Comets, The - See It In Writing / Living In The Answer 7" (Orange Records, 1981)

Their 1st and best single. No picture sleeve on this 45. They also released an LP but, much like this single, it seldom turns up. The first song is so great that I can't even come up with a description that best fits it, and the second song will melt your face.

"See It In Writing " by The Comets



"Living In The Answer" by The Comets

Protozoas - Stereo Types 7" EP (Broken Records, 1982)

The Protozoas fall somewhere between hard rock and stompin' glam punk. "Tell Me Where" is the stand out track. It's a beer-guzzling good time!

"Tell Me Where"

Spoilers, The - Spoilers 7" EP (White Lunch Records, 1978)

"The Spoilers were a Southern California punk rock/new wave band formed in 1978. The Spoilers began in Los Angeles, California in 1978. The founding members were Chris Hickey, George Padgett and Dean Stefan. Bill Hickey was also considered a semi-member of the band when he was not attending law school at Berkeley. Their first EP was released in 1978 on White Lunch Records and contained the songs "Has Been" (Dean Stefan), "Battling On" (Chris Hickey), "Boys Night Out" (Dean Stefan) and "The Ugly Nancies" (Chris Hickey). Hickey and Stefan were credited with guitar and Padgett with bass. Hickey and Stefan migrated north to Santa Barbara, while Padgett stayed south. Hickey enrolled at UCSB, and the band, under the management of local impresario Stan Bernstein, transitioned from a punk to a "new wave" band as befitting their image as soft clean-cut suburbanites. Bernstein put out a second Spoilers opus, “Balloon Water Race,” in 1979 that contained "Focus" (Dean Stefan), "Loose Words" (Chris Hickey), "Mr. X" (Craig Wisda) and "Point Blank" (Bruce Springsteen). A 45 single followed in 1980 on White Lunch Records. It featured Stefan’s brazen “Greta,” backed with Hickey’s “Loose Words.” The single was played by both Rodney Bingenheimer on the world-famous KROQ and Dr Demento on his syndicated show. Having outgrown the Santa Barbara music scene, the band headed permanently south to Los Angeles. A five-song mini album was recorded with Paul Wexler producing. The mini album was not released due to contractual haggling with Wexler. Instead, the band jumped ship to record a 1980 single on Elton John’s record label, The Rocket Record Company. This single contained Stefan’s “Reckless” backed by a new version of Hickey’s “Battling On.” Kessler and Wisda left the band in 1981. Hickey and Stefan then recorded a 12-song album, with Steve Verroca (of Link Wray fame) producing. Studio musicians were utilized for the recordings. Chris Hickey went on to release three solo albums, co-lead the alt-folk band Show of Hands with future Beach Boy Randell Kirsch, and lead the alt band Uma. Both bands released CDs on major labels (IRS and MCA Universal, respectively). Dean Stefan released a solo album Trial and Error and wrote much of the soundtrack music to the children’s television series, Rainbow Fish. These songs were released as a CD on Sony Music." - Wikipedia


Spoilers - "The Ugly Nancies"

Tools - Smoke Filled Rooms / Adopted Procedure 7" (Work Records, 1979)

"Tools - Smoke Filled Rooms / Adopted Procedure" San Francisco, 1979. The Tools were also featured on a compilation called SF Underground the same year. This is the first of three releases by Tools.

Tools - "Smoke Filled Rooms"

Tools - "Adopted Procedure"

The New Left - Drivin' / It's Not Political 7" (Kingpin Records, 1983)

Post-punk from New Jersey. Recorded at Gift Horse Studio on May 19, 1983.

New Left - "Drivin'"

New Left - "It's Not Political"

Dads, The - '64 Valiant / Thorazine Shuffle 7" (PG Records, 1981)

Another release from Minnesota that seldom turns up. To sleeve or not to sleeve, that is the question.

Dads - "'64 Valiant"



Dads - "Thorazine Shuffle"

Musical Chairs - Memorabilia / Gimme Restitution 7" (REM, 1982)

Super catchy powerpop from Minnesota. They also released at least one other single and a full length LP which features the song "Memorabilia" among other great tunes.

Musical Chairs - "Memorabilia"

Gooch - Don't Go Away / The Only Girl For Me 7" (Moon Records, 1976)

The band eventually changed their name to The Leopards in 1977 and released a couple more singles and LPs thereafter. Futher information about The Leopards can be found here.

Gooch - "Don't Go Away"



Gooch - "The Only Girl For Me"

 

Fools Face - Way Back In '78 / Will To Live 7" (Bubble Records)

Good rockin' single. Not entirely sure if this is their first or their second 45 but both records have one really good track on each of 'em. Not even really certain if this was released in 1978, '79 or '80...

Fools Face - "Way Back In '78"

Tommy Trash - I'm A Disgrace / Why Not 7" (Sound Patterns, 1983)

Superb Michigan rock 'n' roll with great and hilarious lyrics! "Momma says I'm a disgrace -To the human race. Daddy wants to punch me right in my face, 'cause I'm a disgrace, to the human race..." Some copies are translucent green while others are black (demo).

Tommy Trash - "I'm A Disgrace"

Plains, The - Hold Of Me / Get Along 7" (Triaxe Records, 1981)

Really great unknown record. Not sure exactly where they are from but definitely from the US of A. "Get Along" is a rip-roarin' helluva good track.

"Get Along" by The Plains

Rockin' Rebellions - Don't Let Go / Any Way The Wind Blows 7" (Gold Groove, 1967)

Cool Alabama garage with organ. Unfortunately the flip isn't as rockin'. Enjoy!

Rockin' Rebellions - "Don't Let Go"

Tin Twist - Sometimes It's Funny +2 7" (Mo-Da-Mu, 1981)

The band were based in Vancouver, BC and this is the first release on the Mo-Da-Mu label.

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Tin Twist - "Stupid Cars"

Chuckleheads - We Are The Chuckleheads / I'm A Chucklehead 7" (Not On Label, 1980)

I believe that the first time that I heard the track "I'm A Chucklehead" was on one of those really great Chuck Warner Hyped2Death releases back in the early 2000's. Probably never would of heard this band otherwise. Nam sayin'?

"We Are The Chuckleheads" by The Chuckleheads

"I'm A Chucklehead" by The Chuckleheads

Bolivians - Self-Titled 4 Song 7" EP (Red Records, 1979)

"The Bolivians had the D.I.Y. look, but they were plainly comfier borrowing from the Seeds and Max Frost on "Underground Passion." The rest is a discomfiting mishmash of Pere Ubu, Contortions, and maybe Root Boy Slim. Pre-Secrets [Teenline #102]."

 

Bolivians - "Spy In The House Of Love"

Bolivians - "Underground Passion"

Th' Cigaretz - Crawl Rite Outta My Skin 12" LP (Cancer Records, 1980)

Each copy has a uniquely silk-screened cover created by various band members. The album itself is a conglomerate of various live recordings and definitely has some great moments.

Th' Cigaretz - "Beer"

Th' Cigaretz - "Fight Or Flight"



Th' Cigaretz - "Disposable Lighter (For Your Love)"

Skuddzies - Bomb Iran / Bomb Iran 7" (Controversial Records, 1980)

Mystery promo record featuring a parody song of the Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann." Not sure where these guys were from? Perhaps from Vancouver? A man named Floyd Turbo is responsible for the writing of the lyrics.

Skuddzies - "Bomb Iran"

Joe Hampton - Dogs In Traffic / Scrambled 7" (Rockenstein, 1980)

"In 1980 Joe Hampton recorded the single Dogs In Traffic and he hosted one of the first cable music video shows in New Jersey called Cable Rock." - http://www.joehamptonmusic.com/

Joe Hampton - "Dogs In Traffic"

Central Departure - Rock-N-Roll D.J. / Love 'Em Leave 'Em Lucille 7" (Got-Lev, 1981)

Great powerpop single out of Brooklyn, NY. Both sides are fantastic. This 45 was never issued with a sleeve. Have a listen to both sides!

Central Departure - "Rock-N-Roll D.J."



Central Departure - "Love 'Em Leave 'Em Lucille"

Bop - You / Cherie 7" (Hottrax, 1981)

Light weight powerpop hailing from Florida. One side of the sleeve is blue (as shown) while the other side is the same image only in black & white.

Bop - "You"