title: Kicking Against the Pricks
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986 – When she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA
• Keeper: Yes

Mr. Cave likes his covers. This is the third album by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and the first collection of cover songs, but not the last. Kicking Against the Pricks may sound like an offensive title to some but it’s part of a passage from the book of Acts in the Bible. So there. This is a very eclectic collection and on the whole more mellow than most of his records. My favorite song is “The Singer“, which was also on a 12 inch single previously posted here.

Bad Company — Bad Company

• Artist: Bad Company
• Title: Bad Company
• Year: 1974
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2005? I think this one was inherited from Bob Bobala
• Keeper: Yes

Bad Company is one of the coolest band names ever. If these guys weren’t already rock stars before they started this super group (Free, King Crimson, Mott the Hoople) they would’ve been after this debut. Bad Company contains the huge hits “Can’t Get Enough”, “Rock Steady”, “Ready for Love”, “Movin’ On”, and, my favorite, the title track “Bad Company.” When Simon Kirke double flams on the snare to kick-off the chorus on “Bad Company” I get a rush because that sound is so cracking! And the bass and guitar sound huge too. It’s impressive that anyone could get such a tight, dry sound to also be so titanic. That the band members produced the album is incredible. Young producers, and musicians, should study these albums.

There’s more about Bad Company at Wikipedia.

On the band portait inside the gatefold cover someone wrote “W F” and circled it on Paul Rodgers forehead. What’s that about Bob?

AC/DC — Highway to Hell

• Artist: AC/DC
• Title: Highway to Hell
• Year: 1979
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Used somewhere, not sure when
• Keeper: Yes

Despite what you fans of the Brian Johnson-era think, you know who you are, Highway to Hell was the peak for AC/DC. It’s unfortunate that it was also the end of the Bon Scott-era, and Bon Scott the man. But what a way to go out! The album opens with the title track and a classic bare bones Angus Young riff, followed by one of the greatest kick drum sounds ever recorded. “Highway to Hell” goes on for two verses with nothing but one guitar, drums and vocals. That simple sound is so rocking though, and what’s better is that you know they are holding back until the chorus. After that one ends and you’re looking for your socks they kick into the more frantic “Girls Got Rhythm.” There are some other hits and plenty of great songs on the rest of the album. One of my favorites is the side two opener, “Shot Down in Flames.” Another great one is “Touch Too Much.” It contains these amusing lyrics:

She had the face of an angel
Smiling with sin
A body of Venus with arms

Who knows if Bon Scott was trying to be funny with that? Either way, it’s hilarious.

Peter Zaremba’s Love Delegation — Spread the Word

• Artist: Peter Zaremba’s Love Delegation
• Title: Spread the Word
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1986 – Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Yes

I’m all out of official Fleshtones records, but Peter Zaremba’s Love Delegation is pretty similar in sound, and personnel. I’m not sure if I should file this under Z for Zaremba or L for Love Delegation. In the real world I just file right after the other records by The Fleshtones. Fleshtones guitarist Keith Streng is a part of the core band, and drummer Bill Milhizer also contributed some. There are a lot other folks too, but the most well-known would be Dave Faulkner, front man of the Hoodoo Gurus.

I got to see the Hoodoo Gurus a few times and they put a on great show with a heavy crunch rock sound that doesn’t come across on their albums. Once I saw Mr. Faulkner at a Fleshtones show. They were playing at a small bar in Norfolk, VA called the King’s Head Inn. Faulkner was carrying their gear onto the stage! Apparently he was just hanging out with them for a while. This was when the Hoodoo Gurus were at their most popular in the States, and in Australia they were playing arenas. I even got to talk to him a bit. Later in the Fleshtones set Dave came on stage to play guitar with the band. Peter Zaremba announced they were “combining the rock and roll forces of two continents!”

Back to Spread the Word. This is a great record. About half of the songs are covers. It’s similar to The Fleshtones sound but overall it’s more pop and soul.

The Fleshtones — Fleshtones Vs. Reality

• Artist: The Fleshtones
• Title: Fleshtones Vs. Reality
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – Bought it when I worked at Mother’s Records and Tapes in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Yes

My memories of Fleshtones Vs. Reality are fuzzier than those of the records The Fleshtones made before it. I remember the songs, just not note-for-note. Must’ve been busy that year. I did get to see the boys that same year at the great ol’ 930 Club in D.C, at its original location on F Street. Check out the ticket stub below, only $8! In 1987! That was half a lifetime ago for me, oof.

Anyhow, this record seems a little more mature, in a good way, but the good time music is still what it’s all about. Also, the horns seem bigger and badder than before. As I have said a few times before you can’t achieve maximum rock and roll, or Fleshtones’ “Super Rock”, without horns. I like all the songs, and my favorite is probably “Way Up Here” with that sweet sounding recorder riff. Side two has another Fleshtones-style club banger in “The End of The Track”, complete with wailing alarms and sirens. And this concludes the posts of official Fleshtones records… or does it?