Gah! Great interview and a terrific read but dammit, no Fools Face. Maybe it's just a regional thing but they did get to Los Angeles, they did work their asses off, and they did make three of the finest Power Pop albums EVER. Here to Observe, Tell America, and Public Places are lifeblood to me and should be for everyone else who embraces terrific song craft.
I thought the same thing, Alan. I'm guessing it was explored by David and a wall was hit. It was my experience 20+ years ago.
Fools Face befuddles me quite deeply and there's a story there, I never quite could get the right read on back in the Not Lame Recordings days because I wanted to reissue those releases. (I enquired when NL was selling the CD in fairly large amounts but never got a response, that I can recall)
Randomly, a few weeks back, I found a copy of the FF reunion record and I was triggered yet again. Still no reissues of the 3 albums and cassette tape releases.
One would guess it's the old trope of 'bad, bitter blood' because it's been so, so long with nothing - and the time window is closing because we're all getting older, right?! I hope that's not the case but *is* particularly inexplicable - and their fans back in the day were legion, especially in their home town. It just strikes me as...well, wrong.
What a great interview and even though I know a bit about Power Pop I'm no expert and this interview has given me so many bands I don't know to check out now. Thanks!
I emailed Dave to be sure it wasn’t some Gold Star lost analog. Cyril and Chris don’t talk to each other and just the mention of it all gives him afib. I’m not doubting Chris but if Cyril is saying not to use the mid 80’s recordings with Jack Johnson then it’s a complete mystery. I might ask George since he was in the band for the long haul. I want to add that Cherry Records compilations are beautiful but they don’t pay the artists at least not the Groovies. I’m glad the artists music is getting out there though. It’s a Catch 22.
“Hi Lori, thanks and yeah, he's not on Way Over My Head, which was my first choice, simply because it's a great song (the LEmon Twigs have played it live) and that strange late 80s line-up has been unheard by most people. But Cyril wouldn't allow it. I was able to license "So Much In Love" from the Gold Star Sessions though, so I included that.
If you want to send me an address I can ask the label to send you a copy when they have stock. Would love you to hear it.
This comp might be *the* collection I've looked forward to in years. Once I had a look at the track selection, it's a salivating experience waiting to be sated(or something like that). David Laing not only has clearly done an outstanding curation job but displays a deep, passionate experience for the right amount of 'coulda/shouda been' artists to make this a must-have. Plus, he's a legend from Down Under for power pop fans 'in the know'.
These last five years or so, with all these kinds of collections coming out(in many genres), the aspect I most look forward to is...reading the liner notes. I'm sure I'm far from the only one.
S.W., truly great interview to pull out David's keen quality eye. I could feel David's excitement to answer line of questioning. I can't recall going to YouTube from an article/blog post so many times to check out tracks I had never heard of before - and getting lost down the YT hole.
That’s high praise coming from you, Bruce. And I always love when David stops by RTL, as an interviewee or a contributor to the newsletter and Guitar Pop Journals. (PS: Liner notes are pretty great for this one!)
Well, thanks back at ya! Actually, in general, since I'm out of the loop these days, your Substack keeps me highly informed and aware of what's going on that matters. Always something new and good to encounter. (uh, yr up early today!)
Off the music vibe track here entirely, but I've been a poor sleeper my entire adult life. I swear, though, by Trazodone(safe, no side effects) - a time release but it works with shutting down the over-active brain(and all that angst) and getting to sleep. Experiment with right dosage and, once found, at likely worst, you'll get five hours.
Gah! Great interview and a terrific read but dammit, no Fools Face. Maybe it's just a regional thing but they did get to Los Angeles, they did work their asses off, and they did make three of the finest Power Pop albums EVER. Here to Observe, Tell America, and Public Places are lifeblood to me and should be for everyone else who embraces terrific song craft.
Preach. Check it out, power pop people!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07sLBYnxrXg&list=RD07sLBYnxrXg&start_radio=1
Thanks, man. I gots me some passions!
I thought the same thing, Alan. I'm guessing it was explored by David and a wall was hit. It was my experience 20+ years ago.
Fools Face befuddles me quite deeply and there's a story there, I never quite could get the right read on back in the Not Lame Recordings days because I wanted to reissue those releases. (I enquired when NL was selling the CD in fairly large amounts but never got a response, that I can recall)
Randomly, a few weeks back, I found a copy of the FF reunion record and I was triggered yet again. Still no reissues of the 3 albums and cassette tape releases.
One would guess it's the old trope of 'bad, bitter blood' because it's been so, so long with nothing - and the time window is closing because we're all getting older, right?! I hope that's not the case but *is* particularly inexplicable - and their fans back in the day were legion, especially in their home town. It just strikes me as...well, wrong.
What a great interview and even though I know a bit about Power Pop I'm no expert and this interview has given me so many bands I don't know to check out now. Thanks!
David knows his stuff!
Just to clarify that Chris says he was never on "Over My Head." Cyril is singing lead on both tracks in this article so for anyone who has never heard of the Flamin' Groovies (Chris Wilson lineup) I am writing a 3 part series of Chris's work. Here is Part 1 https://open.substack.com/pub/lorichristian/p/the-flamin-groovies?r=4fd1oa&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Thanks for the clarification!
I emailed Dave to be sure it wasn’t some Gold Star lost analog. Cyril and Chris don’t talk to each other and just the mention of it all gives him afib. I’m not doubting Chris but if Cyril is saying not to use the mid 80’s recordings with Jack Johnson then it’s a complete mystery. I might ask George since he was in the band for the long haul. I want to add that Cherry Records compilations are beautiful but they don’t pay the artists at least not the Groovies. I’m glad the artists music is getting out there though. It’s a Catch 22.
Confirmed
“Hi Lori, thanks and yeah, he's not on Way Over My Head, which was my first choice, simply because it's a great song (the LEmon Twigs have played it live) and that strange late 80s line-up has been unheard by most people. But Cyril wouldn't allow it. I was able to license "So Much In Love" from the Gold Star Sessions though, so I included that.
If you want to send me an address I can ask the label to send you a copy when they have stock. Would love you to hear it.
all the best
dave”
This comp might be *the* collection I've looked forward to in years. Once I had a look at the track selection, it's a salivating experience waiting to be sated(or something like that). David Laing not only has clearly done an outstanding curation job but displays a deep, passionate experience for the right amount of 'coulda/shouda been' artists to make this a must-have. Plus, he's a legend from Down Under for power pop fans 'in the know'.
These last five years or so, with all these kinds of collections coming out(in many genres), the aspect I most look forward to is...reading the liner notes. I'm sure I'm far from the only one.
S.W., truly great interview to pull out David's keen quality eye. I could feel David's excitement to answer line of questioning. I can't recall going to YouTube from an article/blog post so many times to check out tracks I had never heard of before - and getting lost down the YT hole.
That’s high praise coming from you, Bruce. And I always love when David stops by RTL, as an interviewee or a contributor to the newsletter and Guitar Pop Journals. (PS: Liner notes are pretty great for this one!)
Well, thanks back at ya! Actually, in general, since I'm out of the loop these days, your Substack keeps me highly informed and aware of what's going on that matters. Always something new and good to encounter. (uh, yr up early today!)
Insomnia's the new black!
Off the music vibe track here entirely, but I've been a poor sleeper my entire adult life. I swear, though, by Trazodone(safe, no side effects) - a time release but it works with shutting down the over-active brain(and all that angst) and getting to sleep. Experiment with right dosage and, once found, at likely worst, you'll get five hours.
I'll look into it! Thanks.