FLAMIN' GROOVIES (1986-1989)

Peter Noble, head of Aim Records and then manager of the Groovies released the first Groovies singles in awhile. He also published the Flamin' Groovies Quarterly magazine. Here's the second of the three issues proposed as a 24 pages PDF with a 7" freebie. In England, to celebrate this, the Bucketfull of Brains fanzine published the "Bucketfull Of Groovies" special issue with a 7" flexi. A couple of years later, another 7" freebie was given away with the issue 31 of Bucketfull of Brains.

Way Over My Head (AIM FAN 001)
1 Way Over My Head
2 Shakin'









Kicks (AIM FAN 003)

1 Kicks
2 Slow Death









Quarterly #2 (COLLECT 2)1 Livin' In The USA
2 Jumpin' In The Night

+ PDF 24 Pages












Thanks John (Flexi BOB SP1)
1 Thanks John










Step Up (Freebie BOB 25)
1 Step Up (Live)

BAM BALAMS - 45RPM EXTENDED PLAY (1990)

After the Bam Balams had recorded the album "Genuine Rock & Roll Medicine Show" (1988) and its single "Wheel Of Fortune" (1988), Greg Marchant replaced Abdallah on bass in 1989 and this lineup recorded the single "Hellfire" (1989) and "Munster Rock'n'Roller" for the Munster Records compilation Munster "Dance Hall Favourites Vol 3". Dave Castellari replaced Marchant in 1989, this final lineup recording the Extended Play 45 RPM 12"EP, featuring the track "10,000 Miles". The band split up in 1992.

FLAC: RS
mp3 (320 lame 3.98) : RS or MF

Songs
10000 Miles (A Espana) / Ghoulabilly Girl / Boppin' In The Bonetard / Ford Customline

JAMIE HOOVER (1995)

Jamie Hoover of the Spongetones released his first solo album "Coupons, Questions and Comments" (1990). In 1995, he recorded a couple of songs (co-written with Robert Crenshaw) released in Sweden as Jamie Hoover on a limited edition 7" single. The sessions with Bryan Shumate led to a new side project called The Van DeLecki's: "Letters Don't Count" (1996) and "Ebum Shoobum Shoobum" (1999). Both albums are recommended. Hoover then worked with Bill Lloyd for the "Paparazzi" album (2003), and a year later he released "Jamie Hoo-ever" (a batch of covers he'd done for various tribute albums, and new recorded songs). His best work can also be heard on "Most Loved Melodies (Best Of 1982 - 2006)". The Official website.

Nobody Wins This Time
(Sound Asleep ZAX 100)
1 Nobody Wins This Time
2 Flyin' Kites In The Lightning

THE SPONGETONES - BEAT MUSIC (1982)

Originally proud altar boys at the Church of the Holy Mersey, North Carolina's Spongetones — Jamie Hoover, Patrick Walters, Rob Thorne and McCartney lookalike Steve Stoeckel — have evolved from the zesty Beatlish originals of their first two releases to producing lush, superbly crafted pop-rock that owes a debt to other British Invasion acts (Searchers, Zombies) without coming off as slavishly imitative. "Beat Music" is a gas from start to finish, a collection of lovingly performed early-Beatles pastiches. Don't miss the high-octane "She Goes Out With Everybody" or the simply wonderful "A Part of Me Now," two of the greatest songs the Fab Four (and the Rutles) never wrote. "Beat Music" and their second mini album "Torn Apart" were fully remastered on CD as "Beat & Torn", with a previously hard-to-find bonus track. So far, the Spongetones have released more than 10 albums ("Where-Ever Land", "Oh Yeah", "Textural Drone Thing", "Odd Fellows", "Mersey Christmas", "Beat!", "Number Nine") everybody should own. Visit Spongetones.com or buy the cd's at Not Lame or any other online record store. They have just released "Always Carry On: The Best 1980-2005", a 26 song compilation that covers the entire career of The Spongetones. (Trouser Press)

Songs
Here I Go Again / Tell Me Too! / Cool Hearted Girl / Take My Love / A Part Of Me Now / She Goes Out With Everybody / Every Night Is A Holiday / Don't You Know / Where Were You Last Night / You're The One / Better Take It Easy / Eloquent Spokesman

BEES MAKE HONEY - MUSIC EVERY NIGHT (1972)

Bees Make Honey was one of the most influential band in the early pub rock movement in the UK. The band was formed in 1971 in north London by Barry Richardson, Ruan O’Lochlainn, Deke O’Brien and Mick Molloy, former members of Irish showband The Alpine Seven, and American drummer Bob “Cee” Siebenberg, who would later rise to fame in Supertramp. While touring heavily on the emerging pub rock circuit, Bees Make Honey signed with record label EMI to record its debut album "Music Every Night". By the time the album was released, the band was already beginning to break up. Frequent line-up changes preceded the dissolution of the band in 1974. Richardson went onto his own Barry Richardson Band. Demick and Finlayson subsequently resurfaced in Meal Ticket and Byrne moved onto Ace. Ruan O'Lochlainn formed Riff Raff with a young Biilly Bragg.
In November of 1996, Bees Make Honey was included along with other notable UK pub rock bands on a two-disc compilation by EMI Premiere, "Naughty Rhythms: The Best of Pub Rock". Subsequently, in 2003, label Acadia released a two-disc anthology entitled "Back on Track", combining studio sessions and representative live performances by the band. While most of the seminal pub rock albums (Brinsleys, Eggs over Easy...) have been reissued on CD, "Music Every Night" (recorded at Rockfield, produced by Dave Robinson, engineered by Kingsley Ward and Vic Maile) is still out of print.

Songs
Caldonia / Music Every Night / Knee Trembler / Kentucky Chicken Fry / Booterstown / Chinee's Dead / Bloodshot Eyes / Blood Brother / Highway Song / My Rockin' Days

THE B.G COLLECTION (2006-2007)
 This collection of compilations was posted in another time, another place by another alias. More than 100 bands and 148 songs, 6 links to ZS. No further details.














One link = One volume

one / two / three / four / five / six

SONS OF THE DOLLS (1984)

"Sons Of The Dolls" (1984, although label says 1982) compiles four bands all connected to the New York Dolls. The Idols, Criminals and Corpse Grinders were released as individual singles but the Killer Kane Band's songs were only available on this compilation released by Fan Club Records (a subsidiary of New Rose Records). Although never available as a CD in France, it was reissued (1993) in Japan as a CD under license from New Rose by Century records.

Features
The Idols : Girl That I Love / You
Criminals : The Kids Are Back / The Cops Are Coming
Killer Kane Band : Mr.Cool / Longhaired Woman / Don't Need You
Corpse Grinders : Rites, 4 Whites / Mental Moron

Note : Visit the new "Sons Of The Dolls" blog and grab plenty of amazing stuff over there.

VARIOUS - LIVE AT THE RAT (1976)

Originally called T.J.'s and The Rathskeller, the club changed name to the Rat in 1975 and played a vital part in helping the underground music scene. Jim Harold produced ten bands (nineteen songs) which were featured on this Bostonian answer to the "Live at CBGB's" album. Some of the bands (The Real Kids, DMZ and Willie Alexander Boom Boom Band) achieved cult status while most of the others disappeared or had some success under new monickers (e.g Tom Dickie from Susan). The most outstanding track (at least IMHO) of the album being Marc Thor's "Circling L.A.".

Bands
WILLIE ‘LOCO’ ALEXANDER BOOM BOOM BAND (3) / THIRD RAIL (2) / THE REAL KIDS (2) / SUSAN (2) / DMZ (2) / THUNDERTRAIN (2) / MARC THOR / SASS / THE INFLIKTORS (2) / THE BOIZE (2)

MARC THOR (1976-1979)

Marc Thor and the finest of the Boston musicians (DMZ, Thundertrain, The Boize) first appeared on the "Live At The Rat" compilation of Boston rock bands with the best tune of the lot. His first single, the anthemic "Holiday Fire" was recorded with the Boston band "The Boize". Then he released his second and last single on the indie label Indy.

LIVE AT THE RAT (1976)
Circling L.A.










HOLIDAY FIRE (1976)
1 Holiday Fire
2 Boystown Boize (with the Boize)








TRAK (1979)
1 Trak
2 Love Sucks

REDDY TEDDY (1976)

According to Joe Harvard (Boston rock specialist) Reddy Teddy were to Boston in the 70's what the New York Dolls were to New York...and then some. All of the founding band members were longtime friends who'd been in the same grade at school: Matthew MacKenzie (guitar), John Morse (vocals),Ted von Rosenvinge (bass) and Joe Marino (drums).
After the finish of Reddy Teddy , the members went their separate ways. John and Joe returned to school, and Scott joined Robin Lane and the Chartbusters. Matt went to NYC and after a brief hitch with Richard Lloyd to make a 1979 album, he took the rhythm section (Fred Smith and Vinny DeNunzio) upstate for a demo at Todd Rundgren's Bearsville, NY studios. Then, after returning to Boston, Matt joined the Taxi Boys (John Felice, Billy Cole and Bobby Bear). He rejoined Willie Alexander, and was responsible for guitar and background vocals in The Confessions. Together, they recorded a single in the U.S. and a double live album in France. Also, during this period, Matthew could also be found playing with the Nervous Eaters. Except for one private reunion on Ted's 30th birthday in 1982, Reddy Teddy's original line-up never performed together again. In 1988, at the age of 36, Matthew passed away from injuries sustained in an auto accident in Medford, Massachusetts.
The LP was produced by Willie Alexander and Matthew MacKenzie (with a little help from Maxanne Sartori). The complete album has never been re-issued to this day on CD, but the two cd set "Teddy Boy" is a worthy item.

After all these years Reddy Teddy reunited and have just released "Loud & Clear" a new CD of new material - 10 new songs and a cover of Jerry Lee Lewis's "Breathless".

ZS (264 mb)

Songs
Boys And Girls / Shark In The Dark / Ooh-Wow! / Novelty Shoes / Moron Rock / A Child Of The Nuclear Age / Magic Magic / Romance / Teddy Boy

VARIOUS - HITS GREATEST STIFFS (1977)

A year or so after they had been released, Stiff had deleted their first 13 singles. So imagine a world deprived of Nick Lowe "Heart Of The City/So It Goes" and Elvis Costello's "Less Than Zero", but the record company then flashed out an eleven track sampler of this early product and charged only £3.99 for it...Ten of the first eleven singles are represented here (one of which was never even released: Motorhead). The collection focused on B-sides or non album tracks, the reason why Sean Tyla & his Gang had two songs (the single was a double B-side 7"). The inner sleeve is also noteworthy because Stiff displays a picture of "some fine records on other labels you might enjoy". Stiff had style.

 

HITS (224 mb)

Songs
Nick Lowe (Heart Of The City) / The Pink Fairies (Between The Lines) / The Roogalator (Cincinatti Fatback) / Tyla Gang (Styrofoam) / Tyla Gang (Texas Chainsaw Massacre Boogie) / Lew Lewis & His Band (Caravan Man) / Damned (Help!) /Richard Hell (You Gotta Lose) / Plummet Airlines (This Is The World) / Motorhead (Leavin' Here) / Elvis Costello (Radio Sweetheart)

A BUNCH OF STIFF RECORDS (1977)

Stiff Records was launched in summer '76 by the Feelgoods' ex-tour manager Jake Riviera (real name Andrew Jakeman) and Graham Parker's manager Dave Robinson with backing from Lee Brilleaux, lead singer of Dr Feelgood.
A shoe-string budget operation run from the organised chaos of the Notting Hill office, Stiff created some of the best singles of 1976. These featured such diverse talents as Nick Lowe, Lew Lewis, The Damned and Richard Hell. Soon the big corporations sussed that something was happening here and they wanted to know what it was. Stiff, finally signed a distribution deal with Island early in '77 and promptly deleted their entire catalogue of contemporary golden greats. And so succintly to "A Bunch Of Stiff Records". A compilation album of the highest merit featuring numerous Stiff luminaries, a few Stiff gunslingers and a couple of Stiff stiffs. Most of the artists are well known nowadays, but a few have remained obscure. Magic Michael's Little By Little, a name familiar only to anyone who watched Hawkwind support acts in the early '70s and the first track on side two, the bloozy throw-away "Jump For Joy" by Stones Masonry was a mystery cut, an earlier version of Graham Parker's "Back To Schooldays". Jill Read's Maybe version of a song already recorded by Dave Edmunds. The Tyla Gang version of Young Lords is the defintive one and can be found only on this first Stiff compilation. Finally , there's a "mystery guest" (actually C.P Lee of Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias) on vocals for the Takeaways' cut. Some of the cuts here have been reissued on CD, but a few have been shelved for years.

 

BUNCH (254 mb)

Songs
I Love My Label (Nick Lowe) / Go The Whole Wide World (Wreckless Eric) / White Line Fever (Motorhead) / Less Than Zero (Elvis Costello) / Little By Little (Magic Michael) / Back To Schooldays (Graham Parker uncredited) / Jump For Joy (Stones Masonry) / Maybe (Jill Read) / Jo Jo Gunne (Dave Edmunds) / Young Lords (The Tyla Gang) / Food (The Takeaways)

BE STIFF TOUR (1979)

Stiff Records was launched by Robinson and Riviera. They were a fiery management combination, and after a series of disagreements, Riviera left Stiff in early 1978 to form Radar Records, taking Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe with him as a settlement package. Riviera's departure coincided with the end of the "Live Stiff's 1977 Tour" (see Live Stiffs LP). A year later or so, Stiff Records released (on 5 different colors) at the same time 5 albums by 5 artists: Mickey Jupp, Wreckless Eric, Jona Lewie, Rachel Sweet and Lene Lovich. All of them went on the road (the Be Stiff train) and toured under the "Be Stiff" monicker (inspired by the Devo song licensed to Stiff in the UK). Stiif released a limited edition of a promo album featuring the artists covering "Be Stiff", the final version was a live version of the song by the entire crew... The "Be Stiff Tour" was a commercial disaster and the albums didn't sell so well.

Artists
Lene Lovich & The Musicians Union
Mickey Jupp & The Cable Layers
Wreckless Eric & The Four Rough Men
Rachel Sweet & The Records
Jona Lewie & Two's Company
The Entire Ensemble

TONIGHT (1978)

Hailing from Southend-on-Sea (UK), Tonight were Phil Chambon (guitar), Dave Cook (guitar), Chris Turner (vocals), Gary Thompson (drums), Russ Strothard (bass). Their first two singles produced by Andy Arthurs (Advertising, 999...) were two minor powerpop hits in their homeland. They released two more singles: "Wheels" and "Jealousy Kills", if anyone has them please contact me. Visit and listen to Phil Chambon at myspace. Russ Strothard toured with Dr Feelgood and Blonde & Beyond (a tribute band to Blondie). Watch Drummerman on TOTP.

Drummerman [TDS 1]
1 Drummerman
2 Stroll On By







Money That's Your Problem [TDS 2]
1 Money That's Your Problem
2 No Sympathy

ADVERTISING - JINGLES (1978)

Britain's Advertising was a clever young pop quartet with a penchant for quirky but catchy tunes, punny teenager lyrics and the color pink. They had a near brush with UK chart success via a 45 called "Lipstick" (included on Jingles); failure to win a large following caused an early breakup. This album (produced separately by Andy Arthurs and Kenny Laguna) is chock-a-block with engaging numbers, cheery vocals and snappy, clean playing; the songs (written by guitarists Tot Taylor and Simon Boswell) are literate and charming. Since leaving Advertising, Tot Taylor has recorded under his own name and worked with World of Leather, while Boswell became a producer and formed Live Wire. Trouser Press.

EMI LP

Dynamic Range

ZS (251 mb)

CD Reissue 2001

Dynamic Range

ZS  (266 mb)

Songs
Lipstick / Ich Liebe Dich / Pleasure Seekers / Suspender Fun / Shy / The Lookalikes / A.R.T. Art / Respect / Mean To Me / The Lonely Guys / My Advice / Jealousy / Stolen Love / You Cost Too Much

TEX & THE HORSEHEADS - LIFE'S SO COOL (1985)

Hailing from Los Angeles, Tex & The Horseheads were one of the atom bombs which were giving explosive ear damage to anybody within a hundred-mile radius. fronted by the awesome, feral Linda "Texacala" Jones, Tex & The Horseheads were influenced by raunch 'n' roll, country, blues and what they drank!. "Life's So Cool" is a hard-hitting follow-up to their eight-song debut record (available on the sonofthedolls blog). "Life's So Cool" is produced by X's John Doe. This is an uncontrolled blues-rock riot that recalls Exile on Main St. It starts with an uncredited quote from the old instrumental "Cat's Squirrel" (uncredited on the sleeve) and then goes on to such topics as drinking, fornication and legal tangles in songs that are substantial and thoughtfully developed. Exciting guitarist Mike Martt and bassist J. Gregory Boaz also pitch in complementary vocals to Texacala singing. A very impressive showing with enough bite and spit to satisfy anyone. In 1986, they toured Europe and released their last album "Tot Ziens" (Live In Holland). Trouser Press. For more read Lost In The Grooves.

Songs
Tumbleweed / Billy Black / Cloudia / Hidden By Hills / Lucky Hand / The Slip / I'll Quit Tomorrow / Spider And The Peach / Big House Part III / Bartender Sam / Bandana / Jailed Again / It's A Happening

POWERPOP TO THE PEOPLE VOL 5 (2007)

 

ZS1 + ZS2 (567 mb)

ZS (188 mb)

The fifth volume of "Powerpop To The People " includes some bands made available on previous full-length albums posts. A few other ones are well known names. The "Flamin' Groovies" song is from the Bucketfull of Brains flexi released four years before its appearance on the "Step Up" CD. Robyn Hitchcock is also featured with a rare german version of "Alright Yeah", this song was only available on a BOB flexi. A couple of songs are lifted from the Snap!! tapes (The "Grip Weeds" song is an outtake from "The House Of Vibes" sessions). "Rollercoaster" and "The Rosebuds" are two australian bands connected to the Chevelles. "Blown" is an outfit led by Nick Rudd (Turning Curious). The "Rave-ups" song is a b side of the 12" Single. The "Three Hour Tour" track is from the first album, the song was hidden at the end of the first album, (as well two other songs), but the weird thing is the song was played backwards on the CD (so i had to reverse the track with soundforge).

Songs
Choo Choo Train (High) / Beat Angels (Scaredy Cat) / The Grip Weeds (Be Like You) / Flamin' Groovies (Thanx John) / The Real Impossibles (Turn My World) / Woofing Cookies (Plain Truth) / The Lears (Coming Home Today) / The Bam Balams (10.000 Miles) (A Espana) / The Silent Blue (A Mind Not Her Own) / Cement Trampoline (Pushing The Panic Button) / Hector Penalosa (The Voice) / The Summer Suns (Thank You Holly) / Rollercoaster (Tartan Dress) / The Rosebuds (Honey Your My One) / The Rainyard (What's It Worth) / Blown (A Lesson Learned) / The Rave-Ups (Big White River) / The Woods (Chain My Heart) / Todd Newman (That's Just Me) / Walter Clevenger (Kimberley) / The Pursuit Of Happiness (I Like You) / The Finns (Whatever You Want) / Martin Luther Lennon (Emily) / Three Hour Tour (Come Back Home) / The Cavedogs (III) / Nyack (I'm Your Star) / Robyn Hitchcock (Alright, Yeah) (german version)

SNAP!! - THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUN! (1992-1996)

Snap!! was a spanish fanzine launched in Madrid by Alfredo and Angel. Between 1992 and 1996 the fanzine offered three tapes with plenty of unreleased stuff, mixing powerpop and garage. Those tapes were limited editions. I bought the issue #2 (special spanish power pop ) in 1994 while i was in Spain. The other two issues were ripped by Michel, a spanish friend who had bought the issues #1 & #3 back then. I made the custom artwork for all three volumes.

Volume One (1992)

Manual Scan (I Don't Want To Faster (Gotta Stop)) / The Pyramidiacs (No Soul) / The Posies (Open Every Window) / The Lost Lyrics (Stay (Why Me)) / Los Miembros (Dias De Gloria) / Insanity Wave (Second Chance) / Rebel Waltz (Junk Box) / The Lust-O-Rama (I'm Down) / The Dukes (Midnight To A Six Man) / The Salamanders (I Don't Need No Doctor) / The Aardvarks (Merry-Go-Round) / Vancouvers (Queen Bitch) / John Holmes Underground (Albania) / The Lone Wolves (Lone Wolf) / The Shambles (Just Matter Of Time)

Volume Two (1994)

Los Potros(When You Find Out) / The Crocodiles (Crocodile Radio) / Los Hermanos Dalton (Luces De Hollywood) / The Heartbeats (Bad Day) / Los Dukes (I Declare) / Jon Kanis (Arlintong) / Insanity Wave (Rainy Day) / Las Valvulas (Tu Sabes) / Automatics (Nobody) / Parkinson D.C (Love) / Young Fresh Fellows (Way Lo Beat) / Pribata Idaho (Headless Man) / The Kliek (Sandra) / The Beatpack (Teenage Head) / The Cryptones (I Can't Stand My Life Today) / The Shambles (Psychotic Reaction) / The Crepitos (Standin') / The Lears (Coming Home Today) / The Lust-O-Rama (Night Of The Sadist) / The Bandogs (My Life Has Changed) / The Phantom Surfers (Paradise Cove)

Volume Three (1996)

Love Bomb (It's Correct) / The Great Potato Fair (Wild Life) / The Heartbeats (Never Realized) / Looney Tones (It's Happening To You) / The Beat Godivas (Music And Audience) / The Grip Weeds (Be Like You) / The Groovy Cellar (Be Seeing You) / The Lemonbabies (Oh No No No) / The What...for! (How I Feel) / The Beatitudes (So Much) / Jack & The Beanstalk (I Want To Be Like Ray Davies) / The Shambles (Harmony) / The Happy Losers (The Day For Undressing The Shartguys) / Malconsejo (Miel) / Los Huespedes Felices (Tu Olvido) / Los Brujos (Vuelo En Tren (Don't Say Nothing At All) / Vice Barons (Skatedater Rock) / The Slow Slushy Boys (Putty In Your Hands) / Las Best-tias (I Can't Pretend) / The Gravestones (Dreaming)

GARY VALENTINE (1978) & THE KNOW (1980)

After Gary Valentine quit Blondie and wrote one of the best Blondie tunes ("I'm Always Touched By Your Presence, Dear"), he recorded his first single with a little help from the Mumps. Then he formed his own band "The Know" and released the "Know" single (later covered by The Point). Both singles are available on the Gary Valentine UK compilation "Tomorrow Belongs To You" (now out of print).

The First One [Beat 001]
The First One / Tomorrow Belongs To You

I Like Girls [Planet K 12451]
I Like Girls / Out Of Reach (Dreams)

HECTOR PENALOSA - HECTOR (1988)

After the Flying Color album (with outtakes), bassist Hector Penalosa recorded his first solo effort on New York's Cryptovision label, which had released the Flying Color's "Look My Way" single. The "Hector" LP includes contributions from Richard Chase and John Stuart (who plays drums on the whole LP and sings lead on one song), but Penalosa handles virtually all of the remaining instruments himself. For the most part, this immensely likable effort offers a less rocking version of Flying Color's sweetly melancholy jangle. But the whooping rocker "Northwest Trip" and the haunting violin-dominated instrumental "Manuela" indicate that there's more to Hector than just power pop. Hector Penalosa released his wonderful second album "Music For Cats" in 1996 on the spanish label Bam Balam. He also can be heard on the "Bam Balam Explosion Vol 4" with the excellent "Don't Be Down". Trouser Press

Special Note: the album was ripped by ian r. I made the artwork with the scans provided

Songs
Dog In The Rain / Love Comes Charging / Scheming / Paint / The Voice / Right To The End / Hurt So Bad / Manuela / Northwest Trip / The Girl Is Gone / Toy Boat

FINGERPRINTZ (1979-1981)

Formed by Scottish-born singer/guitarist Jimme O'Neill in 1978, Fingerprintz slowed down punk's careening guitar rock, adding clever, rhythmic twists and turns, and offering up deftly written stories about lust, angst, and urban desolation. It's difficult to categorize Fingerprintz, which may explain why the group never garnered a large following.

WHO'S YOUR FRIEND (1979)

The "Who's Your Friend" 7" EP was released on blue vinyl. Four songs not available on any of their albums, three originals and a new-wavey cover of Lennon-MCartney "Do You Want To Know A Secret". Then lead singer Step Lang left.

Songs
Who's Your Friend? / Do You Want To Know A Secret / Nervz / Night Nurse

THE VERY DAB (1979)

The primitively recorded "The Very Dab" first album occupies a dark, throbbing zone of bobbing pop and wry-to-bizarre lyrics ("Punchy Judy", "Beam Me Up Scotty"). Leader/guitarist Jimme O'Neill's Scottish accent and offbeat songwriting combine to chilling effect on the crime-obsessed narratives "Fingerprince" and "Wet Job"; the former's music also suggests a valid response to reggae/dub influence. Released first in an almost-all-black blurred-photo sleeve with badly matched shades of grey at the edges, so re-released almost immediately with an extra white border on the sleeve.

Songs
Close Circuit Connection / Fingerprince / Wet Job / Punchy Judy / Temperamental / 2AT / Hey Mr Smith / Tough Luck / Invisible Seams / On The Hop / Beam Me Up Scotty

DISTINGUISHING MARKS (1980)

The considerably slicker "Distinguishing Marks", in contrast, is pure pop in extremis - musically, anyway. The songs hum like a finely tuned motor, with producer Nick Garvey removing any rough sonic edges. Only the relentlessly perverse lyrics betray a refusal to play by the book; O'Neill's disjointed visions are inspired by pulp fiction, police blotters and hospital charts. A catchy collection that all sounds like hit single material.

Songs

Yes Eyes / Houdini Love / Criminal Mind / Bulletproof Heart / Remorse Code / Amnesia / Ringing Tone / Radiation / Jabs / Hide and Seek

BEAT NOIR (1981) (2nd edition)

"Beat Noir" took yet another 180-degree turn, away from pop and towards a rock/funk fusion. Finally in synch with the times, Fingerprintz delivered a stunning, idiosyncratic package of heavy bass lines, winsome melodies and O'Neill's thematic fetishes (paranoia, frustration). The album was kinky enough to catch on in rock clubs, but too peculiar to reach a broader audience. Drenched in atmosphere, it remains a compelling work. The first version of the LP was rush released, but Jimme and the band then persuaded the label to let them record, more cheaply, three new songs ("The Beat Escape", "The Chase" and "Get Civilised") which were more upbeat, commercial and funky! Jimme co-produced these with Chris Porter. The label, feeling more hopeful, put out a new, finished version of the album with these songs included and issued "The Beat Escape" as a single. Sadly it still wasnt successful.

Songs
The Beat Escape / The Chase / Catwalk / Changing / Get Civilised / Shadowed / Touch Sense / Echohead / Going Going Gone / Famous Last Words

Jimme O'Neill reunited with Fingerprintz guitarist Cha Burns to form the Silencers, he was able to go further. The band reaped much greater commercial success than did Fingerprintz. Ironically, the Silencers' records weren't nearly as good as that of Fingerprintz. All three Fingerprintz records are long out of print. Trouser Press

THE BOYS (USA) (1975-1980)

Between 1975 and 1980, The Boys released 3 singles and had 2 unreleased songs on the Titan Sampler. People who saw The Boys live at the time remembered this Midwestern band having sort of an English glam look while speaking and singing with fake British accents. The singles had somewhat of that glam sound too but they were very catchy, poppish numbers with a teenage attitude. Maybe their look was outdated at the time when `70s punk rock was beginning to emerge, but listening to their stuff now, one might think that they were finally ahead of their time (regarding the powerpop "ex/im-plosion" of the early `80s). All the material they released is *very* recommended and a must for vintage 70's powerpop aficionados. Source

(She's My Girl) She's All Mine (Outrage 111) (1975)
1. (She's My Girl) She's All Mine
2. I'm Not Satisfied





You Make Me Shake (Outrage 112) (1977)
1. You Make Me Shake
2. We're Too Young






(Baby) It's You (Titan 1421) (1979)
1. (Baby) It's You
2. Bad Little Girl






The Titan Sampler (Titan 8001) (1980)
1. On A Night Like This
2. Tell Me It's You

Note: Id' like to thank George from Australian Power Pop who ripped 3 songs (the first '75 single + the '79 single b side "Bad Little Girl").