BLUE ASH
NO MORE, NO LESS (1973) FRONT PAGE NEWS (1977)
This review was originally written by Kent H Benjamin for Pop Culture Press #62. Blue Ash are the great lost band of the '70s -- one of, if not the, best power pop band of all times, playing a passionate '65-'66 inspired version of pop music that predated but exactly foreshadowed a lot of the great punk records in '76-'79. In 1973, Youngstown, Ohio's Blue Ash released an album on Mercury called No More, No Less to great critical acclaim, and sparse record sales. It was, in hindsight, unlike virtually everything else around. Teen-oriented three-minute pop songs, four part harmonies very similar to the Byrds, and a tough guitar/bass/drums sound modeled on The Who. A fantastic lead guitarist in the form of Bill "Cupid" Bartolin, a fine Keith Moon-style drummer in Dave Evans, a melodic McCartney/Ronnie Lane-style bassist in Frank Secich, and lead singer Jim Kendzor, capable of singing a razor line every time. As a live band, they were legendary. Released at the height of prog rock -- the same time as Quadrophenia and Goat's Head Soup, and just before the New York Dolls' debut on Mercury -- NMNL got lost in the shuffle. Rave reviews, few sales, little radio play around the nation. A 2nd album for Playboy Records (Front Page News) in 1976 went largely unheard, and was criticized by original fans for 'selling out' with horns and strings (added, it must be noted, without the band's knowledge). No More, No Less has never been available on CD, but it was for made many critics' lists as the best album of 1973 (it was my #1 of that year). PCP 62
The 2004 collection Around Again is absolutely brilliant. Forty-four splendid, hard-rockin' gems, power pop the way it's meant to be, with tough, loud guitars backing 4-part harmonies over memorable songs. Blue Ash recorded nearly weekly from 1969 until their final demise in 1979, and these tracks were culled from some 219 songs found still in the studios several years back. Included are demo versions of four of the best songs from NMNL. Around Again is still available from KOOL KAT MUSIC, NOT LAME, CD BABY or AMAZON. Frank Secich is currently working with his new combo The Deadbeat Poets and is planning to release the album in June 2007.
NO MORE, NO LESS
Abracadabra (Have You Seen Her?) / Dusty Old Fairgrounds / Plain to See / Just Another Game / I Remember a Time / Smash My Guitar / Any Time at All / Here We Go Again / What Can I Do for You? / All I Want / Wasting My Time / Let There Be Rock
FRONT PAGE NEWS
Tonight's My Lucky Night / You Are All I Need / Things Have Changed Now / Rock 'N Roll Millionaire / I've Been Rolled / Boy Won't Listen / Look at You Now / Baby I Just Want You / Jazel Jane / Tired of Pushing
Read the BLUE ASH BLOG for the complete Blue Ash story
The 2004 collection Around Again is absolutely brilliant. Forty-four splendid, hard-rockin' gems, power pop the way it's meant to be, with tough, loud guitars backing 4-part harmonies over memorable songs. Blue Ash recorded nearly weekly from 1969 until their final demise in 1979, and these tracks were culled from some 219 songs found still in the studios several years back. Included are demo versions of four of the best songs from NMNL. Around Again is still available from KOOL KAT MUSIC, NOT LAME, CD BABY or AMAZON. Frank Secich is currently working with his new combo The Deadbeat Poets and is planning to release the album in June 2007.
NO MORE, NO LESS
Abracadabra (Have You Seen Her?) / Dusty Old Fairgrounds / Plain to See / Just Another Game / I Remember a Time / Smash My Guitar / Any Time at All / Here We Go Again / What Can I Do for You? / All I Want / Wasting My Time / Let There Be Rock
FRONT PAGE NEWS
Tonight's My Lucky Night / You Are All I Need / Things Have Changed Now / Rock 'N Roll Millionaire / I've Been Rolled / Boy Won't Listen / Look at You Now / Baby I Just Want You / Jazel Jane / Tired of Pushing
Read the BLUE ASH BLOG for the complete Blue Ash story
12 comments:
SIMPLY THE BEST!!!!
Thanks for all the very good posts. I'm enjoying them very much.
From your descriptions, these sound like they'll be incredible.
Can't wait to hear 'em.
Keep on keeping on, bro'.
Oh man, I've been looking for the first Blue Ash album for years! Thank you so much!
Thanks.
it's quite a treat to hear No More, No Less again after all these years! sometimes you hear something like this and you wonder what you ever heard in it, but this one ... it's not just as good as i remember, it's better!
thanks.
Muchas, muchas gracias for this and all the other wonderful records on your blog.Bless from P.R.
Damn..this is such a Fine Site!! Been looking for the Blue Ash. So often folks let their Fanaticisms get in the way of true objectivity on some of the description of these Artists. Not true on "ASH"; these boys Kicked Arse!! Also glad to see the Paul Warren post. Paul's Mr A&R Man tune was right up there w/Go All The Way on my All Time Best Of Air Guitar Concert In The Mirror tunes. Thanks Mucho!
Thanks for the great share!
Hey i'm a newbie loving the look of these tasty records that i cannot find elsewhere but unsure of how the whole password thing works?
any help?
Blue Ash's debut album "No More, No Less" has been issued for the first time on CD by the good folks at Collectors' Choice. Here are the details:
http://www.ccmusic.com/item.cfm?itemid=CCM09632
Thanks for this - I located and bought the recent re-release of "No More, No Less", but "Front Page News" is not so easy to find - so this post is really welcome. NMNL is absolutely one of the 70s' lost classics, and FPN is no slouch either. If only they'd had a wayward front man or good record co. backing, they'd have been up ther with Big Star and the Raspberries... Thanks.
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