STIFF BUY 14 vs CHISWICK S14

Formed by Twink (of The Pink Fairies) with Alan Shaw, The Rings' single was a one off deal and was produced by Martin Gordon. "Alison" was the second Costello single produced by Nick Lowe and released by Stiff.

CHISWICK S 14 (1977)
The Rings
I Wanna Be Free / Automobile

STIFF BUY 14 (1977)
Elvis Costello
Alison / Welcome To The Working Week

The votes
Stiff BUY 14: 73% (winner)
Chiswick S 14 : 26%

STIFF BUY 13 vs CHISWICK S 13

First and only Stiff 7" from The Adverts before they found fame and success with the macabre "Gary Gilmore's Eyes". Now on Chiswick, the anthemic "Motorhead" was released in July 1977, a few weeks before the first LP of the last of the Heavy Metal Power Trios.

CHISWICK S 13 (1977)
Motorhead
Motorhead / City Kids

STIFF BUY 13 (1977)
The Adverts
One Chord Wonders / Quickstep

The votes
Stiff BUY 13: 66% (winner)
Chiswick S 13 : 33%

STIFF BUY 12 vs CHISWICK S 12

Both songs of the Count Bishops single were taken from their first Chiswick LP and feature the Bishops with their most melodic skills. Maybe the weirdest release of the Stiff catalog, Max Wall's single (a Ian Dury song) was produced by Dave Edmunds and due to the poor sales was given away as a bonus with the Stiff compilation "Hits Greatest Stiffs".

CHISWICK S 12 (1977)
The Count Bishops
Baby You're Wrong / Stay Free

STIFF BUY 12 (1977)
Max Wall
England's Glory / Dream Tobacco

The votes
Stiff BUY 12: 21%
Chiswick S 12 : 78% (winner)

STIFF BUY 11 vs CHISWICK S 11

Here comes Elvis Costello without the Attractions, first single of the four released by Stiff records. Who could ever win over "Elvis is King", maybe not the punk attitude of Skrewdriver.

CHISWICK S 11 (1977)
Skrewdriver
You're So Dumb / Better Off Crazy

STIFF BUY 11 (1977)
Elvis Costello
Less Than Zero / Radio Sweetheart

The votes
Stiff BUY 11: 83% (winner)
Chiswick S 11 : 16%

STIFF BUY 10 vs CHISWICK S 10

Second 7" from The Damned, taken from their first LP, produced by Nick Lowe. The b side brings two versions of the same song (the regular one and the dub one). Hailing from Ireland, The Radiators From Space were the first punk band released on Chiswick and will become a major band of the label.

CHISWICK S 10 (1977)
The Radiators From Space
Television Screen / Love Detective

STIFF BUY 10 (1977)
The Damned
Neat Neat Neat / Stab Your Back / Singalong Scabies

The votes
Stiff BUY 10: 76% (winner)
Chiswick S 10 : 23%

STIFF BUY 9 vs CHISWICK S 9

At last, Chiswick is going Power Pop with the first Radio Stars single, one of the best Power Pop single of the era bringing a fabulous back sleeve. On the Stiff side, the Motorhead 7" was not released because the quintessential head banger's band had been signed by Chiswick in the meantime. The Motorhead single was only available later with the limited edition of the Stiff Box including the first 10 Stiff singles.

CHISWICK S 9 (1977)
Radio Stars
Dirty Pictures / Sail Away

STIFF BUY 9 (1977)
Motorhead
White Line Fever / Leaving Here

The votes
Stiff BUY 9: 32%
Chiswick S 9 : 67% (winner)

STIFF BUY 8 vs CHISWICK S 8

Second and last Gorillas 7" for Chiswick before they were signed by Raw Records and had released the excellent "Message To The World" LP in 1978. Sean Tyla produced the Plummet Airlines single.

CHISWICK S 8 (1976)
The Gorillas
Gatecrasher / Gorilla Got Me

STIFF BUY 8 (1976)
Plummet Airlines
Silver Shirt / This Is The World

The votes
Stiff BUY 8: 31%
Chiswick S 8 : 68% (winner)

STIFF BUY 7 vs CHISWICK SW 7

Seminal Punk vs Pub Rock, EP vs EP, USA vs France. The Stiff EP was licensed from the US release (Ork records) and was a limited edition of 5.000. "Blank Generation" was later re-recorded for the Sire single and LP.

CHISWICK SW7 (1976)
Little Bob Story
I'm Crying / Come On Home / I Need Money / Baby Don't Cry

STIFF BUY 7 (1976)
Richard Hell
(I Could Live With You In) Another World / (I Belong To The) Blank Generation / You Gotta Lose

The votes
Stiff BUY 7: 76% (winner)
Chiswick SW 7 : 23%

STIFF BUY 6 vs CHISWICK SW 6

The most atypical battle. While Chiswick was releasing this fine 7" EP of revival, Stiff was way ahead of history with the first punk single ever released (produced by The Basher). The glamour of Stiff started here.

CHISWICK SW6 (1976)
Rocky Sharpe & The Razors
Drip Drop / What's Your Name / So Hard To Laugh / That's My Desire

STIFF BUY 6 (1976)
The Damned
New Rose /Help!

The votes
Stiff BUY 6: 87% (winner)
Chiswick SW 6 : 12%

STIFF BUY 5 vs CHISWICK S5

Second 7" from the Bishops (this time a license from the Dynamite label) versus the first Lew Lewis single (some months after he had left Eddie & The Hot Rods).

CHISWICK S5 (1976)
Count Bishops
Train, Train / Taking It Easy

STIFF BUY 5 (1976)
Lew Lewis & His Band
Boogie On The Street /Caravan Man

The votes
Stiff BUY 5: 28%
Chiswick S 5 : 71% (winner)

STIFF BUY 4 vs CHISWICK S4

Maybe one of the toughest battle, between the Sean Tyla gang (an artistic breakthrough double "B" side) and the Jesse Hector's combo from Hammersmith. Four great slices of pure rock. Hard to pick one over the other, but you have to.

CHISWICK S4 (1976)
Gorillas
She's My Gal / Why Wait 'Til Tomorrow

STIFF BUY 4 (1976)
Tyla Gang
Styrofoam /Texas Chainsaw Massacre Boogie

The votes
Stiff BUY 4: 53% (winner)
Chiswick S 4 : 46%

STIFF vs CHISWICK

It's a long-standing truism that the most dynamic creative thrusts come from the outside. In the 50's, it was shoe-string local labels catering to supposedly minority tastes that generated easily half of the R&B and rock'n'roll hits. Next decade, in the '67 spirit, indie labels like Island and Harvest flowered. Lately, thanks to impetus given by a few hardly individuals, small was once again beautiful.
It began in '75 with the American Beserkley label, infant upstart Matthew Kaufman. An investigate gambler, Kaufman took the long-shot approach to commercial success and put his race-track winnings behing pressing up a few hundred copies of singles by bands and artists who had somehow come under his wing, people branded commercial non-returns by the big companies
Borrowing his ideas but adding their own flair a year or so later came Stiff, preceded by Chiswick who were actually the first of the new British independents, evolved out of the small Rock On chain of specialist record shops and catering initially to that market with R&B and rock'n'roll issues and re-issues.

So during this Summer 2010, i'll post some battles between both labels, the battles will be chronologically referenced. All posts were ripped from the original 7" releases and converted to 320 mp3. Complete scans have been included.

For every battle, you'll be able to vote and pick the winner. You can vote even though you don't want to download any of the items shared. See right column.

STIFF BUY 3 vs CHISWICK S3

Third battle between the Joe Strummer 's 101'ers and the Danny Adler fronted pub-rock band The Roogalator offering another great fab four sleeve. A very pub rockish battle.

CHISWICK S3 (1976)
The 101'ers
Keys To Your Heart / Five Star Rock'n'Roll Petrol

STIFF BUY 3 (1976)
The Roogalator
All Aboard /Cincinatti Fatback

The votes
Stiff BUY 3: 13%
Chiswick S 3 : 86% (winner)

STIFF BUY 2 vs CHISWICK S2

Second battle between the legendary indie labels, battle between the Vince Taylor '59 classic (later covered by Joe Strummer & The Clash, Joe Strummer had a 7" released on Chiswick) and the pub rock band for whom Ted Carroll (head of Chiswick) organized a one-off reunion concert in 1975.

CHISWICK S2 (1976)
Vince Taylor & His Playboys
Brand New Cadillac / Pledging My Love

STIFF BUY 2 (1976)
The Pink Fairies
Between The Lines /Spoiling For A Fight

The votes
Stiff BUY 2: 53% (winner)
Chiswick S 2 : 46%

STIFF BUY 1 vs CHISWICK SW1

First battle betwwen the Basher's first and and epic single and the band who had to become one of the most endearing Chiswick stalwarts.

CHISWICK SW1 (1975)
Count Bishops - Speedball EP
Route 66 / I Ain't Got You / Beautiful Delilah / Teenage Letter

STIFF BUY 1 (1976)
Nick Lowe
So It Goes / Heart Of The City

The votes:
Stiff BUY 1: 82% (winner)
Chiswick SW 1: 17%

CANDY - WHATEVER HAPPENED TO FUN (1985)

Special note: This a brand new rip made from the original Mercury LP. in 24bit-96khz. Then it has been converted to 320 mp3 (click on title) and FLAC 24bit-44.1Khz (see below). Complete new artwork included. According to the LP back, the album has a CD reference, but i wasn't able to confirm the fact.

FLAC :
MU 1
or
RS 1 - 2 - 3

Candy has captured the essence of American pop rock and created a sound all their own in the debut album "Whatever Happened to Fun..." on Mercury/PolyGram. Rich vocal harmonies and melodies combined with a dynamic beat make these songs pure classic pop. Jimmy Ienner of Raspberries fame produced the album while Candy did the original songs and instrumentation.
Filled with a mix of innocence and experience, Candy's music brings us a new generation of American talent. This album exceeds any appearance as a chronicle of pop kicks. The opening track, "American Kix," sets the pace of contagious melodies and young energy that prevail throughout the LP. Yet on a deeper level, Candy injects a lyrical irony into their music. Their songs are about kids searching for good times and waking up in the not-so-fun real world. The title track and LP's lead single, "Whatever Happened To Fun," in all its clean, upbeat sound asks "Whatever happened to innocence?" and claims "Nobody wants to be young anymore, nobody wants to have fun anymore." Candy has a story to tell through music you love to hear.

Of course, the album flopped but all members became famous - Gilby Clarke as Producer of The Beat Angels,... (and played with G'n'R) then to pursue a solo career. Kyle Vincent went on solo and released seven albums, while Jonathan Daniel and John Schubert formed Electric Angels in 1990 (one eponymous album) and The Loveless in 1995 (A Tale of Gin and Salvation).
In 2003, a CD compilation "Teenage Neon Jungle" of rarities and unreleased stuff was released by SongTree Records (still available at CDBaby.)
You can admire the "great" haircuts on the promo video of "Whatever Happened To Fun" available on YouTube

Songs
American Kix / Turn It up Loud / Whatever Happened to Fun... / Last Radio Show / Kids in the City / Weekend Boy / First Time / Electric Nights / Lonely Hearts

TOMMY HOEHN & VAN DUREN - BLUE ORANGE (2002)

Memphis musician and power-pop scene staple Tommy Hoehn has died.

Hoehn, known for his solo work and collaborations with Big Star members Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, had been battling cancer for the past year. The 55-year-old Hoehn died on Thursday night at Methodist University Hospital. Source

PPC pays tribute to the fabulous Tommy Hoehn with his last official release "Blue Orange".

Tommy Hoehn and Van Duren are both veterans of the original power pop movement. Based in Memphis and finding each other to be kindred musical spirits, they banded together in the '90s to make some easygoing adult pop. On "Blue Orange", their second recording together, Hoehn and Duren pursue a blue-eyed soul-tinged path not unlike the one forged by John Hiatt or fellow southerner Don Dixon. Laid-back tempos, lots of thick Hammond organ, twangy guitars, and impassioned vocals are the order of the day from beginning to end.

Songs
Your Beautiful Self / Red / Renee / Bad for You / Black Little Book / Love Overtakes Me / Anytime / Side Effect / Heart Burning Down / Goodbye to Us / Drowning in Waves of Light

BRYAN ESTEPA - SALA MATISSE (2009)

In 2009, Bryan Estepa toured Spain to promote his second full length CD "Sunday Best", the show was recorded in Valencia at Sala Matisse on the 25th of September.

Part of Sydney’s music scene for an extended period, Estepa has been in such popular indie bands Down Under as Swivel and Hazey Jane. During a brief spell between those bands, Estepa stuck his toes in the water as a solo artist long enough to record an EP under the name Adeline in 2003. He fully embraced a solo career in 2006 when he released his first full-length CD, "All The Bells and Whistles", which was filled to the brim with catchy pop containing smidges of alt.country. Loved by the critics, the album was a great first step for Estepa to test his solo skills and try to find his footing.
"Sunday Best" is a stronger effort, with Estepa seeming much more confident and the songs more fully realized than his previous solo work. Self-produced with assistance from Dan Nash, "Sunday Best" seems to be a culmination of everything Estepa has accomplished and learned so far. Full of breathtaking melodies and inventive arrangements, this pop wunderkind makes one wonder how long it will be before he’s the next big thing. Gorgeous stuff and perfect for those who love the glorious sounds of well done pop music. Source

Bryan Estepa is currently working on his 3rd album which will be produced by Michael Carpenter.

Special note: I got the show from a spanish mate at the Alta Tension and i made a special artwork for the PPC blog.

Songs
Stars / Sunday Best / Different With You / Skipping Days / Western Tale / By The Window / Roses / Aches & Shakes / Carl Wilson / Right Now / Falling Through / Your Best Night / I'm Going / Be My Baby / Down By The River / I've Just Seen A Face / I Shall Be Released / Myself

GREEN PAJAMAS - HALL OF FAME, SEATTLE (1986)

This show was recorded at the release party for the "Monkey Business" compilation LP for Green Monkey Records, early 86. At this time, "Peppermint Stick" is new and "Kim the Waitress" single is coming out shortly. Joe Ross is canned and Bruce Haedt is new. The Green Pajamas were Jeff Kelly, Steve Lawrence, Karl Wilhelm and Bruce Haedt.

The show was mixed from a 4 track recording of the event by Green Monkey Records President,Tom Dyer and given to the blog this year. A custom PPC artwork has been included.

Green Monkey Records are absolutely delighted to announce the first-ever CD release of the Green Pajamas "Book of Hours". Originally released in 1987 on Green Monkey, with subsequent versions in Australia, Germany and Greece, this CD edition marks the first time all the tracks from the Book sessions have been released together. The album was remastered with love from the 1987 analog tapes by original producer Tom Dyer. It is now complete

ZS (139 mb)

Songs
You're Such A Drag / Anna Maria / Under The Observatory / Big Surprise / Time Of Year / Fallin' Thru The Hole / Murder Of Crows / Jennifer / Kim The Waitress / Stand To Reason / My Mad Kitty / Peppermint Stick / Ain't So Bad / In This Castle

VARIOUS - SUMMER SONGS Vol.2 (2010)

Less than one year after the first Summer Songs blog collection, PPC is really glad to share with everyone a brand new compilation of Summer Songs. Once again, this compilation is 100% Sixties free and more than anything, listen to the music all summer long!!!

ZS (187 mb)

 

Click on pix for details of the bands involved

TRIBUTE TO THE RAMONES - ROCK & ROLL RADIO (2002)

The mastermind behind this spanish project was Mikel Biffs from The Safety Pins. In his Chockablock studio (Bilbao) he recorded most of his favourite spanish punk bands doing covers of the famous Forrest Hills combo.

Click on pix for details

GREG KIHN - GREG KIHN AGAIN (1977)

A fine follow-up to Greg Kihn as Kihn continues to grow as an artist and songwriter. His version of "For You" received some favorable comments from The Boss himself as well as first dibs on an original Springsteen tune "Rendez-Vous" for "With The Naked Eye" (1979). AMG

Special note: The second Greg Kihn album was ripped from the original Beserkley LP BSERK-8 in 24bit/96Khz. It is available here in 320 mp3 (click on title) and FLAC 24bit/44.1Khz (see below). The album was reissued in 1994 on CD (CLC 5058) and is now hard to find. Artwork included.

FLAC: 1 - 2 - 3

Songs
Love's Made A Fool Of You/Island / Last Of Me / Real Big Man / Politics / Hurt So Bad / For You / If You Be My Love / Madison Avenue / Untie My Hands

HIT ME WITH A FLOWER (THE NEW SOUNDS OF SAN FRANCISCO) (1993)

Pat Thomas was the former drummer of New-York's Absolute Grey and the svengali of this titillating San Francisco eighteen track (17 + one hidden version of Scott McKenzie's hit "San Francsico") compilation. Don't expect true power pop but any compilation with Viva Saturn is worth hearing.

Click on pix for details

DWIGHT TWILLEY - JUNGLE (1984)

After he had moved to EMI America for "Scuba Divers" (1982), Dwight Twilley released his follow-up album, "Jungle" in 1984, producing his second national hit single, "Girls", featuring a counterpoint vocal by Petty (replaced by Carla Olson in the MTV video hit), it reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart. His follow-up single, "Little Bit of Love", reached #77. Unfortunately, Twilley left EMI America at that point,and released what would become his last album "Wild Dogs" before a decade. "Jungle" has never been reissued on CD so far, even though four songs of it were featured on the remastered compilation "XXI" (1996).

Visit the Dwight Twilley iTunes page here.

Special note: This a brand new rip made in 24bit-96khz. Then it has been converted to 320 mp3 (click on title) and FLAC 16bit-44.1Khz (see below). Complete artwork included.

FLAC: 1

Songs
Little Bit of Love / Girls / Why You Wanna Break My Heart / You Can Change It / Cry Baby / Don't You Love Her / Long Lonely Nights / Jungle / To Get to You / Max Dog

EARTH QUAKE - 8.5 (1976)

Beserkley was founded in San Francisco in the early seventies by Matthew King Kaufman as a vehicle for Earth Quake, a local band he was managing. Ironically Earth Quake would soon be eclipsed by other acts on the roster. Namely Greg Kihn, The Rubinoos and the jewel in the crowns, Jonathan Richman. Earth Quake made their Beserkley debut on "Beserkley Chartbusters Vol 1" and soon released the live "Rockin' The World", now a five-piece with the addition of Gary Phillips (late of Copperhead and future Greg Kihn Band) on guitar and vocals - in some pretty inspired moments, and got them more notice than either of their A&M LPs had. "8.5", their first Beserkley studio album was released a year later.

ZS  (245 mb)

Songs
Finders Keepers / Little Cindy / And He Likes to Hurt You / Savin' My Love / Girl Named Jesse James / Motivate Me / Hit the Floor / Same Old Story / Don't Want to Go Back

THE LAST
FADE TO BLACK (1982) PAINTING SMILES...(1983)

Both rips are now available in 320 mp3 and FLAC 16bit-44.1Khz. Click here to read the complete post (May 2007).

If you want an upgrade, here are the new links.

Fade To Black : 320 mp3 or FLAC
Fade To Black / That's Just Life / Obsession / Subway Song

Painting Smiles On A Dead Man : 320 mp3 or FLAC 1 + 2

Wrong Turn / It Had To Be You / Isn't Anybody There / Lightning Strikes / Louie Louie / December Song /Everybody Had It With You / Weekend Girl / Failing Heart / Leper Colony / What Is In There / Up In The Air

RACER X - RACER X (1984)

Hailing from New-York, Racer X were actually the side project of Allen Zane, a former Speedies member. Allen Zane and Tim Whaler recorded this mini LP that was released in France only by New Rose. Keith Lentin (Spider) co-produced three of the five songs featured here. Very highly recommended. A totally overlooked powerpop gem.

Special note: The 5-song mini LP was trasferred from the original french album in 24bit/96khz and then converted to 320 mp3 (click on the title) and to FLAC 24bit/44.1khz (see links below)

FLAC: 1 - 2

Songs
Later On In The Night / Looking Through You / Moving Fast / Driving Me Wild / Mary Ann

GREG KIHN - GREG KIHN (1976)

Greg Kihn became one of the first artists signed to Matthew Kaufman's now-legendary Beserkley Records. Along with Jonathan Richman, Earthquake, and the Rubinoos, Kihn helped to carve the label's sound - melodic pop with a strong '60s pop sensibility - a refreshing alternative to the bloated prog rock of the time. In 1976, after his debut on the compilation Beserkley Chartbusters, he recorded his first album with his own band consisting of Steve Wright (bass), and Larry Lynch (drums) with contributions from Earth Quake's Robbie Dunbar (guitar) and future full-time member Gary Phillips.

Special note: The first Greg Kihn album was ripped from the original Beserkley LP BZ-0046 in 24 Bit/96Khz. It is available here in 320 mp3 (click on title) and FLAC 24bit/44.1Khz (see below). The album was reissued in 1994 on CD and is now hard to find. Artwork included.

FLAC Links: 1 - 2 - 3

Songs
Don't Expect To Be Right / Any Other Woman / Emily Davison / Try Try To Fall In Love / Kid From Louieville / Worse Or Better / He Will Break Your Heart / What Goes On / Satisfied / Why Don't You Try Me

Message from Ray Paul

Hello Friends,
Here's an advance of a brand new track I recently recorded for an upcoming Emitt Rhodes Tribute CD. Some of you may know that Emitt and I are close friends and have performed and recorded together in the mid-to-late '90's into this past decade. I hope you enjoy.....

'Til The Day After

Hear more songs & get info & pics on:
www.myspace.com/raypaulonline

VARIOUS - IPO VOL 3 (2000)

This installment in the series commemorates the festival's third anniversary and includes a mixture of hits, album tracks, and rarities from bands that appeared at the summer 2000 festival. Some of the best bands of the late-'90s power pop movement, like Supremium, the Rosenbergs, the Andersons, and the Jellybricks, are featured here. In fact, the great Tories are featured with an exclusive track, "All of Our Crimes," credited here to Headset. The compilers have managed to create a great summer mix tape that should draw listeners in. AMG

Click on pix for details