YELLOW PILLS ISSUE #8 + FREE E.P. 2 (1997)

Jordan Oakes began publishing his seminal power pop 'zine, "Yellow Pills" in the summer of 1990 out of pure teenage puppy love for riffing, jangly guitars, fake British accents and harmonizing voices that ache with pimply adolescent yearning. As Yellow Pills began to notso-quietly circulate, Jordan quickly became the keeper of the keys (G and D, mostly) of all matters pop. So much so that he became something of a minor celebrity himself, greeted at Poptopia by Japanese teenage girls squealing "Yellow Pills! Yellow Pills!"

In 1993 Jordan curated his initial Yellow Pills release, the first of a series collecting power pop essentials from 20/20, Dwight Twilley, The Rubinoos, The Plimsouls, and five dozen others. The series rapidly became the sonic rosetta stone for a newer generation of poppers who, sans the skinny ties, held true to the power pop manifesto of harmony, melody and ringing, rocking 6 and 12 string guitars. The archaeological artifacts of power pop soon found a home in living museums of the genre from Teenage Fanclub to Green Day.

In the midst of this mini-renaissance, Yellow Pills seemed poised to be the banner under which this newer wave would plot its next invasion. But, like so many flags of the rock era, it flew only briefly, folded without ceremony and put away like the record collections of so many kids off to college. Twelve issues, four discs, and a nervous breakdown later, Jordan Oakes quietly disappeared into semi retirement and the ethnic, old-world landscape of South St. Louis. Read here.

Issue #8 : PDF (38 pages, full color 400dpi scans) complete with bookmarks + free 7" E.P.

mp3 (320): MF
mp3 (320): RSFLAC: RS

Songs
Sullivan & Warren (Some Sunny Day) / The Melanies (The Last Time) / The Andersons (From The Get-Go)

Billy Sullivan (Paul Pope Band) played with Frank Secich (Blue Ash, Stiv Bators) in Club Wow, he is better known for the songs he wrote with ex-Action Brent Warren for the Scott McCarl's CD "Play On...".

TROUSER PRESS PRESENTS
THE BEST OF AMERICA UNDERGROUND (1983)

Established around 1975, Trouser Press (in 1976) instituted a column called "America Underground" solely to cover independent releases. Then, a few years later, Trouser Press assembled this tape-only release for the NYC label ROIR, selecting their all-time favorites since 1975. The tape collection was mixing some outstanding powerpop gems (Shoes, Gary Valentine, Nerves and Tweeds) with some other kind of underground music. The album has never been reissued in CD format. The "Tweeds' Underwater Girl" is the much better original version of the song later re-recorded and available on the "Shake Some Action Vol 7" collection. The "Shoes' Like I Told You" has never been widely available until Jordan Oakes included this version (different from the one on the "As Is" album) on the 2006 Prefill compilation.

Special note : I made a special complete artwork for CD using elements from the original cassette ROIR design.

Bands (Songs)
Chris Moffa & The Competition (You Know How Hot (it's Getting Around Here)) / Martha Hull (Feelin' Right Tonight) / Norman Salant (Tickets Are Free) / Erector Set (Inside Out) / Poli Styrene Jass Band (Drano In Your Veins) / Shoes (Like I Told You) / Nerves (Working Too Hard) / R. Stevie Moore (Manufacturers) / Residents (The Booker Tease) / Pylon (Dub) / Gary Valentine (The First One) / Fans (True) / Tweeds (Underwater Girl) / Bunnydrums (Crawl) / Wrinklemusik (A Move To The Right) / Algebra Suicide (True Romance At The World's Fair) / Suburbs (World War III) / Dub Rifles (Stand) / Bizarros (I, Bizarro) / Armand Schaubroeck Steals (The Independent Hitter (Shortened Version))

BUSTER - BUSTER (1977)

Reissue Japan 2008

In May 1976, Buster released their debut single "Sunday" in England. The band were marketed as the new ’teeny bop’ sensations and the record was an immediate success with their young fans although, as rock musicians, the boys felt uncomfortable with their ’teeny’ image. Sunday raced into the UK charts reaching No46. Radio 1, refused to play the single due to the fact that they were getting a little tired of "Teeny" bands and a new sound was on its way in...PUNK! RVC (present BMG) which is the Japanese division of RCA released "Sunday" in Japan in January 1977. The single was an immediate top ten hit and the boys turned their attentions to the Japanese markets. Five further singles followed and all were top twenty hits. Christmas 1977 saw the band touring Japan, Philippines, Australia & Germany. In Japan ’Buster-mania’ had taken a firm grip on the young Japanese public.

 

BUSTER (352 mb)

Songs
We Love Girls / Sqaturday Night / I Was Born To Sing Your Song / Pretty Legs / Daybreak / Born To Be Wild / Love Rules / She's My Girl / I'm A Fool / Listen To What The Man Said / Sunday / We Love Girls (Medley) /
Bonus Tracks: Beautiful Child / Who Told You / We Love Girls (Rock Version) /Love Rules (Rock Version)

A NEW BUNCH OF SINGLES (1966-1992)

Some of the songs below were only released on 7", a few of them were later included on various Powerpop compilations, but some have never been available on CD. All the links are independent. I guess you know the bands or artists featured here (whatever their monickers at the time of the releases).

LINK CROMWELL (Reissue 1977, Ork 81981)
1 Crazy Like A Fox
2 Shock Me




JOHN FOGERTY (1973, Fantasy 17044)
1 Comin' Down The Road
2 Ricochet




LOCAL HEROES (1980, Junior LOC 1)
1 Blast The Pop!
2 Tomorrow




CHOO CHOO TRAIN (1988, Subway 23)
1 High
2 Wishing On A Star




BAG O SHELLS (1990, Bus Stop BUS 009)
1 Pocketbook
2 Back In Your Town
3 What Ever Happened To My Life



GUMBALL (1991, Get Hip GH 146)
1 Girl Don't Tell Me
2 Strawberry Fields Forever




THE CYNICS (1992, Sympathy SFTRI 99)
1 Buick MacKane
2 Born To Lose

SNEAKERS - EAR CARTOONS (1980)

Sneakers (neither the Chris Stamey band, nor the other Sneakers who were on Bearsville Records) began as a bunch of high school kids from Springfield Oregon in the mid-70's. The band rehearsed. A lot. And focused. Eventually settling on a solid lineup, and straddling the fence between classic 60's pop and the emerging "New Wave", Sneakers found guidance with the help of Allen Kovac's then fledgling managment firm, and producer Roger Atkins, who'd written hits for the likes of the Animals and the Monkees. Sneakers was hailed as the first band with a nationally released album from Oregon since Paul Revere and the Raiders in the '60s. The Ear Cartoons album nabbed the "Pick of the Week" honor in Billboard magazine upon its release in 1980. The band toured non-stop, opening for international acts and filling venues in their hometown. Keyboard/guitarist Cletis Carr left the band in 1981, to be replaced by sax player Todd Duncan. The band then recorded a second album, Music From The Sole which remains unreleased. The band uprooted from Oregon to Houston and shortly thereafter broke-up.

Songs
Girls / Who Do You Love / American Way / Don't Cry To Me Babe / Polly / Gangsters Wear Tennis Shoes / Love On The Line / Be The One / Coming On To You / It's My Life

BUCKETFULL OF BRAINS - 50th ANNIVERSARY CD (1998)

Established 1979, Bucketfull Of Brains (BoB, not to be confused with the US BOB) was the definitive fanzine in the UK. Throughout the 80's, some 7" flexis, and later proper 7" were given away with each issue. For the anniversary of the 50th issue, a 19-track compilation CD was inserted with the 50th issue in honor of that event. The collection featured many rare/exclusive tracks including Matthew Sweet "Bold Moves," You Am I "Bring The Ole Sun Down", Sparklehorse "London", others from The Rooks, Dan Penn, Dwight Twilley, Tommy Keene, Bill Lloyd, Radio Sweethearts, Cherry Twister and many more!. The 50th issue is now OOP but you can purchase any other issues from Bucketfull Of Brains.

Bands (Songs)
Dan Penn (Jewel Of My Heart) / Jim Dickinson (Too Late) / Jolene (You Are My Entirety) / Dwight Twilley (It's Hard To Be A Rebel (No World)) / Bill Lloyd (I Had It Right The First Time) / Tommy Keene (There's No One In This City) / Matthew Sweet (Bold Moves) / Junior Cottonmouth (Gurls) / Bronco Bullfrog (Home To You) / Zero Willpower (Sunrise) / Daryll-Ann (Trapped) / Barracudas (Adult Child) / Frank Bango & The Magic Fingers (Olivia 101) / The Rooks (I'm Not A Joker (For Diana)) / Skooshny (The Water Song) / Cherry Twister (Maryann) / You Am I (Bring The Ole Sun Down) / Sparklehorse (London) / Radio Sweethearts (Tossin' And Turnin')

CARLA OLSON - CARLA OLSON (1989)

Along with Kathy Valentine, Carla Olson formed the Textones in the early '80s for a few singles on IRS. The band's major-label debut, "Midnight Mission" included help from Don Henley, Ry Cooder, Barry Goldberg, and Gene Clark. "Cedar Creek", the band's second album, appeared in 1987 on Enigma Records. Olson then worked on many projects, including ones by John Fogerty, Henley, and Eric Johnson and a duet album with Clark. In 1988, she recorded a self-titled solo album (for Amigo Musik) in Sweden, (Still Sane) in Germany backed by Wilmer X. This album has never been released in the U.S.A. and though it was also available in CD format (different sleeve), this one is quite scarce.

Songs (2 parts)
It's Too Late / Slow Rollin' Train / Never Wanted To Try / Remember That Moon / Trying To Hold On / Secret Graves / From A Dollar To A Dime / You Can't Move In / Heroes Of My Hometown / Rubies & Diamonds / The Grand Blvd / Broken Hearts & Broken Dreams

VARIOUS - BIG DEAL CORPORATE ANNUAL VOL 2 (1998)

Second volume of the Big Deal promo collection, featuring more of the favorite bands already heard on Volume 1, plus some highlights as Material Issue, The Diggers or Michael Shelley.
The CD originally came in a single carboard sleeve, so i made a custom booklet and tray for the PPC blog readers.
Most of the Big Deal releases are now OOP, but some of them are quite easy to find as used items.

Set List (RS) or FLAC
Material Issue (I'd Wait a Million Years) / Gladhands (Kill'em With Kindness) / Splitsville (Ponce De Leon) / Barely Pink (I'm So Electric) / The Diggers (Up Against It) / Michael Shelley (Thing With Your Heart) / Vandalias (Big Red Catalina) / Cockeyed Ghost (Binghamton) / Hannah Cranna (Heroine In Ohio) / BMX Bandits (Afterglow) / Shonen Knife (Explosion) / Absolute Zeros (Always Something to Remind Me) / Cheeky Monkey (I Wanna Live With You) / Mitchell Rasor (Disappear) / Idle (Trouble Man) / Wondermints (Time)

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DOM MARIANI & The Rippled Souls - RADIO 3 TV (2006)

Aired June 2nd, The Rippled Souls were Dom Mariani, Kevin Borruso (Superscope), Stu Loasby (Majestic Kelp) and Shaun Sibbs (The Avenues). The concert was part of the Radio 3 TV (TVE2 channel) concerts series.

Special note: I grabbed this from a registered website. I converted to DivX5 PAL 720x544 with Ripp-It AM (a DivX two-pass compression) from mpeg2 file PAL The lo-res files can be watched on youtube. Runing time 25'27.

Songs
Girl Soul / Homespun Blues / Don't Talk About Us / Everything That You Told Me / Second Floor / Foolish

You need all parts to unrar the file (261mb)

one - two - three

TRAVOLTA KIDS - TRAVOLTA KIDS (1980)

Hailing from Åkersberga, Sweden, and originally a punk band the Travolta Kids released their first EP "Veckans Brott" in 1979. The same year, Travolta Kids also appeared at the swedish compilation "Bakverk 80" with bands like KSMB and Inc*st Brothers. A year later or so, they released their sole LP, all-sung in swedish, minus their cover of "Let's Dance".

Special Note: I got the album WAV rip from a swedish mate. I made the stitched artwork and worked on the WAV files provided.

Songs
Ensam Genom Natten / Unga Herrar / Bio / Säg Inte Nej / Hjärta Av Guld / Jag Vill Ha Mer / Let's Dance / Stygga Pojke / Hon Älskar Honom / Gå Ut Och Gå / Flicka / Lyckans Hav Falsk Matematik

ROY LONEY - FAST & LOOSE (1983)

Here's the fifth and final Roy Loney album never reissued on CD, "Fast & Loose", Roy Loney is back with his old friend Danny Mihm on drums. All of the subsequent albums are available on cd, Roy Loney will stay five years in the shade until "Scientific Bombs Away" (1989). "Fast & Loose" has been previously available on this blog part of the "Advent Wall Of Sound" (Day 6). A few months ago, Roy Loney was back in action with the excellent "Shake It Or Leave It" (guests starring Bobby Sutliff, Dennis Tek, Scott McCaughey and more...)

Special Note: Please do not post any of the albums found here on the alt.binaries newsgroups. Thanx

Songs
You Can't Be Too Wild / Slippin' Out The Back Door / Fast & Loose / Hey Waitress! / Driving Wheel / The Mop Flops / Ragged But Wrong / Rockin' Radio / Renegade / Teenage Head / Hangin' Around / Beware Of The Ghoul / Tulane

SPLITSVILLE - MEGAHERTZ LIVE (TV SHOW)

Splitsville performs "Dotcom" and "Manna " from "Repeater", plus "Forever" from "The Complete Pet Soul", live on Megahertz, the Washington DC TV Show. The video can also be watched in lo-res on youtube. File info: 86mb MPEG2 PAL

PHIL SEYMOUR - PRECIOUS TO ME (TV 1981)

Phil Seymour's first album was released in 1980. A few weeks ago, you already got the promo film of "Precious To Me". Here's a rare performance of Phil Seymour with his band on the TV show "Solid Gold". The video can also be watched in lo-res on youtube. File info: 33mb MPEG2 PAL.

SYL SYLVAIN & THE TEARDROPS - Måndagsbörsen TV Show (1982)

In 1981, the second Sylvain Sylvain LP was released, featuring some outstanding tunes such as "I Can't Forget Tomorrow," "Just One Kiss" and "Formidable". A year later (March 1st), Syl Sylvain & The Teardrops performed "Formidable" on the swedish TV show Måndagsbörsen (aired between 1979-1984). A rare performance completed by a short interview of the band.

ZS (152 mb)

JIMMY SILVA & THE GOATS - HEIDI (1991)

The consistently wonderful Heidi marks Silva once and for all as a master of his craft. His remarkable gifts are showcased on poignant, lovingly rendered songs like "Tin Whistle and a Wooden Drum," "From Every Doorway" and "What Makes It Hard to Be Kind?," sung by the Fellows' Scott McCaughey. (The album's other guest vocalists are Ken Stringfellow of the Posies and PopLlama boss Conrad Uno.) Trouser Press

Heidi (227 mb) 

Songs

Tin Whistle and a Wooden Drum / I Don't Remember How / City of Sisterly Love / Need I Know / For a Moment / From Every Doorway / Where Do You Go / Kate of the Human Race / What Makes It Hard to Be Kind / On Every Page / St. Catherine's Statue

JIMMY SILVA - REMNANTS OF THE EMPTY SET (1986)

 

A few months ago, "Fly Like A Dog" the second Jimmy Silva's LP was posted on this blog. Before "Fly Like A Dog", there was Jimmy's debut, the fabulous "Remnants of the Empty Set", with guest appearances by Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken and Beau Brummels singer Sal Valentino. After a stint in Vietnam, Silva played around the Bay Area with his band the Empty Set in the early '70s, but it wasn't until the next decade that he was discovered and embraced by indie-pop fans. Originally released in 1986 on PopLlama Records (home of the Posies and the Young Fresh Fellows) , the LP salvages some swell songs from the defunct band's repertoire, with the warm-voiced Silva sharing lead vocals with a variety of pals. In 1991, "Remnants" (featuring the original version of "Hand of Glory" covered the same year by The Smithereens) was included on the "Heidi" CD as bonus tracks plus 3 songs from the same sessions. So, you'll find below both versions of the album with the original artwork of the vinyl LP.

Remnants of The Empty Set (284 mb)

The CD Edition with 3 bonus tracks (as included on Heidi) (1991)
Fair Exchange / The Hand Of Glory / Weight Of The Wind / Everytime A Gift / I've Got Time / Train Crossing / The Only One You Hurt Is You / The Branch / Name That's A Number / Through A Faraway Window / Lathe / Doesn't Matter At All

Track List of the LP (1986)
Fair Exchange / The Hand Of Glory / Weight Of The Wind / Everytime A Gift / I've Got Time / Train Crossing / The Only One You Hurt Is You / Through A Faraway Window / Lathe

CHARLIE FAWN - CHARLIE FAWN (1980)

1979 saw the release of "Blue Skies", Charlie Fawn's first single for Warner Bros / Hansa, a song which whilst rocking along with the energy of punk/new wave took a more melodic approach. There were high hopes of great success at Warners in Soho, London and at Hansa in Bruton St. W1. With a Mike Mansfield video made and personal appearances round the UK, all looked set for the charts. However, due to over-zealous promotion by the record company, the single was unceremoniously dispatched to the bargain bins amid great disappointment. Follow-up single "Hothead Handshake Tremble" was a wonderful Northern Soul / Mod influenced pop record. It received very favourable reviews and looked like going all the way, but yet again due to, this time, failure to air on Juke Box Jury, which didn't appear on the TV that week, the single quickly lost impetus and disappeared! At the same time as the Warners / Hansa singles, an eponymous LP was made, produced by Tom McGuinness and Lou Stonebridge. Engineered by Richard Dodd, puzzlement remains to this day as to why the LP wasn't promoted and received virtually no recognition. The extraordinary thing is that today the LP is a coveted and much-praised album amongst fans of power pop / New Wave. Vinyl collectors across the world buy and sell Charlie's singles and LP now, which is at last some vindication of their quality.

ZS (282 mb)

Songs
Hothead Handshake Tremble / Blue Skies / Poet For A Generation / Paper Trails / Pull Your Punch / Playthings / One In Three / Death Or Glory Brigade / Your Place My Place / Man Of Wars / Step By Step / Alibis

ROGER C.REALE & RUE MORGUE - RADIOACTIVE (1978)

This is the third part of the Big Sound label. After the Hilly Michaels and G.E. Smith posts, it is time to go on with Roger C.Reale who involved both of the aforementioned in his band Rue Morgue. This band consisted of Roger on bass and lead vocals, G.E. Smith on guitar, and Hilly Michaels on drums. After the release of their first LP, G.E. left the band to take a gig with Dan Hartman who was touring in support of his big hit, "Instant Replay". Rue Morgue returned to the Trod Nossel studios with Jimmy MacAllister (see The Beckies and Sparks) and Mick Ronson on guitar. Some tracks were recorded but none were completed or released. All of the three band members are featured on Bionic Gold (a tribute to Phil Spector).

Special Note : The US version of the album was ripped by ian r. I made the artwork with the scans provided. The U.K version had two bonus tracks not included here.

Songs
High Society / Dear Dad / Stop and Go / Pain Killer / Kill Me / Reach for the Sky / Madonna's Last Stand / Please Believe Me / Inside Outside / I Can't Control Myself

G.E. SMITH - IN THE WORLD (1981)

Wayne's World, Wayne's World....excellent...It's a shame more people haven't heard this smart, unappreciated album produced by Bob Clearmountain. G.E. can craft a sharp hook and he knows how to say what he has to in three or so minutes and wrap it up neatly - no long fadeouts here. AMG
If you do remember the SNL years, you do know G.E. Smith. George Edward "G.E." Smith is an American guitarist. He was the lead guitarist in the band Hall and Oates and the musical director of Saturday Night Live. A session player who has performed and recorded with an exceptionally wide spectrum of influential artists, Smith's own albums include "In The World" (1981), "Get A Little" (with the Saturday Night Live Band, 1993) and "Incense, Herbs and Oils" (1998). As a teenager, Smith left the Poconos for the New Haven, Connecticut area, where he played for the legendary Scratch Band (see "Bionic Gold" the Phil Spector Tribute). SNL also provided Smith with a songwriting opportunity when Mike Myers asked him to help write a tune. Mike Myers had this bit, called "Wayne's World", and he needed a theme song. Aerosmith was the musical guest that week, so Mike and G.E. sat down and wrote a song that Aerosmith could sing and play along with. "Wayne's World" became a hit film, the soundtrack (and song) a platinum-selling smash hit....excellent...

Special Note : The album rip is part of a "swapping deal" between a huge american powerpop fan and me. I made the artwork and worked a little on the original wave files provided.

Songs
Heart Frozen Up / Real Love / Rita / The Blind Boy Rag / Nuns With Guns / Powerman / Sad About Girls / Fake O' the Land / James Brown / In the World