Friday, July 30, 2004

Robert Seidler - "Christian Boy"

Robert Seidler's "Christian Boy" was in heavy rotation at radio station KQAK in San Francisco in '84 and '85, placing in the top ten of the Quake's top 100 songs of '85. Robert says "Back in ‘82 we were all just coming out of the angry punk thing, trying to figure out what to do next. I had just finished a rather difficult break up with my band Mr. Clean due to some serious conflicts and betrayal. The song "Christian Boy" was written as a reaction to that betrayal. The feelings I had were so strong, the disappointment so great, the song just sort of wrote itself. I believe songs can be friends and "Christian Boy" was a good friend at a very difficult and cathartic time in my life." The song found its way onto the KQAK Rock to Riches compilation album and then onto the EP originally entitled "Dotted Line". The song has since been remixed and appeared on cd for the first time in 2001 when Robert released the E.P."Christian Boy" on CD. The original version presented here is also on the CD. Doug Van Blaricom played guitar, Valdimir Malinovsky, keyboards, Kevin Powell, drums and Jim Clausen, bass. Thanks to Robert who has changed his name to Cole Panther, for allowing his work to be posted. He has since recorded a side project entitled Jennings Radio. Additional thanks go out to Edwin Gore for ripping the track from vinyl.

Buy Robert's CD here

Go to the download page to get Robert Seidler's "Christian Boy" mp3 here

Sunday, July 25, 2004

Soul Attack - "Little Lost Child"

Northern New Jersey based Soul Attack played Rock infused with elements of R.E.M. Creedence and Motown. They played live with the intensity of The Clash and in their sleeveless shirts and stylish suits looked like them as well. They gigged for an all-too brief time around their home state with occasional trips across the river into New York City and released a great four song Pop/Punk EP on their own Change Records label. "Little Lost Child" sounds like a lost Stiff Little Fingers track. Soul Attack were Chris Moffa: Guitar & Vocals, (see previous post) Ernie Mendillo: Bass & Vocals, Ed Rupprecht: Guitar & Vocals and Alan Katz: Drums & Vocals.The line up was short-lived and changes were made but Ernie and Ed went onto international fame when they morphed into the The Brandos.

Soul Attack - "Little Lost Child"

Sunday, July 18, 2004

Girls At Our Best - "Fast Boyfriends"

Hailing from the Leeds area, Girls At Our Best had a couple of indie hits in the U.K. in 1980, and couple more in 1981 including "Fast Boyfriends" (Happy Birthday Records). They released the "Pleasure" album containing a free "Pleasure" bag then broke up in 1982. Singer Judy Evans, the only girl in the band, has a distinctive trill that may take some getting used to but is worth the effort. D. Carl Harper played Drums, Gerard Swift, Bass and James Alan, who went on to play Psycho-rockabilly with Tall Boys, played Guitar. Thomas Dolby is credited with playing synthesiser and Flood was in the studio as the engineer. This is another "Lost Band" that was rediscovered in 1994 when Vinyl Japan rereleased "Pleasure" on CD which quickly went out of print but if you must have it(!) get it at GEMM.

Girls At Our Best - "Fast Boyfriends"

Tuesday, July 06, 2004

The Swinging Madisons - "Volare"

New York City's The Swinging Madisons were a nightclub sensation in New York in the early '80s. Led by flamboyant singer-keyboardist Kristian Hoffman (ex-Mumps/James White) the Swinging Madisons played humorous lounge club rock. They released a five-song EP on Select Records in 1981 which included this cover of "Volare". Vocalist Kristian Hoffman still records, Paul Rutner played drums, Guitarist Robert Maché played with Steve Wynn and The Continental Drifters, bassist Joe Katz plays intrumentals in NYC's "Loser's Lounge" house band the Kustard Kings.

Visit Kristian Hoffman's website for unreleased Swinging Madison's tracks

The Swinging Madisons - "Volare"