Five More Forgotten Power Pop Bands (That Are Actually GREAT!)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ค. 2024
- After counting down five awesome power pop bands that were forgotten by history, our community let us know the ones you missed, as well! Join Bijan while he highlights some of YOUR favorites and counts down five more forgotten power pop bands that are actually great!
For those of you who have never forgotten these bands, thank you! I am grateful to those of you who have brought them to my attention! I aim to spread the word to our little corner of the internet, as well.
And, of course, if you like these videos and want to see more, please subscribe to Pop Rocks Radio and stay tuned for more musical adventures with Bijan! Don't forget to hit that like button if you enjoyed the video and share it with fellow power pop lovers. 💥
Some great reading on Power Pop:
amzn.to/3rPybRQ
amzn.to/45lg6ZF
00:00 Introduction
01:01 Number 5
01:55 Number 4
02:48 Number 3
03:47 Number 2
04:35 Number 1 - บันเทิง
I loved the Producers and Off Broadway.. Worked with both bands and they were not only good, but a very nice bunch of guys. I still listen to there songs today 40 year later.
I love to hear it when artists you love turn out to be great people, too. Thanks for sharing that and thanks for watching!
I worked with Producer’s bassist Kyle Henderson when he released a solo record in the Christian industry.
@@shawnuel Awesome! I had read he had done some work in the Christian music industry. Be interested to have a listenn...any recs from that catalog I can look up? Thanks!
Todd Rundgren as a solo artist as well as his bands The Nazz & Utopia did a lot of excellent power pop that could easily fill up a whole segment. Songs like Love In Action, Open My Eyes, We Gotta Get You A Woman, Time Heals, Couldn't I Just Tell You, You Cried Wolf, and many more that are classic power pop songs.
I think Todd is amazing. His career as an artist is really just unparalleled. If you haven't already, check out the little short I did on him: th-cam.com/video/aQnRQECyoS8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=1hMS1I0DKcDWDC_C. Thanks!!
Met Todd backstage at an Aerosmith show. I said I'm not really into your stuff,😀😀😀, if you could have seen his jaw drop, but my brother is and he even explained what a great job you did producing Cheap Trick. Big smile and said, Please tell your brother that I said thanks! Great attitude, solid guy! 👍
I was in awe to see The Speedies on this video, as I went to the same high school with Greg Cruzen(probably misspelling the last name). He gave me a 45 of Let Me Take Your Foto. Great song, great group! I for the longest time have had a picture of him I randomly took at a party he was at. Lost touch after graduation, I hope he's doing well.
Wow...very cool! Would love to track them down and see what they're all up to. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching!
The Producers. You Make the Heat. Awesome.
Amen. Thanks for watching!
They were so cool. Dug those Wayne Famous keys!
@@keithkoenig5320 I know! Someone else pointed out that must have been quite heavy (and a real keytar would have been a little easier to work with). But no one looked as cool with a keytar as Mr. Famous with his keys. 😁. Thanks for watching!
Don't forget one of their best. "What's he got, that I ain't got" pure 80s pop bliss.
@@brettlee-2112 absolutely! What a way to kick off that album, too. Thanks!
It's good to see some Aussie power pop in a list for a change (yes, I'm from the land down under). 🎸
Welcome back...good to see you, Rich! Too many great bands from Australia...we'll do our best to show them some love! Cheers!
I saw the Producers around 1990 in my college town at a bar that doubled as a laundromat. They should've been bigger. I worked in college radio, and we all played them a lot on our shows.
Sounds awesome. We had a place like that here in Seattle (Sit & Spin...love that name)...great place to see a show. Happy to see how much love this band has gotten over the years!
Plimsouls/Fishbone/Busboys/Missing Persons/Twenty Twenty/Gary Myrick(guitar talk.. great mtv vid -"cant stand the heat! "/Rockpile/Nick Lowe/Dave Edmonds.....🙃
Fishbone is the G.OA.T.
Not a bad name on that list! Someone else commented about Fishbone - seriously no band like those guys...love it! Thanks for watching!
@@poprocksradio 😁👽🤖🕺
Producers were awesome. Most underrated band of the 1980's. Really talented guys who wrote great tunes!!
Love those guys! The original lineup is still playing, too...hope to catch them one of these days (videos of their live shows are amazing). Thanks for watching!
When i was watching this list i thought of the Producers, and then Boom! there they were at #1. Saw them live in Savannah in the mid 80s they were Awsome!! Glad you showed all these forgotten Bands some love 👍
Thanks for that...I appreciate it! So many great bands (like The Producers) that deserve all the attention we can give them. Thanks for watching!
thanks for the memory jog. sad to hear we've lost cliff johnson, he was a great guy. I got to open a few shows for them on the first US tour. great lists, keep 'em coming! cheers, cletis carr, sneakers (1978-82)
Very cool...thanks for sharing that! Btw...watched your video for "Hard Working People"...really enjoyed that song...especially the line "once upon a time we got paid to play music". Amen, brother. Cheers and thanks for watching!
This brings a tear to my eye. It was true in the 80’s and in the 60’s and 70’s as well. There were HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of performers who produced great music and are long gone and almost forgotten, except by the precious few like us.
Today? I don’t think so.
So many great artists...hope to do what I can to remedy some of that for our little corner of the internet! Thanks for watching!
Great Video! Thank you for reminding me how old I am. 43 years ago I bought the Speedies Single '' Something on my mind'' I loved it! Played it all the time throughout the 80's also around the same time saw the Mosquitos and the Smithereens on the same bill at the Lonestar Cafe in nyc. Where did the time go? So many bands, so little time. Love Pop Rocks Radio,Let's all work to keep Power Pop alive.Thanks Bijan you have given us a platform to voice our love for all things Power Pop!
Thank you! The one thing that has struck me with this channel is that there are SO many of us out there that love this music. People like Curt Vance and Steve Schnee (just to name a couple) are spreading the good word - hope we all can give something to the longtime fans and get the word out to bring some new ones along, as well. Thanks for watching!
Loved the Smithereens. Saw them at the Holllywood Paladium in '87. RIP Pat 🙏
@@-sunstar9778 Great live band! I saw them in Seattle back around '88 and they brought half the crowd up on stage with them during their cover of "Why Don't We Do It in the Road"...was pretty cool. Thanks!!
What a great list! Thank you! If you ever do one on Boston bands, the ones that just missed the big time include #TheNeighborhoods (Prettiest Girl); #TheLyres (Don't Give It Up Now); #ModernLovers (Roadrunner); #NewEngland (Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya); Face-To_Face (10-9-8, Under The Gun); and #TheDelFuegos (Don't Run WIld; I Still Want You). I bet if you listen to a couple of those songs I mention, you'll be like "I know that one!" Thanks again, Bijan!
Thank you! Such a great list you have. Didn't know The Neighborhoods, but just listened and really love "Prettiest Girl". Same with The Lyres. The others are all stellar...I think New England doesn't get enough attention. Thanks for the recs and thanks for watching!
Thank yoyu for ther comment and for your videos, @@poprocksradio
The Atlantics...Jon Butcher
I assume you mean The Atlantics of "When You're Young" fame and not the surf rock band? 😂. Actually, they're both fun. And is that Jon Butcher Axis? Thx!
The Outlets, The Lines.
The Producers are an amazing band, one of my favorite all time. I grew up in Atlanta and saw them many times. Kyle Hendersons bass playing was a big influence on me. Check out their first 2 albums for sure. Amazing stuff.
Awesome...a lot of love for those guys here. Well deserved, too! Thanks for watching!
Good job making Atlanta's The Producers #1. They were playing the same big rock bars in the South that my bands were in the early 80s. I met the band's lawyer through a guitarist I knew in Birmingham and heard a lot of their songs on a cassette he had before they were released. The bass player Kyle Henderson was also in an earlier band called Whiteface that was incredibly talented & did all sorts of styles, all 4 guys were lead singers. The Producers should have been big stars, but it was a record company political problem that prevented it; that happens a lot. Their first album was like a greatest hits album.
Agreed, they should have been huge! Thanks for sharing about them and thanks for watching!
You mentioned the Illinois bands and it made me think of The Elvis Brothers and their debut album Movin’ Up. “It’s So Hard” got a bit of airplay outside of Chicagoland.
The Elvis Brothers is a band that comes up time and again. Definitely on the list for more. Thanks for watching!
The Plimsouls were a Hollywood mainstay at the Central and Starwood clubs in the early 80's. Great band that should have been hugh.
"A million mi-i-iles away!"
I will never understand that either...the music business is so frustrating like that. But if you know, you know. 😉. Thanks!!
"What's he got that I ain't got?" I STILL listen to The Producers! I tried and tried and tried to help them break through by playing the egg-suckin' grooves off that first elpee on the radio. I also played Off Broadway's debut on radio when it was first released. Ah, well...at least we tried.
We gotta keep fighting the good fight, right? The fact that these bands are still loved by so many means you did it. Thanks for that, and thanks for watching!
Great stuff. New sub here! 3 of my favorite examples from this era were New Jersey's Quincy and their self titled debut. The Fools from Massachusettes ( I was smitten with their album Sold Out). Also Philadelphia act The A's. Keep poppin!
Welcome to the channel! Hadn't heard Quincy...just listened to "Turn the Other Way Around"...really like that song. Funny - Apple Music classifies it as "American Tradition Rock"...not sure where that comes from. lol. Someone else also mentioned The Fools...I got quite a kick out of the "Psycho Chicken" video. Listened to a couple tracks from The A's, as well...fun stuff. Thanks for subscribing and thanks for watching!
I think I saw The Fools open up for The Knack.
@@rhepner2787 That must have been quite a show! Cheers!
Great stuff, and thank you for the IPO shout out!
Thanks, David...I appreciate that. LOVE what you do, sir!
@@poprocksradio Me, too. David invited The Bings to reunite after 40 years for IPO in Los Angeles in 2023.
@@TheBings That's awesome! Btw...just listened to your album "Power Pop Planet"...really loved it! Adding a few tracks to the show. Thanks for that!
@@poprocksradio Wow, that is so cool! "Power Pop Planet" will be coming out soon as a Vinyl LP on Bachelor Records. All the sudden attention is unreal 40+ years after we recorded the tracks, broke up, and lost the mostly-unmixed studio tapes. They turned up in a filing cabinet in 2020. This led us former Bings bandmates on a 2-year adventure of getting the tapes restored, digitized, and finally mixed by our 1981-82 producer. We self-released the songs in 2023 on CD with downloads on Bandcamp, etc.. Suddenly, our '80s songs began popping up on radio and podcasts all over the world. It's been so unexpected. BTW: Our history is steeped in the Hollywood scene, as we played Madame Wong's, The Troubadour, and all over SoCal . . . . In the late-'70s I worked at Greg Shaw's Bomp! Records & Magazine (home to Devo, Josie Cotton, The Romantics, Shoes, The Last, The Plimsouls, Iggy Pop, Flamin' Groovies, 20/20, and so many other great bands). ~DAVE 😎
Wow...great story. Would love to hear more! If you feel like sharing, hit me up at bijan@poprocksradio.com so we can connect...thx!
I have The Producers and You Make the Heat. Awesome power pop!
Couldn't agree more...thanks for watching!
Thanks for including The Mosquitos!! A very talented band with many great original songs that unfortunately weren’t heard by enough people. But last year a double CD compilation of studio & live recordings was released on Kool Kat (and Bandcamp) and a compilation record came out on Area Pirata. Worth a listen, seek them out!
LOVE those guys...really deserve more recognition. Their songwriting is pretty amazing. For those who want to hear more, here's a link to the Kool Kat bandcamp William refers to: koolkatmusik1.bandcamp.com/album/the-mosquitos-this-then-are-the-mosquitos. Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
I remember Off Broadway, helps growing up in Wisconsin. They got air play even in the central part off the state.
Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
The Producers!!!
'nuff said! Thanks for watching!
Love The Producers and Off Broadway.
Thanks for watching!
New subscriber. After many years I thought I knew my power pop. Wrong! Not one of these bands was on my radar and all deserve to be. I know The Pursuit of Happiness was mentioned in comments for another of your vids, but Moe Berg had a band prior to them called The Modern Minds. You should check out the single "Theresa's World" - power pop perfection!
Welcome to the channel! That's really been the fun of it for me...I keep getting the best recs for bands that were never on my radar, either. Speaking of which...hadn't heard The Modern Minds before, but man, I LOVE that song "Theresa's World" and "Go" is really cool, too. I will dig into them more...great rec! Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
@@poprocksradio The pleasure is mine
I saw the Producers and Romantics in VA years ago. hadn't heard of the Producers then, good stuff. The Romantics, Classic!
Was that on the same bill? That would have been something... Thanks for watching!
yes!@@poprocksradio
I was recently reminded of a Canadian band called Trooper. My brother listened to them a lot in the late 70s
Oh! They're a great band! Still going strong, as far as I know, too. "Raise a Little Hell" is a fun song. Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
This is a very good list, cause the only band i knew vaguely was The Producers cause they were on a compilation i had in my 20's
Awesome! Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
Yeah, Mosquitos!
How about Dirty Looks?
Man, just listened to "Let Go"...how did I not know this band?! So great! Thanks for bringing them to my attention and thanks for watching!
@@poprocksradio you’re welcome… and thank you!
The Producers are AWESOME!
So much love for that band out there...love it! Thanks for watching!
Saw the Producers at the Attic in Myrtle Beach on a Tuesday night in 1985 or 86. I think that I was the only person there who was a fan, great show.
Oh wow...cool. I bet everyone else left as fans, though! 😀. Thanks for watching!
Marvelous 3
Great rec! If you haven't heard it yet, their new album shows they've still got it, too. Thanks for watching!
Love The Innocents. Their album POP FACTORY is a classic.
Amazing that their 2000s albums are as stellar as anything they did in their "heyday". Agreed...Pop Factory is a classic! Thanks for watching!
I absolutely loved The Producers and I am glad I am not the only one.
I've been so pleasantly surprised at the response I have gotten (even before this) about The Producers. They made quite an impression in their heyday and are still loved today. Thanks for watching!
Please could you include Silver Sun in your next video? This 90s Power Pop band had moderate success in their native UK (a few top forty singles) but didn't amount to much elsewhere.
Good call...great band! I just included "Golden Skin" in my radio show a couple weeks back, check it out if you get a chance: www.mixcloud.com/poprocksradio/pop-rocks-radio-episode-11/. I'll dig into their story...would love to include them! Thanks for the rec and thanks for watching!
There is a Chicago-Based podcast that focuses on obscure power pop and AOR called 1000 Greatest Misses. It might your new favorite podcast!
Really looks awesome...you guys play some of my favorites! Definitely a follow...can't wait to check it out! Thanks!!
Pezband from a Chicago suburb - Oak Park I believe
LOVE those guys! I think Thirty Seconds Over Schaumburg is one of the greatest live EPs ever. Thanks for watching!
Off Broadway's On was a fixture on my Freshman year turntable.
Nice! Thanks for watching!
Man, I wish I could create quality vids like Pop Rocks Radio!!
Man, coming from you, that means a lot. Thanks so much, sir! I'm a big fan of what you do!
@@poprocksradio If I could do it half as good as you, I might be a big fan of what I do!
@@StephenSchnee you are too kind, sir!
I think criminally overlooked is The Explosives from Austin, TX. Active in the late 70's, early 80's, their singles were amazing. They had minor success with Girl Like You. They backed up Roky Erickson in the late 70's and again in the early 2000's when Roky started performing again. Definitely a shame they never made much of dent in the power pop scene.
Ah! Great band! They have been mentioned by a few other folks on some earlier videos I did...looks like there is still a lot of love for them out there. Thanks for watching!
When I saw the thumbnail title, I immediately thought "I wonder if they considered Off Broadway?" Hooray! Full moon turn my head around and' 'round...
Awesome...thanks for watching!
I’ll give you one………4 out of 5 Doctors. Not sure how they didn’t make it big. Great DC band when I went to school at the University of Maryland.
I admit I hadn't heard of them, but I listened to a few tracks off their s/t debut...really enjoyed that! They have a unique sound ("Waiting for the Change" in particular has stuck with me) and seem like they would have been great live. Thanks for that rec and thanks for watching!
Another Maryland guy here, and I do remember them...also The Ravyns from Baltimore - years before the football team!
@@stevenkramer3431 Ah! Their song "Raised on the Radio" off the Fast Times soundtrack is an absolute classic. Thanks!!
I saw The Producers open for Cheap Trick and they nearly stole the show! But.....ya know.......CHEAP TRICK!
Man, what a bill that must have been. And Cheap Trick! If you know, you know. And if you don't, you should. 😂. Thanks for watching!
One very underrated and missed power pop band of the early '80's was a band from my hometown of Tallahassee, Florida. Does anyone out there remember the Swimming Pool Q's?
But you guys are absolutely right about the Producers. Those guys freakin' rocked!
Hadn't heard them before, but listened to a couple tracks off a compilation ("The Bells Ring" and "She's Bringing Down the Poison")...really enjoyed those! Were they big around Tallahassee? Thanks for watching!
@@poprocksradio They were kind of a "cult favourite" with a mostly college audience in the area. The band became as big in Tallahassee as much as The Producers did in Atlanta, which isn't that far away. Moreover, both bands existed around the same time frame.
@@thomasharris3040 Ah! Looks like they're still playing today, as well! And you have to respect any band that has one of their members listed as playing the "theremin". 😁. Thanks!!
@@poprocksradio Really?!? I had no idea! Thanks for the tip. I will definitely check it out.
I liked Steel Breeze "You Don't want Me anymore" 1982.
That's a great song! Just now rewatched that video for the first time in a looooong time...I'll have to dig into their catalog some more! Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
What is the song @ 0:15 seconds into the video? I recognize it, but cannot place it.
That's "Imagine Me Without You" by Screams off their s/t album. Great and underrated album, btw...check it out if you can (not streaming, as far as I can tell, but there are tracks up on TH-cam). Thanks for watching!
@@poprocksradioThank you!
The producers are still kicking ass..
Those guys are amazing... Thanks for watching!
A newer band you might not know, but well worth checking out is Suzy and Los Quattro. I'm not sure if they're still together or not, I'm afraid. They're from Barcelona, Spain, and while their songs are in English, their Facebook is in Spanish, and... no habla. They do some great covers of songs by Phil Seymour and Candy, have awesome originals, and even recorded and toured with the Rubinoos! Well worth your time to check into.
Great rec! Loved the Candy cover and listened to a few other tracks, as well. Fun band. Thanks!!
I saw Off Broadway when they came out opening for Judas Priest in Hammond Indiana. They were great! Not a bad song on their first album. I bought it and The Producers albums when they first went on sale.
Awesome. I admit I had to scratch my head when you said they opened for Judas Priest, but honestly, I think Off Broadway could hold their own. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching!
The Producers - forgotten? really? Lots of airplay, MTV hits, great band! Granted they should have been bigger, but they weren't forgotten!
Amen…love those guys! Thanks for watching!
Forgotten
New Orleans had some solid power pop in the late 70's/ early80's. The Dukes were in the vein of Cheap Trick, The Cold were local celebrities, Lenny Zenith & RZA was described as being "like a teenage Elvis Costello."
A lot of love for The Cold here in the comments...they are very good, too! Having a little trouble finding The Dukes (so many bands with the same name!). If you have any links or more info on them, please send them my way! I found a live video of what's billed as a "sort of" reunion of RZA playing "Girl Next Door"...man, that was fun. Lenny Zenith's solo stuff is really good, too. Will dig into them more! Thanks for the recs and thanks for watching!
@@poprocksradio Do a search for "Metry Dukes" (since they were from the New Orleans suburb of Metairie).
@@poprocksradio search "Metry Dukes" since they were from the New Orleans suburb of Metairie. Lenny Zenith was close to getting a record deal in the 80's until they learned he was transgender.
@@poprocksradio search "Metry Dukes" (as in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie). Lenny Zenith was on the verge of getting a record deal in the 80's until they learned he was transgender. RZA will lead to the rapper so add "Can't Never" and "Signal 30" to your search. Those two songs were featured on local compilations in the early 80's.
The Pop was incredible.
The Pop is great! Someone else recommended them, as well. Do you have a favorite from them? Thanks for watching!
How about The Hitmen? Super unknown power pop band from 79-82 ish... And there was another similar band called The Radiators who I believe were from Australia (not the New Orleans band). I always wondered why neither band got huge.
Is "I Don't Mind" theirs? I watched that video (dancing t-bone steak, and all!)...great band! I really like their guitar player, too. Listened to a couple tracks from The Radiators off Feel the Heat...I'm surprised I've never heard them, either...great stuff! Thanks for the recs and thanks for watching!
Saw the producers warm up for the !inks around 82
Nice! Couldn't find anything on "!inks"...should that be "Inks" or "Kinks"? Thanks!
I always thought The Romantic got left behind. Killer life shows.
Amen to that. Thanks for watching!
Ever heard of Fotomaker? You could do a whole segment just on them. They were a power pop supergroup out of NYC / Long Island in 1978 which included two members of The Rascals and the guitarist from the Raspberries, but the two stars of the band were two unknown Long Island Italians who wrote and sang all the songs. Their first album could have been a greatest hits album as there wasn't a weak song on it. They did other styles as well, but they really nailed power pop. They were signed to Atlantic Records and dropped after the 3rd album which was an absolutely horrible Disco album they did in desperation.
LOVE Fotomaker! Their first album is among my favorites. They really showed that Wally Bryson was as integral to the Raspberries' sound as Eric Carmen. Thx!
The Aquanettas and NZ’s The Exponents. Perhaps more of the one hit wonder variety tho both bands created masterpieces - Mind Full of Worry & Why Does Love Do This To Me?
Hey Sir...welcome back! Hadn't heard either, but enjoyed both of those songs! Didn't realize The Aquanettas had their song on the "Amateur" soundtrack from the Hal Hartley film...was a big fan of that film back in the day. Thanks (as always) for the recs!
I confess I’ve never heard any of the bands in the video. I would like to add 2 bands: first from my Baltimore, The Ravyns, well known for that song from the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High (Raise on the Radio).
The other one is Billy Satellite, from California’s Bay Area. They wrote and recorded an eventual huge hit for Eddie Money, I Wanna go Back!
Oh, The Ravyns are a great band (great song, too!). Didn't know "I Wanna Go Back" was not Eddie Money's song...I listened to the Billy Satellite version...nice harmonies! Thanks for those and thanks for watching!
@@poprocksradio Gregg Rollie formerly from Journey also had an 80s version of the song.
@@marhherz Ah, will check it out...thanks!!
Power pop masters, Human Radio from Memphis, TN. HR Released a self titled debut in 1989 on Columbia Records.
Ah! I remember their song "Me & Elvis"...fun band! What other power pop band has a violin and accordion in it??? Thanks for the rec and thanks for watching!
Two bands that I think should be at the top: Twenty Twenty, a synth pop rock band with great hooks, is up there. However, the band that caused another band to rename itself The English Beat, was The Beat. Pop culture missed out on this amazing band(now called The Paul Collins Beat), and millions of people never heard this amazingly tight band. No one like them. Trust me on this! Their debut album The Beat is awesome.
Ohhhhhh...you named two of my faves there! Planning a video for 20/20, and if you haven't already seen it, check out my interview with Paul Collins about his new album: th-cam.com/video/iKHl6jfjYV4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=x9a4IL5P5X2x1e5Z. Thanks for watching!
You should chronicle Fools Face out of Springfield Missouri.
Didn't know Fools Face - just listened to "Here to Observe" and "Way Back in '78"...such great energy! Thanks for the rec and thanks for watching!
The Cold out of New Orleans in the early '80's was a great one to consider!
Their drummer Chris Luckette played with Dash Rip Rock for awhile. And speaking of New Orleans, there's also the Red Rockers.
@Ted_James whose guitarist was John Thomas Griffith who is now with Cowboy Mouth. They've been around forever and have a great live show but they also didn't quite fully take off nationally even though they tour smaller clubs nationally.
@@lsuchris64Yep, been a fan for decades. They definitely should've been bigger.
After sifting through the search results that came back for "coldplay" 😂, found their website: www.threechordcity.com/. What a fun band! Must have been great to see live. Thanks!!
@poprocksradio also, here's a Cold concert from back in the day: th-cam.com/video/L-scacwUk1M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=yY6v6Pfut_KTQ9PV
Off Broadway went by Off Broadway USA because there had already been a British band by the name of Off Broadway. I have their records and saw them live once.
Ah, you're absolutely right...that is officially their name...thx! Great band...looks like they would have been a lot of fun live. Thanks for watching!
The Raspberries (to me) are the ultimate power pop band. There is a band you didn't touch upon that are great. The band is called, "Myracle Brah" led by Andy Bopp they are out of Baltimore, Maryland & have had several CD's out. Check out the song , "No More Words" from their last CD 'Can You Hear The Myracle Brah?" Classic power pop in the vein of the Raspberries.
Oh! I played their song "I'd Rather Be" on the radio show www.mixcloud.com/poprocksradio/pop-rocks-radio-episode-10/ a few months back...really loved that! I admit I haven't dug into their catalog enough yet, but will definitely check it out. Thanks!!
Look up Young Modern. Aussie band from late 70's with one album. It might take a bit of online studying.
Great band! I admit I hadn't heard them, but looks like they put out a compilation last year and I have it on now...great stuff! "Countdown" and "Girl of Mine" so far are my faves. Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
@@poprocksradio You're probably aware that Countdown was a very and powerful music show in Australia. Blondie, John Mellancamp and The Motels had their first hit singles in Australia before anywhere else because of Countdown. I don't really know if Young Modern were endorsing or dismissing Countdown.
The Stems and Someloves were also Aussie powerpop groups - both linked by one or two members.
I'll keep my eye on this channel, for sure!
@@OnceWasRStrathfield I honestly didn't know much about Countdown till I found the clip of the Innocents for this video (th-cam.com/video/3UmbV9-j3vg/w-d-xo.html) but will dig in more! Seems like the bands mime the performance a la American Bandstand, but I still love watching. Oh, and The Stems are on my list (love their album At First Sight Violets are Blue), and the Someloves are a great band, as well...just added them to the list...thanks for that!
@@poprocksradio That ''Sooner Or Later'' video is from my nzoz1980. I made a series of these nzoz channels many years ago. I live in Hobart, Tasmania right now - though I am originally from Sydney. I know some people that know The Innocents from many years ago, and apparently Rocky Burnette really liked the guys when he was in Australia and hosting Countdown.
Countdown was a wilder version of TOTP's and American Bandstand. It was like an insane kids show, but many artists liked being on the show because of its lack of formularities.
@@OnceWasRStrathfield omg…that’s your video? Awesome! Great stuff! That’s really one of the best filmed performances of the band I could find online, so I’m grateful for that. Do you know if they have full Countdown episodes out there somewhere? Sounds crazy and would love to see more. Thx!!
THX
Thanks for watching!
Miss't the Miterial Issue Episode@@poprocksradio
@@LorenStClair Ah, Material Issue gets their own video...such a great band!
Jim always kicked me out of the Metro balcony seat when We went, otherwise I sat there @@poprocksradio
@@LorenStClair Oh, you have me intrigued now...more to this story? Thx!
Wouldn't a Keytar be less back breaking? After awhile that keyboard with the strap had to hurt.
You would think, right? That guy is a machine! Thanks for watching!
I had to retrieve my post because it vanished. This is what I typed as a response...
Countdown episodes get an annual replay on an allnight music show in Australia called RAGE, and it's that show I source most of my material from, including Countdown. Unfortunately, the ABC had about 100 episodes of 70's Countdown erased due to cost saving. It remains a sore point in Countdown history. However, the full episodes that have survived are available for viewing on the Internet Archive. A youtube channel called TassieTV uploads old Countdown episodes on his channel almost daily. That channel is worth checking out. When Countdown was concluded in 1987, a new music show called RAGE began airing on the ABC (Countdown's channel). Rage is an allnight music program that takes up Friday and Saturday nights and 2 hours around 2am for the rest of the week. It's currently the oldest music-video show in the world. In 1993, Rage began it's Countdown marathon. This is typical of Countdown: th-cam.com/video/LFvPGjpKzVQ/w-d-xo.html
Elton John was a regular guest on Countdown and is good friends with host, Ian ''Molly'' Meldrum. Unfortunately, Molly has been in declining health since falling off his ladder (literally, not figuratively) on Christmas 2011.
Thanks for that! Found the TassieTV channel and can see I'm going to be lost there for a while. 😎. What a fun show!
@@poprocksradio Very cool! I just remembered a couple of other ''powerpop'' (perhaps more Jangle pop) recommendations from Australia:
Sunnyboys - Alone With You
Sunnyboys - Happy Man
*Crystal Set - Benefit Of The Doubt nzoz1986*
@@OnceWasRStrathfield I really enjoyed those Sunnyboys tracks...thanks for those! Read something about their lack of widespread success due to "inconsistent live performances"...did you ever see them live? Not sure what they meant by that. Like that Crystal Set song, too. Thanks!!
@@poprocksradio Glad you enjoyed those tracks. Sunnyboys leadsinger, Jeremy Oxley, was diagnosed with Schizophrenia when the band was at its peak. He'd be in the wilderness for 30 years before a fan (a nurse) would find him. They'd marry and she would become his carer. The Sunnyboys reformed in the early 2010s and would have a good ten year run. A documentary called The Sunnyboy was made a few years ago - the trailer is on youtube.
The singer of Crystal Set, Russell Kilbey, is the brother of Steve Kilbey, the singer of The Church (''Under The Milky Way'').
There's a lot of jangle pop and indie rock from Australia in the 80's, but you may not find a lot of it to have that powerpop quality. The Hoodoo Gurus were popular for their approach to powerpop, though I don't know if they would satisfy lovers of pure powerpop. Loaded Dice and Young Modern were much closer to the powerpop of The Shoes...
@@OnceWasRStrathfield Watched that trailer...wow, poor guy. Glad he was well enough to get back with the band. Would love to track down that film. Caught both the Church and the Hoodoo Gurus live back in my college days...both great bands! I agree, not entirely power pop (though the Gurus do fit quite often), but both were amazing shows. The guitarists in The Church were honestly some of the most innovative players I had seen live. Will check out Loaded Dice and Young Modern - your recs have been great so far! Thanks!
British act "The Chords" will forever top the list for me....
Ah! I have heard "Maybe Tomorrow"...great song! They go on the list. Thanks for the rec and thanks for watching!
Flamin’ Groovies and The Elvis Brothers
Both excellent choices! They go on the list. Thanks for watching!
Hoodoo Gurus 🎉
Power Pop is my genera. It’s perfect for a record collector. It was at the peak of distribution but not a genera that continues to have collectibility.
Sure is great to listen to though, right? Thanks for watching!
Idk if it counts since he’s just a singular artist, but ADAM SCHMITT was a total pop genius!!
Totally counts! I couldn’t agree more. You may be seeing him in a video here soon, as well! 🤩
How about giving Artful Dodger from Springfield, VA some love. Saw them many times in the day in the DC area.
LOVE those guys! I think Rave On is an incredible album (actually all of them are great). If you haven't watched it already, check out my interview with Steve and Gary from Artful Dodger: th-cam.com/video/Y18TN_peH6M/w-d-xo.html. Such nice guys, too. Thanks for watching!
I agree, Totally nice guys. Honor among thieves was my fave.and the s/t.They used to play "Scream" on the radio.@@poprocksradio
@@rhepner2787 Honor Among Thieves is a close second for me (after Rave On...and man, it's close). Has probably the coolest version of "Keep A-Knockin'" I've ever heard. Really underrated band. Makes me so happy when I hear people still love these guys. Thanks!!
I got a Rave On promo cd at the Anniversary show. I've got to agree with you it's in my top 3.Babes on Broadway was a little uneven to me. Still had some good tracks.I've also got photos of Gary and Billy, autographed (if I can find them). Unfortunately it was with a Ball point pen. They used to play this club called The Psyche Delly in Bethesda MD.@@poprocksradio
@@rhepner2787 Very cool. I understand that Rave On didn't ever get a big CD release and there has been some interest to reissue it...hope that happens!
The Optic Nerve, The Wind or any band featuring Lane Steinberg. Then there’s any band featuring Dom Mariani.
Oh, I like the Optic Nerve...great garage rock! Hadn't heard The Wind, but checked out a few tracks on Where's It At With the Wind...fun stuff! Power Popohlic (GREAT blog) did an interview with Lane back when 8x8 came out which is very cool. And I just opened Episode 13 of my radio show (www.mixcloud.com/poprocksradio/pop-rocks-radio-episode-13/) with The Stems! Great recs (think I'm going to pick up The Wind album)...thanks for those and thanks for watching!
Buddy, all power pop is great!
Amen, 'nuff said! Thanks for watching!
Gotta have Paul Collins' Beat in the next video.
That first album from The Beat is top five for me...can never go wrong with Paul Collins! And if you haven't heard it already, his new album Stand Back and Take a Good Look is very cool. Had a great discussion with him about it for the channel: th-cam.com/video/iKHl6jfjYV4/w-d-xo.html. Thanks for watching!
Hoodoo Gurus, from Oz!
Love those guys! Saw them at The Moore in Seattle on the Blow Your Cool tour in, I'm guessing, '88 or '89. Still a great band! Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
I'm not sure what you'd consider "forgotten", or for that matter "Power Pop"... I suppose they're both subjective on some level... but I'd suggest Material Issue (Chicago), The Redwalls (Chicago) and The Kings (Vancouver). Maybe The Redwalls are more Indie and The Kings more Rock. Idk.
Totally agree...most of this is pretty subjective. The definition of power pop is the source of endless debate (though there are some core things most folks agree on). As for "forgotten"...that word is really more dramatic than it should be. 🤣. For each of these bands, they all have loyal fans who have never left them, even if popular music has moved on. Love both Material Issue and The Kings! Didn't know The Redwalls - listened to a couple tracks off Universal Blues - quite enjoyed that! They must be putting something in the water in Illinois...too many great bands from there. Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
@@poprocksradio The Redwalls notable album was Da Nova (2005). Of the 13 tracks, 8 are great and the rest are still listenable. Heavy Beatles influence. They arose around the same time as other retro-sounding Indie bands.. The Fratellis, The Strokes, The Ataris, Jet etc. They re-worked/polished a couple songs from Universal Blues and included them on Da Nova. One of their songs "Build A Bridge" was used in an AT&T commercial. "It's Alright" was featured in an episode of Entourage. They broke up after their 3rd album, having never released any singles for airplay. The one brother, Logan Baron, continued to make music and perform.
th-cam.com/video/UqdD7q6p82w/w-d-xo.html
@@bossfan49 wow...no singles! After having listened to a few more tracks off Da Nova, I think they would have been perfect for radio around 2005. Great stuff...thanks for the rec!
@@poprocksradio Thanks for listening. A rare feature on a youtube channel!!
@@bossfan49 That's the best part of doing this! Cheers, my friend. 😊
I would like to suggest The Laughing Dogs for a future video
Hadn't heard them, but so far they've been mentioned a couple times here in the comments. Listened to a couple tracks off their debut ("Get 'Im Outa Town" and "Get Outa My Way")...great stuff! They definitely go on the list and I will dig in more...thanks for the rec and thanks for watching!
When they make these videos about power pop bands,why is Badfinger never mentioned? They are practically the definition of power pop.
I'm totally with you there! If you haven't seen it already, check out my short about them: th-cam.com/video/ylLCh46lRYs/w-d-xo.html. I'd like to do another longer video that digs in a little deeper...their story and impact definitely warrant it. Thanks for watching!
The Smithereens had some decent success in the late 80s-early 90s but should have been much bigger.
Also Goober & the Peas from Detroit. Jack White was briefly a member.
Agree about The Smithereens...always loved their sound. They had some success, but never as much as they should have. Great live, too! Hadn't heard Goober & The Peas...fun band! "Hot Women (Cold Beer)" is my fave so far. 😆. Thanks for the recs and thanks for watching!
Agree about the Smithereens being great live. Saw them 3 times & all three were great.
The Quick!
Hadn't known much about The Quick...listened to a few tracks...great stuff! Interesting history, too (Kim Fowley produced their first album). "Pretty Please" may be my new favorite song! Thanks for the rec and thanks for watching!
code blue would blow any of these bands away. great rockin powerpop from the 80s. check out “whisper touch” or “hurt” by them
I admit I hadn't heard them, but I listened to "Whisper/Touch" and man, they are fun. Thanks for the rec and thanks for watching!
@@poprocksradio ya they are sadly fairly unknown, not sure why. the bass player, Gary Tibbs, was ex-Roxy Music and on his way to Adam & the Ants
Power pop band? What's next, light rock heavy metal, please!
😂
Staten Island's own Dirty Looks!
Yes! “Let Go” is a great song. Thanks for watching!
What about spirit?
You know, I hadn't really considered Spirit as power pop, but as I listen to some of their re-recorded stuff in the 80s, some of it does have that flavor. It's like Jeff Murphy from Shoes said to me, in any genre, no band lives there all the time. 🙂. Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
Do THE ATLANTICS!!!
Ah...there's a great band! Someone else had mentioned them, as well, and I've really enjoyed digging into their (unfortunately) small catalog. "Back in the World" is a great song. They go on the list! Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
"She Sheila" by the Producers, th-cam.com/video/fkRNcwZWnwU/w-d-xo.html, is among the best power pop songs for any ear.
Couldn't agree more...thanks for watching!
Del Fuegos great garage band from Boston
Oh, I love those guys! Thanks to all these comments, I've collected such a great list of bands just from Boston alone, that I think it warrants its own video. Such great (and really diverse) stuff. Thanks for this and thanks for watching!
@@poprocksradio The 80’s were a great time to be in Boston. Local bands were phenomenal. The Stompers, The Fools, Del Fuegos,… The Del Fuegos held a very rare reunion concert last summer. It was great. Warren Zanes (lead guitarist) became a very well known biographer and wrote the definitive biography on Tom Petty. He signed my copy after the show.
@@dancarroll927 Very cool! Adding The Stompers to my list, as well...hadn't heard them, but their s/t album is really fun! Thanks!
The Nazz were power pop before power pop
Love Nazz! Just shows how ahead of his time Todd Rundgren has always been. Thanks for watching!
Montgomery Cliffs.
I hadn't heard them, but just listened to a couple tracks off Andiamo...really enjoyed that. Thanks for the rec and thanks for watching!
Irish band... the adventures... try send my heart ..or even better... your greatest shade of blue
Really enjoyed both of those songs! "Greatest Shade of Blue" is wonderful...adding it to an upcoming episode of the radio show. Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
question..if you do.. could you please notify me. thank... as he is a relative@@poprocksradio
@@randellgribben9772 Oh, absolutely! I have it in the setlist for the show to come out this week on MixCloud: www.mixcloud.com/poprocksradio/. I'll write myself a note to ping you when I get that posted. And please pass my regards to your relative...that's some great work. Thanks!
are you going to post it to youtube ? @@poprocksradio
@@randellgribben9772 Hi Randell - just wanted to let you know that the show is finally up on MixCloud (apologies...was sick last week). Here's a link: www.mixcloud.com/poprocksradio/pop-rocks-radio-episode-15/. The Adventures close out the show...thanks for sending them my way! Cheers!
The Rubinoos? Translator? The Elvis Brothers?
All great recs! LOVE the Rubinoos...I have a separate video planned for them. The Elvis Brothers is a band that keeps coming up, as well...you should be seeing them in a video soon, as well! I hadn't heard Translator...listened to a few tracks off their 1982 debut and their s/t a few years later...really enjoyed those! They go on the list...thanks for those and thanks for watching!
If you hadn’t mentioned Off Broadway I would have.
Love those guys. Thanks for watching!
Wayne Famous of the Producers was bald . There were other Rockers that were but they covered it up. It still was kind of taboo back in the 80s in all aspects of pop culture . Fortunately people like Patrick Stewart , Charles Barkley , and Michael Stipe changed all that in the 90s . Yep Wayne had balls and he was good looking guy . It is just that he was about 10 years too early for USA popular culture .
Being follicularly challenged myself, for years I've been saying that I'm ahead of my time, as well! 😆. But seriously, that guy really deserves props...I love bands whose members exude personality, and Wayne Famous has that in buckets. Thanks!!
Can't forget them if you never heard of them. C'mon these bands are hella obscure. 😂
😂. If I can get you to check them out, then I've done my job! Thanks for watching!
The atlantics the pop the a's lets active20/20
All great recs! No spoilers, but check out the next video in the series if you haven't already: th-cam.com/video/SIOQPlX_xd4/w-d-xo.html. I can neither confirm nor deny that one of those bands may be there! And 20/20 is absolutely one of my faves...have a separate video planned for them. Thanks for those and thanks for watching!
@@poprocksradio the Atlantic's live really rock's out. So does the live1984 shows by lets active. . First 20/20 ckassic
Never mind these poseurs and pretenders, these false gods of the Rock Of Ages. Let me steer you toward the Right Stuff lurking in the shadows. From Baltimore it's The Amazing Strangers. From Encino California here comes The Slow Sleepers. And, if you dare, The Surfaces from Chicago. There's more: The Momentary Episcopalians from the Northwest, VIP Ointment from Toronto, and the mysterious Costume Radio from Detroit, a band that recorded absolutely nothing. Now a group of musicians are trying to recreate their songs from 42 year old memories of club shows. Good luck.
Thanks for the recs! Ok, after a bit of digging, can't find anything on these bands...do you have any links you can share? You have me intrigued! Thanks!!