So I promise no extended rants...
We'll just get into some serious grooves, or not so serious
but they will definitely have some sort of grooves...
Maybe not danceable ones, but at least ol' school vinyl ones...
I've been messing with my USB enabled turntable lately
So how about some vinyl rips for the Tired of Hump Day Jukebox of RBig BeBop mix
Let's delve into the back catalog of the underrated Canadian rawk band The Payola$
I can't say I was ever a big fan, but this track has always got me singing along.
It's from fairly early in their career, when they were still slugging it out in Vancouver pubs alongside D.O.A, Thor, and the Subhumans. The Payolas managed to get signed to Miles Copeland's I.R.S label though, wanted to be rock stars, and left the indie scene behind...
This lyrics, delivered in a punky OI! style, decry the tightly controlled radio formats that also kept them from really reaching their goals, at least stateside. It was featured on the I.R.S Greatest Hits Vols. 2 & 3 dbl LP in 1981, and that's were this rip was sourced.
Unfortunately, later efforts from the band were less rambunctious, less satisfying to me, and were characterized by frontman Paul Hyde’s moody vocals, as the group toned down their approach to a more AOR sound, and moved over to mothership label A&M.
This is their finest moment as far as I'm concerned:
The PAYOLA$ - Jukebox
They eventually had a few hits in Canada, where those friendly local "content laws" no doubt helped them.
They weren't so lucky stateside, where their name was so taboo, most corporate rock stations wouldn't even utter it. It's rumored that 60's payola scandal poster boy Dick Clark refused to let the Payolas appear on American Bandstand unless they changed their name.
The quintet soldiered on and recorded 1981’s "In a Place Like This" (produced by guitarist Bob Rock), which was a critical success, but a commercial flop in the US.
It included a remake of “Jukebox” — and yet another remake of an early single called “China Boys” — as well as more proletarian laments like the title track and “Whiskey Boy”. In 1983, they won several Canadian Juno awards for the album ‘No Stranger To Danger’ which was produced by Mick Ronson. The LP featured the track “Eyes Of a Stranger” one of their best known songs, having also appeared in the US teen film Valley Girl featuring Nicolas Cage.
If anyone wants to relive that cut, lemme know and it may show up in a week or so...
The Payloas eventually split in 1986 and Hyde and guitarist Bob Rock released an album on Capitol Records entitled “Under the Volcano” as Rock & Hyde, they toured, and had three more minor Canadian hit singles before they ended up going their separate ways.
Hyde went solo, while Winnipeg born Guitarist Bob Rock actually did achieve that multi-platinum success. It wasn't with his own tunes though, Rock went on to produce Metallica’s best selling albums and several other big records by name brand bands including David Lee Roth, Mötley Crüe, Aerosmith, The Cranberries, American Hi-Fi, Bryan Adams, Tal Bachman, Bon Jovi, and The Cult. Rock also briefly played bass with Metallica for a period while they looked for a replacement for Jason Newsted.
I understand, that after a long hiatus, in July 2007, the Payolas reunited & released a seven-song EP, ‘Langford Part One’.
Go Figger...
Speaking of fairly big success stories, here's another track from that I.R.S Greatest Hits Vol 2 & 3 compilation I mentioned above.
This is a group y'all have definitely heard of, and whose stadium reunion tour was the fastest selling show of summer 2007. They are on the road again this year with a guy named Elvis Costello opening...
Here's something the trio did back in 1978, before Andy Summers even had taken up the guitar slot.
The Police - Fallout
I gotta say this obscure fast paced ditty featuring Henry Padovani on 6 string is also one of my faves by the group...their later material oft seems bloated & wimpy in comparison...or maybe that's just Sting's personality.
Here's another fave from that late 70's era, it was pretty big hit, and reminds me of that polished Nick Lowe / Rockpile kinda Bay City Rollers sound that was happening then.
In a contrast to the predominant disco dominating the charts, this was a shiny pop rock tune that was fun drive around with the top down...
The singer was the offspring with some good ol' boy Rockabilly lineage, but he never managed to hit the Casey Casem Top 40 again...
Oh Well, not many folks do...
At least he left us this one for the ages... even if it's mostly forgotten!
Rocky Burnette -Tired of Toein' The Line
winding down the mix here:
In 1991, some friends of mine released their vinyl debut, right as vinyl fell fully out of favor at retail.
While their album had all the crazed trademarks of the grunge era, including psychotic Jesus Lizard-esque guitar runs, and mutant vocalizings somewhere from the J Mascis meets Butthole Surfers school of singing, their limelight was restricted mostly to tiny club shows south of market, and some local college radio airplay.
they were offered an opening slot for Nirvana in Chicago on the Nevermind tour, but they were gonna have to play so early, and travel so many miles ,their barebones budget couldn't handle the strain and it really wasn't worth it.
We all know now that Courtney Love got flown to that Chicago gig by Geffen who was courting her, and she skanked into the dressing room, hooked up with Kurt...and eeeehhhhh!!
Eventually they both get so hooked on smack, that Kurt dies a couple times, and so does she a few times, but somehow she lives...
Although it's never pretty, and Kurt's ashes reportedly get stolen... and she spent all the money, loses custody of the kids, goes nuts and so they make action figures out of his likeness.
go figger
the Gels kept their gas money and dignity...
No one died, at least no one in the bad...
In fact none of them ever was hooked on needles...
Nice guys finish last...but The Gels really are probably much better off in their homes, with their happy kids & less than fully glamorous day jobs...
kudos Gels, you lived, they all lost...
oh, and welcome to the web after all these years
From the 1991 Tension Holding Co vinyl only release "Quality Time":
The Gelsmist-RBig
psst:
Here's another cracklin' vinyl sourced track:
The late great David Ruffin doing a track circa '74 produced and written by Norman Whitfield...
the hit version was released under the Undisputed Truth brand name, but here's Whitfield lending it to an ex-Temptation on the rebound who understood some of that sinister sentiment as well...
David Ruffin - Smiling Faces Sometimes
Here's one last song that a friend of mine is crazy about
I imagine she's just probably crazy
but it is track by an obscure pre-techno pop group circa 1989 called Q-Feel
The song just screams 80's, and if you ain't down with the last century, could be tough to swallow.
Are you Ready? Here We Go
Slow-Slow- Quick Quick Slow
It is actually a real controversial number in a certain workplace I know, having been deleted by other suffering staffers...
Then replaced with an even longer 6 minute extended remix because ... uh, things happen.
I don't know why.. but I guess I'll post this shorter version of it for y'all.
You decide...
it's got a creepy Windham Hill intro meets Sly Fox / Christian Rock aerobics mix thing going on...perfect for a movie about a TV dance competition called "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" featuring future Broderick humper Sarah Jessica Parker.
Here's the original 3 minute 7" mix... and lyrics and a video below from the actual movie...
Q-Feel - Orbital BeBop ( Dancing In Heaven)
Are you Ready? (Here We Go)
Slow-Slow- Quick Quick Slow
Slow-Slow- Quick Quick Slow
Countdown Its getting to the flight time
Night stars are shining in my eyes
My shoes are going to be the first ones
To dance deep up in the Skys
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
(Kick it out)
Slow-Slow- Quick Quick Slow
Slow-Slow- Quick Quick Slow
I'll be the first to Bassa Nova
Ten thousand miles above my legs
You dear, my lady on the Radar
I'll bring a child to Outer Space
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Hey, Here I am
I hear the Universe Sing
The Celestial Scream
I am not alone
Are you receiving me clear
There is Others out here
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
[ these lyrics found on http://www.completealbumlyrics.com ]
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Hey, Here I am
I hear the Universe Sing
The Celestial Scream
I am not alone
Are you receiving me clear
There is Others out here
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
(Orbital Be-Bop)
Dancing in Heaven I never thought I could get my feet this far
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