After I heard The Wigs earlier this year, I thought we’d never see another lost treasure from the early years of 1970’s power pop. Long Island, NY native Gary Feldman formed Radio City in 1977, taking a love of The Raspberries, Todd Rundgren and The Byrds with him in the studio. In fact, the band’s big sin was being “too pop” in a fashionably punked-out New York music scene at the time. It’s another case of a group breaking up before it’s full studio release, but Gary revived and remastered the album, and it finally sees the light of day. Opening with true gems like “Don’t Mistake Love” and “Little Runaway” this is a perfect example of the period. Both these singles would have been big hits if they were released back then. Starting with “She’s A Heartbreaker” you can hear a bit of early punk influences poking through. The playing is exceptional, and energy on tracks like “Tomorrow” and “Play It Like A Man” compares well with Elvis Costello or The Rubinoos, full of Rickenbacker riffs and strong drumming. The last 4 tracks have alternate takes and some live performances. For fans of Buddy Love, The Wigs, Doug Derek & The Hoax and The Toms it’s a no-brainer. This is another band that deserves credit for helping bridge the link from Badfinger and The Raspberries to The La’s and The Smithereens.
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