Scattershots

 The Sherlocks - You've Made a Mistake

The Krayolas - Christmas Time

   We're certainly living in crazy times.... That said, I wanted to take a moment to wish all of you, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you and your families are Safe, Healthy and Happy and Prosperous!

   The Krayolas were a San Antonio, Texas four piece; that were around from 1975 to 1988. If you would like to read more about the band, look Here and Here.

Line Up -

Hector Saldana - Vocals, Guitar
David Saldana - Drums, Vocals
Van Baines - Guitar
Barry Smith - Bass

Saloyark Music 1980

1. Christmas Time

2. Cry Cry, Laugh Laugh

♫♫►►They Grow Up So Fast◄◄♫♫

The Pengwins - Life After High School EP

   The Pengwins were a four piece from Kennedale, Texas, that formed in 1976. They released this EP and a single, (Small Vacation / Don't Be a Girl About It) between 1978-1980. Both releases were small pressing's of 500 each. A 6 song, 12" EP titled, (Mad About the Band) followed in 1988, before the Pengwins disbanded in the early 90's.
   If you're interested in reading more about The Pengwins, go check out Mike's Cheap Rewards Blog; he did a great job researching the band!

Lannie Flowers - Guitar, Vocals
Delbert Raines - Bass, Vocals
Alan Petsche - Guitar
David Bryan - Drums

Fabb Records - 1978

1. Life After High School

2. Look Around
3. It's a Dream

♫♫►►Can I Still Sneak Under The Bleachers With You◄◄♫♫

Scattershots

 Smile - How the Race is Done

The Tearaways - Sounds Like...

    The Tearaways were a four piece from Santa Barbara, California. I'm pretty sure this was the only release with this line-up. The band appears to still be active. The current line-up features Clem Burke on drums. If you want to learn more about these guys, check out the links below.

Official Site

Facebook

Line Up

John Ordazzo - Bass
Dave Humes - Lead Guitar
John Finseth - Rhythm Guitar
Brad Wisham - Drums

Stellar Records - 1981

1. Summer Fashion
2. Don't Feel So Bad
3. Or Something Like That
4. Any Other Girl

♫♫►►Is It Really Worth The Price You Pay◄◄♫♫

Sorry It's Been a While... Help with naming of a new weekly segment

   Here we are. Coming up on the end of another year. I hope you and your families are happy and healthy! I swear, the older I get; the faster time seems to go. I was really hoping to be more active this year but alas, once again, it didn't happen. Unfortunately, my life becomes quite hectic sometimes; not leaving time for anything else.
   I spend allot of time in my truck driving, to and from work. It gives me an opportunity to listen to my sizeable, continuously growing collection. I have a 250 gig flash drive, more than half filled with music and I add to it regularly. I set it to play everything randomly. Songs will hit me and I think about sharing them. Thing is, I'm not interested in putting together a proper post. I'm thinking of sharing one song a week. I've figured out how to make my own player and host the song; it wont be available for download, just for listening. I'll put the name of the band and the song; it will be available for a limited amount of time. If you like what you hear, you can research and pursue it on your own. If anyone has any questions regarding the song; I'll try my best to answer them. The nice thing about not making the songs available for download is; I think it will give me more freedom. The songs won't be of any specific genre or time period. Pretty much, whatever grabs me. These songs will be in edition to my usual post's.
   Anyway, I feel like I should be able to handle one song a week, lol. I've been trying to come up with something to call the weekly segment but keep coming up empty. I'm hoping for suggestions. I'll pick the one I like most and it will be done... Thank You!! here's this week's song.

Fotomatic Take a Ride

The New Breed - 1001 Suburban Nights

   The New Breed were a New Jersey four piece, around in the mid 80's. The contact address on the sleeve is Paramus. Far as I know, this was their only record as The New Breed. A couple years later, another single titled "Teenage Myth" was released under Dennis Michell and the new breed. The band members were the same, minus Tony Romano. A few years later, a cassette was released under Dennis Mitchell and The Wilsons.

Line Up

Dennis Mitchell - Guitar and Vocals

Tony Romano - Guitar and Vocals

Chris Labianca - Bass and Vocals

Jimmy Russell - Drums

Absolute Records - 1984

1. 1001 Suburban Nights

2. Blessings In Disguise

3. Get Yourself Together

4. Place In My Mind

♫♫►►I Look In The Mirror and a Year Goes By◄◄♫♫

The Singles - Love of Loves & Someone That I Knew Singles

a repost, by request, originally posted 8/5/10 new rips and scans, Enjoy!

   I want to thank Stephen Thompson from The Singles for this great band bio.

   The Singles were formed in late 1979 by Andrew Campbell from the debris of the pop punk band ‘Broken Toys’ the band Andrew was co-writer in with David Virgin. David went on to form the psychedelic legends ‘Sekret Sekret’. Initially the Singles line up was Andrew Campbell: guitar/ vocals, Tony Cook: drums and Rod Brunell: Bass. Later they were joined by Geoff Smith on lead guitar. The Singles started playing the Sydney inner city scene in the early 1980s in venues such as the Civic, Rock Garden, Chequers, Frenchs, the Paddington Green and the Heritage Hotel. Their sound was post punk pop reminiscent of the Buzzcocks. Andrew’s writing was simple, melodic, catchy and straight to the point pop. Songs such as ‘Love of Loves’, ‘Stay’, ‘Perfect Girl’, ‘Sad Clown’ made instant connections to the young inner city Sydney audience moving on from the 1980 punk scene. At the time there was also the first Mod revival emerging from the Sussex Hotel and a few Mods connected with the Singles. However the Singles were never a ‘Mod’ band and largely stuck to themselves not chasing any scene except their own. In early 1980 the Singles release their first ep ‘Love of Loves’ on Double Think Records. This ep immediately sold out. The Singles continued to play to the inner city venues. The band soon found a loyal following on the lower North Shore too playing venues such as the Mosman and San Miguel hotels Later in 1980 the Singles release ‘Someone that I knew’ on Basilisk Records and this further cemented their sound and their audience. ‘Someone that I knew’ started getting airplay on the ABC’s Sydney music station Double Jay. The Singles started to pack out the inner-city venues and booking agencies tried them in the large suburban beer barns where their post punk pop sound didn’t go down with audiences who were into the Aussie booze and biff culture and wanted the sounds of the Radiators, ‘Chisel’ and the Angels. Around this time the legendary ‘Sunny Boys’ released “Love to Rule’ and they took off playing the suburban beer barns with their harder rock sound winning favour with suburban audiences. Soon the Singles found a slot supporting the Sunny Boys in the caverns of the Brookvale Hotel, Sylvania Hotel, Castle Hill Tavern, and Selinas at Coogee Bay. The Singles also found favour with the InXS audience and soon found support spots with them up and down the NSW coast. After working hard live for most of 1980 Geoff Smith and Rod Brunell decided to leave to band to focus on their own projects. Andrew asked a mate Stephen Thompson to join the band. After placing an ad in a street press music paper for a bass player they found Andrew Richards formerly of legendary Adelaide band ‘Young Modern’. The new line up started writing and rehearsing new songs and got back to playing live with a residency at the San Miguel Hotel in autumn 1981. The new sound was different and many of their inner city supporters had moved on. Then interestingly enough the band started to attract a new support base along with their north shore following, this time from the ‘Shire’ area of Caringbah and Sutherland. The kids in these areas rejected the bland booze and biff surfer culture of the area and were looking something different, sharp and smart. The Singles started to play the Caringbah Inn along with the traditional venues in the inner city and the lower North Shore. The Singles continued to work hard live consolidating their following and making a push into Sydney’s Western Suburbs where they still found hostility as they were considered ‘wimps’. The Singles then added a new venue where they consistently drew good audiences, The Sydney Trade Union Club. The ‘Trades’ as it was know was the new hub of Sydney’s alternative and inner city scene. Here the Singles headlined their own shows and played many great supports to the likes of the Church, the Divinyls, Hunters and Collectors, Sunny Boys, Serious Young Insects, Laughing Clowns and Sardine V. The Singles continued to work hard through 1982 and recoded the single ‘The Party’ in late 1982. However the scene had moved on and no label would release the record. After many knock backs Andrew Richards decided leave the band. This line up played their last show at the Sydney Trade Union Club in November 1982. Disheartened but not beaten Andrew and Stephen recruited a new bass player Tim Bottrell and a new guitarist, Stephen’s brother David Thompson. In mid 1983 they recorded the single ‘The Day’. The Singles then played a few shows through 1983 at the Graphic Arts Club keeping a low profile. The band tried to secure a label to release ‘The Day’ but to no avail. The Singles version 3 then became less active. In late 1984 ‘The Day’ was featured on Survival Records compilation ‘Shake and Shout’ that is a record of those heady times of the inner-city pop scene. Andrew and Tony never played again. Stephen went on to form Doppelgangers in the late 1988 with Christa Hughes. Doppelganger released a self funded release ‘Speak to Me’ in 1989 and a 12” single ‘Sweet Smell of Success in 1990 an album ‘Face the Truth’ 1993 on Phantom Records. Stephen currently works under the pseudonym ‘Les Années’ and with a self titled psychedelic artpop album out on Melbourne’s ‘Off The Hip Records’ .

Doublethink Records 1980

1. Love Of Loves

2. Stay 

3. Sad Clown

♫♫►►Love of Loves◄◄♫♫

Basilisk Records 1980

1. That's Just Someone That I Knew 

2. If You'll Only

♫♫►►Someone That I Knew◄◄♫♫

Disguise - Hey Baby Single

a repost, originally posted 6-22-09, new rips and scans, enjoy!

   Disguise were a Hartlepool, England three piece, that formed in 1976. This was their only release. The band ended in 1985, after a few line up changes.

Line Up

Peter Scott - Vocals, Guitar

Jimmy Mckenna - Bass

Alan Scully - Drums

Chiswick Records 1978

1. Hey Baby

2. Juvenile Delinquent

♫♫►►He's a Juvenile Disgrace◄◄♫♫

The Gooses - Just A Tailor

  Here's a catchy, lo-fi Powerpop single from 1977. Little info exists on this one; so I guess I'll ramble and speculate a bit. I found a couple of mentions that suggest, they may have been from the Cleveland Ohio area. The record appears to be self released and it doesn't look like a picture sleeve exists. The only names on the record are: S. Szilagyi, G. Morell and Mickey Szilagyi. If anyone knows anything, Do Tell!!

*Update* ( this information was left by an anonymous commenter, Thank You!)

 The Gooses: Mark Morrell (rhythm guitar); Greg Morrell (lead guitar), Steve Szilagyi (drums and vocals), Jim Booth (bass). From Cleveland, Ohio. "It it New" was recorded in 1966. Side Two, "Just a Tailor" was recorded in 1974. Both songs were written by Steve Szilagyi.

♫♫►►What Secrets Does Your Spirit Hold◄◄♫♫

Neighborhood Brats - Confines of Life

   There's many bands now days that look, sound and feel like by the numbers re-hash. To me anyways, (guess I'm getting old...) Actually, I guess it's probably always been that way but I digress. Every now and then, I come by one, that sounds reminiscent of past bands but has something more to them. You just know when you're hearing something authentic, not just a soulless copy.
   Neighborhood Brats are a four piece, originally from San Francisco, now based in L.A. The band formed in 2010 and this tracks taken from their third full length. If you're into bands like: Legal Weapon, Vktms or the Avengers, with hardcore sprinkled in; you definitely should check this band out.

Line Up

Jenny Angelillo - Vocals

George Rager - Guitar, Vocals

Nick Aguilar - Drums

Mike West - Bass

Links

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

Dirt Cult Records 

The Perks - The Perks EP

    Here's an obscure one from London, Ontario, Canada. Not sure if these guys were a real band or if this was a project. At any rate; it was released in 1978 and it came in a silk screened, manila envelope. Great quirky, super catchy example of why I'm such a fan of Canadian, Punk/Powerpop from this period. If anyone has any info on these guys; please share..

Credits

Greg Diakun
Ben Parfitt
Steve Brent
Martin Goldstein

AWES BETTG 264

1. Mcpig
2. Escape
3. Hollis Grand

♫♫►►To Clean Out Your Intestine◄◄♫♫

Back Seat Romeos - Zero Ambition Single

    a re-post by request, originally posted 1/24/2009. New rips and scans, enjoy!

   Back Seat Romeos were a three piece from Lincolnshire, England. The band formed in 1977, originally calling themselves The Classics. 1980 brought about a name change and this, their only single. 1000 copies were pressed. They called it quits the following year.

Line Up

John Clay - Guitar, Lead Vocals
Ash Aisthorpe - Bass, Vocals
Mick Freer - Drums

Future Earth Records 1980

1. Zero Ambition

2. In The Night

♫♫►►No Pride In Themselves◄◄♫♫

The Reactions - Official Release and Love You EP's

 a re-post, originally posted 8/15/2010. New rips and scans, enjoy!

   The Reactions were a Miami Beach, Florida four piece that formed in 1978. They self released these two great Ep's, before disbanding in 1981. Here's an interview of Isaac and Joey discussing the bands origins. Cheap Rewards Records reissued both Ep's with additional material in 2011 but I don't believe it's an easy find these days.

Line Up

Issac Baruch - Guitar

Joey Maya - Drums

John Salton - Bass

Tony Suppa - Vocals

Official Release

Reaction Records 1980

1. Tonight

2. Marianne

3. In Society

4. It's Our Turn Now

♫♫►►You Shook The Hand Of Conformity◄◄♫♫

The Reactions Love You EP

Reactions Records 1980 & 1981

1. Nights On End

2. Marianne

3. I Can't Help It

4. Rebel Rousers

♫♫►►The Battle Will Be Won◄◄♫♫

The Switch - I Think It's Better Single

   Here's one on the Houston, TX label, Earth Records. I wasn't able to find any info at all on The Switch. The name on the label is Jim Travis. If anyone knows anything about them; please enlighten us. Anything I say about them will be pure conjecture; so I'll talk about the content a bit..
   To start, the record has a space theme. Second, I think it's better starts with heavy 80's sounding synth, reminiscent of video games I played when I was young. Once the song gets going, it's catchy, 80's, synth Power pop; that seems to be about wearing earplugs, to not have to listen to someone... Maybe me, enough of my rambling, Enjoy!

Earth Records 1983

1. I Think It's Better
2. Alien

♫♫►►And Not Hear A Thing◄◄♫♫

The Wigs - File Under: Pop Vocal

 By request, a re-post, originally posted 7/7/2009. New rips and pics.

   The Wigs were a Milwaukee, Wisconsin three piece that formed in 1979. Besides this Lp, there's also a single titled, "Sing This Song/Hozoji" but I've never heard it. Shorty after this records release; the band broke up, then re-grouped for several years in Los Angeles. There were a couple of attempts to release a second full length, the second being with CBS Records but unfortunately, neither worked out. They appeared in the 1986 movie, " My Chauffeur" in 1986. There's some live footage of the band in it; you can see it Here. Marty Ross landed a part in The New Monkees TV series in 1987. After his departure, the wigs morphed into 57 Braves, released a single titled, " A Little Affection" and eventually disbanded. There's been a few band reunions since then.

Line Up -

Jim Cushinery - Vocals, Guitar

Marty Ross - Vocals, Guitar

Bobby Tews - Drums

Streetwise Records 1981

♫♫►►Is Life Keeping You Satisfied?◄◄♫♫

Phonads - Talk To Me

The Phonads were a Petersfield, UK five piece. After a lengthy google search, I turned up little on the band. I found no evidence of any other records either. Shame, since this is a great one; definitely leaves me wanting more.

    All proceeds from this record went For Wheelabout '81. A 23 year old quadriplegic named Neil Slatter, spent two months in 1981 travelling from his home town of Petersfield, to Portsmouth partly by electric wheelchair. His goal was to raise £100,000 to buy wheelchairs for other quadriplegically handicapped people.

    The record came in a paper sleeve with a sticker, giving the band members names and where the proceeds were going. Unfortunately, my copy is missing the sleeve. If you want to see it; click on over to the always excellent, "My Life's A Jigsaw Blog". It's hard for me to believe but his post is from over 10 years ago already...

Line Up

Neil Mercer - Guitar, Vocals

Jerry Holland - Guitar, Vocals

Dave Hartbottle - Drums, Vocals

Tizz Stoakes - Bass, Vocals

Dave Futcher - Keyboards

Wheelabout '81 1981

1. Talk To Me

2. You and Me

♫♫►►If You See Me Wasting Away◄◄♫♫

The Bozos - Weekend Girl Single

    The Bozos were a London five piece. I couldn't find much info on these guys but best I can tell; they were around from 1977 to 79. Looks like this was their only release.

Line Up

Ted Lemming - Guitar, Vocals
Stan Bland - Guitar, Vocals
Roger Brad - Guitar, Vocals
Glen Lamberton - Bass
Chris Macauley - Drums

Other Records - 1978

1. Weekend Girl

2. Fool Out Of Me

♫♫►►I Wish It Was Saturday Every Night◄◄♫♫

The Pengwins - Small Vacation Single

    The Pengwins were a Kennedale, Texas four piece that formed in 1976, while still in high school. They recorded two self released singles, (this being the second); 500 copies were pressed of each. In 1988 a six song lp called, " Mad About the Band" was released. They called it quits in the early 90's.

Line Up

Lannie Flowers - Guitar, Vocals
Alan Petsche - Guitar, Vocals
Delbert Raines - Bass
Danny Wilkerson - Drums

Arctic Records - 1980

1. Small Vacation

2. Don't Be A Girl About It

♫♫►►It's Like A Never Ending Game◄◄♫♫

The Belltowers - Day Breakaway

    Here's the first full length from Orlando, Florida's The Belltowers. Originally released in 2015 on Twenty Stone Blatt Records and now available to purchase, through download, from Bandcamp. Formed in 2004 by Paul Mutchler, of The Lears; they also have a few singles and a a couple of mini Lp's to their credit. A great mix of: Psych, Folk Rock and Powerpop; the right influences are on full display here: Byrds, Beatles, Kinks, Etc. Check it out..

Facebook

The Promises / Fun With Numbers Split Single

     Here's a double a sided split single, with a couple of Canadian bands from the Vancouver area. Each side is represented by a different band, on a different label. The Promises later released a 12" single in 85 with the songs, "Shark and Yesterdays Girl". I read They later became The Last Corvairs. They have a track on the Molson Canadian Homegrown Volume IV comp from 1990. I really couldn't find anything else on either band. Enjoy!

Red Hare Records 1983

The Promises

A. Valerie

Kong Records 1983

Fun With Numbers

A. Sunny Holiday

♫♫►Look At What You've Done To Me◄♫♫

The Dials - All I Hear Single

   The Dials were a Middlesex, England five piece; around from 1978-1980. They recorded a second single titled, "Get Up and Dance". The My Life's A Jigsaw Blog posted it a while back. If you want to check it out, you can find it Here. Neil Howes and Jeff Hemsley, later ended up in Thirteen At Midnight.

Line Up

Neil Howes - Guitar, Vocals
Matt Stokes - Vocals
Neil Clarke - Sax, Vocals
Jamie Bolster - Bass
Jeff Hemsley - Drums

Scene Records 1979

1. All I Hear
2. Running

♫♫►I Wish I Didn't Feel So Alone◄♫♫

God's Lonely Men - All This and More

   God's Lonely Men were a Salo, Finland three piece that formed in 1986. They named themselves after the Lurkers tune or possibly the Lp title, not sure . They released this full length, two singles and and a few comp tracks before disbanding in 1992. On this Lp's insert, they list themselves as a three piece but show four pictures? At any rate, it's a solid offering with a number of memorable songs. 
   A brief re-form in 1999 yielded a mini album titled, "This World" in 2000. I haven't seen any evidence of further activity.
Enjoy!

Line Up

Vesa Vahtera - Vocals, Bass, Guitar
Teemu Horto - Guitar, Bass
Jarkko Jokelainen - Drums

Hiljaiset Levyt - 1991

♫♫►►Now We Are So Lost◄◄♫♫

Schematix - Jagged Edge EP

   Schematix were a Santa Cruz, California four piece that originally formed in 1979 as The X-Dreamists. Far as I know, this was their only record. They disbanded in 1983.

Line Up

Marco Misterioso - Bass, Vocals
Mike Melee - Guitar, Vocals
Jill Fido - Keyboards, Vocals

Harris Harris - Drums

Subliminal Records 1980

1. Jagged Edge

2. Second Story

3. Nothing Special

♫♫►It's a Fucking Weird Time◄♫♫

The Standbys - The Standbys E.P.

    The Standbys were a San Diego, California, four piece; that formed in 1979. They released this ep in 1980. I read they released a full length titled, "Buy Now or Die Dumb" but I couldn't find proof of it's existence . They called it quits in 1985.

Line Up

Tom Waller - Lead Vocals, Bass

Dave Astor - Lead Guitar, Vocals

Jeff Dean - Guitar, Vocals

Ted Olson - Drums

World Records 1980

1. Standby

2. Wasn't He Happy?

3. Withdraw

4. America Is Waiting

♫♫►Being Gentle's Not Easy◄♫♫

12 Inch Love Volume 3

  Happy New Year everybody! I know it's been a while but better late than never, I guess..
   It's time for another installment of 12 inch love to start the year. This time it's love, from the garage...Enjoy!

1. The Gravedigger 5 - Searching

2. The Miracle Workers - Love Has No Time

3. Fuzztones - Cinderella

4. The Brood - Won't You Tell Me

5. The Chesterfield Kings - She Told Me Lies

6. The Greenhornes - Nobody Loves You

7. The Tell Tale Hearts - It Came To Me

8. The Hoods - You Keep On Lyin'

9. Jonny Chan And The New Dynasty 6 - hey

10. The Vipers - Not To Be In Love

11. Plan 9 - Can't Stand This Love, Goodbye

12. The Stomachmouths - I Don't Need Your Love

♫♫►►It's time for me to now be on my way◄◄♫♫