Slick - Father Napalm (1985)

This is a rare and highly sought-after release from a studio-only California band.

1 Father Napalm
2 Jeans to Jeans
3 Gutter Trash
4 South Blackstone Street
5 Last Rhapsody
6 A.K.M.

Listen to "Gutter Trash".

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The Pictures

The Pictures was a British band who released very little.

I first heard of them from the Unicorn Record's 7" compilation "The Phase III Mod Bands" song "My Home Town" which, for me, stood out above all of the other songs and bands in that series. I tried tracking down anything else they might have released and only found three other songs: "Down My Street" from a limited flexi they did with the band The Off Beats (I have their album as well. I'll post it if anybody gives a good-God-damn), the song "Don't Leave Me" from the compilation "Diverse...if Nothing Else" from 1986 which also included songs from The Risk and The Gents, and "Strange Thing" from the Unicorn comp "Unicorn One...Beyond Tomorrow" from 1987.

Then I struck gold when I found a copy of this tape. I have to wonder how many copies of this gem actually exists. There are only four songs and two of them were previously released. The two that I didn't already have were amazing and I must admit that I'm confused why these weren't the ones the band promoted.

Hear "Catch 22" from the demo tape.

Anyway, here is (what I believe) every song this band ever recorded:

The Pictures demo tape (1986 - or 1987)
1 Pictures
2 Down My Street
3 Catch 22
4 Don't Leave Me
 *Down My Street (from the vinyl - crackles galore, but no tape hiss - same version but this was included for comparison)
*My Home Town
* Strange Thing

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The Pin-Ups - Take One (1981)

1 Write it on the Walls
2 Can't Get Enough
3 Pin-Up
4 Confession
5 Only for Fun
6 Stranglers
7 Lies
8 Anarchy or Cake
9 Not Alone
10 The Candle
11 Snowman
12 Boys Dressed Up as Girls
13 Music for Cure
14 Lies, Too

Listen to "Write it on the Walls"

Listen to "Anarchy or Cake"

Listen to "Music for Cure"


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EMS - EMS 12" EP (1984)

This was a short-lived band from Southern California that only ever released this one EP. It has become a collectors item because it features vocalist Rebecca Hamm who went on to become a recognized visual artist and teacher.

HERE is her website.

A1 - Is it that Time Again?
A2 - Breakin' All the Rules
B1 - Having a Good Time
B2 - Not to Blame

Listen to "Not to Blame"

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8 Halbe - Feed the Krauts (1987)

Somebody told me that, based on the 'kind of music that I listen to' I would love this record.
Maybe I should have asked what 'kind' of music they think I listen to before I bought this record.
Hopefully one of you will like it.

1 Fall in Love
2 No Hiding
3 Jimmy be Free
4 Fette Weiber
5 Five Minutes
6 Semen (The Bonnie Bells of Tubingham)
7 Nachts um Halb Drei
8 Seemann
9 Gone Away
10 La La La
11 It Could be You
12 Haey You
13 Sent Me Free

Listen to "Fall in Love"

Listen to "Five Minutes"


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Sandglow Marinas - Gone to China 7" (1983)

This is a British synth group that didn't release anything else but this one single with the exception of their song "Power of TV" that was on the first Tyger Annual compilation.

"Power of TV" is, by far, my favorite song from that compilation and I had to seek out anything else they did which ends here.  Neither song on this records holds a candle to Power of TV but both are likeable new wave tunes.

I included Power of TV with this download so you can compare yourself.

[YouTube is not letting me embed right now but you can hear Power of TV HERE.]

A - Gone to China
B - Sue of Harrow
* - Power of TV

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Diatonix - Strange Place (1987)

Band from Australia.

1 Recession Time
2 Strange Place
3 Summer
4 Prisoner

Listen to "Prisoner"

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The Geekais - Nincompoop (1988)

British band that sounds at times like they were influenced by the  Dead Milkmen, The Higsons, and maybe a bit of Pigbag. It's kinda punk, kinda funky.

1 Head Hunting in Toytown
2 Finney County
3 Fool for All Seasons
4 Wicka
5 Jittery City
6 Dance of the Sperm

Listen to "Head Hunting in Toytown".

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The Reign - Fine Line 7" (1988)

These guys were from Houston, Texas. They put out this 7" that I really like, then they released a full length in the early 90s that I didn't care for.
"Fine Line" starts out with a mod beat and a saxophone that sounds a little too upbeat and happy but then the vocals come in and it just works. This sounds like the sort of thing that was popular in Australia at the time with bands like Mi Sex and V Spy V Spy.

A - Fine Line
B - Armageddon

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Pascal Boidart - Never Land 12" EP (1986)

Another California release recorded in Beverly Hills. I have no idea who Pascal Boidart is but a Google search brings up the name as a television editor in L.A.

I had this record for years and never really paid much attention to it but only recently have I gave it another spin and realized how great it actually is. Four excellent tracks of new wave rock.

1 The Land of Silence
2 The Ocean
3 Rule
4 Cocktail and a Zest of Lemon

Listen to "Cocktail and a Zest of Lemon"

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