80's New England Bands

[The VINNY Man]

Hey Somebody!

I just saw where the VINNY LP "Olas De Sexo" was selling for $249 on GEMN or GEMM? That's crazy...

As far as the "MARIA" video by Semper Fi. We shot that thing on a Super 8mm movie camera in Hawaii and Cape Ann. My then girlfriend and I shot it in 1985 and 1986. We ended up getting married in 87. We have three beautiful teenagers. None of whom are musicians (Thank God). I'm kidding. Nope.

I should put out CDs by VINNY, SEMPER FI and The NOR'EASTERS. I have so much material laying around that never made it to vinyl. Be interesting to see how it does. I guess if some want it, why the hell not? Be easy to do (sort of).

Before there was a VINNY Band my brother Johnny and I had a blues rock band called The BEAVER BROTHERS. I swear we did. We also played out as VINNY back in 2006 at ALPO's (Real Kids) Memorial show in Salem, MA. There's a YOUTUBE video of us playing I WON'T BOTHER YOU, HIJACKER, and my favorite VINNY song of all time..."HERE's WHERE I GET OFF". By the way, that will be written on my headstone.

Oh Hell Yes it will.

I currently write a weekly Surf Blog called Ralph's Pic Of The Week. I also shoot both stills and video every week. I use music from all of my old bands and new ones. I mostly use my nephew's QWILL music. It works so well with my local New England Surf footage. Check it out www.ralphspic.com I have a bio page where I talk about my days in the 70's and 80's playing music.

I have gone full circle as I currently front a blues Rock trio called BIG HANDSOME DADDY (BHD). It's fun playing that Hendrix/Stevie Ray style guitar and singing. We don't play out that much. Maybe a few times each year. We do have a hokey website.
www.bighandsomedaddy.com It's just a blues rock deal. I'm not re-inventing the wheel here.

So maybe I will put out those CDs. Be fun and interesting to see how they are received in the 70's 80's nostalgia crew.

Lots of memories for sure.

Ralph

P.S. We lost that MTV contest...the other bands had more friends with speed dialing capabilities than we did.

Too Old To Rock and Roll, but just too Young to really let go. 1978

[SomebodySomewhere]

$249? Oh, you mean the "HAL" seller. I don't know why gemm doesn't kick them off already. I can't imagine anyone ever buying anything from them.

Now what's this Dutch single again? Wasn't it just "Why Can't You Say Love" on some other label? Please say yes - I don't want to have to hunt down another impossible-to-find single. Speaking of impossible-to-find singles; how many copies of the Pasta singles did you guys press? And why can they no longer be found anywhere?

Can't wait to hear the stuff that never made it to vinyl.

[The VINNY Man]

Yes the Dutch single was just "Why Can't You say Love" backed with "Hijacker". I do have a box of old Pasta Record singles of "Rock and Roll Housewife"...not sure about the "Ravioli" though. The reason you can't find them is because I was such a tool back in those days. I purposely had some wacky fake address on the records. PASTA RECORDS 100 Meatball Ave Boston MA? What the hell was I thinking? I was trying to be funny. Instead it was stupid.

As soon as I get my hands on a decent cassette deck, I will make that NEVER heard before VINNY CD. To be followed by both SEMPER FI and The NOR'EASTERS.

Too Old To Rock and Roll, but just too Young to really let go. 1978

[Bob Ross]

[quote][i]Originally posted by SomebodySomewhere[/i]
<br>
Frontman Ken Scales later founded Adventure Set, who were together for about 5 seconds. [/quote]


It may have been only 5 seconds, but imho it was a *crucial* 5 seconds in terms of its impact on the Boston music scene. Not because of Adventure Set's music per se, but because of the intense anti-TechnoPop backlash that permeated the city for years after the 'BCN RUmble came down to Adventure Set & Down Avenue as finalists. (Down Avenue won.) Up until then, original rock bands in Boston could play quirky, slick, weird, funky, thoughtful, polished pop music that was equally influenced by Brit-Funk, R&B, dance/disco, as well as New Wave (sic). After that Rumble, you couldn't *buy* a gig if you didn't play rootsy, jangly, 3-chord garage rock.

It was like someone flicked a switch.

(more trivia: Adventure Set's guitarist Eric Schermerhorn went on to play with They Might Be Giants.)

[UberRad Day]

[quote][i]Originally posted by SomebodySomewhere[/i]
<br>Only a band as delightfully-twisted as The Dark could set new wave music to nursery rhymes and the sounds of dogs barking. The Boston quintet (later sextet) released 3 records their 4 years together, most of them revealing their odd fixation on The Maps'/Salem 66's Judy Grunwald. They debuted with the "You Are In No Danger" 7" EP in 1981 (which included an offer form for a custom, personalized cassette for the low, low price of $6.66. I paid $1.49 for the 7", so suffice to say, I didn't get one. But I'd like to hear the surviving copies that are out there if anyone's still got one) from which comes "Houses R Falling." The next year, they released the "Darkworld" EP (Ambiguous, 1982), which included "We Can Be Children." A year later was their third and last release, the "Don't Feed the Fashion Sharks" EP (Relativity, 1983), highlighted by my favorite track of theirs, "Fashion Sharks." They disbanded in 1984. Late addition Reeves Gabrels -- who joined the band in their death throes (just as he did with Rubber Rodeo) -- later found some success with David Bowie in Tin Machine.



[b]The Dark - Houses R Falling[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/z7c7dk

[b]The Dark - We Can Be Children[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/wzoadc

[b]The Dark - Fashion Sharks[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/jps8yd



The Dark
Jace Wilson - lead vocals
Roger Greenawalt - guitar, vocals
Robert "Bob" Familiar - keyboards, vocals
Matthew "Matt" Gruenberg - bass, vocals
Michael Hausman - drums (1980-1982?)
Clark Goodpastor - drums (1982-1984?)
[/quote]

Greetings!

I am new to this forum, but I've already made great use of it. My brother (a.k.a. my long-time personal D.J.) and I are working to recreate a mix tape that a friend of his--a Boston D.J.--created for him decades ago. It included some kick-ass selections, from the popular to the obscure to the exceedingly rare. I remember well listening to The Dark, The Neats, E-I-E-I-O, Native Tongue and Gluons growing up. I still have a good copy of "Darkworld", "Don't Feed the Fashion Sharks" + "You Are In No Danger" on cassette! {recorded from my brother's EPs}

I am in search of two tracks to complete our 2 disc set.
"We Can Be Children" - The Dark
"Your Manikin Hand" - Gluons

If you can be of assistance, you will be recreating some happy memories.

P.S. Thank you so much for "Judy" + "I Enter Your Void". My brother & sister were truly speechless.

WE'RE LIVING IN A PLASTIC LAND
I WANNA HOLD YOUR MANIKIN HAND

Have an UberRad Day ;-/>

[SomebodySomewhere]

Hey.


[b]The Dark - We Can Be Children[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/hdacgl

[b]Gluons - Your Manikin Hand[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/zmg62r


Stay in school, children, or the Gluons could happen to you.

[UberRad Day]

[quote][i]Originally posted by SomebodySomewhere[/i]
<br>Hey.


[b]The Dark - We Can Be Children[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/hdacgl

[b]Gluons - Your Manikin Hand[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/zmg62r


Stay in school, children, or the Gluons could happen to you.

Ha! You sound like my brother.

Thank you so much! You've made my day.
Don't go flying apart at the sub-nuclear level now.



[/quote]

Have an UberRad Day ;-/>

[mgmlion]

[quote][i]Originally posted by SomebodySomewhere[/i]
<br>Wishing you all a merry Christmas from Rash of Stabbings, Jeff and Jane Hudson, Native Tongue, Sonny Columbus & His Del Fuegos, and, naturally, Christmas.



[b]Rash of Stabbings - A Christmas Song[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/xka52a

[b]Jeff & Jane Hudson - Jingle Bells[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/vqkg44

[b]Native Tongue - Do You Hear What I Hear?[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/h0fgg1

[b]Sonny Columbus & His Del Fuegos - That Punchbowl Full of Joy[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/hcckfe

[b]Christmas - O Holy Night[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/plgkoy
[/quote]

Hey, SS...haven't been on the board for awhile...any chance I can persuade you to re-up these? Always loved this EP, and to be honest, I have no clue as to what happened to my copy. Thanks.

[ohcrap]

can these tracks be reposted?

thanks!

[quote][i]Originally posted by SomebodySomewhere[/i]
<br>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
[/quote]

[knownote]

[quote][i]Originally posted by SomebodySomewhere[/i]
<br>And here's Casey Lindstrom's story before New Models. He played guitar in Boston's premiere space-age power pop group, Alex Space and the Orbits. They did one 7" single, "I Believe in Rock & Roll" b/w "She's Enuff" (Trippp, 1979). Frontman Alex Space bailed shortly thereafter, and so did Lindstrom. (Alex released 2 Orbits-less records in 1981 and 1983, but since he's made them available on his website -- assuming you can get on it -- and iTunes, you'll have to get them there.) Around the same time, the popular Boston group Third Rail was on their 178th lineup. At the dawn of the '80s, they released their best single (and the only one worth bothering with), "It's a Surprise" (Long View, 1980). That same year, half of the Third Rail who recorded that single left frontman Richard Nolan to assemble his 179th lineup, and the group formerly led by Alex Space was reformed as simply Orbits. And now everybody had space-themed pseudonyms. Their top-notch debut album, "Q: What... Ans: Nothing" (Electric Eye, 1981), was a childhood favorite of mine, featuring some of the best power pop to ever come out of Boston. It included the WBCN staples "Rear View Mirror" and "7 Digits," as well as a new, improved version of "It's a Surprise," which is light years better than the lifeless Third Rail original. (Bassist Bill Solum had written it for Third Rail and took it with him when he left.) Orbits floated around in outer space until 1983, after which they came back down to earth.

Alex Space, now a Tom Jones impersonator (no kidding), also produced Ava Electris on the Ava and the Tidal Wave Tour track heard up above, giving it that great spacey sparkle. According to the press notes, Orbits keyboardist Alan Fiske helped her out, although he is not credited on the record itself.


[b]Alex Space and the Orbits - I Believe in Rock & Roll[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/2swq92

[b]Alex Space and the Orbits - She's Enuff[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ysdane

[b]Orbits - 7 Digits[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ppjyxy

[b]Orbits - It's a Surprise[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/h6eojy

[b]Third Rail - It's a Surprise[/b]
http://www.sendspace.com/file/rpwm9y


Alex Space and the Orbits (1979 lineup)
Alex Space (a.k.a. Alex Jones) - lead vocals, guitar
Casey Lindstrom - guitar
Alan Fiske - keyboards
Russell Pompeo - bass, vocals
Matt Allen - drums

Third Rail (1980 lineup)
Richard Nolan - lead vocals
Jack Morgan - guitar, vocals
Bill Solum - bass, vocals
Alan Fiske - keyboards
Matt Allen - drums

Orbits (1981 lineup)
Billy Lazer (a.k.a. Bill Solum) - lead vocals, bass
Alan Orbit (a.k.a. Alan Fiske) - lead vocals, keyboards
Jimmy Thunder (a.k.a. Jimmy Alba) - guitar, vocals
Hunty Rage (a.k.a. David Hunt) - guitar, vocals
Mighty Matt (a.k.a. Matt Allen) - drums, vocals
[/quote]

I JUST found this post. I've been searching for the 1981 Orbits' songs and it led me to this post, but the links are long since dead. I can't find any contact info for you on your profile, so this is the only way to ask, is there ANY way you could repost some new links for the 1981 Orbits songs?

joe

[gopherindian]

Here ya go knownote.

7 Digits

http://www.zshare.net/audio/8258018097d61178/

It's A Surprise


http://www.zshare.net/download/825802925c185910/

[knownote]

[quote][i]Originally posted by gopherindian[/i]
<br>Here ya go knownote.

7 Digits

http://www.zshare.net/audio/8258018097d61178/

It's A Surprise


http://www.zshare.net/download/825802925c185910/

[/quote]

Thanks! I'm downloading "7 digits" now, but the other one says file size 0.00 and when I click on it, it says file has been deleted.

If you're interested, I've got a blog for powerpop stuff and just put up another boston band's LP, the Hot Dates. You can check out the blog at http://powerpopulation.blogspot.com

Still looking for the Orbits "rear view mirror" too if you ever run across that one. Another boston band I'm trying to track down too is The Trademarks "It's Up To You".

Thanks again!

Joe

[gopherindian]

Thanks. I'll check that out. I re=loaded It's A Surprise, along with what else was originally posted. See if it works now...

Alex Space and the Orbits
I Believe In Rock n Roll

http://www.zshare.net/audio/82616908b5387175/


Alex Space and the Orbits
She's Enuff


http://www.zshare.net/audio/8261698003f50981/

Orbits
It's A Surprise

http://www.zshare.net/audio/82617019da9b647d/

Third Rail
It's A Surprise

http://www.zshare.net/audio/82617086caa9848a/

[knownote]

[quote][i]Originally posted by gopherindian[/i]
<br>Thanks. I'll check that out. I re=loaded It's A Surprise, along with what else was originally posted. See if it works now...

Alex Space and the Orbits
I Believe In Rock n Roll

http://www.zshare.net/audio/82616908b5387175/


Alex Space and the Orbits
She's Enuff


http://www.zshare.net/audio/8261698003f50981/

Orbits
It's A Surprise

http://www.zshare.net/audio/82617019da9b647d/

Third Rail
It's A Surprise

http://www.zshare.net/audio/82617086caa9848a/


[/quote]

Thanks, got it this time! Here's a video of the other ORbits song I'm looking for in case you ever run across it:

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yt1xh6mT1r4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yt1xh6mT1r4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[knownote]

This is the other band I'm looking for anything by. The Trademarks. I think they also were from Boston, or the Boston area:

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JKahAvbA9pg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JKahAvbA9pg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>