Raspberries, Cheap Trick, Big Star, and more! The power pop tower of power headlines Tom's Part 2 of his initial exposure (ever!) and responses to the bangin'-est set of hummin' 'n' strummin' extant!
All superb choices. Living in New Orleans, I got to be friends with Alex Chilton. Seeing him play "September Gurls" with Big Star was amazing. Jody Stephens drum break was spot on, and Ken and Jon from The Posies pulled it off superbly that night. And the fact that The Posies opened, and then The Continental Drifters also played (power pop legend Peter Holsapple of The dBs band), it was power pop heaven 😊 ❤️
Great story, Tom! Hearing "September Gurls" live must've been transcendent! I had the first coupla dBs albums, so I recall Holsapple's name! And, what a bill that was! Thanks for this!
Those early dBs albums with Peter and Chris Stamey are essential power pop!! It was amazing. The Continental Drifters also featured one of the Peterson sisters from The Bangles!!
I thought Segarini reminded me of a poppier April Wine — must be a Canadian sound of the time!;) And The Beckies I also really liked. It had more of a Big Star vibe. Are they British or American? I couldn’t find the answer in a quick search. I know it was recorded in NY but that doesn’t mean anything. And I am sure the coffers are filled with power pop gems like these bands I’ve never heard before. That’s what I count on you for!
Good one.....I appreciate the Segarini reflections. He was so all over the map with his music...all the bands he was in, as well as his "solo" work. That YT "CD Junkie" video gives you a good, sweeping overview of Bob's 9 (at least) albums.
Michael was in Left Banke, and co-wrote "Walk Away Renee" and he wrote, himself, an arguably "better" song, "Pretty Ballerina" that Left Banke also recorded.
I'll DM you some info on the identity of our "secret" Beckies bass player I mentioned above! We'll all meet this FR&B long-time subscriber on TT #100 in a couple weeks, but I'll give you a sneak peek!
Interesting observations Tom! Even though I've been around since these songs have been out I really only know "Go All the Way" and "Surrender." I've never quite understood the concept of "power pop" myself, and frankly I never heard discussions of it growing up, but if these are songs are part of the genre, I'm in! Both are great emotional rockers with great hooks.
Thanks, Dan! Tom is a gem, ain't he? Had you been 8 and seen The Beatles in real time in '64, all would be in focus for you re: power pop! That/they are "our" North Star! To many, power pop is just like the naughty mags we used to hide under our beds...hard to describe, but we know it when we (in this case) hear it!
The Records' "Teenarama"? Yes. Anything by Journey? No.
For mi dinero, the Crown Prince of Power Pop was the late Greg Shaw, founder of BOMP! Records (his own label and Hollywood retail record store) and Magazine. Here's my tribute to him (he became a long-distance friend...I used to write to him in the '70s from my Houston hovel, and send him locally-released singles from upcoming punk'n'power pop bands)! Enjoy!👉https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/roots-of-power-pop-beatles-songs?utm_source=publication-search
Hmm.... so handclaps are a maybe for power pop. You mention "la-la's" in the title of the post you provided a link for. What about "na-na's"? Wouldn't Journey's "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" qualify?! It has about a minute of the "na-na's"....!
No grannies.......that would, sadly, exclude Nana! "LaLa" Brooks? Definitely, but she's a legend, so she gets in on any genre she wants....for her magnificent career, alone: Lead singer of The Crystals ("Then He Kissed Me" and "Da Doo Ron Ron")!
I'm afraid we'd have to disqualify Journey on the technicality that they're slowly waving lifted arms in a stuffed, sun-baked stadium during that part of "Lovin' Touchin' Sneezin'"!🤧
Don't mind my misspelling: I used to sing "Open Arms" in karaoke with this line 🎵"So, I come to you with broken arms...."!🎵🤣
Before you turn in your Rickenbacker 12-string, Dan, here's one which could easily stand in as a Power Pop Primer, as we drill down on all the hard(er) rockers who are, and have been, proud power pop fans for eons: Axl Rose, Motley Crue, Springsteen (all spoken of and quoted in this one!), and many more! Some have even covered some revered power pop tunes!
We want you back, Dan....you know we'll happily welcome you back into the power pop fold with open (and broken) arms!🎸😁👍
I've not actually gone anywhere! One day I will dig into this power rabbit hole more closely. For now I'll take a quote from your last link which says, ""Generally speaking, Funk & Wagnall’s defines power pop as featuring short-ish, catchy, jangly, easily-hummable tunes, punctuated by shimmering harmonies, few to no guitar solos (heaven forfend!), and certainly no drum solos!" Based on that I'll put some songs by Journey, the Bee Gees, Melissa Manchester, Cher, Fleetwood Mac, The Pointer Sisters... etc. into my interpretation of this definition! Ha!
Many thanks, Jayne! I feel like many, if not most of these, have aged well, like fine wine, over time! They're certainly fun to introduce to the new generation's audience!🎵
Great song I never heard...that '82 "If You Want My Love"---I hear The Move and late Beatles echoes in it!! But, with Roy Thomas Baker on a Nielsen song, there ya go! Ah, Sweet....too glam to be power pop? The debate rages....we shall see! Thanks, Andy!
This was so good -- I think I even liked it more than Part 1, which was excellent too. The track selection, for starters, was fantastic. Like a chef who knows the menu inside out, Brad certainly can pin point the best tracks to guarantee a proper introduction to the genre to the novice whilst making sure even power pop veterans are kept on their toes! Brilliant.
I also loved Tom's reactions: while one can clearly tell his musical ear is very well trained, his soul was open and very receptive throughout. He certainly knows how to use his technical knowledge as a tool without letting it take over more instinctive elements such as emotion, excitement or just simply allowing himself to be surprised. I know that's the essence of music (art and science, where the technical and the expressive worlds meet), but sometimes even established artists or commentators get carried away by one or the other.
Thanks, Andy! Glad you liked! I was just gonna say that Tom's a skilled writer, and you zeroed in on precisely why: We know, as a guitar teacher, he's technically gifted, but, as you pinpoint, it takes a keen mind (and welcome heart) to communicate one's expertise and not leave out the less-technically-minded.
I love your chef analogy! I'm anxious to hear from our power pop-savvy community to see if they even knew of Bob Segarini! Like Bigfoot, he seemed to be everywhere (in several major-label groups), but also rarely-seen or heard (like that Peter Buck quote about Big Star) beyond the critic circle and record store clerks! And, even then, a lot of his releases (that "Gotta Have Pop" solo album, in particular) were not immediately available in the States (until CD re-issues emerged decades later). The Beckies, too, are lost on a lot of those who claim a kinship to all things power pop! And, they're one of the best, even off just one album!
Through it all, Tom has been a champ and endlessly patient, and he's been fun to work with across the miles and centuries; time will tell if we've got a Part 3 in our respective tanks! I know from my end, the font of content from which to pull is pretty dang deep!
Oh I’m very up for a part 3. Power pop is a genre of music I’ve been wanting to get into for a long time and Brad provides the perfect introduction.
Brad knows how long it takes me to get my thoughts done and sent to him, but five songs at a time should be easy enough for another collection of songs.
Woo-hoo! Thanks, Tom....I'll gather a handful o' tunes in a few days, and get 'em on down to you! You know how we roll....no hurry, no deadline, no stress! Thanks again!--B
I feel like Tom, bless 'im, is in the corner of the boxing ring, and I'm furiously waving a towel in his direction to cool him off!
I may start another mini-list of 5, and have them ready to go if/when Tom looks like he's ready to go another round! The good news is I think he enjoys it as much as I do, and, key to its success is the "story" of the complete dichotomy of all the elements to put it all down on paper (age, continents, centuries, talented musician who reads music vs. former singer who can't, etc)!
Thanks Andres, really glad on some of the stuff you picked up on there. As interesting as technical stuff can be to myself, when listening to music people really only care about how it makes them feel and that’s definitely what I try to focus my writing on. Impressed you picked up on that.
Fun reliving my “first times” with some of these classics through Tom’s virgin ears!😀 And to be honest, a couple of them were first timers for me too. I refer specifically to Bob Segarini and The Beckies. And I thought I was a mid-level power-pop aficionado….
Thanks, Steve......As I mentioned elsewhere here, Segarini and The Beckies seem to have escaped many power pop deep-diggers with big shovels! Like so much music we never hear, if we're not introduced to it thru radio............
But, always the avid '70s reader of all the rock mags, I was thoroughly alerted to the advent of those two albums (the Beckies' Sire debut, with Michael Brown, and decade-long veteran by '78, Segarini and his solo, which only got a Canadian release...possibly UK; I know I bought the Canadian import).
Anxious to hear your first impressions, generally, on the two tracks by them, here, if you're willing/got the time to share! Thanks again!
Thanks, Jon! "Fresh take" indeed! So many things make this a combo (as Andres would say, and I'm trying to work it into my daily conversations)...."work a treat," and Tom is certainly fun to work with on this!
All superb choices. Living in New Orleans, I got to be friends with Alex Chilton. Seeing him play "September Gurls" with Big Star was amazing. Jody Stephens drum break was spot on, and Ken and Jon from The Posies pulled it off superbly that night. And the fact that The Posies opened, and then The Continental Drifters also played (power pop legend Peter Holsapple of The dBs band), it was power pop heaven 😊 ❤️
Great story, Tom! Hearing "September Gurls" live must've been transcendent! I had the first coupla dBs albums, so I recall Holsapple's name! And, what a bill that was! Thanks for this!
The date was 31 December 2000…a new years eve show, hence the big triple bill 😊
Those early dBs albums with Peter and Chris Stamey are essential power pop!! It was amazing. The Continental Drifters also featured one of the Peterson sisters from The Bangles!!
I need to reacquaint myself with those first dBs albums. And, The Continental Drifters I need to unpack. Never heard.
I love those dBs albums. The Continental Drifters stuff isn't bad. I feel it's Americana maybe?? Not as power pop as the dBs definitely
I thought Segarini reminded me of a poppier April Wine — must be a Canadian sound of the time!;) And The Beckies I also really liked. It had more of a Big Star vibe. Are they British or American? I couldn’t find the answer in a quick search. I know it was recorded in NY but that doesn’t mean anything. And I am sure the coffers are filled with power pop gems like these bands I’ve never heard before. That’s what I count on you for!
Good one.....I appreciate the Segarini reflections. He was so all over the map with his music...all the bands he was in, as well as his "solo" work. That YT "CD Junkie" video gives you a good, sweeping overview of Bob's 9 (at least) albums.
The Beckies are all American. Michael Brown (nee Lookofsky) was born in Brooklyn, and is the son of a violinist and arranger, Harry Lookofsky (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Brown_(rock_musician)).
Michael was in Left Banke, and co-wrote "Walk Away Renee" and he wrote, himself, an arguably "better" song, "Pretty Ballerina" that Left Banke also recorded.
I'll DM you some info on the identity of our "secret" Beckies bass player I mentioned above! We'll all meet this FR&B long-time subscriber on TT #100 in a couple weeks, but I'll give you a sneak peek!
Interesting observations Tom! Even though I've been around since these songs have been out I really only know "Go All the Way" and "Surrender." I've never quite understood the concept of "power pop" myself, and frankly I never heard discussions of it growing up, but if these are songs are part of the genre, I'm in! Both are great emotional rockers with great hooks.
Thanks, Dan! Tom is a gem, ain't he? Had you been 8 and seen The Beatles in real time in '64, all would be in focus for you re: power pop! That/they are "our" North Star! To many, power pop is just like the naughty mags we used to hide under our beds...hard to describe, but we know it when we (in this case) hear it!
The Records' "Teenarama"? Yes. Anything by Journey? No.
For mi dinero, the Crown Prince of Power Pop was the late Greg Shaw, founder of BOMP! Records (his own label and Hollywood retail record store) and Magazine. Here's my tribute to him (he became a long-distance friend...I used to write to him in the '70s from my Houston hovel, and send him locally-released singles from upcoming punk'n'power pop bands)! Enjoy!👉https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/roots-of-power-pop-beatles-songs?utm_source=publication-search
Hmm.... so handclaps are a maybe for power pop. You mention "la-la's" in the title of the post you provided a link for. What about "na-na's"? Wouldn't Journey's "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" qualify?! It has about a minute of the "na-na's"....!
No grannies.......that would, sadly, exclude Nana! "LaLa" Brooks? Definitely, but she's a legend, so she gets in on any genre she wants....for her magnificent career, alone: Lead singer of The Crystals ("Then He Kissed Me" and "Da Doo Ron Ron")!
I'm afraid we'd have to disqualify Journey on the technicality that they're slowly waving lifted arms in a stuffed, sun-baked stadium during that part of "Lovin' Touchin' Sneezin'"!🤧
Don't mind my misspelling: I used to sing "Open Arms" in karaoke with this line 🎵"So, I come to you with broken arms...."!🎵🤣
Ok, I'm forever lost on Power Pop!
Before you turn in your Rickenbacker 12-string, Dan, here's one which could easily stand in as a Power Pop Primer, as we drill down on all the hard(er) rockers who are, and have been, proud power pop fans for eons: Axl Rose, Motley Crue, Springsteen (all spoken of and quoted in this one!), and many more! Some have even covered some revered power pop tunes!
We want you back, Dan....you know we'll happily welcome you back into the power pop fold with open (and broken) arms!🎸😁👍
https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/raspberries-surprise-your-fave-rock?utm_source=publication-search
I've not actually gone anywhere! One day I will dig into this power rabbit hole more closely. For now I'll take a quote from your last link which says, ""Generally speaking, Funk & Wagnall’s defines power pop as featuring short-ish, catchy, jangly, easily-hummable tunes, punctuated by shimmering harmonies, few to no guitar solos (heaven forfend!), and certainly no drum solos!" Based on that I'll put some songs by Journey, the Bee Gees, Melissa Manchester, Cher, Fleetwood Mac, The Pointer Sisters... etc. into my interpretation of this definition! Ha!
Wow, a fine selection of breezy & quirky satin flashbacks!
Many thanks, Jayne! I feel like many, if not most of these, have aged well, like fine wine, over time! They're certainly fun to introduce to the new generation's audience!🎵
If You Want My Love…totally underated power pop from Cheap Trick…and you haven’t even got to Sweet yet! https://youtube.com/watch?v=Zzew738f5TA&si=8xppoyqT3j_eJLax
Great song I never heard...that '82 "If You Want My Love"---I hear The Move and late Beatles echoes in it!! But, with Roy Thomas Baker on a Nielsen song, there ya go! Ah, Sweet....too glam to be power pop? The debate rages....we shall see! Thanks, Andy!
This was so good -- I think I even liked it more than Part 1, which was excellent too. The track selection, for starters, was fantastic. Like a chef who knows the menu inside out, Brad certainly can pin point the best tracks to guarantee a proper introduction to the genre to the novice whilst making sure even power pop veterans are kept on their toes! Brilliant.
I also loved Tom's reactions: while one can clearly tell his musical ear is very well trained, his soul was open and very receptive throughout. He certainly knows how to use his technical knowledge as a tool without letting it take over more instinctive elements such as emotion, excitement or just simply allowing himself to be surprised. I know that's the essence of music (art and science, where the technical and the expressive worlds meet), but sometimes even established artists or commentators get carried away by one or the other.
Excellent work, guys! I really enjoyed this.
Thanks, Andy! Glad you liked! I was just gonna say that Tom's a skilled writer, and you zeroed in on precisely why: We know, as a guitar teacher, he's technically gifted, but, as you pinpoint, it takes a keen mind (and welcome heart) to communicate one's expertise and not leave out the less-technically-minded.
I love your chef analogy! I'm anxious to hear from our power pop-savvy community to see if they even knew of Bob Segarini! Like Bigfoot, he seemed to be everywhere (in several major-label groups), but also rarely-seen or heard (like that Peter Buck quote about Big Star) beyond the critic circle and record store clerks! And, even then, a lot of his releases (that "Gotta Have Pop" solo album, in particular) were not immediately available in the States (until CD re-issues emerged decades later). The Beckies, too, are lost on a lot of those who claim a kinship to all things power pop! And, they're one of the best, even off just one album!
Through it all, Tom has been a champ and endlessly patient, and he's been fun to work with across the miles and centuries; time will tell if we've got a Part 3 in our respective tanks! I know from my end, the font of content from which to pull is pretty dang deep!
Part 3 PLEASE guys PLEASE!!!!!! This is too good not to!
Oh I’m very up for a part 3. Power pop is a genre of music I’ve been wanting to get into for a long time and Brad provides the perfect introduction.
Brad knows how long it takes me to get my thoughts done and sent to him, but five songs at a time should be easy enough for another collection of songs.
Woo-hoo! Thanks, Tom....I'll gather a handful o' tunes in a few days, and get 'em on down to you! You know how we roll....no hurry, no deadline, no stress! Thanks again!--B
Love it, thanks Brad. Will look forward to it!
I feel like Tom, bless 'im, is in the corner of the boxing ring, and I'm furiously waving a towel in his direction to cool him off!
I may start another mini-list of 5, and have them ready to go if/when Tom looks like he's ready to go another round! The good news is I think he enjoys it as much as I do, and, key to its success is the "story" of the complete dichotomy of all the elements to put it all down on paper (age, continents, centuries, talented musician who reads music vs. former singer who can't, etc)!
Thanks again, and as always....Stay tuned!
Thanks Andres, really glad on some of the stuff you picked up on there. As interesting as technical stuff can be to myself, when listening to music people really only care about how it makes them feel and that’s definitely what I try to focus my writing on. Impressed you picked up on that.
You're very welcome, Tom. It really transcends the page (or the screen), and the passion, both yours and Brad's, shines through!
Fun reliving my “first times” with some of these classics through Tom’s virgin ears!😀 And to be honest, a couple of them were first timers for me too. I refer specifically to Bob Segarini and The Beckies. And I thought I was a mid-level power-pop aficionado….
Glad to hear you enjoyed it all, Brad’s great for introducing new stuff.
Thanks, Steve......As I mentioned elsewhere here, Segarini and The Beckies seem to have escaped many power pop deep-diggers with big shovels! Like so much music we never hear, if we're not introduced to it thru radio............
But, always the avid '70s reader of all the rock mags, I was thoroughly alerted to the advent of those two albums (the Beckies' Sire debut, with Michael Brown, and decade-long veteran by '78, Segarini and his solo, which only got a Canadian release...possibly UK; I know I bought the Canadian import).
Anxious to hear your first impressions, generally, on the two tracks by them, here, if you're willing/got the time to share! Thanks again!
oved hearing a guitarist’s fresh take on those crunchy riffs and jangly hooks, power pop magic at its best.
Awesome stuff, thanks Jon. Glad you could enjoy!
Thanks, Jon! "Fresh take" indeed! So many things make this a combo (as Andres would say, and I'm trying to work it into my daily conversations)...."work a treat," and Tom is certainly fun to work with on this!