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

THE REZILLOS - FIRST TWO SINGLES (1977)

The band originally consisted of Eugene Reynolds (born Alan Forbes) vocals; Fay Fife (born Sheilagh Hynde) vocals; Jo Callis guitar; William Mysterious (born Alastair Donaldson), saxophone; Angel Patterson (born Alan Patterson), drums; Hi-Fi Harris guitar; Dr D.K. Smythe bass guitar and Gale Warning (Gail Jamieson) backing vocals.

This line-up released their first single "I Can't Stand My Baby" c/w "I Wanna Be Your Man" on the indie record label, Sensible Records. This led to a major recording contract with Sire Records. The band also underwent a transformation, shedding both Hi-Fi Harris, Dr. D.K. Smythe, and two backing singers. William Mysterious then shifted to bassist for the band's debut album "Can't Stand the Rezillos", widely regarded as a classic of both punk rock and New Wave. A second single Double A Side "(My Baby Does) Good Sculptures"/"Flying Saucer Attack" grazed the lower reaches of the UK Singles Chart, and contained different versions of the songs found on the album release.

Special note: Both singles are available in FLAC 24bit and mp3 (320) with full artwork

1. I Can't Stand My Baby / I Wanna Be Your Man (Sensible FAB 1)
2. (My Baby Does) Good Sculptures / Flying Saucer Attack (Sire 6078 612)

FLAC (138mb) or mp3 (34mb)

DEADBEAT POETS - CIRCUS TOWN (2010)

The second album from The Deadbeat Poets has just been released and is available through popdetective, Not Lame, Kool Kat or Amazon.

The band features Frank Secich (Blue Ash, Club Wow, Stiv Bators Band), Terry Hartman (Backdoor Men, Napoleon In Rags, Terry & The Tornadoes), Pete Drivere (Infidels, Pretty Demons) and John Koury (Infidels, Slackjaw). The album has been produced by Pete Drivere and brings to our ears some amazing stuff, each song is a guaranteed winner. "The Staircase Stomp", "I Thought I Knew You" and the epic "Madras Man" are three of the highlights of "Circus Town".

Here are some words from Pete Drivere (producer and guitarist): "“We started this record late Spring of 09. It was different than a lot of the records that I do because nearly all of the parts were composed in the studio. Frank and Terry wrote all of the songs previously but John and I had not heard them until the day that they were recorded. This led to a God’s load of improvised parts. Very loose but still tight.
The result of this formula became “Circus Town”. We cut 17 tracks and culled it down to 12 that more or less fit together well. I got done mixing it in late February and now here it is. I think that it turned out well and features some of Frank and Terry’s best songs to date.
With the last recording, “Notes From The Underground”, we got some good national review and got invited to SXSW and got to tour the UK. I think that the new record is a bump up from the prior, so let’s see were this can take us.”

AMERICAN SPRING - AMERICAN SPRING (1972)

Marilyn Rovell married Wilson and became part of the extended family that constituted the Beach Boys operation during those years, from the mid-'60s onward. It was Diane Rovell who got her and her sister back into the singing business, while hanging around the Wilson kitchen with Marilyn and her brother-in-law. And the result was Spring, a harmony duo of the Wilson/Rovell siblings, produced by Brian and every bit as contemporary as any act working in 1970, doing lost treasures from the Carole King songbook and rewrites and rearrangements of Brian Wilson (and Mike Love) tunes (most magnificently, "This Whole World"), plus renditions of Rita Coolidge and Leon Russell repertoire and standards like "Tennessee Waltz." They didn't last past the one album and the sessions that went into it - the group wasn't a full-time or even an ongoing commitment, just something to have fun with and to see where it took them, which may be why it took them so far. The record, like the group, became one of the great lost chapters of the Beach Boys' post-psychedelic history, and a stunning musical document in its own right. Released by United Artists, it died on the vine and became a choice collectable within just a few years. Various CD reissues have enhanced its exposure and raised the demand for the recordings. AMG

Special note: A brand new rip of a lost and most sought-after classic. The rip has been made in 24bit/96Khz and then converted to 320 mp3 and FLAC 24bit/44.1Khz. So, you have two kinds of links.

1. First a vinyl rip of the original United Artists LP recorded in Wav 24bit-96Khz cleaned and then converted to FLAC Lossless 24bit/44.1Khz. Artwork included. Size: 403 mb. FLAC Links 1 - 2 - 3
2. Second, the 320 mp3 of the 24bit/96Khz rip. Artwork included. Size: 90 mb. Click on the title.
   

Songs
Tennessee Waltz / Thinkin' bout You Baby / Mama Said / Superstar / Awake / Sweet Mountain / Everybody / This Whole World / Forever / Good Time / Now That Everything's Been Said / Down Home

TRIBUTE TO THE BYRDS - TIME BETWEEN (1989)

For the ones who downloaded the rip until May 14th, it appears that song #19 was badly ripped, so please download it again. Click here.

A superior lineup of contributors helps make "Time Between: A Tribute to the Byrds" one of the better homages of its kind. There are two versions of this album, a fourteen-song LP edition that ends with "Wild Mountain Time" by Nigel & the Crosses, an alias for the duo of Robyn Hitchcock and Peter Buck, and a 19-song CD that ends with "Hickory Wind" by Richard Thompson, Clive Gregson, and Christine Collister. Everything on either version is worthwhile, Read more on AMG

Special note: The Barracudas were mispelled Baraccudas on the tray of the CD edition but also on the back of the LP edition.

Click on pix for details

VARIOUS - CAN'T START DANCIN' (1978)

Promoting the simultaneous release of five albums, Stiff Records and Sounds distributed this compilation with "7 original stars, 14 original Stiffs. To ensure the highest quality reproduction it is usual to take the album out of its sleeve. This exciting LP is not available on cassette, 8 Track or anywhere else. If you require any information regarding Stiff Records and its heinous activities, write to The Stiff Secret Service…"

Click on pix for details.