power pop criminals

THE QUICK - MONDO DECO (1976)

In 1975, Hufsteter, Benair, Ainsworth and Bizeau cut a demo with Leonard Phillips (later with The Dickies) on keyboards, then the band fell apart until Steven met Danny (Thomas) Wilde who was fronting his band "The Kixs" with Chuck Wagon (later with The Dickies), "The Kixs" were doing some Bowie covers. James Lowe who had engineered Sparks and produced their second LP was called but he was not really committed, so next pick had to be Earle Mankey, who had left Sparks for engineering / producing records with the Beach Boys. Earle produced the Quick's excellent first album "Mondo Deco" (Mercury 1976). Their lineup included guitarist/songwriter Steve Hufsteter, vocalist Danny Wilde, drummer Danny Benair, keyboardist Billy Bizeau, and bassist Ian Ainsworth. They gathered a following among critics for their progressive, yet still classic power pop sound influenced by some powerful packages of British late 60's art pop in the tradition of Move, Idle Race, John's Children, as well as audiences amused at their good-natured habit of inviting spectators on stage made them one of the first L.A. bands to record for a major label (Mercury), but it proved to be the only such release (never reissued on CD).

In 2003, british label Rev-Ola, with the help of drummer Danny Benair, released "Untold Rock Stories" compiling all the Mercury and Elektra demos recorded between May 1976 and March 1978, plus 2 live songs. 

Lossless: Lossless: 1 + 2 (258 mb)

Songs
It Won't Be Long / No No Girl / Playtime / Hillary / Anybody / Hi-Lo / Rag Doll / Last In Line / My Purgatory Years / Don't You Want It (All songs by Steve Hufsteter except 1 & 7)