We grew up on different continents and in different centuries. A grand total of 44 years separate us, yet we are joined together by a love of popular music. These are bridges being built.
I’d venture to say The Beach Boys would be a leading act for this list. Later, The Romantics nailed it. Early power pop was more than a Brit genre, though they excelled at it. And adding some women to the mix: The Go-Go’s, who started as punk but turned power pop. The Bangles and female-fronted Blondie all ring power pop. This was fun. Thanks for the collab!
This is a great series! I've been around more than twice as many years as Tom and I still don't really understand what power pop is. Thanks for clearing it up a bit! I Iike power and I like pop so there you go! I guess I've always liked power pop!
Love this piece—tho you two had me at Jethro Tull, lol—and Tom’s description of galloping outside the musical argot was excellent (legend!). Halfway through, back to the article, but I’m reminded of The Knack and longer ago, The Shoes.
Thanks, CC the V! Yes, Tom has a well of knowledge and experience (and century and continent) that I look forward to delve more into in the future! He's been so generous and eager to dig into these projects!
I won't be including The Knack, but in part 2, I do include some Shoes for Tom to try on! Thanks again, Congrave....do stay tuned!
FAMILIAR!?! I used to write John Murphy quite regularly in the late-'70s...and, he hand-wrote replies back several times, too! I feel like Fred Flintstone.....yes, back in the pre-internet/pre-email days!!! We also have a fellow #MusicStack writer whose recent album brother Jeff Murphy produced!
I'll send you some stuff here, shortly! Gotsta fill you in, yo!
I’m thrilled to be humbled with alacrity, lol—I should’ve known!! In my weak defense, I’ve never played them for anyone who’d heard of them before. That’s killer that you’re not just familiar, but involved—love it! Delighted to see whatever you send and be further enlightened (even chided, lol)
If you’re Fred, I’m Barney, age- and internet-wise.
Here's the Tune Tag that has Linda Brady....she had a recent album produced by Jeff Murphy. I trust that info is before the paywall break. That break only appears just after The Shoes' track in the Tag!
As for The Knack, I have a personal story. I don't think I've shared it on the site, and the story has nothing to do with my not including the band in songs I'll be sending Tom.
THAT reason is what you hinted at....I think The Knack falls into the category of Capitol (every label did this to some degree) desperately seeking "our" entry into this new "thing"...."we did it for disco, and, now we'll have to get in on this punk/new wave/power pop thing....whatever the hell THAT all is! We've got to watch the bottom line, y'know!".....I'm sure was heard in at least ONE conference room there!
Plus, there's so much more "street level" small label power pop no one's ever heard (including Shoes, Elektra notwithstanding. Major label or no, no one ended up hearing them....and, they are such an influential and uniquely wonderful entry in the genre)...I'd much prefer to share that around...Greg would want me to!😊Plus, Shoes got their name from The Beatles. When asked, early on, why "The Beatles," Paul replied...."Oh, I dunno; it's just a name. We could've just as easily been called The Shoes, y'know!"
OK....Congrave....picture it: Hollywood, early June 1979. I vacationed from Houston to L.A. for a week to scout the place out for my proposed move the following January...which I ended up doing in late January '80 (at 25).
I happened to be in H-wood the very week Capitol released "Get The Knack". I walk into Tower Records/Sunset one day. I'm greeted by a massive Knack endcap display with hundreds of copies of the album surrounding a complete drum kit. The bass drum head said "The Knack"....it was Bruce Gary's actual drum kit! "Hi...I'm Doug Fieger" I heard over my shoulder. Yep, sure was! We talked a bit....he was there at the invite of the store manager to view and OK the display!! And, the rest is history.....and, not just a little math!😉
Ok, a few things: yes, I was hinting at that. Now I’m blown away—great story, how cool is that, that Doug Fieger was there and you interacted (another era)?? I was actually in LA for the summer in ‘79, my first trip (but not my last!), as an aside. I had heard that about Shoes’ name, but awhile back I was on Wikipedia and it disputes that. I’m obviously going with YOU as the proper reference, goes with out saying! All great stuff, and I appreciate the knowledge and esp your history.
As to the most recent text, re: Linda Brady, I’m going on now to check it out! And for the record, there *is* no paywall barrier—I just became an annual subscriber (are you kidding me, you da man!!). Off I go to read, listen and learn. Thx so much for all the color, history and knowledge!!!!
Also: Brad and Tom, will you continue this collaboration in the future? I don’t think there’s a genre I wouldn’t read as dissected by you two. It’s my favorite thing on Substack—surely hope you’ll keep ‘em coming!
This was great. I find power pop is such a difficult genre to describe, and yet it’s one of those styles that it’s so instantly recognisable—perhaps more so than others.
I loved how well Brad chose his tracks so Tom could have a proper introduction of the bread and butter, so to speak, of the genre, with tracks that not many people know or may have heard (at least I didn’t know them), but with enough variety for Tom to get as complete a picture as possible. No easy feat!
Talking about things that may look easy but are not, I loved how Tom “dissected” (in the best possible sense) the songs from a technical, music-theory POV, which served as his basis (and provided the technical tools for the less music theory knowledgeable readers) to understand why so many things in power pop may seem simple or easy but actually require a certain level of skill and team work among the musicians. That is, in my humble view, one of the key ingredients in getting power pop right: all the different components of the music in complete unison creating a unique wall of sound, giving the impression that the artist or band or even the music itself is “multitasking”. The shalalas coming at the right time, the guitar carrying the melody, the harmonies on point, the drums holding everyone together, etc.
Great teamwork, fellas! 44 years apart and all, you sounded like one-man band! 😉
Thanks Andres, your point about the key ingredient is getting all the components to work definitely seems to be the key. Having all the instruments play of each other, in particular the vocal harmonies really brings a lift to the songs.
Thanks, Andy! This has been so much fun, and really enriching and enthralling to see Tom's reaction to what I've been digging for all these decades! It also takes me back to MY first hearing of these tracks, which usually accompanied picking my jaw off the floor in glorious disbelief!
And, as you illustrated, Tom not only gives his first impression as a listener, but also gives us a peek into the professional aspect of what the players are laying down! And, all he got was the song....all of what you see written here was composed after he sent in all his responses! The song was his first intro to it all...no help or info from me! Stay tuned for Part 2!
Happy to do it, Steve! I was looking for your Eyrich interview (that was YOU, wasn't it?), but, couldn't find it. Feel free to put the link here in the comments, or, I'm more than happy to put it into the piece, itself.....your call!
Interesting view on SSA it was 3 separate parts of music that Chris decided to piece together to create the final song. Therefore the sum of all parts.
That’s interesting I hadn’t realised that. It’s fairly noticeable although the band have done a great job putting them together into one song. I wouldn’t have guessed it if you hadn’t said
I’d venture to say The Beach Boys would be a leading act for this list. Later, The Romantics nailed it. Early power pop was more than a Brit genre, though they excelled at it. And adding some women to the mix: The Go-Go’s, who started as punk but turned power pop. The Bangles and female-fronted Blondie all ring power pop. This was fun. Thanks for the collab!
That was great! Thank you.
Stay tuned for Part 2, Chris, coming soon......thanks!
Can’t wait! Thanks. 🤘🎸👊
Really enjoying this. Tom is the bomb!
Thanks Michael, you a legend
Thanks, Michael! Glad you dig! IKR? Don't tell him, but, Tom's my new hero!💪😁👍🎵🎼
This is a great series! I've been around more than twice as many years as Tom and I still don't really understand what power pop is. Thanks for clearing it up a bit! I Iike power and I like pop so there you go! I guess I've always liked power pop!
Love this piece—tho you two had me at Jethro Tull, lol—and Tom’s description of galloping outside the musical argot was excellent (legend!). Halfway through, back to the article, but I’m reminded of The Knack and longer ago, The Shoes.
Thanks, CC the V! Yes, Tom has a well of knowledge and experience (and century and continent) that I look forward to delve more into in the future! He's been so generous and eager to dig into these projects!
I won't be including The Knack, but in part 2, I do include some Shoes for Tom to try on! Thanks again, Congrave....do stay tuned!
Great news, thx so much (and I love that you’re familiar with The Shoes—great pun, too!), and I look forward to it!
FAMILIAR!?! I used to write John Murphy quite regularly in the late-'70s...and, he hand-wrote replies back several times, too! I feel like Fred Flintstone.....yes, back in the pre-internet/pre-email days!!! We also have a fellow #MusicStack writer whose recent album brother Jeff Murphy produced!
I'll send you some stuff here, shortly! Gotsta fill you in, yo!
I’m thrilled to be humbled with alacrity, lol—I should’ve known!! In my weak defense, I’ve never played them for anyone who’d heard of them before. That’s killer that you’re not just familiar, but involved—love it! Delighted to see whatever you send and be further enlightened (even chided, lol)
If you’re Fred, I’m Barney, age- and internet-wise.
Here's the Tune Tag that has Linda Brady....she had a recent album produced by Jeff Murphy. I trust that info is before the paywall break. That break only appears just after The Shoes' track in the Tag!
https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/tune-tag-82-with-linda-brady-of-linda
Enjoy!
As for The Knack, I have a personal story. I don't think I've shared it on the site, and the story has nothing to do with my not including the band in songs I'll be sending Tom.
THAT reason is what you hinted at....I think The Knack falls into the category of Capitol (every label did this to some degree) desperately seeking "our" entry into this new "thing"...."we did it for disco, and, now we'll have to get in on this punk/new wave/power pop thing....whatever the hell THAT all is! We've got to watch the bottom line, y'know!".....I'm sure was heard in at least ONE conference room there!
Plus, there's so much more "street level" small label power pop no one's ever heard (including Shoes, Elektra notwithstanding. Major label or no, no one ended up hearing them....and, they are such an influential and uniquely wonderful entry in the genre)...I'd much prefer to share that around...Greg would want me to!😊Plus, Shoes got their name from The Beatles. When asked, early on, why "The Beatles," Paul replied...."Oh, I dunno; it's just a name. We could've just as easily been called The Shoes, y'know!"
OK....Congrave....picture it: Hollywood, early June 1979. I vacationed from Houston to L.A. for a week to scout the place out for my proposed move the following January...which I ended up doing in late January '80 (at 25).
I happened to be in H-wood the very week Capitol released "Get The Knack". I walk into Tower Records/Sunset one day. I'm greeted by a massive Knack endcap display with hundreds of copies of the album surrounding a complete drum kit. The bass drum head said "The Knack"....it was Bruce Gary's actual drum kit! "Hi...I'm Doug Fieger" I heard over my shoulder. Yep, sure was! We talked a bit....he was there at the invite of the store manager to view and OK the display!! And, the rest is history.....and, not just a little math!😉
Ok, a few things: yes, I was hinting at that. Now I’m blown away—great story, how cool is that, that Doug Fieger was there and you interacted (another era)?? I was actually in LA for the summer in ‘79, my first trip (but not my last!), as an aside. I had heard that about Shoes’ name, but awhile back I was on Wikipedia and it disputes that. I’m obviously going with YOU as the proper reference, goes with out saying! All great stuff, and I appreciate the knowledge and esp your history.
As to the most recent text, re: Linda Brady, I’m going on now to check it out! And for the record, there *is* no paywall barrier—I just became an annual subscriber (are you kidding me, you da man!!). Off I go to read, listen and learn. Thx so much for all the color, history and knowledge!!!!
Also: Brad and Tom, will you continue this collaboration in the future? I don’t think there’s a genre I wouldn’t read as dissected by you two. It’s my favorite thing on Substack—surely hope you’ll keep ‘em coming!
This was great. I find power pop is such a difficult genre to describe, and yet it’s one of those styles that it’s so instantly recognisable—perhaps more so than others.
I loved how well Brad chose his tracks so Tom could have a proper introduction of the bread and butter, so to speak, of the genre, with tracks that not many people know or may have heard (at least I didn’t know them), but with enough variety for Tom to get as complete a picture as possible. No easy feat!
Talking about things that may look easy but are not, I loved how Tom “dissected” (in the best possible sense) the songs from a technical, music-theory POV, which served as his basis (and provided the technical tools for the less music theory knowledgeable readers) to understand why so many things in power pop may seem simple or easy but actually require a certain level of skill and team work among the musicians. That is, in my humble view, one of the key ingredients in getting power pop right: all the different components of the music in complete unison creating a unique wall of sound, giving the impression that the artist or band or even the music itself is “multitasking”. The shalalas coming at the right time, the guitar carrying the melody, the harmonies on point, the drums holding everyone together, etc.
Great teamwork, fellas! 44 years apart and all, you sounded like one-man band! 😉
Thanks Andres, your point about the key ingredient is getting all the components to work definitely seems to be the key. Having all the instruments play of each other, in particular the vocal harmonies really brings a lift to the songs.
Thanks, Andy! This has been so much fun, and really enriching and enthralling to see Tom's reaction to what I've been digging for all these decades! It also takes me back to MY first hearing of these tracks, which usually accompanied picking my jaw off the floor in glorious disbelief!
And, as you illustrated, Tom not only gives his first impression as a listener, but also gives us a peek into the professional aspect of what the players are laying down! And, all he got was the song....all of what you see written here was composed after he sent in all his responses! The song was his first intro to it all...no help or info from me! Stay tuned for Part 2!
Even more impressive! A proper ride, for you both. Looking forward to Part 2!
Genius! Thanks for including me.
Happy to do it, Steve! I was looking for your Eyrich interview (that was YOU, wasn't it?), but, couldn't find it. Feel free to put the link here in the comments, or, I'm more than happy to put it into the piece, itself.....your call!
I LOVE this! Great series.
Legend thanks Andy
Interesting view on SSA it was 3 separate parts of music that Chris decided to piece together to create the final song. Therefore the sum of all parts.
That’s interesting I hadn’t realised that. It’s fairly noticeable although the band have done a great job putting them together into one song. I wouldn’t have guessed it if you hadn’t said
Thanks, Linda! Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon!