Lost/Forgotten Album #1(9)80

Always one to conform, I too have jumped on the 80's bandwagon.

Well, at first I wanted to kind of conform. I was going to play the waiting game, see what Scott posted, not really care what Rjhog posted and then strike. If Scott posted something from 1980, I was going to post something from 1981. If he posted something from 1989, I would post something from 1987. There was a formula I worked on for many hours. Conformance in a way, but not really.

Then something funny happened. For the second week in a row, I had something ready to go and then changed my mind at the last minute. This week's change was due to my list of top 5 albums of 1980 (back then) as well as the grumpiness of those that felt last week's metal postings were causing issues with their dainty ears. Plusl, this is something Mike Pell would like, not that I really care.

Released in 1980, Rockpile features Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams. "During the late '70s, Rockpile was considered one of the great rock & roll bands, earning a reputation for blowing away every headlining act they played with, and they were just as good on record, acting as the backing band for solo albums by the group's co-leaders, Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds."*

Sadly, this is the only studio album Rockpile ever released since they broke up after a tour supporting this album, possibly due to a musical differences between Lowe and Edmunds. However, the group members did continue to collaborate with each other after the breakup.

I wonder if this album came out a couple years later if I would have even considered buying it. My musical taste had changed in 1982, and this probably would have fell by the wayside. Too soft for me. Wouldn't know though, still haven't figured out how to build that time machine yet. Not that it would make a difference since the album would still have came out in 1980 unless somehow I found a way to make them delay the album until 1982 but I would still know about the album in 1982 unless I erased everything that happened prior to 1982 from my mind and then......oh, forget it. It hurts my brain just thinking about it.

Seconds Of Pleasure

1. Teacher Teacher
2. If Sugar Was As Sweet As You
3. Heart
4. Now And Always
5. A Knife And A Fork
6. Play That Fast Thing (One More Time)
7. Wrong Again (Let's Face It)
8. Pet You And Hold You
9. Oh What A Thrill
10. When I Write A Book
11. Fool Too Long
12. You Ain't Nothin' But Fine

Availability: The original DC came out in 1990 and included 4 bonus tracks of Everly Brothers covers. Supposedly this was included with the vinyl as a 45, but I don't recall a 45. The 1990 CD is OOP, used will run you around $9. In 2004 a remastered CD was released with the above 4 tracks as well as 3 live tracks. This is also OOP and a new copy costs over $200. I have both versions and am a bit surprised both are OOP, especially the remastered version.

* allmusic.com

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Permalink Reply by RJhog (Admin) on January 26, 2014 at 3:23pm

The first song kicked this album of nicely. It almost could have been a .38 Special song. Those next two tracks, however, didn't really work for me.

Now the fourth track was outstanding. It kinda reminded me of The Mavericks. I think it was that duel, harmonizing vocal.

The guitar playing is interesting. The songs are short too, so it's a quick listen, which I like. But so far, I only like two of the first six songs.

Wrong Again (Let's Face It) does work. That's a cool little song. Now we're three for seven. Pet You And Hold You is good too. Is he singing to his dog?

Oh What A Thrill sounds like a Chuck Berry song. Cool intro. Super sweet solo too. Five out of nine so far.

When I Write A Book is great. Sounds kinda like a song someone else had about writing a book, maybe Elvis Costello or somebody like that.

Last two songs aren't great. The last one sounds like Chuck Berry again.

Overall, six out of twelve. Not bad. Not purchase material, but definitely enjoyed listening to it. Thanks for the post.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on January 27, 2014 at 2:48pm

So I've been picking at this for a few days now and I've come to a determination... This is mood music...

The first time I heard it I liked it for the most part, it was fresh, clean, well played and sung. Another time, it felt too Rockabilly, too Buddy Holly. Both of which aren't bad things, except rockabilly doesn't really scream purchase to me. Other than that, I can see why the band made noise in 1980, and then faded away. It didn't stick!

Nice post though, a true lost album featuring some great players...