VA - Guitar Ace - Link Wray Tribute

VA Guitar Ace : Link Wray Tribute cd 2003 320 kbps
MYSTERY ACTION : Raw-hide / BLEED : Ain't that loving you babe / SPY-FI : The shadows knows / THE HELLBENDERS : The outlaw / THROW RAG : I'm so glad I'm so proud / THE LEDGERS : Friday night dance party / THE FLESHTONES : Soul Train / THE SPACE COSSACKS : Mustang / DAVE WRONSKI : Ace of Spades / FIFTY FOOT COMBO : Slinky / HYPNOMEN : Rumble mambo / THE WOGGLES : Deacon Jones / BOSS MARTIANS : Fire and brimstone / CALEXICO : Fallin' rain / THE DOWNERS : Genocide / SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS : I'm branded / GORE GORE GIRLS : Baby doll / EVAN FOSTER : The girl can't dance / POLLO DEL MAR : Jack the ripper / THE VOLCANOS : Comanche / JACKIE & The CEDRICS : Run chicken run / DEKE DICKERSON & THE ECCOFONICS : Run boy run / THE BAMBI MOLESTERS : Rumble / FOUR PIECE SUITE : Roughshod.
This long overdue homage to Link Wray, inventor of the power chord, gets it right. 24 scrappy garage,surf, and punk artists from across the globe contribute versions of popular and obscure Link Wray nuggets, proving that his music transcends cultures, ages, genres, and trends. With a sufficiently primitive approach and more vocals than you might expect from someone best-known for his instrumentals, ringers like The Fleshtones (blitzing though a minute-and-45-second, raucous beach party rave-up of "Soul Train"), Southern Culture on the Skids (grinding out "I'm Branded" with lo-fi raw power) and Calexico (the lovely "Fallin' Rain" is this album's least-frantic cut) rub elbows with lesser-known yet talented bands; all of whom deftly capture Wray's eclectic musical personas. From the reverbed, spaghetti western twang of The Hellbenders "The Outlaw," The Space Cossacks "Mustang," and Boston's Four Piece Suit "Roughshod," to variations on the "Rumble" theme courtesy of an international crew featuring Belgium's Fyfty foot Combo ("Slinky"), Finland's The Downers ("Genocide"), and the Scandinavian ad-hoc group Spy-Fi ("The Shadow Knows"), Guitar Ace leaves few Wray guns holstered. Excursions into surf (San Francisco's Pollo Del Mar's frantic "Jack the Ripper") country (Deke Dickerson & The Eco-Fonics finds his inner Ricky Nelson on "Run Boy Run"), and poppy garage rock (The Gore Gore Girls run "Baby Doll" through the Shangri-Las' tough but tender wringer) show how Wray was far from a one-chord pony. A solo acoustic rendition of "Ace of Spades" from guitarist David Wronski even captures Wray's spooky power in an unplugged setting. By the time "Rumble" rumbles around -- a full 23 tracks into the album -- Croatia-based The Bambi Molesters' surf-heavy version seems nearly anti-climactic. Meticulous liner notes from G. Nicholl, an expert on the early history of rock & roll guitar, summarize and organize Wray's confusing career and label affiliations. Detailed track-by-track song capsules review the specifics of both the original version and this album's cover. The only element missing is the lack of specific personnel information. Regardless, this is a rousing, provoking, and successful tribute that not only sheds light on its subject's catalog, but spotlights international bands infused with and inspired by Link Wray's unique vibe. Allmusic
Please note that the S.O.T.D. blog will not close during the summer holidays (july & august) but the posts will be less frequent because we will post from cybercafes !

THE VICEROYS - Back in the U.S.A.

THE VICEROYS Back in the U.S.A. mini lp 1982 Sounds Interesting Rds 320 kbps

Strange blondes / Two insane / Jailbeat / Dance my life away / Tell me / Breathless / 7 come 11(bonus track).

Produced by Eso Teric.

The Viceroys : C. Keyes : Rhythm guitar / E. Teric : lead guitar, vocals / Sam G. : bass guitar / M. Bannister (RIP): drums.

"Not only their debut mini lp on Sound Interesting Records attract a hard rockin' following for this Buffalo band but their shows with the Blasters, Ventures & the Chesterfield Kings also earned them new fans . The Viceroys' sound is a blend of rockabilly and surf except for the last track (taken from "The rebel kind" compilation also on Sound Interesting records & Lolita

records for France : get it on the PPC blog !) : a pure Yardbirds-styled garage rock ! Source : "The Rebel Kind "

PS : Note that Mike Bannister , the drummer has played with a lot of bands , often with his friend Peter Case . Read what Peter says about him on his pcblog !

Thanks to Max for cleaning the covers !

VA - Trash On Demand vol. 3

VA Trash on demand Vol. 3 cd 1999 Ultra Under Rds/Amsterdamned Rds 320 kbps

THE BEAT ANGELS : Liquor pig boyfriend / CRYTAL ECSTASY : Crossroads / THE 440's : Let's go / CUBAN REBEL GIRLS : Dead eyes / THE BULEMICS : Blood orgy / JOE ALCOHOL & THE HONG KONG KNIFE : The passenger / DATE BAIT : She done moved / FREDDY LYNXX : Nancy Queen / THE KILLER DOLLS : Same old way / THE SABREJETS : Wine wine wine / TEXAS TERRI & THE STIFF ONES : If looks could kill / SHAKE APPEAL : Number one / BLACK JESUS : Live forever / THE CROOKS : Be a shock / THE SNATCHERS : Johnny / CHINESE TAKEAWAY : Nothing special / THE COSMIC GOBLINS : Ghost train / BLACK MARKET BABIES : Fucked from the start / JEFF DAHL : You ain't so cool / DAVE KUSWORTH : Sympathy for the devil.

"Hey all you poser punx and miscreants, hold on to you hats and strap yerself in ! Here comes 20 of the hottest, raunchiest, rockinest doses of feral scree out there.

Welcome to THRASH ON DEMAND VOLUME III !!!"

"With The Beat Angels , Phoenix coolest , sleaziest trash rockers. They've been kicked around and abused for ages and just keep getting better. It called "paying dues". This is new and unreleased.

Crystal Ecstasy from Finland who're carrying the Hanoi/Smack torch and doin' a damn sweet job of it . Glampunk deluxe ! This is from a cd-ep which never got outside Scandinavia.

The 440's from Philadelphia : Tatoo'd guitar gal Wendy and the boys are straightup, goodtime trash n burn and bgring to mind R. Birdman on this exclusive cut.

Cuban Rebel Girls : a Berlin allgirl combo. Dig that sexy, hypnotic riff action and smoldering vocals. This track come from their German only cd.

The Bulemics from Texas , kings of beer-swilling venom an' bile punk. Gerry and his band of merry psychos are currently in the midst of a maelstrom of attention that'd make ol' GG proud. Decide for yourself ! This is only available here.

Joe Alcohol & the Hong Kong Knife from Japan . Joe was bassist in the Tokyo Jet Boys , a legendary unit if ever there was one. Here he smokes a classic Iggy tunes in the Shinjuku glampunk fashion. And you ain't gonna find elsewhere..." Source Jeff Dahl (cd booklet)

THE GYROS

THE GYROS The Gyros mini lp 1984 wav

Non-stop holiday / For you / Big deal / Be my baby tonight / Willy womanly ways.

Produced by D. Young.

The Gyros : S. Nyhoff : vocals / S. Fonseca : guitars, vocals / J. Wallace : bass, vocals / K. Christensen : guitars, vocals / D. Irvin : drums.

The Gyros was a straight ahead rockabilly band from New york formed by S. Nyhoff who also created , with friend N. Johnson (the Delphobics) , the label Fake Doom Rds , home of the Whyos , the Delphobics , the Cucumbers, J. Burdette ...

JIMMY & THE MUSTANGS

JIMMY & THE MUSTANGS Jimmy & the Mustangs mini lp 1984 320 kbps

Bad Detective (Dolls cover) / The pressure's on / I'll steal for your love / Justine / Stomp / It's all over now.

Produced by M. Lloyd

Jimmy & the Mustangs : J. Haddox : vocals, guitar / M. Rohner : lead guitar / T. Mack : drums percussion / J. Cranford : upright & electric bass.

Formed in 1980 by vocalist J. Haddox , guitarist M. Rohner, bassist Jeff Cranford (R.I.P.) and drummer T. Mack, Jimmy and the Mustangs played blues- and roots-rock on their 1981 debut album, "Hey Little Girl". Two years later, MCA/Curb signed the band and released their self-titled major-label debut. Allmusic

"Hollywood california rockabilly band they were energetic talented and popular in the hollywood rockabilly scene of the early eightys..." WikiAnswers

M. Rohner (R.I.P.) also played guitar in TSOL, The Cruzados (2nd album) , Kenny Brown and Dino's Revenge.

Check the excellent cover of the Dolls song :"Bad detective"!

V A - POSITIVELY ELISABETH STREET

V. A. Positively Elisabeth Street cd 1989 Citadel 320 kbps

DIED PRETTY : Everybody moves / SACRED COWBOYS : Hell sucks / HAREM SCAREM : So jealous / PORCELAIN BUS : Driver / THE NEW CHRISTS : Headin' South / THE DUBROVNIKS : Fireball of love / THE BAMBOOS : With which to love you / THE MOFFS : Touch the ground / THE WRECKERY : Good to be gone / LOUIS TILLETT : Trip to Kalu-Ki-Bar / PLUNDERERS : Dying / STEVEN SMITH : Don't you wish / THE WHIPPER SNAPPERS : You never look / THE NEPTUNES : Julianne / WET TAXIS : Sailor's dream / MINUTEMAN : Voodoo Slaves.

This post does not need comments ... This is Australian rock at his best level on a fabulous label !!!

PLAY IT LOUD !

ROCK CITY ANGELS - Rock City Angels

ROCK CITY ANGELS Rock City Angels cd 2000 320 kbps

Teenage Lipstick Boys / Dark Angels / Glitter Queen / All Alone / Need Some Luv / Born to lose / Let's Go! / Cinderella In Black! / Pitbull Blues! / Cherry Street / L.A. Woman.

Produced by A. Panik & B. Durango.

Rock City Angels : B. Durango : vocals / A. Panik : bass / M. Barnette : guitar / R. Jukes : drums.

The Rock City Angels started out in the early 1980s as the punk band "The Abusers", the product of singer B. Bondage and bassist A. Panik's chance meeting at a late night showing of the movie "The Decline of Western Civilization".

Later evolving into the Angels, their hair got longer, "B. Bondage" became "B. St. Valentine," and the band began wearing eyeliner, lipstick and nail polish. It was during this time that they developed what would become their signature "glam" sound. The music was an aggressive mixture of punk and glam rock, which spoke of rebellion, failed relationships, and the underground culture that they epitomized. Songs such as "Cinderella in Black", "Hush Child", "Dark Angels" and "Teenage Lipstick Boys" were power chord driven and defiant, yet also hook centered and melodic. However, the band regularly suffered setbacks in their pursuit of becoming a known quantity, as they developed a reputation of having a revolving door when it came to membership. According to B. St. Valentine , "The true Rock City Angels that became popular in South Florida, opening for out of town bands like T.S.O.L., Tex & the Horseheads, and finally headlining our own shows, was me, A. Panik, D. Lightning, B. Shaw and B. Starr."

Although the band developed a large local following in South Florida, they were ready to call it quits by the mid-80's. At what was to be their farewell show, New Renaissance Rds offered the act a recording contract. The band then relocated to Los Angeles where they quickly rebuilt the kind of loyal fan base they had enjoyed in Florida. B. St. Valentine changed his name to Bobby Durango, and actor J. Depp, also from So. Florida, joined the band and played with them before getting a part on "21 Jump Street".

After signing with Worldwide Media, and under former manager G. Reinbold, Geffen Rds took notice and bought their contract from New Renaissance Rds in 1986. Geffen offered The Rock City Angels a 6.2 million dollar contract and sent the band to Memphis where they spent the next two years in seclusion. Stories about this time period vary depending on the source. Journalists in publications such as The Cutting Edge, Hit Parader, and RIP have theorized that the Rock City Angels were signed by Geffen to thwart potential competition with Guns 'N Roses.
Eventually "Young Man's Blues" was released in 1988. The band toured in support of the album with such acts as J. Page, J. Jett, and the Georgia Satellites, and recorded a wealth of material for a second album. At one point they recorded with Thin Lizzy guitarist B. Robertson. The band’s second album never saw the light of day as Geffen decided to drop the band. Many theories abound as to why they were dropped including drug use, a desire to keep Johnny Depp in acting, as well as fear of lawsuits concerning wrongly credited songs. According to the band's own web site, the song "Hush Child", which allegedly got them their deal with Geffen, was written by former lead guitarist D. Lightning, but was not so credited on the album.
New Renaissance Rds released Rock City Angels (often referred to as “the glam cd”) in 2000. This would have been the Angels’ first release if Geffen had not bought out their contract. In 2001 the band reunited and recorded a third CD titled "Use Once & Destroy" (buy it here!), which is said to be a return to the band’s more punk roots. The album remained unfinished for several years, but was finally completed in 2007 and released in November 2008.
After releasing "Use Once & Destroy", B. Durango put a new version of the band together. The 2009 version of Rock City Angels began playing live in June 2009 in both Memphis and Nashville, TN. Source

MARIONETTE - Blonde secrets & dark bombshells

MARIONETTE Blonde secrets & dark bombshells lp 1985 Heavy Metal Records 320 kbps

Ain't nothin' to it / Is that you / On a night like this / You better believe it / Too far gone / Raise hell / Gettin' sticky / My baby suxx / Nothin' but the night / Take me home with you / Staggerin' back to you / My baby sucks real bad (T. O. D. version) / Too far gone (T.O.D. version).

Marionette : R. Zell : vocals / D. Veal : guitar / K. K. : bass / Pig : drums.

Of all the main bands of the '80s London Glam scene, the one band that received the most initial press and gushing reviews were the fabulous Marionette. They had it down man...they were punk as shit. Fashion over function...guts over chops...silly, un-pretentious, obnoxious, loud, snotty...all the qualities that make for a rock band you can get behind. They became the scene's answer to the Hollywood Brats and frontman, Ray Zell, was the Flash Metal era's R. Crumb. His Pandora Peroxide comic strip was a vital part of Kerrang! Magazine as it was establishing itself as the only good magazine of the '80s Flash Metal Movement. Zell's Pandora character was the ultimate rock chick. Blonde, bitchy and tough, with big tits and dicksucking lips...she took the piss out of ego driven Kerrang cover stars while championing her underdog faves...part Wendy O., part Cherry Pop Tart, to most real deal rock fans, Pandora is as much part of the '80s Hair Metal movement as Aqua Net and cowboy boots.

As Pandora took off, so did Zell's rock journalism career and unfortunately Marionette were placed on the backburner.

Despite their short career, Marionette deserve to be remembered. Their two contributions to the Trash On Delivery album are the compilation's crowning achievements. "My Baby Sucks Real Bad" and "Too Far Gone" are primal and raw, primo-punk rawk at it's best. Zell spits classic lines like "Oh so very chauvinistic, she won't let me use her lipstick" in "My Baby Sucks Real Bad" like he's delivering the manifesto for the hairspray sect. In "Too Far Gone", Zell removes his tongue from cheek long enough to slurr "Just get me a whiskey. Just get me a beer. I don't need no girls tonight, I think I'm turning queer...Just get me a whiskey...Just get me a beer...But if you get me anything....GET ME OUTTA HEERREE!" ...trading his studied Andrew Matheson lisps for his Iggy yelps like the un-seasoned pro he wuz.

Completed by Dave Veal on guitar and drummer "Pig", the band inked with Heavy Metal Records in 1985. Their first and only record "Blonde Secrets and Dark Bombshells" appeared soon after and it was a bonafide sleaze rock monster. A lost classic of Dolls-y swagger, shitty NWOBHM production value and Pistols bravado, the album earned rave reviews in the UK press. The band also contributed the LP track 'Gettin' Sticky Over The Girl Next Door' to the 1985 Heavy Metal Records compilation album 'Rock Pretty'.
Unfortunately for us rock fans, the band just seemed to fizzle out as Ray Zell's status as a rock scribe became more solid. And with the end of Marionette came the end of embryonic stages of the '80s Glam Punk scene, as endless hairsprayed hopefuls emerged from the English sticks looking for chart action and Kerrang! cover status. Sleazegrinder
Great cd cover by MAX !

VARIATIONS - Nador

VARIATIONS Nador 1971 320 kbps

What a mess again /Waiting for the pope / Nador / We gonna find the way / Generations / Free me / Completely free / Mississipi woman / But it's alright / Come along / Promises / What's happening ... / Magda / Down the road / Love me.

Variations : J. Leeb : vocals / M. Tobaly : guitars / J. Grande : bass / J. Bitton : drums, percussions, vocals.

Les Variations was a French rock band (1969/1975) that sang in English and was known for its rock guitar based music. Often, their songs and compositions contained hints of North African and Jewish Sephardic melodies as well as the Hebrew songs of the band members' youth.

Les Variations signed with EMI/Pathé in 1969. It may be argued that Les Variations were the first and one of the best known rock groups from France, largely in part to commercial successes during their decade-long span. Between 1969 and 1973, they released the bulk of their albums. They often mimicked traits of the Rolling Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin.
By 1974, they adopted a more exotic style and signed with the American label, Buddah Records. It was then that they introduced sounds and styles taken from their Moroccan heritages, exemplified in the albums Moroccan Roll, and Cafe de Paris. During the recording and subsequent touring of these albums, the band added the American keyboard player/singer Jim Morris; and for the second album "Cafe de Paris" and its tours, they added the French/Tunisian singer/guitarist/composer R. Fitoussi and the celebrated French/Tunisian violinist of Arabic music, M. Meimoun. The band broke up in December, 1975.
Over the course of their career, Les Variations became the first French rock band to headline the Olympia Theatre in Paris; and toured Europe and America with many major acts of the era, including: Kiss, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Guess Who, Taste, Queen, Aerosmith ... among others. Source

Jo Leeb , their singer was a real rock singer , a "savage child" in the pure style of M. Jagger or S. Tyler. P. Eudeline has often written about him ...

In 2006 they have played again at Le Petit Vélo (see comments) & M. Tobaly has a new album out !

Don't forget second link : here !

THE ROCKATS - Make that move

THE ROCKATS Make that move mini lp 1983 320 kbps

Burning / One more heartache / That's the way / Go cat wild / Never so clever / Make that move / Rockabilly idol* / Note from the south*.

*Bonus tracks : Levi & the Rockats (from the "American Neo-rockabillies" compilation)

Produced by M. Thorne except* produced by B. Paine.

The Rockats : D. Preston : lead vocal / S. Smiff : bass, backing vocals / B. Ryan : guitar, backing vocals / D. B. Harvey : guitar, backing vocals, keyboards / M. Osborn : drums, backing vocals.

The Rockats began in 1980 after the breakup of Levi & the Rockats. Levi left to go solo and guitarist Stephen "Dibbs" Preston and stand-up bassist Smutty Smith decided to keep the band going. Preston moved to vocals and Barry Ryan and Tim Scott joined on guitars along with ex-New York Dolls and Heartbreakers drummer Jerry Nolan on drums.
Chris Blackwell (owner of Island Records) signed the band after he saw Iggy Pop, Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy), Frankie Infante (Blondie), and Johnny Thunders join the band on stage for a very long encore one night in New York. Island released "Live at The Ritz" in May 1981 to rave reviews and gained the band a nationwide following. The Rockats hit the road for the next year headlining their own shows as well as touring with or opening shows for acts such as Hall & Oats, The GoGo's, David Bowie, Dave Edmunds, The Cramps, Tina Turner, and more.


Tim Scott and Lewis King left in late '82 and were replaced with Danny B. Harvey and Mike Osborne. The band appeared in the movie "Where The Boys Are '84" and on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand". Soon after the group was signed to RCA and released the album "Make That Move" along with a video for MTV.
The Rockats broke up in 1985 and became involved in individual projects. Smith, Preston, and Ryan reformed in 1992 with drummer Ira Kay for a successful tour of Japan, where the group was very popular. Smutty left in 1997 and Dibbs and Barry continue to keep The Rockats rockin' with Mike "Chops" Laconte on the King Doublebass and Eddie Everett on drums. Source