Thrills - First Thrills

Name: Thrills
Album: First Thrills
Year: 1981
Style: Power Pop, Pub Rock
Similar Bands: Shoes, Hawks, Flyer, Producers, The Who, Styx, REO Speedwagon
"One-Word" Review: Smooth Harmonized AOR Hook Rock
Based Out Of: Long Island, Pittsburgh (Penn Hills)
Label: G&P (Good Product & Great People) Records

Cover, Record

Back, Record

First Thrills (1981)

1. Breaking My Heart 3:13 (single)
2. Changing My Ways 3:04
3. Blinded By Love 3:33
4. Good Friends 3:32
5. Won't Be a Fool 3:15 /
6. Lie For Your Love 3:42
7. Dream Away 3:28 (single b-side)
8. Not Gonna Run 3:00 (single)
9. Carrie 3:10
10. Going Out 3:49

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Tony Monaco - Keys, Synth, Vox (Stormfront, Turnstiles, Menagerie, Bad Company (not the famous one), The Treez)
• Dave Fullerton - Guitar Vox (Turnstiles, Menagerie, Bad Company (not the famous one))
• Rob Owens - Drums, Vox (Bad Company (not the famous one))
• Bill Gilbert - Bass, Vox (Stonehenge)
• Mike Frenchik - Producer, Mixing, Mgmt
• Tom Ingegno - Producer, Mixing, Mgmt
• Don Casale - Mixing, Engineer, Recording
• Doug Parry - Engineer
• Tom Coyne - Mastering
• Nicholas Cosmas - Art Direction
• George Hornfeck - Art Direction
• Marianne M Sachs - Cover Illustration

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. The cover makes a case for youthful, raw instinct and discovery, tied to that "thrill" of seeing something you're not supposed to see as a child. Draw your own conclusions, but there is a nod toward sexual discovery. So what's behind the fence in the drawing? Probably a mediocre band playing some mix of powerpop or pub rock. Odd thing is that the cover says 1980, but the record is dated 1981.

Album Review: The album is full of harmonies, keys and swinging synth for some straightforward power pop. The lyrics are also typically focused on love and women, particularly Carrie, which takes the number off the wall, and extrapolates what it would be like to be with a girl met from a bathroom wall call. It is full of catchy feel good hooks and bouncy upbeat melodies. A solid album of the genre.

originally from the Pittsburgh area, they relocated to Long Island in 1977, and became one of the top bar/party bands of the area, recording songs over the next couple years, compiled on this their first record. Like so many bands of the era, their second album was not as hot as the first and by the time they recorded a 3rd record, the label was gone, and so was their career...until 2000, when the band reformed and released Thrills 3, 17 years after recording. Frontman Monaco also currently (2020) leads a Billy Joel cover act called Turnstiles based in Florida. Bassist Gilbert passed away in 2004.

Stand Out Track: Carrie

Links:
Spotify Full Album
Discogs
Allmusic
Interview
Facebook
Official Page
Rate Your Music
Tribune Democrat
Billboard 7/4/81
Turnstiles - Monaco's Billy Joel Cover Band
Heavy Harmonies
Old Mon Music