18 February 2014

DAILY PLANET, 'Life' b/w 'Pay' (Riff Raf, 1980)






















DAILY PLANET, 'LIFE' b/w 'PAY' (Riff Raf, 1980)

A cool uncomped breath of fresh air before hardcore idiocy-SLASH-Posh Boy mediocrity set in and made southern California safe for board shorts and Social Distortion tattoos forever.

Impossible to say and/or to recreate the exact climate of the times, but I find it highly doubtful that BOBBY SOXX or Gregg T. or Mike S. of the ANGRY SAMOANS would have found much with which to take issue (get it???) with the specific style und sound being mined by the DAILY PLANET. Recorded live on New Years' Eve at L.A.’s Club 88 (allegedly for some documentary called 'Transitions' which I'm not sure actually exists), both sides of thee D.P.’s lone single recall the Rickenbacker/high-energy spit-roast spirit of groups such as THE ROCKERS or maybe even THE NERVES if they had worn matching striped Telnyashka instead of three-piece loser suits.

Some of the band's membership originally hailed from Chicago and apparently soldiered on within the PLANET until at least ’82, at which point the writing was well and truly on the stall and it read in letters red-dripping-red:  DROP DEAD BABY.

Also, gotta love the mod-nod of the label name.  This, undoubtedly, was the DAILY PLANET's finest hour.

'Thank you and have a good Eighties.'

'LIFE'


'PAY'


02 February 2014

THE UPTIGHTS, 'I'm Awake' b/w 'Promises (She Isn't In Love)' (Up, 1981)






















THE UPTIGHTS, 'I'm Awake' b/w 'Promises (She Isn't In Love)' (Up, 1981)

I have no idea what lead singer CAROLYN ODELL is saying in the A-side's chorus.  Is it an entreatment to take the 'freeway?'  A seductive invitation to have a 'threeway?'  An exultation that she supports the Tulane University Green Wave?  In any event, it's OK, because the true action on the lone platter from these New Orleans power poppers is on the record's b-side.

'Promises, Promises' is not the familiar stupid show-tune.  In fact, it's moody, mod, femme-vox power pop in the mode of BONNIE HAYES, JOSIE COTTEN and/or - even at a stretch - THE SHIVVERS.

Back sleeve is total local - the band thanks a bunch of uptown radio stations and their guitar player, who also doubles as their photographer and de facto graphic designer.

A much better single than I'm probably making out and still available cheap.

...now if only they'd enunciate.  

'I'M AWAKE'


 'PROMISES (SHE ISN'T IN LOVE)'