10 Years Later...or The Return of The Raiders

VARIOUS - RAIDERS OF THE LOST HOOK Vol. 5 (2020)

While i was completing the upload of the 8 volumes of the SSA compilations, i was thinking about the four volumes of "Raiders Of The Lost Hook" that i made 10 years ago. And browsing around, it occured to me that those compilations were quite popular on some p2p sites. Of course, plenty of compilations of the genre exist (Yellow Pills Prefill, DIY Rhino, Home Runs, Powerpearls, SSA and more), but it was a challenge for me to make a new volume some 10 years later, trying of course to include songs that were not featured on the famous ones. Most of the Power Pop fans will recognize some of the songs as they were part of previous anthologies. But, i really think that Raiders Of The Lost Hook Vol. 5 (1971-1985) is a solid collection of songs from a time full of innocence and fun, totally different from the current days we're now living.

So, it's my pleasure to share this new volume of strong melodies, thoughtful lyrics, romantic innocence and rock-candy guitars, here comes the search for the great pop hook.

OK UK...& IRELAND

SHAKE SOME ACTION - VOLUME 8 (2003)

Originally posted in 2011 (May 1st)

full details here

OK USA

SHAKE SOME ACTION - VOLUME 7 (2003)

Originally posted in 2011 (May 1st)

full details here

OK All Around The World

SHAKE SOME ACTION - VOLUME 6 (2003)

 Originally posted in 2011 (May 1st)

full details here

Night Time Is The Right Time

NIGHTMAN - NO ESCAPE (1981)

Instead of including my own notes,

here's an accurate  review made by a power pop fan on RYM

I read somewhere that this was Tommy Keene' s backing band at the very beginning of his career: indeed, these musicians backed Tommy Keene on his first solo album "Strange Alliance" which was recorded for Limp (Nightman's label) but ended up on Tommy Keene's own Avenue label.
Other than that, however, Nightman was a new wave power pop band in its own right and some of the songs on this rather elusive vinyl album are fairly good.
'Waiting' sounds a bit like Dwight Twilley while 'Headline' and 'Remember You' bear all the hallmarks of the new wave sound of the time (the very early 1980s).
One song the ska/reggae song 'Skanky' is terribly outdated and should have been put aside. Curiously, the best songs are found on the B side where 'Critical Line' and 'Working' are the catchiest numbers.

Flying High

SPONSORS - SPONSORS (1982)

In '79, the Handgrenades issued what would become the best UK DIY punk single not actually from the UK: their "Demo to London" b/w "Coma Dos" 45, self-released in an undetermined quantity on the band's unnamed imprint.

With the decade now coming to a close, the band's 45 had filled a coveted slot in the jukebox at CBGB's ("and David Byrne used to play it!" comments Kern).  The band had also dropped the Handgrenades moniker and adopted another: the Sponsors.  They maintained the same line-up -- Kern on vocals and guitar, Steve La Cava on bass, Dave Kilmartin on second guitar, Pellicoro on drums -- but the name change signalled a pop maturation of their sound.  They would, however, retain some of their nervous and edgy tunes, like "Murder in the U.S.," a Handgrenades original.

Then, Plexus secured the Dictators' Andy Shernoff as producer and sent the Sponsors to their first real recording facility: Skyline Studios on 31st St. in Manhattan. Under the direction of a more confident and proficient Kern and Pellicoro, the Sponsors skirted new-wave and power-pop territory with their underrated eponymous LP of '82.

The Sponsors' one and only long-player brought the band collegiate radio play and a modicum of attention, but it failed to propel them starward.  They continued to gig around NYC and the surrounding area whenever they could.  Their dissolution was a quiet one.

Fortunately, Numero Group issued 2005's Prefill: Yellow Pills 2xCD compilation, a power-pop collection that included the Sponsors' "In And Out of Love" and "Love I Can't Wait," both strong pop numbers from their LP.

Catch A Wave

VARIOUS - SUMMERTIME (2020)

 A little bit late but still summertime

The brand new PPC Summer collection - the 12th

The compilation is available
in both formats: lossy & lossless
with the usual set of artwork

SUMMER 2020