This is a guest post series about power pop featuring some of my favorite music writers. We’ll be sharing a new installment every few weeks or so (while supplies last). Full series here.
Is It Power Pop?
By Brad Kyle
As the (I’m guessing) “elder statesman” of this series, I’m going to pull a little rank in supposing I’m the only scribe to have seen The Beatles on CBS-TV’s The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964.
And live, as it happened, as opposed to viewing it on YouTube last week. I was 8, and glued to the TV in our Houston, TX family home, sitting cross-legged on the floor a foot away from the black and white screen.
Completely transfixed, if my jaw coulda reached, it would’ve hit the floor! Without a way to really verbalize it—Who would I tell? My parents wouldn’t get it!—I knew I wanted to hear that, more of that (whatever that that is called!), and as much of that as I could going forward.
Hence, the seed of loving power pop was planted.
Needless to say, acquiring subsequent Beatles releases became de rigueur, as did ingesting Mersey-adjacent melodic and harmony-laden bubblegum groups, sunshine pop groups, and other British Invasion artists through the ‘60s.
Sometime in the ‘70s, I came up with the three songs that contain, for me, what I consider the key musical and stylistic ingredients for anything I would call “power pop”: The Beatles’ “She Loves You,” “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes, and “I Get Around” by The Beach Boys.
Did every song I might deem “power pop” need to have this or that element? Not necessarily; but, not having it wouldn’t disqualify it, either! Bottom line? It had to have the spirit of power pop, and yes, however subjective that phrase inherently is. You get to choose (hence Steve’s series).
So, let’s get to ‘em!
It’s doubtful you heard many, if any, of these (as an American): Three got major label releases in the U.S., but (with the possible exception of UK’s The Motors) got precious little airplay or resultant sales.
One band, Dodgy, is so British, their very name is a word most Americans have no clue as to its meaning. And, sure enough, despite worldwide A&M Records release, we never got the chance to sing along to Dodgy stateside. That changes today.
“Hold On to Something” by Great Buildings
From the ashes of The Quick came Danny Wilde and his prodigious songwriting and singing talents, and bassist, Ian Ainsworth, joining with guitarist, Phil Solem to form Great Buildings.
A rollicking rollercoaster of sonic wonderment opens Great Buildings’ lone album for Columbia Records, Apart From the Crowd. Written by Wilde, Solem (the two would form The Rembrandts in 1989), and Ian Ainsworth, and produced by Ed Thacker and John Boylan (Boston’s debut, 5 years earlier), this song has a propulsion that’s irresistible.
There’s even a modulation 3/4 the way through to take this rollercoaster down the final hill! But, that’s only after a quick-as-a-bunny guitar solo, a furious floor tom flurry, and a thrilling pick scrape. No doubt, this one puts the undeniable “power” in pop. Hold on, indeed!
“Staying Out for the Summer” Dodgy
Another lead-off track (sequencing is everything), this time from Homegrown, UK’s Dodgy, and their sophomore album for A&M Records, worldwide, except the U.S. Sometime in the late-‘90s, I heard this song as part of the soundtrack to an international movie I had rented from Netflix (can’t remember the title), and immediately paused the DVD, and hunted down the song.
I found a compilation CD online, and bought it: Ace A’s and Killer B’s, which, of course, began with our star song here.
What stopped me dead in my movie-watching tracks was the ear-grabbing chorus with stunning three-part harmonies on a Beach Boys-inspired title and lyrics, too. And, those horns…if you’re a rock band with a killer chorus, harmonies, and a bitchin’ horn chart? Please head to the front of the power pop line! For punctuation, a cold ending.
“Forget About You” by The Motors
Not unlike our first entry, “Hold On To Something,” this Motors tune from ‘78 is absolutely relentless. It doesn’t stop for anything….no bridge, no break for a guitar solo—nuthin’. As I’ve written before, it’s like a Mobius strip: You could just keep this thing going on a loop, and never know the difference. Plus, it’s urgent and hooky as all get out. And, of course, that harmony bed beneath the lead-in and into the chorus? With some chiming guitars and shorter, tartan trousers, this coulda been a Bay City Rollers hit.
“City Boy” by Vance or Towers
Discogs calls them a “power pop/proto-new wave band. Michael Towers found greater success in the early eighties as DB Cooper, then wrote the opening theme for [American] TV show, Simon and Simon (1981-1988). Drummer, James Saad co-produced then-wife, Sue Saad’s debut album. The band was the prom band in the 1976 film, Carrie.” Vance or Towers also featured Glen Vance and Dan Protheroe.
“City Boy” is unadulterated ear candy, and owes a lot to The Beatles side of our Beatles/Beach Boys/Ronettes power pop influence triangle, after a synth-driven dreamy intro leads you gloriously into that chorus I’m willing to bet nobody reading this has ever heard before, with most swearing they’ve heard that chorus before. Welcome to the wonders of concise and creative songwriting. Delicious ear fluff delivered in just 2 1/2 minutes? Where the hell was AM radio on this?!
“What’s He Got?” by The Producers
Power pop hits the decade of MTV and noodling synths…and lives to tell about it. Meet The Producers!
Discogs chimes in: “Power pop band from Atlanta, GA. Signed on the strength of strong response to their music [read: club and concert shows—a local reputation], the group released two albums for U.S. Portrait/Epic/CBS Records, yielding the early MTV hits ‘What’s He Got?’ [and three others]. They were dropped after two albums for the label.”
Well-placed “hey”s dot this melodic driver, offering proof that hooks can indeed be lyrical, plus another example of the effectiveness of the cold ending.
Give the algorithm a piece of your mind!
Previously On “Is It Power Pop?!”
Is It Power Pop?!
This is a guest post series about power pop featuring some of my favorite music writers. We’ll be sharing a new installment every few weeks or so (while supplies last). Full series here.
These are all new to me!
Ok ok, I’ll listen to ‘em all (no need w/any and every Beatles song, their being my #1 group of all time!)! If one hits me like that Hanson tune, I’ll letcha know!