Category: Rediscover

Rediscover: 10cc

powerpopaholic

https://youtu.be/2HdoocAtdSQ

If you ask me who the most influential band was in the 20th century, you’d have to say The Beatles. But not far behind them I’d have to say is 10cc. The bands constant innovation in pop music is felt even today. The catalog is pretty extensive and eclectic as you had two strong songwriting teams with appositional goals.  The Stewart-Gouldman team provided the grounded hits and lyrical pop narrative, while the Godley-Creme team provided the stylistic brilliance and cutting edge influence. Check out the recent BBC biography of 10cc on You Tube above while it lasts. And just a single example of how other artists took 10cc’s techniques as producer Phil Ramone describes how they made Billy Joel’s hit “Just The Way You Are.” If you are new to 10cc, check out my recommended albums at 50thirdandthird.com.

Rediscover: The Knack

powerpopaholic

https://youtu.be/cnkPgHS9oLk

The Knack

When it comes to power pop in the 1980’s your starting points are usually The Plimsouls, The Beat and The Knack. Guitarist and singer Doug Fieger teamed up with drummer Bruce Gary, bassist Prescott Niles and guitarist Berton Averre to form The Knack in 1977. They played clubs all year and built up a huge following, including famous fans like Tom Petty, Stephen Stills and Bruce Springsteen. When the record companies came calling it was only a matter of time before “My Sharona” became the biggest single of 1979 and The Knack put on top so fast, Get The Knack spent 5 weeks at #1 and is one of the most successful debut albums in history. But the backlash was almost as swift. But after the death of John Lennon, the band felt it had more to say, and The Knack had a comeback of sorts in 1989. Thanks to the folks at Omnivore Records these final album have been remastered and expanded for 2015.

“Zoom”

Reuniting with drummer Terry Bozzio, Fieger and Averre were re-energized on Zoom. The songwriting was the tightest since Get The Knack, and “My Sharona” charted again thanks to the film Reality Bites. Starting with “Pop Is Dead,” it dramatically tells how the band’s fame “burst your bubble.” “Can I Borrow A Kiss” and “Smilin’” are shimmering examples of power pop, “Ambition” stands out as a single that’s as good as their debut, and even when the band moves into more mature pop like “Everything I Do” its the brilliant songwriting that makes this entire album a keeper.
Amazon

“Normal As The Next Guy”

While not as consistent as Zoom, the bands last studio album still has some gems; “Disillusion Town” is pretty much the emotions of a band that knows it’s not bound to “top of the charts” again.  The sense of resignation on some songs is apparent, but the ballads are what stand out like “Girl I Never Lied To You” and “Reason To Live.” A very touching Beach Boys homage “The Man On The Beach” (written by guitarist Berton Averre) is another big standout. Normal as the Next Guy shows us a glimpse of what a mature Knack sounded like.
Amazon

“Live from the Rock ‘N Roll Fun House”

This clean sounding concert documents just how important the Knack were in the evolution of millennial guitar pop music. The singing and playing are perfectly done, sounding as fresh as it did when Get The Knack first rolled out.. It features a treasure trove of songs from the bands earlier albums and sets great example of a band going out “on top.”
Amazon

Rediscover: Roger Taylor

powerpopaholic

Roger_Taylor_red_550x543 Roger Taylor was not only a founding member of Queen (Rock and Roll HOF Class 2001) and a revered drummer, he’s also been responsible for many of the band’s hits in their later years.

Even though Freddie and Brian May were the face of Queen, Roger was a damn good songwriter, as he penned “Radio Ga-Ga” and “A Kind Of Magic.” He also co-wrote the classics “Under Pressure,” and “One Vision” among others. Roger’s vocals were also unmistakable, as you listen to “Sheer Heart Attack,” or “Fight From The Inside.” A top 10 list of his Queen hits are posted here.

Omnivore Recordings has released Taylor’s first two solo releases Fun In Space (1981) and Strange Frontier (1984) along with a best-of anthology simply titled Best. The re-issues are filled with bonus tracks and the early albums offer the Queen fan some tracks that wouldn’t sound out of place on The Works. These albums have been out of print till now.

Roger_Taylor_red_550x543 On the debut it’s easy to spot songs that could have fit on a Queen album, like “No Violins” and “Future Management.” The boogie style that surfaces the following year on The Game, is introduced on “Let’s Get Crazy,” with some fine drumming. Roger’s very first single “I Wanna Testify” is added as a bonus track here.
Strange Frontier
Several years later on Strange Frontiers, Roger has more reliance on on drum machines and synthesizers as he sounds like a cross between Springsteen and Roger Waters on the title track. But Taylor’s songwriting ability is in peak form here with “Beautiful Dreams,” “Man On Fire” and “Young Love.”