Rave Ups (The) - Town + Country

Name: The Rave Ups
Album: Town + Country
Year: 1985
Style: Americana Country, Alt-Country
Similar Bands: Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven, Thorns, Uncle Tupelo, Del Fuegos, Blasters, Wire Train, BoDeans, Lone Justice
"One-Word" Review: Twangy Brooding Alt-Country
Based Out Of: Pittsburgh, Pa / LA, CA
Label: Fun Stuff Records

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Liner Notes, Record

Town + Country (1985)

1. Positively Lost Me 5:10 (single)
2. Remember (Newman's Lovesong) 2:53
3. Better World 4:42
4. Class Tramp 3:29
5. In My Gremlin 2:10 /
6. Radio 5:12
7. By The Way 3:25
8. Not Where You're At (But Where you Will Be) 3:43
9. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere 4:31 (Bob Dylan cover)
10. Rave-Up/Shut Up 1:50

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Stephen Barnlard - Producer
• Clyde Kaplan - Recording Engineer
• Russell Nathan Castillo - Mixing Engineer
• Bernie Grundman - Mastering
• Terrmeister - Editing
• Robert Fusfield - Art Direction
• Jimmer Podrasky - Vox, Guitar (Lovin' Miserys, Jimmer)
• Terry Wilson - Guitar, Vox (Springfield, MO All Star Band, The Dog People, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, J. Wunderle, Jimmer, Flat Creek, Giorgio Moroder, Amii Stewart, Big Trouble, Kenny Loggins, Skeletons, )
• Tom Blatnik - Bass (Dancing Hoods, Lonsome Strangers, Whittier)
• Timothy Jimenez. - Drums (Jimmer)
• Sneaky Pete Kleinow - Pedal Steel Guitar (Burrito Bros, Burrito Delux, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon, Sir Raleigh & The Cupons, Flying Burrito Bros, Grease Band, John Braden, Lynn Blessing, Joe Cocker, Dillard & Clark, Denny Brooks, Bill Cowsill, Eve, Carp, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, Hedge & Donna Capers, Mother Hen, Marc Ellington, Bob Gibson, Daniel Moore, Potter St. Cloud, Don Everly, Burton & Cunico, Billy Joel, Little Feet, Cherokee, Helen reddy, Al Kooper, Barry McGuire & The Dr., Byrds, Joni Mitchelle, Crazy Horse, Little Richard, Jackson Browne, Frank Zappa, Martin Mull, Bee Gees, Yoko Ono, John Lennon  more)

Unknown-ness: I never heard of this band. Just from the cover + band name, i imagine this to be a mid 80's jangle pop band, where the name is full of energy, but the cover looks like middle america, and the back band photo on the railroad tracks with pastel highlighted clothing furthers the working man's band, complete with bolo tie and the 80's fad Pretty in Pink Duckie hat.

Album Review: So rather than jangle pop, this midwestern (Pittsburgh might as well be the midwest), this college rock band accents heavily on the slide country guitar, and american working class mentality. Aside from looking like extras from Pretty in Pink a year before its release (Podrasky was dating & had a child with Molly Ringwalks older sister, Beth), they actually were in the film (as well as Beverly Hills 90210, where Podrasky had a brief relationship with Shannon Doherty). They also touch on Roots Rock and Rockabilly ("In My Gremlin"), and their moody "Radio" reminds me of James in parts. There have been a couple incarnations of the band, as members gathered and fell off as Podrasky moved from Pitts to LA back to Pitts and then back to LA. This main and steadiest version is the band happened after Podrasky's second move LA where he worked in the mailroom of A&M records along  with the other 3 members.

Stand Out Track: By The Way

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Orion - Fresh

Name: Orion
Album: Fresh
Year: 1981
Style: Country, Oldies, Honky Tonk
Similar Bands: Elvis Presley
"One-Word" Review: Honk-Tonk Elvis Impersonator
Based Out Of: Alabama
Label: Sun International, Shelby Singleton Corp

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Fresh (1981)

1. There's No Easy Way 3:07
2. Baby Please Say Yes 2:16
3. Born 3:04 (single)
4. If I Can't Have You 2:37
5. Ain't No Good 3:10 /
6. Some You Win, Some You Lose 3:05 (single)
7. Look Me Up (and Lay It On Me) 2:15
8. Old Mexico 2:55
9. Rainbow Maker 2:28
10. Anybody Out There 2:37

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Mac Weiman - Guidance
• Shelby Singleton - Presenter
• David Roys - Engineer
• Dennis Carney - Photos
• Betty M. Cherry - Cover Art

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Orion, or Fresh, or Fresh Orion, or Orion Fresh, but it is very very obvious this will be basically an Elvis impersonator. The big selling point for me to get this was after i saw the beautiful see-through golden record. Like the classic label namesake, the record was like the sun.

Album Review: His name is indeed Orion by stage, James Hughes Bell by social security card. Most of the songs were written by Buddy Harris, the tempos range like a rollercoaster from slow and loungy to upbeat, energetic pub honky tonk. The vocals absolutely sound like Elvis. So much so, that many folks thought Elvis hadn't died in 1977 after hearing Orion/Ellis- a rumor he & Sun Records' Shelby Singleton were not eager to dismiss. In fact, the name Orion was his applied stage name after a book by Gail Brewer-Giorgio was published in 1978 also called Orion, who's protagonist was an Elvis-like pop star who faked his death. Despite the campy and sit-com like mystique, he has performed with many country greats like Lorletta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Tammy Wynette. He also has many fan websites devoted to his career. In 83, he denounced the theatrical name of Orion, tearing off his mask mid-performance, only to don it again in 87 when sales did not grow under his real name. Ellis was murdered in his pawn shop along with his ex wife in 1998 at 53. There is even a 2015 documentary about his life titled Orion: The Man Who Would Be King. The song on here, "Some You Win, Some You Lose," has a general melody and structure to Chuck Berry's "Never Can Tell." 

Stand Out Track: Some You Win, Some You Loose

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Capital City Rockets - s/t

Name: Capital City Rockets
Album: s/t
Year: 1973
Style: Honky-Tonk, Pub Rock, Southern-Bluesy Rock
Similar Bands: ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, Bay City Rollers, J. Geils Band, Black Crows, Mooney Suzuki
"One-Word" Review: run-of-the-mill-honky-tonk-blues
Based Out Of: Columbus OH
Label: Elektra, Warner

Cover & Record

Record & Back

Capital City Rockets (1973)

1. Ten Hole Dollars 3:24
2. Grab Your Honey 3:01 (single b-side)
3. Little Bit O'Fun 2:59 (cover)
4. Come Back Baby 2:41
5. People Are Losing 4:53 / 
6. Breakfast in Bed 3:13 (single)
7. Newcomer Blues 2:53
8. My Orange Tie 3:18
9. Searchlight 3:31
10. Still Kicking 3:49

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Jamie Lyons - Lead Vox (the Music Explosion, the Burners, Hard Sauce, Kasenetz-Katz)
• Robert Hill - Guitar, Vox (Godz, Sky King, Debonairs, Bishops, Four Winds, Goldfinger, Strongbow, Climax)
• Michael (Bopper) Warner -  Guitar, Vox (Hard Sauce, Four O'Clock Balloon)
• Eric Moore - Bass (Godz, Sky King, Tree, American Dog)
• Jerry Hertig - Drums (Hard Sauce, Adrian Belew)
• Bobbye Hall - Congas (Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Bill Withers, Butterfield Blues Band, Janis Joplin, Mamas and Papas many more)
• Gregory Prestopino - Piano (Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Puff Daddy, Aaron Neville, Bette Midler, Livingston Taylor, Wendy Waldman, Maria Muldaur, Bonnie Raitt. Ry Cooder, John Prine, Loudon Wainwright III, Juice Newton, Gary Wright, Dan Bern, Arlo Guthrie, Kate & AnnaMcGarrigle)
• Fritz Richmond - Engineer, Remix
• Ed Caraeff - Photography
• Robert L. Heimall - Art Direction & Design

Unknown-ness: Never heard of these guys, but the logo looks right out of a late-90's emo punk band, and the back cover looks like they could be a 70's punk band in rollerderby outfits. I'm excited to hear what these guys make...it will probably just be some basic powerpop/rock, seeing as it's 1973.

Album Review: This was a one and done album from this band, who had roots in the Columbus OH scene for years before and after in other small bands. They are indeed a pub rock band with a bit of southern blues, a bit of revitalized oldies rock n roll, and smatterings of power pop. All of their songs are energetic, but nothing really stands out as the clear single or hook.

Stand Out Track: My Orange Tie

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Billy Burnette - s/t

Name: Billy Burnette
Album: s/t
Year: 1980
Style: Honky-Tonk, Rockabilly, Pub Rock
Similar Bands: Stray Cats, Southside Johnny, Buddy Holly, Marshall Crenshaw
"One-Word" Review: Truck Stop Bar Demos
Based Out Of: Memphis TN
Label: CBS, Columbia

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Billy Burnette (1980)

1. In Just a Heartbeat 3:59
2. Oh, Susan 2:44
3. Danger Zone 3:32
4. Don't Say No 3:04 (single)
5. Rockin' LA 2:17 /
6. Honey Hush 2:26 
7. Rockin' With Somebody New 2:29
8. One Night 3:02 (Elvis Presley cover)
9. Sittin' On Ready 2:21
10. Angeline 2:37
11. Tear It Up 3:09 

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Billy Burnette - Guitar, Vox, Production Assistant (Fleetwood Mac, Mick Fleetwood's Zoo, Spirit of the Forest, Shawn Camp, Townes Van Zandt, Michael Smotherman, Roy Orbison, Troy Newman, Dwight Twilley, John Fogerty, Christine McVie, George Strait, Jimmy Barnes, Todd Sharp )
• Kimme Gardner - Bass (Ashton, Gardner & Dyke, Badger, Garwood Pickjon, Quiet Melon, The Birds, The Creation, Wobblers, Ronnie Wood)
• Chris Brosius - Guitar, Backing Vox (Lisa Nemzo, Karla DeVito, Moon Martin, Judy Street)
• Ian Wallace - Drums, Percussion (21st Century Schizoid band, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Crimson Jazz Trio, Fission Trip, King Crimspn, Snape, The Quireboys, The Sleepy, Wallace Trainor Conspiracy, Warriors, The World
• Barry Seidel - Producer
• Nicholas Von Sternberg - Neon Photo
• Sam Emerson -Band Photo
• Gregg Cobar - Billy Photo
• Biff Dawes - Engineer
• Les Cooper - Assoc. Engineer
• Patrick Burnette - Assoc. Engineer
• Ken Perry - Masterting

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band / singer songwriter. Looks like it will be some John Mellencamp Americana by the back photo, but perhaps mixed with some new wave tendencies based on the neon cover

Album Review: Apparently, I share a birthday with Billy, some 25 years later. He recorded his first record with Ricky Nelson at the age of 7, partially due to the fact that his father was famous performer, Dorsey Burnette, who even had him on tour at 3 1/2 years old. After many brushes with a slew of legendary acts and legendary acts who played songs he wrote, his biggest success was replacing Lindsay Buckingham in Fleetwood Mac: an experience that took him away from rockabilly/country music for a few years. The pub rock element comes through more than rockabilly on most of the songs. Most songs feel like demos, too...there is just something missing in the production.

Stand Out Track: Oh Susan

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