The Fleshtones — Speed Connection II

• Artist: The Fleshtones
• Title: Speed Connection II
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1985 – When I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Yes

In general, live recordings are “for-fans-only”, and Speed Connection II from The Fleshtones is no exception. Moreover, I think this record killed their chance to break out to a wider audience in the late 1980s and beyond. I’m no Fleshtones historian but I say all that based on my real world experience from working at a chain record store when this was released. I had been a fan for a while and my perception was that their label IRS really decided to promote this one. Which is too bad because for a lot of people this was the first thing they heard by The Fleshtones. And they did not dig it, they told me. This isn’t the greatest recording ever. The performances are great, but the sound is inconsistent. Also, many of the songs are covers or medleys or watered-down versions of studio tracks. For fans only.

The Fleshtones — American Beat ’84’

• Artist: The Fleshtones
• Title: American Beat ’84’
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1984 – No clue where
• Keeper: Yes

Yeah, I don’t get the extra apostrophe after the 84 either, but I’m going with it since it’s that way all over the record. Some might call a four song record an EP; IRS calls it a “Maxi Single.” The Fleshtones’ “American Beat ’84′” is a solid song, well-constructed and perfectly played like all their work, but it has a slight sheen of cheese. I think it was featured in the soundtrack to the Tom Hanks’ movie Bachelor Party. I never saw it. Someone check that for me, please, thanks. “Super Hexbreaker” is what it sounds like, a remix, but it’s slightly less super than the original. “Mean Old Lonesome Train” is interesting because it’s more bluesy than usual for The Fleshtones and guitarist Keith Streng sings. What Keith may lack in natural vocal ability he more than makes up for with intensity and enthusiasm, a trade I’ll take every time. The standout for me is “Hall of Fame.” There are more hooks in this one song than most full length records. It’s a Fleshtones version of a “club banger” circa 1984, not that anyone would’ve called it that back then.

The Fleshtones — Hexbreaker!

• Artist: The Fleshtones
• Title: Hexbreaker!
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1983 – Not sure
• Keeper: Yes

Hexbreaker! Even the title of this album is cool. The super rock continues on their second full album, and this time it’s even more eclectic. There’s everything from the silly, but fun, “Screamin’ Skull” to the mid-tempo heartbreaker “This House Is Empty” (one of my favorites). The Fleshtones even get philosophical on “Burning Hell” and I don’t know if that, or the fact that they did with a soul-powered dance freak out number is more surprising.

I have deep, and very fond memories of listening to this in high school. I know every note of every song. I’ll say it again: I wanted to be Peter Zaremba. I love all the songs on this record but it’s the title track, “Hexbreaker!” that really tears the roof off.

Listen, are you ready everybody? Yeeaahhh!
Are you ready for SUPER ROCK time? Yeeaahhh!
Are you ready for communication? Yeeaahhh!
Well I think you’re ready for the HEXBREAKER! baby come on… Yeeaahhh!

Fleshtones — Roman Gods

• Artist: Fleshtones
• Title: Roman Gods
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1982 ? No idea where, just glad to have it.
• Keeper: Yes

Thanks to my friend John Hurlock and his older brother Mike I was exposed to the Fleshtones early on. They were one my favorite alternatives to the alternative bands of the 1980s. Not that anyone used the word “alternative” back then, but you know what I’m saying. These guys were essentially rock and roll (a high compliment) at a time when a lot of non-mainstream music was anything but. The Fleshtones called it “Super Rock.”

The Fleshtones did have a 1960s vibe but their sound was unlike anything before, or since. I think they are one of the most under-rated bands ever. The music was fun but not silly, the lyrics smart but not pretentious, and they put on a helluva show. I was lucky enough to see them a number of times, always in small venues. I even got to talk to my hero Peter Zaremba, the lead singer. He also hosted the coolest show ever on MTV, The Cutting Edge. I’ll admit it, I wanted to be Peter Zaremba. I even grew my hair like his. If only I could do that now.

Roman Gods is an excellent album, one of the most played records in my collection. My favorite song is Shadow-line. I have a lot more Fleshtones records, but I haven’t kept up with the band for a long time. That’s dumb. I’m going to catch up on what I’ve been missing.

They are still kicking it. Read more about the Fleshtones. (I wrote this while playing the album. Every few songs I increased the rating. By the end of Roman Gods it was clear, this can only be a “10.”)

XTC — Dear God

XTC -- Dear God

• Artist: XTC
• Title: Dear God
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986 – When she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA
• Keeper: Yes

Oh man, what was I saying before? So much for redoubling my posting frequency…

XTC created some minor controversy with their single “Dear God.” It seems it was originally a b-side for another single from the album Skylarking. It became such a hit that the album was repressed to include it. As a pop song, I think it’s solid, and certainly more interesting musically than most. The flipside on this is “Big Day” which has a much more psychedelic sound, but not as cartoonish as their stuff under the pseudonym The Dukes of Stratosphear. It’s decent but kind of boring.

And that concludes this pass through the 7 inch singles. We’re all out of Ys and Zs. For the next few posts I’ll put up some new stuff.

Weather Theatre — Bridge to Heaven

Weather Theatre -- Bridge to Heaven

• Artist: Weather Theatre
• Title: Bridge to Heaven
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: No

I know… It probably appears one of my new year’s resolutions was to maintain my slackness in posting records, but it’s not true. I’m going to try to do better than every other day.

But this record by Weather Theatre isn’t that motivating. Even their fancy pants spelling of “Theatre” is offputting. I don’t know anything about these guys. They are a higly mediocre “alternative” band with some mild Echo and The Bunnymen wannabe thing going on. There’s a fancy pants fold out record cover, and the songs included are “Bridge to Heaven” and “Great God’s Gift.” It’s hard to believe this band came out of Seattle in the late 1980s.

The U.V’s — Dropping Bombs

The U.V.s -- Dropping Bombs

• Artist: The U.V’s
• Title: Dropping Bombs
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – At our store RIP records in Norfolk, VA
• Keeper: No

The U.V’s (and that’s exactly how they spell it on the cover) are a band I know little about. All three songs on this record are incredibly boring. On “Dropping Bombs”, “Real World”, and “Deepest Blue” the band just plods along like any neighborhood garage band, with no energy and vocals, well, that go with the music. Since they are Australian, I think, I’m sure my expectations were high when I first got this.

Tad — Ritual Device / Daisy

Tad -- Ritual Device / Daisy

• Artist: Tad
• Title: Ritual Device / Daisy
• Year: 1988?
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988? – At our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA
• Keeper: Maybe

Tad, Tad, Tad. Do I like your clear vinyl single of “Ritual Device” and “Daisy”? I guess so. I liked it more than I expected, or remembered. It’s very uh… Sub-Pop circa 1988, which is not a bad thing. There was a time I just couldn’t get enough of this stuff. I don’t think I’ll play it ever again though. Maybe you need a new home. It’s not you, Tad, it’s me.

Sade – Your Love Is King

• Artist: Sade
• Title: Your Love Is King
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Yes

I played this before we hit the road for Christmas. I remember liking “Your Love Is King”, but I have to admit that right now I can’t remember anything else about it. On the back is “Love Affair with Life” and I don’t even remember if I like that one. It’s Sade; it probably sounds like all the rest of her songs, which isn’t a bad thing.

And for something totally different check out Fuel.TV. They call themselves “action sports television” but believe me, Fuel is the best music network on the air. Last night they were running a marathon of the excellent show Check 1,2 and I stayed up way too late soaking it in.

Spinal Tap – Christmas With the Devil

• Artist: Spinal Tap
• Title: Christmas With the Devil
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: I have no idea…
• Keeper: Yes

I slammed so hard on my new skateboard ramp tonight that I threw up. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get out the out the door to back porch in time. The last time I threw up on the back porch I was a teenager coming home drunk from a party. (That only happened once, Mom!) So, I guess I was overdue for some porch puking. Damn, dude, it hurts. Anyhow…

I was going to post this record on Christmas, but I forgot to upload the picture before we started traveling. So, here it is on new year’s day. “Christmas with the Devil” is a very funny song from the very funny Spinal Tap from the very funny movie, Rob Reiner’s spoof that kept on spoofin’ for quite a while.

I can’t find much info about this record. According to the album notes at Wikipedia it’s rare, but both sides were added as bonus tracks to the This Is Spinal Tap CD. The “band” did a brutually funny performance of this song on Saturday Night Live that included chained elves pulling Santa’s sleigh with a Christmas tree on fire. That’s from memory. There must be a video out there somewhere, but I can’t find it.

The elves are dressed in leather
And the angels are in chains
The sugar plums are rancid
And the stockings are in flames

Christmas with the Devil!