• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Today's Boston Playlist

Hello... How can you NOT include "The Cars", especially side 1 AND side 2. one of the finest LP's EVER All Mixed Up AND Moving In Stereo, not to mention the hits!

and no mention of J Geils, Aerosmith (yes, I know, Overplayed but until about 1979, what a string of LPs)
 
BostonDave said:
The Cars
Candy-O
Elektra
1979
Click to expand...

Hey Dave,

If you like "The Cars" you will like this one.

ea9234a756d1d56c2875efae1a5.jpg
 
The Zulus

Self-Titled (1985)
Down on the Floor (1988)

"Boston, MA's the Zulus are often used to answering the trivia question, "Whatever happened to Human Sexual Response?" Zulus vocalist Larry Bangor and guitarist Rich Gilbert were founding members of Human Sexual Response, a demented post-punk group that existed from the late '70s to the early '80s. Human Sexual Response were staples of the Boston underground rock scene during the new wave era, and twisted songs such as "What Does Sex Mean to Me?" and "Jackie Onassis" were catchy and accessible enough -- despite the off-the-wall lyrics -- to receive some mainstream recognition. The band became a cult favorite, even appearing on the SCTV comedy program. However, Human Sexual Response's second LP, 1981's In a Roman Mood, disappointed fans and critics with its darker material. The group split up in 1982. Bangor, Gilbert, and drummer Malcolm Travis then formed Wild Kingdom. The band had to change its name when Mutual of Omaha, the sponsor of the Wild Kingdom TV show, threatened to sue them if they didn't. They became Gospel Birds; again, the appellation was short-lived as a music publishing company with the same name made them drop it. Finally, the group chose the Zulus. The Zulus had a louder, more straightforward rock & roll sound than Human Sexual Response; their angst-laden, guitar-heavy tunes fit well on late-'80s college radio, helping to pave the way for grunge. The Zulus were signed to Slash and released their debut album, Down on the Floor, in 1988. Down on the Floor was produced by Bob Mould of Hüsker Dü, one of the Zulus' obvious influences. In 1992, the band broke up. Travis then joined Mould in Sugar while Gilbert and bassist Rich Cortese formed Concussion Ensemble."

"...The Zulus grew out of one of Boston’s most hallowed late-seventies institutions - Human Sexual Response. That band featured a tight musical unit backing up three lead singers who generated a great deal of heat onstage and one huge local hit in "Jackie Onassis". After national recognition, Human Sexual Response lost two-thirds of its front lineup and subsequently much of its unique character. Not to be deterred, Wild Kingdom -- featuring HSR's Larry Bangor on vocals, the often astonishing Rich Gilbert on guitar, drummer Malcolm Travis and bassist Chris MacLachlan (later, Rick Coraccio of DMZ and the Lyres) -- rose from the ashes and onto the local scene in 1982. Mutual of Omaha, sponsors of the "Wild Kingdom" TV show threatened a legal safari, so the fledgling outfit became Gospel Birds. Unfortunately, for some lost reason, that didn't work out either. By the time the unit settled on The Zulus, their plight was almost comical -- band name du jour? But the Zulus were made of tough stuff -- they soon signed to the legendary Slash label and released Down on the Floor in 1988, produced by Husker Du’s Bob Mould, whose indie-rock credit limit was about as high as one could get. Sadly, the Zulus broke up in ’92. Travis was recruited into Mould's post-Husker band Sugar, and also drummed for Peter Prescott's Kustomized. Rich Gilbert, too, has continued to craft a brilliant musical career playing with such Boston heavyweights as Laurie Geltman, Frank Black and Tanya Donnelly. "

(by Carter Alan)
 
Classic Ruins
Lassie Eats Chickens (1986)

"Formed in 1978 by Frank Rowe (ex Baby's Arm) and Billy Borgioli (ex Real Kids), Boston's Classic Ruins were rootsy rockers "with proto punk and garage undertones". If they sound like they share the same sensibility as the Real Kids it’s probably because their original line-up included half of that band. F. Rowe, however is the main man of the band (with C. Biancucci on bass and P. Nardone on drums), and has proved as enduring an artist as Beantown compatriots Willie Alexander and Jeff Conolly. The Classic Ruins recorded their first single “1+1>2/ Nyquil Stranger” in 1980 on Ace Of Hearts records( Infliktors, Neighborhoods, the Lyres...).The band moved later to Throbbing Lobster records for their first LP “Lassie Eats Chickens” followed in 1989 by "Ruins Café" another lp on the french label New Rose."
 
Unnatural Axe

They Saved Hitler's Brain/The Plug/Summertime/The Creeper EP (1978)

"It is 1977. A scruffy neighborhood of Boston sprouts a band of naive working-class kids who think they can shake up the world with their personal take on the punk rock experience. Not content, or possibly even competent enough, to be another Jam clone or a Clash clone, Unnatural Axe bash out their own brand of two-chord and three-chord rock, and crank it up extra high.

Throughout 1978 and 1979 the Axe were playing regularly in New York, and at Cantone's, the Rat, and the Space in Boston as the opening act for the "big" UK and US new wave acts of the time. Their strangest billing must have been opening for The Police at the Rat in Kenmore Square. It is truly unfortunate that Sting squandered this "turning point" opportunity to learn the essentials of punk rock from Boston's finest. Sting's only question of the Axe vocalist: "Did you poop?"

But such is the fate for the greatest moments of brilliance of our times: few people recognize it. The big club owners didn't see it and the major record labels didn't hear it. After two short years, the Axe packed it in.

As a result, the Unnatural Axe discography is small, but what recordings do exist provide the documented proof that the Axe were, and shall always remain, the most important punk band Boston will ever call its own."

— Monsieur Michel Bastarache (Boston's punk rock gentleman)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom