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10 LPs a-spinnin’
I’ve been obsessed with vinyl lately, mainly stuff that has never been and never will be on CD. Or that have been but whose CD reissues are now more rare than the original vinyl. Anywhere, here are some of the vinyl records I’ve fished out of used bins, eBay and Gemm of late. In alphabetical order.
The Backbeats – All the Fun in the World (Petset)
Features Fred LeBlanc, Paul Sanchez and Steve Walters a good decade prior to forming Cowboy Mouth, plus Ellen DeGeneres’ brother Vance on keyboards and production by Ivan Neville. Fairly basic but solid and tuneful new wave pop.
Ballad Shambles – s/t (Skyclad)
A transitional EP from the late 80s for singer Joe Doerr (then late of the LeRoi Brothers) and guitarist Bill Anderson (then from Poison 13), prior to forming the harder-edged, weirder Hand of Glory. Roots rock with anthemic tendencies.
The Brains – self-titled (Mercury)
Early 80s new wave band from Atlanta. Singer/songwriter Tom Gray was a remarkable talent. Cyndi Lauper scored a hit with the brilliant “Money Changes Everything” from this album, but the band had broken up by then.
Belfegore – s/t (Elektra)
Very strange multinational trio seemingly hellbent on blending buzzing synth pop with Cult-like hard rock. I’m not sure it succeeds in that bizarre goal, but it’s a fascinating listen.
Fingerprintz – Distinguishing Marks (Virgin)
One of Scotland’s most underrated pop acts. This is a fine record of sneeringly funny songwriting and off-kilter hooks. The band eventually evolved into the more anthemic and successful (in the U.K., anyway) Silencers.
Nick Gilder – City Nights (Chrysalis)
A vastly underrated pop singer and songwriter. He got his start in the Canadian glam rock band Sweeney Todd, leaving after one Canadian hit (the great “Roxy Roller”) to seek his fortune in the U.S. His first LP You Know Who You Are remains his best, but this one, which features his huge hit “Hot Child in the City,” is damn near as good, with a lot more going for it, in a variety of styles, than just the single.
Moon Martin – Shots From a Cold Nightmare (Capitol)
Like John Hiatt, Martin started out in a country/folk rock mode (with the band Southwind), then recast himself as a rootsy new waver later in the 70s. I wish he would put a little more feeling into his singing, but his debut has a ton of excellent songs. Two of them became hits, though for other people – “Cadillac Walk” for Mink DeVille and “Bad Case of Loving You” for Robert Palmer.
The Suburbs – Love is the Law (Mercury)
There are those that swear this 80s Minneapolis act should be whispered in the same breath as the Replacements and Prince when it comes to the Twin Cities’ greatest bands. I can hear why – this band was sort of a funkier Roxy Music with sarcastic sociopolitical lyrics. I’m definitely investigating this band further.
The Swimming Pool Q’s – Blue Tomorrow (A&M)
Another 80s-era Southern guitar pop band that deserves to be remembered as fondly as more famous acts of its era. Strong songs, playing, singing and a wicked sense of humor.
Winter Hours – Leaving Time (Link)
Winter Hours was a New England jangle pop band that managed one major label LP (following two independent ones, of which this is the first) before splintering. The band’s ringing folk rock almost seems at odds with the singer’s dramatic croon, but it doesn’t take long to become infectious.
