New Wave Outpost Forum

This one is a completely unknown hybrid of hard rock and spacey synth new wave out of Los Angeles, California. It was produced by a guy named John-Oliver Clemens, who I guess was the lead singer/guitarist for the band.

http://www.popsike.com/MERCURY-BLUE-Mer ... 32662.html

Anyone have this? Thanks in advance!

My partner and I knew John-Oliver Clemens well in Los Angeles in the late 1970s into the early 1980s. We lived in Echo Park and then Pasadena, and he liked to hang out and listen to music with us. He was a self-taught multi-instrumentalist born in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I'm from. He went by the name of "Jacques" or "Joc." He worked at the Federal Building (Social Security, I think) in LA at the time. He became a born-again Christian in the mid-1980s, shunned his "hip" friends, and kind of disappeared. As far as I know, MERCURY BLUE is the only record he produced, though he was always busy with his music. I thought it was 1981, not 1983, but the copyright may be different. MERCURY BLUE was self-produced and paid for; I don't think it got very wide distribution, and Clemens seems completely unknown at this point.

One more thing - I don't know if your copy of MERCURY BLUE has a blue insert which has a lot of info. I' can scan it at some point if you're interested. It was recorded in May 81.

Not to belabor this, but I just dug out my copy and it seems to be a different (earlier) release by Clemens. Also a 10-inch, but with a white cover, (c) & (P) 1981 SCORPIO 13 (record no). Numbered (like a limited edition book) #26 and signed on the front "Tra la la, John Oliver Clemens." Track list:

Side 1
1. Something in the Sky...
2. Another Nail in the Coffin...
3. Just Let It Out!
4. No Promises Made (2 Ne Bahd)
5. Bob's #2

Side 2
1. Skinny Rhita
2. Waiting for the Sun
3. House Pimp
4. Three-Way Freeway
5. Uhue

Is this same as the blue record you have?

Thanks for the information! Unfortunately I don't have this record and it's impossible to find anywhere.