The Tell-Tale Hearts - The Tell-Tale Hearts
- Artist: The Tell-Tale Hearts
- Title: The Tell-Tale Hearts
- Year: 1984
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1984 – Not sure where, probably mail order from Voxx Records.
- Keeper: Yes
I can’t believe The Tell-Tale Hearts still exist as a band, but they do have a MySpace page. So, at least you can go hear what I’m talking about. I used to love this stuff, and I still do. By “this stuff” I mean bands in the mid-1980s that were making music like, and even dressing like, proto-punk bands from the mid-1960s. That may seem a little corny in retrospect, but how is it any different from Interpol sounding like Joy Division? Or any of the numerous “post punk” bands on the scene the last few years? I love this self-titled record. My favorite track is the hyper-speed punked-out celebration of being in love titled “It Came to Me.” The Tell-Tale Hearts were, maybe still are, one of the best of this fun music scene. I don’t play this record much, but I always enjoy it when I do.
- Artist: Marginal Man
- Title: Identity
- Year: 1984
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 6
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1984 -At a show
- Keeper: Yes
Marginal Man was pretty inventive on Identity while still sounding like hardcore. I like the music and the playing, the sound is great too, but, and I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, the vocals just don’t do it for me. It sounds like I’m singing or something. Anyhow, Mary got it at a show and we’re keeping it for nostalgia if nothing else.
Dischord No. 13
- Artist: King
- Title: Won’t You Hold My Hand Now (Heavy Times Mix)
- Year: 1984
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 5
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: ?
- Keeper: No
The endless line of King 12 inch singles continues. This one is another version of “Won’t You Hold My Hand Now”, the “Heavy Times Mix.” I’m going to admit that this time I found it less annoying, maybe slightly entertaining. The songs on side two, “Endlessly” and “Never Ending” are probably better. I usually play the record I’m writing about when I post, but right now I’m still spinning the last one, The Gift by The Jam.
Various Artists -- Back from the Grave Volume Four
- Artist: Various Artists
- Title: Back from the Grave Volume Four
- Year: 1984
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1984 – Mail order?
- Keeper: Yes
The ultra-cool Crypt Records put out the Back from the Grave series in the 1980s. I have a few records from the series and this is the first one I came across. These records are compilations of relatively obscure 1960s garage rock bands. Many of these groups, despite that they often wore matching shirts or suits, can, and should, be considered the original punk rockers. This stuff had a pretty solid cult following in the 1980s. There were even quite a few new bands at the time emulating the sound and look of the originals. The Fuzztones, Nomads, Vipers, Lyres, and Chesterfield Kings are some of the better-known ones.
If you study the album cover you’ll notice the ’60s punk rock zombies are back to take over. Robin is driving the Batmobile dragging Cyndi Lauper(?), Boy George and Prince. Hippies, joggers and break dancers are all getting their comeuppance.
I find it interesting now, looking back, that less than 20 years after this music was new that there was such an interest by some folks in the 1980s. Maybe it was a reaction to the glut of synth music at the time. Is it possible this niche guitar rock revival eventually went more mainstream in the form of “grunge”? Anyhow, I find it hard to imagine that right now in 2007 there will be a revival of underground late 1980s music. This ’60s garage rock was special, from a special time right before music got a little less fun. It reminds me of the movie Animal House. It came out in 1978 and was set in 1962, only sixteen years earlier. But think about how different those periods were. Would a movie today set in 1991 seem that distant?
The Sonics are by far the best-known band on this record. My favorite track is the extra-fuzzed out “Flash and Crash” by Rocky and the Riddlers.
The Vandals -- When in Rome Do as The Vandals
- Artist: The Vandals
- Title: When in Rome Do as The Vandals
- Year: 1984
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 4
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: When? “I think someone gave it to me.”
- Keeper: No
Uh, well, more old school comedy punk from The Vandals. When in Rome Do as The Vandals came out in 1984 and it wasn’t exactly old school then, but it sounded more like early punk instead of hardcore, which had already been around for a while. The first song “Ladykiller” is an anomaly. That ditty sounds more like a bad, comic version of the early Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was probably fun then.
