New Wave

Screen13 · 10-02-2012, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

I hadn't heard "Boys Go Crazy" and "Another Lousy Day" before. (Until today I didn't even realize there *was* a third album by The Knack!) Very peppy music. That *would* be wild and funny if you actually bought back your own old casette, Screen.

I'd say in these two songs their strength is their instrumentation and not the lyrics, although they are both nice songs. The documentary about The Knack said how frustrating it was for them when people would always say, "When are you going to play another song like 'My Sharona?'" because they knew they could never top that. Ah well, that's the downside of fame. It always ends sometime!

True. Most of my like for Round Trip is mainly with trying to prove that they had something else in their sound, although there were a couple of times where it failed - Their "Africa" sounded like a failed audition for a new Love Boat theme for starters - but the Country style of "Pay the Devil" (The single...not really a wise choice as it was too far a move away) was a good thing and the slightly Beatles '67-esque happening of "We Are Waiting" was pretty good, kind of like a harbinger of LA's New-Psych scene of The 80's.

The Producer of Round Trip was Jack Douglas, and that should have brought some attention after JD's production of John and Yoko's album Double Fantasy, but it seriously went in and out of the Top 200 in a blink.

Actually, Feiger revived The Knack a few times, one for a critically accepted but little sold album called Serious Fun in '91, while "Sharona" was having a mega comeback of sorts (again, the Deal With the Devil Strikes Again!...and what did they say on that third album?), and a couple of other discs that were only known to their die hard following.

The best thing about The Knack's sound was that they were seasoned professionals who knew to keep it simple and play with a Mid 60's force while keeping it tight and well-produced for the industry of their time. Feiger is still known to Classic Rock collectors of rare music for his band Sky. "Sharona" sounded like a serious do or die time for them, as if this was the moment to seriously break through in the music biz after year of being on the sidelines.

FRED HALE SR. · 10-02-2012, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screen13

True. Most of my like for Round Trip is mainly with trying to prove that they had something else in their sound, although there were a couple of times where it failed - Their "Africa" sounded like a failed audition for a new Love Boat theme for starters - but the Country style of "Pay the Devil" (The single...not really a wise choice as it was too far a move away) was a good thing and the slightly Beatles '67-esque happening of "We Are Waiting" was pretty good, kind of like a harbinger of LA's New-Psych scene of The 80's.

The Producer of Round Trip was Jack Douglas, and that should have brought some attention after JD's production of John and Yoko's album Double Fantasy, but it seriously went in and out of the Top 200 in a blink.

Actually, Feiger revived The Knack a few times, one for a critically accepted but little sold album called Serious Fun in '91, while "Sharona" was having a mega comeback of sorts (again, the Deal With the Devil Strikes Again!...and what did they say on that third album?), and a couple of other discs that were only known to their die hard following.

The best thing about The Knack's sound was that they were seasoned professionals who knew to keep it simple and play with a Mid 60's force while keeping it tight and well-produced for the industry of their time. Feiger is still known to Classic Rock collectors of rare music for his band Sky. "Sharona" sounded like a serious do or die time for them, as if this was the moment to seriously break through in the music biz after year of being on the sidelines.

Most huge acts have been mentioned already. I'd throw in Joe Jackson, Missing Persons, Wall of Voodoo and Squeeze as other important acts. Joe Jackson always added cool jazz elements to his playing, and also bridged the gap between elvis costello and Billy Joel to me. A real cool sounding voice and he could really play the keys.

Dale Bozzio of MP really had the perfect voice for New Wave it was like bubblegum and cotton candy mixed together. A very tight band with great hooks, I always haf a great appreciation for how unique they sounded.

If you want unique Stan Ridgway is about as unique as you can get. WOV was always treading new territory and Ridgway continues to do it solo to this day. A really awesome song writer with a very eclectic sound and a very universal appeal.

Squeeze has always been one of those bands that doesn't really get talked about or heard by many. I think in the late 70's they were every bit as good as the Cars and Devo for churning out very diverse music with a great pop appeal. Their harmony on vocals and melody of their songs has always touched me in a deep way. Some consider them pop fodder, but dig a lil deeper, these guys can play.

Screen13 · 10-02-2012, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

Most huge acts have been mentioned already. I'd throw in Joe Jackson, Missing Persons, Wall of Voodoo and Squeeze as other important acts. Joe Jackson always added cool jazz elements to his playing, and also bridged the gap between elvis costello and Billy Joel to me. A real cool sounding voice and he could really play the keys.

Dale Bozzio of MP really had the perfect voice for New Wave it was like bubblegum and cotton candy mixed together. A very tight band with great hooks, I always haf a great appreciation for how unique they sounded.

If you want unique Stan Ridgway is about as unique as you can get. WOV was always treading new territory and Ridgway continues to do it solo to this day. A really awesome song writer with a very eclectic sound and a very universal appeal.

Squeeze has always been one of those bands that doesn't really get talked about or heard by many. I think in the late 70's they were every bit as good as the Cars and Devo for churning out very diverse music with a great pop appeal. Their harmony on vocals and melody of their songs has always touched me in a deep way. Some consider them pop fodder, but dig a lil deeper, these guys can play.

Squeeze seriously are under-rated!

Stan Rigeway was great with Wall of Voodoo, and pleasantly surprised me when he created "Don't Box Me In" (The song from the film Rumble Fish) with Stewart Copeland. The video was one of my favorites when I was a Teen, in an area that did not have cable and was in the vicinity of several late night video shows that showed some interesting stuff.

Missing Persons were another prefect example of seasoned musicians (Best known: Terry Bozzio, guitarist) going into New Wave and creating some music that's a good example of the time. The first album still stands up, actually!

Joe Jackson had quite an ambitious mind! I still have to hear a lot of his post-Night and Day work (still have time and You Tube...).

FRED HALE SR. · 10-02-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screen13

Squeeze seriously are under-rated!

Stan Rigeway was great with Wall of Voodoo, and pleasantly surprised me when he created "Don't Box Me In" (The song from the film Rumble Fish) with Stewart Copeland. The video was one of my favorites when I was a Teen, in an area that did not have cable and was in the vicinity of several late night video shows that showed some interesting stuff.

Missing Persons were another prefect example of seasoned musicians (Best known: Terry Bozzio, guitarist) going into New Wave and creating some music that's a good example of the time. The first album still stands up, actually!

Joe Jackson had quite an ambitious mind! I still have to hear a lot of his post-Night and Day work (still have time and You Tube...).

Squeeze were very crafted songwriters and they really were able to crossover from soul songs to pop and blues even. A really awesome discography that people will recognize once they delve into it.

I couldn't agree more on the Copeland collaboration in Rumble Fish what an awesome song, i'm happy you reminded me I need to buy that soundtrack again for keepsakes.

You hit it on the head with MP also they really had complex musicianship for a new wave band.

I encourage everyone to at least give Joe Jackson a shot, he is really quite a skilled lyricist and hes a very accomplished pianist and I really consider him and Elvis Costello the best crooners of the new wave era.

Unknown Soldier · 10-02-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

Squeeze were very crafted songwriters and they really were able to crossover from soul songs to pop and blues even. A really awesome discography that people will recognize once they delve into it.

I couldn't agree more on the Copeland collaboration in Rumble Fish what an awesome song, i'm happy you reminded me I need to buy that soundtrack again for keepsakes.

You hit it on the head with MP also they really had complex musicianship for a new wave band.

I encourage everyone to at least give Joe Jackson a shot, he is really quite a skilled lyricist and hes a very accomplished pianist and I really consider him and Elvis Costello the best crooners of the new wave era.

The great thing about Squeeze was that they had an instantly recognizable sound, you knew it was them and nobody else. In Tilbrook-Difford they had one of the very best British writing partnerships since Lennon-McCartney.

FRED HALE SR. · 10-02-2012, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

The great thing about Squeeze was that they had an instantly recognizable sound, you knew it was them and nobody else. In Tilbrook-Difford they had one of the very best British writing partnerships since Lennon-McCartney.

Couldn't agree more. I think they would definitely list The Beatles as their hugest influence also. I think they covered the spectrum pretty well and I was always enamored with their keyboards, they could be subtle or just take over a song, always dependent upon how much they wanted the vocals to take front and center. Certainly one of my favorite acts from the 70's. Sadly the last time I saw them live, Difford was sick and couldn;t make the trip. Hope to see them touring again, they still are quite a great act live.

Unknown Soldier · 10-02-2012, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

Couldn't agree more. I think they would definitely list The Beatles as their hugest influence also. I think they covered the spectrum pretty well and I was always enamored with their keyboards, they could be subtle or just take over a song, always dependent upon how much they wanted the vocals to take front and center. Certainly one of my favorite acts from the 70's. Sadly the last time I saw them live, Difford was sick and couldn;t make the trip. Hope to see them touring again, they still are quite a great act live.

Also, they weren't just a very British band but a London one at that, their language and humour was very typical of South London.

Best 3 albums:
East Side Story- Their most diverse and should've been a double but was reduced.
Argybargy- The definitive Squeeze album
Cool for Cats- Almost as good as Argybargy

FRED HALE SR. · 10-02-2012, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Also, they weren't just a very British band but a London one at that, their language and humour was very typical of South London.

Best 3 albums:
East Side Story- Their most diverse and should've been a double but was reduced.
Argybargy- The definitive Squeeze album
Cool for Cats- Almost as good as Argybargy

I'd put Argy and Cool For Cats as my top 2. I liked East side alot and their debut also, but Argy was a very complete album beginning to finish. Nice to see some others who appreciate Squeeze, I never tire of listening to them.

Unknown Soldier · 10-02-2012, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

I'd put Argy and Cool For Cats as my top 2. I liked East side alot and their debut also, but Argy was a very complete album beginning to finish. Nice to see some others who appreciate Squeeze, I never tire of listening to them.

I'm surprised that you like the debut, I found with the exception of a "Strong in Reason" and the excellent "Take Me I'm Yours" it's a bad album, John Cale was the wrong producer for them.

FRED HALE SR. · 10-02-2012, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

I'm surprised that you like the debut, I found with the exception of a "Strong in Reason" and the excellent "Take Me I'm Yours" it's a bad album, John Cale was the wrong producer for them.

Out of Control and The Call also appeal to me. It certainly isn't their best work but I enjoy the album overall. Strong In Reason is the cake for sure. I never even looked in to who produced it, Cale does seem like an odd choice.