Adding these to my power pop playlist, thanks. (Motors may already be on there.) She Sheila by the Producers - not sure if it’s power pop, but it’s magic.
Woo-hoo! Thanks, Tim! Glad you found some new faves for your PPP!🎵
I never got around to The Producers’ second. Just their debut. “She Sheila”….power pop? No worries, mate: File confidently under “bitchin’ power pop”!!
My first time hearing the song, and it’s SO got it all over the ‘82 new wave synth dross it could’ve so easily sunk itself into!
The Producers knew what they were doing. Their clever writing and solid sense of melody and obvious awareness of “what has gone before” wink—-they could only ride in one lane….unabashedly and unashamedly Power Pop, with a capital “Power”!
The Producers’ Producer? Tom Werman. Please. The knob-twiddler behind Cheap Trick’s greatest output in the ‘70s (and the guitar sound on The Nuge’s ‘70s Epic albums)? BAM! As Epic head of A&R and staff producer (thru The Producers’ second album), how eager do you think he was to get his hands on the board for this band?!?!
As you’ve added this handful to your PPP, Tim, I’m anxious to catch up on The Producers’ top tracks….and, thanks for that “She Sheila” tip….there’s so much going on on that track!!!
Oh man, I'd forgotten all about Dodgy — one of many British bands I bought on import CD back in the mid-90s, only to find that they neither lived up to their UK press hype or the greatness of the one song of theirs that I'd already heard. But "Staying Out for the Summer" is truly a great track!
I hear ya, Dan! I had a similar experience on that Ace A’s & Killer B’s CD comp I mentioned in the piece! Starting with “Staying Out…”, I really only found the first handful/half-dozen tracks as worth repeated listenings! Uneven? I guess that’s the “charge,” ‘cause when they’re crackin’, there’s none better!
Danny Wilde rules! He joins Rob Grill, Pat Upton, John Waite, Paul Carrack, Tony Burrows, Don Dannemann, and Eric Carmen at the top of my fave rock’n’pop male singers of all time!
Here’s one of Danny’s that almost made this list of 5, here. Danny also sings backing vocals on this ‘89 Peter Frampton track! No one would believe PF would be solidly on the power pop train, but here ya go (and, he’s been on it for a while)! Thanks, Dave!
I didn’t say that in my head, Tom….but, I did say (when putting this together) that this is a song that would’ve sounded great between "Sooner or Later” and “Temptation Eyes” on a Grass Roots Greatest Hits album!
And, I even think it could’ve come from the Lambert & Potter catalog, ala their “Two Divided by Love”!
You might enjoy my recent hat-tip in L&P’s direction! They were on fire in the ‘70s!
Thanks, Tom! I appreciate your input, and I’d love to see you past the velvet rope line, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE! You’re welcome anytime!
Good ear, Justin! "Staying Out for the Summer," IMO, deserves to be toward the top of the list of folks' power pop rankings...right up there with "September Gurls" and "Go All the Way"! Plus, it's one of the few with a rousing horn chart! That alone sets it apart! Thanks for reading, enjoying, and commenting!
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!
Thanks, Clint.....hope you find something that scratches where you musically itch! Almost all these (with the possible exception of the Vance or Towers...which is pretty and rousing, too) are in a similar toe-tapping, finger-snapping speed melody lane akin to "Where's the Love'! Enjoy (and report back)!😁👍
City Boy reminds me of Saga, “On the Loose” a bit, and the intro reminds me of the musical interlude during Styx “Come Sail Away”.
“Forget About You” intro took me to Cheap Trick (Surrender), then quickly to White Plains (My Baby Loves Lovin’)! I like it.
“Staying Out for the Summer” very very briefly reminded me of the open to Don’t Fear the Reaper, but only for a moment. I like it.
Songs I’d most likely listen to again: Hold on to Something by Great Buildings;
Staying Out for the Summer by Dodgy; What He’s Got by The Producers. At least today, lol, as my mood has everything to do with my ear on a daily basis.
So I’ve gone from almost no pop/power pop ever to being much more open to it. Thank you, Brad.
Very impressive, Clint! I hear the Saga/City Boy similarities! Hadn't really paid much attention to Saga, but vocally, I hear a general similarity! And, yes to the Styx similarity!
Spot on with the "Surrender" (one of power pop's kingpin songs!) to The Motors...both super-charged and urgent with great melodies! Interesting call on the White Plains tune....a Cook & Greenaway (many hit songs to their name) song, that fits right in with what The Motors were doing with "Forget About You"!
That Dodgy/BOC notice is epic! I never would've pulled that Dodgy opening over to the opening seconds of the BOC....and, I've heard each dozens of times!! Good 👂!
I think your picks of Dodgy, Producers, and the Great Bs song are all great selections....and, they'd be ones I'd lean into to show full-on rockers great on-ramps to power pop! Thanks for this, Clint.....very insightful and quite a keen ear you've got!!
Just made my night, Brad—what a huge compliment coming from you, thank you! Perfect nomenclature, re: on-ramps, which is exactly what’s happening here, with me. I’d never have given power pop a listen without your being the catalyst, so I hope you feel damn good about opening another new-to-me musical avenue for me to explore/enjoy!
As I always say (only because it’s true): you da man!
Adding these to my power pop playlist, thanks. (Motors may already be on there.) She Sheila by the Producers - not sure if it’s power pop, but it’s magic.
The power poppers LOVE "She Sheila"!
Woo-hoo! Thanks, Tim! Glad you found some new faves for your PPP!🎵
I never got around to The Producers’ second. Just their debut. “She Sheila”….power pop? No worries, mate: File confidently under “bitchin’ power pop”!!
My first time hearing the song, and it’s SO got it all over the ‘82 new wave synth dross it could’ve so easily sunk itself into!
The Producers knew what they were doing. Their clever writing and solid sense of melody and obvious awareness of “what has gone before” wink—-they could only ride in one lane….unabashedly and unashamedly Power Pop, with a capital “Power”!
The Producers’ Producer? Tom Werman. Please. The knob-twiddler behind Cheap Trick’s greatest output in the ‘70s (and the guitar sound on The Nuge’s ‘70s Epic albums)? BAM! As Epic head of A&R and staff producer (thru The Producers’ second album), how eager do you think he was to get his hands on the board for this band?!?!
As you’ve added this handful to your PPP, Tim, I’m anxious to catch up on The Producers’ top tracks….and, thanks for that “She Sheila” tip….there’s so much going on on that track!!!
Oh man, I'd forgotten all about Dodgy — one of many British bands I bought on import CD back in the mid-90s, only to find that they neither lived up to their UK press hype or the greatness of the one song of theirs that I'd already heard. But "Staying Out for the Summer" is truly a great track!
I remember being handed a Dodgy CD by a record label rep in Japan. Listened to it for the rest of that trip.
I hear ya, Dan! I had a similar experience on that Ace A’s & Killer B’s CD comp I mentioned in the piece! Starting with “Staying Out…”, I really only found the first handful/half-dozen tracks as worth repeated listenings! Uneven? I guess that’s the “charge,” ‘cause when they’re crackin’, there’s none better!
Great Buildings! Whoa-that's a blast from the past. Of course, The Producers stand alone!
Brad knows his stuff!
Thanks, Steve!!💪😁👍🎵
Danny Wilde rules! He joins Rob Grill, Pat Upton, John Waite, Paul Carrack, Tony Burrows, Don Dannemann, and Eric Carmen at the top of my fave rock’n’pop male singers of all time!
Here’s one of Danny’s that almost made this list of 5, here. Danny also sings backing vocals on this ‘89 Peter Frampton track! No one would believe PF would be solidly on the power pop train, but here ya go (and, he’s been on it for a while)! Thanks, Dave!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nctquFglnyM
That song by the Motors has a little Grassroots “Sooner or Later” vibe to it
Interesting…
I didn’t say that in my head, Tom….but, I did say (when putting this together) that this is a song that would’ve sounded great between "Sooner or Later” and “Temptation Eyes” on a Grass Roots Greatest Hits album!
And, I even think it could’ve come from the Lambert & Potter catalog, ala their “Two Divided by Love”!
You might enjoy my recent hat-tip in L&P’s direction! They were on fire in the ‘70s!
Thanks, Tom! I appreciate your input, and I’d love to see you past the velvet rope line, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE! You’re welcome anytime!
https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/inside-tracks-18-lambert-and-potter?utm_source=publication-search
Great list! I hadn't heard that Dodgy tune...excellent rec!
Thanks, Bijan! I'm glad you found a newbie! It's certainly a movie-stopping song...it was for me!!
Always fun to be introduced to groups and songs I knew nothing about. Was really taken with the Dodgy tune.
Lots to explore there!
Good ear, Justin! "Staying Out for the Summer," IMO, deserves to be toward the top of the list of folks' power pop rankings...right up there with "September Gurls" and "Go All the Way"! Plus, it's one of the few with a rousing horn chart! That alone sets it apart! Thanks for reading, enjoying, and commenting!
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!
Thanks, Clint.....hope you find something that scratches where you musically itch! Almost all these (with the possible exception of the Vance or Towers...which is pretty and rousing, too) are in a similar toe-tapping, finger-snapping speed melody lane akin to "Where's the Love'! Enjoy (and report back)!😁👍
On hold for now, dang it! Gotta proof for my editor wife today—that’s gonna be my reward tonight!
Keep ya posted, as always—✌🏼🫡
Cool! My stuff will serve as your dessert! I can handle! Thanks, Clint!
Ok, Brad, welcome to “ songs I’m reminded of, albeit briefly, lol!
City Boy reminds me of Saga, “On the Loose” a bit, and the intro reminds me of the musical interlude during Styx “Come Sail Away”.
“Forget About You” intro took me to Cheap Trick (Surrender), then quickly to White Plains (My Baby Loves Lovin’)! I like it.
“Staying Out for the Summer” very very briefly reminded me of the open to Don’t Fear the Reaper, but only for a moment. I like it.
Songs I’d most likely listen to again: Hold on to Something by Great Buildings;
Staying Out for the Summer by Dodgy; What He’s Got by The Producers. At least today, lol, as my mood has everything to do with my ear on a daily basis.
So I’ve gone from almost no pop/power pop ever to being much more open to it. Thank you, Brad.
Very impressive, Clint! I hear the Saga/City Boy similarities! Hadn't really paid much attention to Saga, but vocally, I hear a general similarity! And, yes to the Styx similarity!
Spot on with the "Surrender" (one of power pop's kingpin songs!) to The Motors...both super-charged and urgent with great melodies! Interesting call on the White Plains tune....a Cook & Greenaway (many hit songs to their name) song, that fits right in with what The Motors were doing with "Forget About You"!
That Dodgy/BOC notice is epic! I never would've pulled that Dodgy opening over to the opening seconds of the BOC....and, I've heard each dozens of times!! Good 👂!
I think your picks of Dodgy, Producers, and the Great Bs song are all great selections....and, they'd be ones I'd lean into to show full-on rockers great on-ramps to power pop! Thanks for this, Clint.....very insightful and quite a keen ear you've got!!
Just made my night, Brad—what a huge compliment coming from you, thank you! Perfect nomenclature, re: on-ramps, which is exactly what’s happening here, with me. I’d never have given power pop a listen without your being the catalyst, so I hope you feel damn good about opening another new-to-me musical avenue for me to explore/enjoy!
As I always say (only because it’s true): you da man!
🫡
These are all new to me!
Enjoy!