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80's New England Bands

Discuss hard-to-find or out-of-print New Wave and '80s Alternative, and share a few songs along the way.
NOTE: requesting songs that are entirely unrelated to the genres discussed here or easily found on CD is strongly discouraged and posts will be enforced as needed.

Postby SomebodySomewhere » Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:07 am

The third release on Bosstown Records, The Make's "Democracy" EP featured this terrific track.


[b]The Make - Amy's Home Tonight[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/vpdnei


The Make
Erika Zamcheck - lead vocals, more cowbell!
Betty Zamcheck - lead vocals, organ
Mark Zamcheck - keyboards, backing vocals
Fritz Drayton - guitars, backing vocals
Dean Cassell - bass
Jim Treacy - drums
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:38 am

I don't know this band from Adam, but I bought this EP in a clearance bin in the late '80s. They're called The T's. Why did I buy it? My name starts with a "T" and there are lots of "T's" on the jacket. These are the great reasons I bought records. As it turned out, it was a great "deaf buy" for there was some great music to be heard.


[b]The T's - Heartbreak[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/l0shhz


The EP is self-titled (Squash, 1986) and includes a cover of "Suspicious Minds."


The T's
Vinny Liuzzi - lead vocals, guitar
Karl Mueller - keyboards
Brian Norris - bass
Alan Distasio - real drums (they specifically wanted you to know they're not fake drums -- they're real drums damnit)
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Sat Dec 05, 2009 12:39 pm

Don't think Digney Fignus needs an introduction here. I thought "She Only Broke Your Heart" was the obvious highlight of his first "Digney Fignus" EP (Starstruck, 1983) -- which is why I was a little surprised when "The Girl with the Curious Hand" became his calling card. That "Basement Tapes"-winning song was rerecorded for the second "Digney Fignus" EP (Columbia, 1985), as was "She's My Girl," but "She Only Broke Your Heart" wasn't carried over. Go figure. I've also included a 7" single he (barely) self-released after being eaten up and spit out by the evil CBS corporation -- "My Extension" b/w "Uno Ono" (PowerHouse, 1987). Good luck finding that one.

Digney's since turned his attention to country music with the "Boston Town" EP and the "Trouble on the Levee" and "Talk of the Town" albums. But those aren't forum appropriate. Because, you know, they're country.


[b]Digney Fignus - She Only Broke Your Heart[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/bj6xtq

[b]Digney Fignus - My Extension[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/bg205j

[b]Digney Fignus - Uno Ono[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/2z59kw
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Sat Dec 05, 2009 1:14 pm

Former Private Lightning frontman Adam Sherman had a not-quite-as-well-remembered Boston band in the late '80s, The Souls. They debuted on record with the "Shoot for the Moon" EP in 1986, the title track of which is heard here (and was huge in Boston). They followed this up 3 years later with an album, "The Light in You" (Soundside, 1989). Sherman's solo album can be purchased through CDBaby - www.cdbaby.com/cd/adammsherman


[b]The Souls - Shoot for the Moon[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/v23vna


The Souls
Adam Sherman - lead vocals, guitar
Johnny Delmonico - guitar (on Shoot for the Moon)
Eddie Gonzales - guitar (on The Light in You)
Carmen DiMarca - bass, vocals
Norman Hartley - drums, vocals
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Sat Dec 05, 2009 2:06 pm

The Runes reminded me of Rubber Rodeo, since their second frontwoman, Elaine Gifford, sounded a lot like Trish Milliken. (Looked a lot like her, too.) The Boston quintet were together the first half of the '80s and released one 7" single in 1984 -- "Can't Be Wrong This Time" b/w "I'll Run to You." (What was supposed to be the A-side, I have no idea. "I'll Run to You" is the designated "Side A." But "Can't Be Wrong This Time" is "Side 1." WBCN preferred the 1-side.) Also heard on BCN was 1981's "Maybe If I Were a Blonde" (never commercially released) and the compilation track, "Like This Again," which was their first and only other released tune, on the WCOZ unsigned band album "WCOZ 94.5FM Boston's Best" (Starstream, 1983).



[b]The Runes - Can't Be Wrong This Time[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/r30t9n

[b]The Runes - I'll Run To You[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/vvdguj

[b]The Runes - Like This Again[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/hw71ou



The Runes
Delories Dunn - lead vocals (1980-1982)
Elaine Gifford - lead vocals (1982-1985)
Shel Pierce - lead guitar, backing vocals
Joe Baghdady - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Michael Dean - bass, backing vocals
Glenn White - drums (1980-1982)
Hugh O'Neill - drums (1983-1985)
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Sat Dec 05, 2009 2:50 pm

For anyone interested in hearing November Group's humble (and unlistenable) beginnings, I bring you Wunderkind. One self-released 7" single 2 years before November Group's first EP -- "Metropolis" b/w "Fallen Among the Palms" (Kino Musik, 1980).


[b]Wunderkind - Metropolis[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/r3apxb

[b]Wunderkind - Fallen Among the Palms[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/w60arg
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby randy » Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:14 am

Hey SS--Great stuff you posted. Glad to get some of it. (Had been looking for Primary Colors for a while now ). Hopefully soon I'll get back to postin some moreof my stuff.
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:31 am

Lots more where all that came from. (But no Bamboo Gang... ) Now that I've got better equipment and I'm a little more comfortable in my ability to vinyl rip (and not make it sound like crap), I'm hoping to get a lot of my old MA obscurities up here. I've already put aside 8 big U-Haul boxes full of local things I bought back then! (Plus some stuff I got recently, too.) Got some things I promised for motors and Blir -- if they're even still reading this thread.
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:32 am

While we're doing November Group connections, Down Avenue were an NG splinter group. Surprise winners of the '85 Rumble (to everyone's surprise), Down Avenue were almost as multi-ethnic as a Benetton ad and didn't have any more of a pulse on record than they did on stage. This track comes from their one self-released, self-titled EP (6L6, 1985), which was split down the middle between R&B and new wave. A fairly well-done video was made for the track "Nighttime." Ray Fernandes produced the second side, so we're featuring one of his productions -- for which he did backing vocals.

The late frontman Charles Pettigrew of course went to greater things as one half of Charles and Eddie, who had a major Hot 100 hit (#13) and a U.K. chart-topper in 1992 with "Would I Lie to You?"


[b]Down Avenue - These 4 Walls[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/rrolpo


Down Avenue
Charles Pettigrew - lead vocals
Dave Doms - keyboards, bass, backing vocals
Don Foote - bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Fred Hsia - guitar
Alvan Long - drums
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:40 am

The Peytons were Walter Clay's band before Sex Execs and David McDowell's band before Drumm McDowell. They did this comp track on the wonderfully-titled "The Boston Incest Album" (Sounds Interesting - undated, but I think it was 1980). I think they had something else released, but I can't remember what it was. Jonathan Paley -- whose band, The Reflectors, are also featured on the same record -- was the producer.


[b]The Peytons - Matter of Time[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/56yoyl


The Peytons
Walter Clay - lead vocals
Dave McDowell - guitar, vocals
Lee Harrington - bass, vocals
Paul Robinson - drums
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:54 am

Can't have The Lines up here without The Drive. The Drive were originally most of The Lines before forming their own band in 1982. Their first single, "Doin' the Countdown" (b/w "She Was a Stranger" - Thrust, 1984) went on to become a local smash in early '85. Their label name was certainly appropriate given the sounds heard over the instrumental break. They followed that 7" with an album, "The Journey Is the Reward" (Thrust, 1988) -- which included my favorite, "Ain't What You Say" -- before becoming The Swinging Steaks.


[b]The Drive - Doin' the Countdown[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/uidmld

[b]The Drive - Ain't What You Say[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/fiigu1


The Drive
Pat Dreier - lead vocals, keyboards
Jamie Walker - lead vocals, guitar
Paul Kochanski - bass, vocals
Tony Paolino - drums, vocals
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:51 am

Two German expatriate brothers and a token American chick joined forces to form the Boston trio, Red. Originally in the art rock vein, they put out a 7" EP in 1981 (notable only for its hand-spray-painted covers, which are like snowflakes) and a 7" single in 1982 (which was fleshed out into a cassette EP in Germany) on their own Skyheaven label. None of that is worth hearing. In 1984, they went new romantic, discovered melody and stunk up the joint in the Rumble. That same year brought what I think was their swansong, a promo 12" single which, according to the label, claims to have had a print run of 1000 copies. The other 999 must be sitting in a warehouse somewhere. From that 12" single...


[b]Red - Hope in a Heartbeat[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qulfnc

[b]Red - Heartbeats (instrumental)[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/kq31yl


Red
Elizabeth Yancy - lead vocals
Ottmar Liebert (a.k.a. O.) (yes, [i]that[/i] Ottmar Liebert) - guitar, keyboards, piano
Stayfun (a.k.a. Stefan Liebert) - bass
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:35 pm

Ava and the Tidal Wave Tour (the fourth release on Bosstown Records in 1981) was fronted by Ava Electris, but was more noteworthy for who was backing her -- namely Jon Butcher before anybody knew who he was. Ava looks pretty space-age on the cover, so here's the most spacey song on the EP. Ava also has a compilation cut or two on the Boston Rock n Roll Anthologies, but I don't remember offhand which ones. (I want to say Vol. 12, but don't quote me on that.) That makes sense, considering the press notes that are in my copy reveal Viglione managed her.


[b]Ava and the Tidal Wave Tour - Lonely Nights[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/n9vbuy


Ava and the Tidal Wave Tour
Ava Electris Cannie - lead vocals
Jon Butcher - guitar
Jeff Linscott - guitar
Ben Kay - keyboards, backing vocals
Chris Martin - bass
Derek Blevins - drums
Jerry Martin - backing vocals
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:07 pm

The Sighs were a quartet from Holyoke, MA. They released one self-titled EP (Relief, 1985) -- didn't they all? Chuck Warner has thoughtfully comped the entire Side 2 ("Got to Get Control of My Life" and "Charity") for you on Teenline 102. Not comped is Side 1...


[b]The Sighs - Bedroom Craze[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/wl8ga9

[b]The Sighs - Before I Break[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/pnealm

[b]The Sighs - Charity [/b] - no 1 minute sampler business here
http://www.sendspace.com/file/6b83bf


The Sighs
Bobby Laroche - lead vocals, guitar
Dave MacDonald - lead guitar, backing vocals
Rick Griffin - bass, harpsichord
Tommy Pluta - drums
SomebodySomewhere
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Postby SomebodySomewhere » Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:16 pm

The best funk band in Boston in the 1980s, Skin formed as Frogkit in 1982. They fleshed out their lineup in the mid '80s with former members of Bim Skala Bim before calling it quits in November, 1988. (Ken Field went on to Birdsongs of the Mesozoic. Their keyboardist Karlo Tacky had previously helped out our friends Red, heard above.) Along the way, they released an impossible-to-find cassette, a 12" single, a 7" single, and the 1988 album "Sanity" on their EOD label. The B-side of the 12" single was, IMO, the best.


[b]Skin - You're the Best[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/e9l69n


Skin
Rick Rondeaux - lead vocals
Karlo Tacky (a.k.a. Karlo Takki) - keyboards, trumpet
Ken Field - sax
John Ferry - trombone
Rob Zammarchi - bass
Jay Potts - drums
SomebodySomewhere
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