Various - I Wanna Be A Teen Again : North American Power Pop Of The 80s (3CD)

 

I'm taken back to my Anything Should Happen Days with this ace 3 set. Cherry Red do a really good job on these collections and this is Prime Time ASH. In some sets, label problems prevent  completion and so some artists get multiple songs.

There is also usually tracks that seem to have tenuous links to the chosen period. Not a bit of that here, this set really does what it says on the tin. This is a great selection of songs that cover the period. It is too good to list individual descriptions of songs.

Those in the know about American Power Pop in the 80s may have a lot, but there are many surprises and rarities. You look for a weakness and can't really find one. There are certainly some forgotten artists, but plenty that you'll know.

It is also a great introduction to the younger members of our following about how joyous the genre can be as well as a great way of having wall to wall quality. 78 songs and a 13,000 word will delight.

This sort of thing will be a more regular feature on I Don't Hear A Single. We will always be a place for the new, but the occasional celebration of the past seems in order. Another feature that will return is Here Is The News. 

The coverage of upcoming releases was incredibly popular, but we just haven't had the time lately to get round to one. lately. That will now continue as a once a month post. Look out for the next one that will appear before the end of the month.

Disc 1

1  Stiv Bators - Not That Way Anymore

2  The Knack - I Want Ya

3  The Know - (I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence Dear

4  The Romantics - When I Look In Your Eyes

5  Nikki & The Corvettes - Just What I Need

6  Zeros - They Say That (Everything's Alright)

7  Mn'M's - I'm Tired

8  The Flashcubes - It's You Tonight (Basement Tapes Version)

9  Radio City - Don't Mistake Love

10  Screen Test - Nothing Really Matters When You're Young

11  Moondogs - When Sixteen Wasn't So Sweet

12  The Pranks - What's The Point

13  NRBQ - You Can't Hide

14  Utopia - I Just Want To Touch You

15  The Shivvers - Please Stand By

16  Eric Carmen - It' Hurts Too Much

17  Hilly Michaels - Calling All Girls

18  Promise - Back In My Heart

19  The Late Show - Take A Chance

20  The Heats – Remember Me

21  Off Broadway - Quick Turns

22  Shoes - She Satisfies

23  The Everythingers - Saccharine

24  Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl

25  SVT - Love Blind

26  Tommy Hoehn - Get Away

27  Phil Seymour - Precious To Me

28  David Quinton - Make Up Your Mind

Disc 2

1  The Flamin' Groovies - So Much In Love

2  The Plimsouls – Now

3  20/20 - The Night I Heard A Scream

4  Great Buildings - Hold On To Something

5  The Go-Gos - How Much More

6  The Wigs - Tell It All

7  The Rubinoos - Let's Make It Tonight

8  The Toms - (I Wanna Be A) Teen Again

9  The Michael Guthrie Band - Sorry About That

10  Eddy Best - Things I Should've Said

11  The Decoys - Not The Tremblin' Kind

12  Marshall Crenshaw - Cynical Girl

13  The Bongos - The Bulrushes

14  The Floor Models - You'll Come Around

15  Paul Collins' Beat - The Kids Are The Same

16  Dwight Twilley - I'm Back Again

17  Cheap Trick - If You Want My Love

18  Bruce Moody - AM Romance

19  The Bangles - Mary Street

20  The Spongetones - Here I Go Again

21  The Fad - Where The Colours Are

22  Club Wow - What's With You

23  Jim Basnight & The Moberlys - I Want To Be Yours

24 Steve Rosenbaum - Girl From Seventeen

25 Let's Active - Every Word Means No

Disc 3

1  Ramones - My My Kind Of Girl

2  Fastbacks - Now Is The Time

3  Game Theory - Too Late For Tears

4  The dB's - Love Is For Lovers

5  Katrina And The Waves - Do You Want Crying

6  Candy - Whatever Happened to Fun…

7  Julian Leal - You And I

8  Riff Doctors - Turn Me On

9  The Beat Rodeo - Just Friends

10  Gary Herrewig - Hurt You Too

11  Windbreakers - Can't Go On This Way

12  Tommy Keene - Places That Are Gone (Geoff Emerick Version)

13  The Smithereens - Strangers When We Meet

14  The Mosquitos - That Was Then, This Is Now

15  Sex Clark Five - I Want You Mine

16  The Patriots - It Don't Show

17  Flying Color - Dear Friend (Album Version)

18  Bill Lloyd - Lisa Anne

19  The Long Ryders - I Want You Bad

20  Chris 'Klondike' Masuak - How Could He Resist?

21  The Infidels - I Can't Make You Mine

22  Redd Kross - Ballad Of A Love Doll

23  Material Issue - Renee Remains The Same

24  The Pursuit of Happiness - She's So Young

25  Velvet Crush - Walking Out On Love

You can buy the set directly from Cherry Red here. It is available in the States from Kool Kat here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Best Of 2022 : Top 5s Compilations And Reissues

 

So the end of 2022 is reached. Two Top 5s. I Don't Hear A Single doesn't cover many of both these categories, primarily because it is a place that is about the new. Phew! I'm glad this is done. It is a major piece of work, but is incredibly popular. Onwards into 2023.

Compilations

01 : We All Shine On : Celebrating The Music Of 1970     IDHAS Review

02 : Indian Summer     IDHAS Review 

03 :  Popboomerang - Marching Out Of Time     IDHAS Review

04 : Climb Aboard My Roundabout! The British Toytown Sound 1967-1974     IDHAS Review

05 : Miles Out To Sea: The Roots Of British Power Pop 1969-1975    IDHAS Review 

Reissues

01 : Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Art Empire Industry     IDHAS Review

02 : The Supernaturals - It Doesn't Matter Anymore Expanded Edition     IDHAS Review

03 : Sparks - Lil' Beethoven 2022 Remaster     IDHAS Review

04 : The Bordellos - Ronco Revival Sound    IDHAS Review 

05 : Ex Norwegian - Standby (13th Anniversary Edition)     IDHAS Review

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Various - Climb Aboard My Roundabout! The British Toytown Sound 1967-1974 (3CD)

 

I first got into Toytown via the A Trip To Toytown compilation that Mick Capewell co-authored and it opened a whole new world to me, It also introduced a lot of great fans into my life such as Mark Kirk and the wondrous world of Marmalade Skies.

I'm still in touch with Mick who continues to fly the flag wonderfully for all things of this era. His radio shows are outstanding. It is noted that Cherry Red label this as the first legitimate compilation as those who know, know, about those aforementioned times.

I haven't listened to much of what was around for a long time, largely with IDHAS being about the new. But I am a big champion of Psych Pop by the newer artists and constantly reference Toytown comparisons in such reviews leading to many questions about what is Toytown.

Toytown is a mixture of all things around Great Pop, mixing Baroque with weird hypnotic arrangements and inventing villages with oddball characters. Fairy Tales and Whimsy abounded in incredibly melodic, hypnotic even, songs. 

You have to listen to catch the drift properly, but if one song is an indication of what the genre is about, it is The Idle Race's The Skeleton And The Roundabout, a line from the song is the title of this compilation and it is hard to imagine Jeff Lynne being as inventive as this. Last Train To London it is not.

But I am sure that many ELO fans went back to see what The Idle Race were about, as well as The Move and those people should love this. Ditto XTC;s The Dukes Of Stratosphear's adventures which mirror a lot of what was happening in Toytown.

It is obvious that Mark Wirtz is present here on three occasions as well as the likes of The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Syn, Alan Bown and Keith West. Bigger names such as The Kinks and David Bowie also appear.

But the real joy of Toytown is the smaller unknown one off bands. That is were the true discoveries are made. I don't profess to have a detailed knowledge of the scene, others are around who can direct you down wonderful holes.

Lots of this will have been heard by keen followers, but it is nice to maybe have better sources and original masters. I'm not a compilation sort of person, as I've mentioned before, largely due to time. But Cherry Red do a wonderful job in bringing delights to a new audience via the 3 disc sets.

This set isn't released until 28 October, but you can pre-order it now. I would suggest that you get in early because these releases do go out of print really quickly and they are an education. You will be surprised at how enchanted it makes you feel and how hooked you get. 

You can pre-order the album here.

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I Don't Hear A Single - Top 20 Compilations And Reissues 2019

I Don't Hear A Single almost exclusively deals with New Album Reviews. I do sneak the odd Re-Issue or Compilation in and I also review them away from IDHAS. Therefore not as much fuss is made here about them here, but people do like to see recommendations.

So here are my favourites from 2019. That is it for last year now. 2020 Begins here.


01 Ex Norwegian - Something Unreal : The Best Of Ex Norwegian (2 CD)

02 The Dukes of Stratosphear - Psurroundabout Ride (CD + Blu Ray)

03 Sparks - Gratuitous Sax And Senseless Violins 25th Anniversary Edition (3CD)

04 Mick Ronson - Only After Dark (Complete Mainman Recordings) (4CD)

05 Various - Big Stir Singles : The Third Wave

06 Various - Shake Yer Popboomerang Volume 3 (2CD)

07 Stephen Duffy - I Love My Friends (2CD)

08 The Go-Betweens - G Stands for Go-Betweens Volume 2 (5CD + 4LP)

09 Be Bop Deluxe - Modern Music (4CD + 1 DVD)

10 New England - The New England Archives Box Vol 1 (5CD)

11 The Springfields - Singles 1986-1991

12 Roger C. Reale & Rue Morgue - The Collection

13 Alan Price - Between Today And Yesterday

14 Various Artists - Men Of The Moment (1960s Pop Gems Written by Roger Greenaway & Roger Cook)

15 Various - Big Gold Dreams - A Story of Scottish Independent Music 1977-1989 (5CD)

16 The Babys - Silver Dreams (Complete Albums 1975-1980) (6CD)

17 Loser - 1993 - 97 - Remasters and Rarities (Lund Bros)

18 Mighty Baby - At A Point Between Fate And Destiny – The Complete Recordings (6CD)

19 VA - Dreams To Fill The Vacuum - The Sound Of Sheffield 1977-1988 (4CD)

20 Various - Losing Touch With My Mind - Psychedelia In Britain 1986-1990 (3CD)

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Three Great Compilations From The Cherry Red Stable

I'm currently finishing some stuff for the new Big Stir Magazine, a wonderful addition to the News Stands. So I thought I'd end the month by republishing my article in the last (current) issue. It'll make a change you reading about the old, rather than the new.

This is just the review excerpt of three of the excellent Cherry Red article. As you can see from the image above, it was a longer piece in the magazine.

Various - Big Gold Dreams - A Story of Scottish Independent Music 1977-1989 (5CD)

It’s incredibly hip these days to babble on whilst misty eyed about the Glasgow 80’s scene. It was a beacon of light in a UK Music scene that was more about what you wore than what you played. Think Wham shorts, Simon Le Bon on a yacht and then the Atari nonsense of the Dance Culture. However, like the Sex Pistols at the Free Trade Hall, everyone was always in to it. Everyone bought the Postcard Singles, 50 times the amount that were produced. Everyone was listening to Orange Juice, except they weren’t. If anyone outside of Scotland was listening to a Scottish band, it was Big Country, Simple Minds or Aztec Camera.

Cherry Red have done a great job with this Box Set. The 70 plus page Booklet and 5 discs are a hell of a lot to get through, but worth every minute. In typical fashion, the choices for the set are not the obvious. You are more likely to get an obscure B Side than a hit single. The obvious are present, but it’s the obscure one release bands that are always more intriguing. So you expect to see the likes of Skids, Simple Minds, Altered Images, Josef K, The Associates, The Bluebells, The Waterboys, Aztec Camera, Del Amitri, BMX Bandits, Primal Scream and Edwyn Collins. Incidentally I’ve seen these scene lovers moan about Teenage Fanclub not being present. Errr it’s 1977 – 1989 chaps, you probably just forgot.

I love the high pop quotient here from what many would consider one hit wonders or second division. It’s great to see TV21, Baby Lemonade and The Headboys present. 115 songs are a lot to get through of course and everything won’t appeal. BBC’s recent Rip It Up TV Series revealed the depth of Scottish talent and showed it wasn’t all lo-fi bedroom Pop. There will be things that you don’t like, but that’s the point of compilations and it’s a fairly decent round up of what was going on. It wasn’t all “Let’s Do The Show Right here.”

Various - Lullabies For Catatonics (3CD)

Lullabies For Catatonics is released on Cherry Red’s Grapefruit label. Its aim is largely to reveal the weird and wonderful world of Psych and Art Rock.  This is a world that I’m engaged in, far too often, friends may say, but my orbit is more who is doing it now than who did it then. So this is as much an interesting listen to me as those first discovering it. The late 60’s and early 70’s were awash with this stuff and it encompassed areal mixture of the good, the bad and the downright ugly.

The problem with Psych as a genre is that it’s almost as bad as Power Pop for the argument it creates. The what is and what isn’t Psych, combined with the doodling rubbish arguments. It is true that the likes of Psych Pop, Psychedelic Rock merge too easily at times with Prog and Jazz, but who really cares? Well I can tell you the Forum groups do, the members take lumps out of each other.

What’s more this compilation will probably create more arguments than solve them with its choices. I’m someone who doesn’t get worked up by the labels, if it’s good, it’s good. Even I found a few choices baffling. I love The Strawbs, but they are Folk Rock and I’ve always thought The Battle a bit mediocre Chis De Burgh Crusader like. Also surely the likes of Yes, Genesis and Renaissance are Prog?

The compilation, though, is top notch. If you’ve ever felt like dipping into this world, this is your chance. It’s a very strange trip, but really fascinating. Any compilation that has Mick Ronson and Be Bop Deluxe on it is going to grab my attention. But it’s the more obscure stuff that I’d forgotten that delighted me most. Wales’s own Eyes Of Blue’s Merry Go Round is always a wonderful nine minutes and The Coxhill-Bedford Duo’s Don Alfonso is splendidly bizarre and even better than Mike Oldfield’s later version, it’s Bonzo Dog like.

Various - Come Join My Orchestra The British Baroque Pop Sound 1967-73 (3CD)

Come Join My Orchestra doesn’t suffer from any genre arguing, simply because anyone could have a go at it. All in all, it’s just Pop with Strings or Orchestral Pop and done well it is a joyful listen. The Zombies were masters of it, The Beatles’ Yesterday almost provided a template and the likes of The Honeybus mastered it. Clifford T Ward built a short lived career out of it and ELO’s On The Third Day is the classic album example.

This compilation is a cracking listen across all three discs, it’s varied enough not to bore and has many individual reasons to make it an essential purchase. It has Mike Batt remembering that he’s not a Womble, the vastly underrated Bridget St. John and Mike Sheridan and Rick Price revealing that Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood were not the only Brummies who could orchestrate Pop. The Move’s Mist On A Monday Morning is magnificent, but I would have still used The Girl Outside as the example. Andy Ellison’s splendid It’s A Been A Long Time from the “Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush” Soundtrack deserves more listening.


The obvious inclusions are also here. No Baroque Pop would be covered without Alan Bown and The Zombies and Cherry Red oblige. Compilations may come and go, but this has stayed with me for the best part of six months, it’s an essential listen. Another winner on the Grapefruit Label and £18 for the three discs and an all-encompassing accompanying booklet is money well spent.


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