Split Enz

7-13-10

Split Enz

Having helmed several music blogs since 2002, I have never particularly written about the artists to whom I have had a special affinity (the notable exception would be Frank Zappa). Most anyone reading this knows that I expended a fair bit of effort in a pre-internet world on Split Enz.

I saw them live a number of times from roughly 1977 (Golden Bear, Huntington Beach, CA) to 1984 (“Enz With A Bang”, Auckland, NZ). I’ve met most of them, I have a literal ‘score’ of records and videos. I recently worked on generating a DVD-R of some of my Split Enz music videos – “Maybe”, “Spellbound”, “Late Last Night”, “Lovey Dovey”, “Sweet Dreams”, “Bold As Brass” etc. An entire 1982 MTV live show (66 minutes) from Hamilton, Canada (when it got released as a Sony video Album, it was edited to 54 minutes); a plethora of US TV appearances – being interviewed by Tom Snyder, Dick Clark…

So, for me – Split Enz represent my ascent into the (music) video age. When I went to New Zealand, there were only a few 45’s I had to turn up – but I didn’t have ANY of their music videos! I borrowed a ¾” U-matic videocassette from Mike Chunn that I took to a video post-production house somewhere in Auckland and had converted from PAL ¾” to NTSC Beta (BII) – unfortunately, it was so early on – it wasn’t “hi-fi” (as I painfully noticed while the low-fi audio transferred effortlessly to DVD-R last month).

It would be pointless for me to post even a partial discography for Split Enz – I can just say that if you do not already own a copy, I recommend “Mental Notes”, their original NZ / Australian full-length album – on either LP or CD. The one that’s best that’s somewhat easy to find in the US is also called “Mental Notes”, but it has a pink border on the cover and is on Chrysalis Records, that one is known as “Second Thoughts” in Australasia. It’s good, too.

If the progressive rock of 1975 Enz isn’t quite your kettle of fish – try the more new wave-y “True Colours” or “Waiata” (also known as “Coroboree”) – but be careful on which CD version you get – the Australian WEA re-master CD of “Waiata” / “Coroboree” has indeed been remixed – more than just a little.

I never really warmed to Neil Finn – much less any of his post-Enz activities. It was always so unusual – his attitude towards enthusiastic fans – he was so derisive and dismissive at times. Why would anyone creating art in public generate so much disdain towards the people who love and support what you do?

A final shout out to Phil Judd, the man who wrote a lot of material for the original Split Enz. I did my best to follow his work from afar – it was hard work being a Swingers fan in Los Angeles, where nobody cared. Somehow Schnell Fenster got a US release (well, their first album) – but his work essentially remains obscure in the US. I wish him the best of luck navigating the Australian press / fans through his recent troubles.

Tuli Kupferberg

Goodbye, Tuli Kupferberg (of The Fugs)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuli_Kupferberg

...you all know how I feel about The Fugs...

- RK

A Certain Ratio – “Mind Made Up”

7-12-10

A Certain Ratio – “Mind Made Up”

As you probably already know, there aren’t many “new” releases that I pay attention to. Three of my favorite English acts are still somewhat ‘active’ – Scritti Politti, The Monochrome Set and A Certain Ratio. This year we got a new CD from A Certain Ratio – “Mind Made Up” (LTM Records France CD: LTMCD 2531, 2010). It’s true that it took quite a while for me to find a copy of this album. Not released in England? Hmmm…

Their previous ‘new’ album “Change The Station” was released in 1996 – since then, all we’ve had are collections or re-issues of other ‘old’ albums. There was a CD Single for “Starlight” in 2002 – this song appears on “Mind Made Up”.

13 tracks of Brit-funk in 2010. ACR never had the popularity of Level 42, but they’re also still in business in 2010. Britfunk. I also like Freeez, Shakatak…but A Certain Ratio holds a special place in my 80’s music fandom. I was lucky enough to have seen them play live, and I have bought all of their albums and singles in ‘real time’ as they were released. Not all of their 12” singles have made it to CD format, unfortunately.

My friend Bob told me that he thought “Mind Made Up” sounded like “A C R’s greatest hits – except that it was all new songs”. I kind of agree – it’s pretty good. I know those guys are my age (or a little older) – but they still essentially “sound the same” as they always did. Nice ‘n’ tight.

The highlight of this album for me is a rather short (under 3 minutes) instrumental track called “Skunk” – the very essence of ACR, as far as I am concerned.

I missed them when they came to L.A. last year as one of the “Part Time Punks” festival – I don’t even remember why I missed them, but I did. Who knows? Maybe they’ll come back one day? Will we have to wait another 14 years for another album of new material?

To me it seems like such an event to get a new album from a group that I’ve known and loved for nearly 30+ years. It’s almost like they have survived the total destruction of the music business. They remain in Manchester, UK.

http://acrmcr.com/

Today

This is what I looked like on July 9th, 2010.

Ron Kane, Long Beach, California, USA.

I was born in Long Beach, CA in 1958. I went to school here (Burroughs Elementary School, Hughes Junior High and Polytechnic High School; I did not attend CSULB or LBCC, though I tried!). I worked at Licorice Pizza Records in Bellflower, West Covina and Huntington Beach - I was hired by Mike McG in July, 1976). I also worked at Pizza's distributorship "Superior Music" in Glendale, CA. In the 1980's, I worked for Tony Harrington at USS&M in Studio City, CA - I ran Tony's "Mail-Order" company, ANZ Imports. I moved to England in 1990. After that, I lived in Amsterdam, Netherlands for the winters of 1991 and 1992. Upon returning to Los Angeles, I worked at both Bay Cities Disc and Poo Bah Record Shop (when it was on Walnut, in Pasadena).

Since 1979, I have traveled to England, Holland, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Finalnd and several other European countries. I started going to New Zealand in 1981. I started going to japan in 1994. I started going to Toronto, Ont. Canada in 2005. I started going to Portland, OR in 2006. I went to Phoenix, AZ for the first time this year, 2010. What did I do in all these places? I looked for records (music on LP or CD).

I have been patronizing Los Angeles area record stores for over 40 years. Wenzel's Music Town in Downey, Wallach's Music City in Lakewood, Licorice Pizza in downtown Long Beach, Platterpuss in Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica etc., Phineas on Anaheim in Long Beach, Mundae on the pier in Long Beach, Revolver Records on 4th St. in Long Beach, Larry's Records on 7th St. in Long Beach...Aron's Records on both Melrose and Highland, Rhino Records on both Westwood Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd., numerous Tower Records locations, Moby Disc on both Victory Blvd. and Ventura Blvd. in Van Nuys / Sherman Oaks, all 3 x Amoeba Records locations, starting with Berkeley, then S.F. then Hollywood - Streetlight Records on Bascom in San Jose...the list is nearly endless!

I had a band called The Decayes that was active from 1978 to 1983. We exist again in 2010, and I am busily looking for somebody to release our new album in the US. It's all done, I can deliver a 1630 master - you just have to pay for it.

I almost feel like I should shout out to all my friends - but - talk about a truly endless list. I don't want to feel like I left anyone out. Please feel welcome to deposit your presence in the comments section. And I don't really want to list all my ex-girlfriends (or ex-wife). You know who you are!

How did this end up being a 2010 C.V. for myself? I dunno...I started this all by taking a photo of myself to post in contrast to the 1978 portrait depicted below.

1978

7-9-10

1978

In 1978, I would’ve been 19 years old, going on 20 years old. I believe that’s when this photo was taken – I am dating it by the Ultravox “Systems Of Romance” poster on the wall. I was working at a record distributor; I wouldn’t leave the country for the first time until the fall of 1979. My band was active at this time – recording, not necessarily playing live much. The young man in the photo is probably slightly conflicted as to his progressive rock interests / influences, and the pervasive sway of “new wave” music, such as Magazine, XTC & Ultravox (with John Foxx). I saw Ultravox first, followed by Magazine in the spring of 1979 and XTC a short time thereafter. The truth is, I was changed after my first trip to England / Europe in ’79.

As little new progressive rock of any merit was being created in 1978 / 9, I gradually shifted towards “new wave” music. On my debut trip to England, I first heard The Slits, Madness, Spizzenergi etc. I never got to see The Slits play live, but I saw both Madness and Spizzenergi (as “Athletico Spizz 80” in 1980).

Let’s do my roll call of 1978:

10cc – Dreadlock Holiday (45) on the radio

Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking (45) on KROQ

The B-52’s – Rock Lobster (45) on KROQ

Lucio Battisti – Una Donna Per Amico (LP) I was buying all of his stuff I could find

Black Randy / The Metro Squad – Idi Amin (45) I saw him live

Black Sabbath – Never Say Die (LP) I was given this LP by the pressing plant where my first record was pressed (KM in Burbank, CA)

Roland Bocquet – Paradia (LP) this was recommended to me by a mail-order catalog, I got to meet Mr. Bocquet in 1979

Herman Brood & His Wild Romance – Saturday Night (45) on the radio

Kate Bush – The Kick Inside (LP) a ‘rep’ from Capitol recommended this to me

John Cooper Clarke – Disguise In Love (LP) it came in as an import LP, looked good

The Deadbeats – Kill The Hippies (45) I saw them live

Ian Dury & The Blockheads – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (45) I was buying Dury’s stuff by this time, peaked with the “Do It Yourself” LP

Godley & Crème – L (LP) I heard it in a record store

The Group – The Group (Pekka Pohjola) (LP) this was recommended to me by a mail-order catalog

Gruppo Sportivo – Back To 78 (LP) I had loved their debut album “10 Mistakes”

Peter Hammill – The Future Now (LP) I had been following him for some years, he played live in L.A., too

The Hawklords – 25 Years On (LP) I had really liked “Quark Strangeness & Charm”

Kraftwerk – Die Mensch Maschine (LP) I was a huge fan of Kraftwerk

Nick Lowe – The Jesus of Cool (LP) it came in as an import LP, looked good

Magazine – Real Life (LP) it came in as an import LP, looked good

Magma – Attahk (LP) I was a Magma fan at this point; this was the last one I was really in touch with

Phil Manzanera – K-Scope (LP) I had liked “Diamond Head” and “Listen Now”

The Normal – T.V.O.D. (45) on KROQ

Annette Peacock – X-Dreams (LP) it came in as an import LP, looked good

Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians (LP) I had his DG box and loved it

The Rolling Stones – Some Girls (LP) I saw them live around this time

The Rutles – The Rutles (LP) I saw it on TV

Sad Café – Fanx Ta’ra (LP) it came in as an import LP, looked good

Vivian Stanshall – Sir Henry At Rawlinson End (LP) I liked this better than the Bonzo Dog Band material

The Stranglers – Black & White (LP) I peaked with “The Raven” in ‘79

Tanx Der Youth – I’m Sorry I’m Sorry (45) it came in as an import 45, looked good

Ultravox – Systems Of Romance (LP) it came in as an import LP, looked good

Various Artists – Blub Krad (L.A.F.M.S.) I knew some of the Pasadena crowd, and I really liked the band “Paul Is Dead”, who sort of became Human Hands

Verto – Reel 19.36 (LP) this was recommended to me by a mail-order catalog

The Who – Who Are You? (LP) I remember seeing the videos on TV, I was sort of ‘in shock’ when Keith Moon died

XTC – Go 2 (with Go Plus EP) (LP) it came in as an import LP, looked good – I especially liked the “Go Plus” EP

Frank Zappa – Studio Tan (LP) I had been following Mr. Zappa for over a decade, at this point; “Greggery Peccary” still amuses…

These are the titles that were genuinely important to me in 1978 – and that remain important to me in 2010 – likely not 100% of everything from ’78, because – as always – I was listening to a lot of different years!

Some of these were records that were being played on the radio, or were being talked about by friends / peers. Some were more reluctant to break with their progressive rock pasts than others. I really didn’t like some of the “punk” music that I was hearing – Generation X, The Sex Pistols, The Jam etc. At least XTC, Magazine and Ultravox had keyboard players!

So, the above listed titles is what the man / boy in the photo was listening to, and understanding.

Machinations

7-8-10

Machinations

I haven’t written about Machinations, the Australian rock band since 2003! As far as I know, nothing ‘new’ has been released lately…my collection remains:

7" AVERAGE INADEQUACY / ARABIA (PS) PHANTOM AUS PH 12

1981? 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD BIG MUSIC WHITE AUS D 19468

1985 10 TRKS 2^nd album

LP BIG MUSIC EPIC US BFE 403365

1986 10 TRKS U.S. version

LP BIG MUSIC WHITE AUS RML 53172

1985 10 TRKS Aussie version

12" CARS & PLANES WHITE AUS X 13358

1989 4 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" DO IT TO ME WHITE AUS X 13338

1988 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" DO TO YOU (Remix) WHITE AUS X 14530

1987 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" DO TO YOU / DONE / LOOKING OUT FOR YOU WHITE AUS X 14506

1987 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD ESTEEM WHITE AUS D 19469

1982 7 TRKS 1^st album

LP ESTEEM A&M US SP-12505

1983 6 TRKS

LP ESTEEM WHITE AUS L 37946

1983 7 TRKS

12" EXECUTION OF LOVE WHITE AUS X 14263

1985 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" INTIMACY / HIT BY A MISSILE WHITE AUS X 14601

1988 4 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" JACK / BE DUBLE (PS) WHITE AUS K 8928

1983 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" JETS / ARABIA / JOHN WAYNE / EDGE PHANTOM AUS PH 13

1980 4 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" JUMPING THE GAP / TERMINAL WHARF WHITE AUS K 9219

1983 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD5 MACHINATIONS ALMACANTAR US PHCD1213-AR

1980 5 TRKS CD EP ('07 issue)

7" NO SAY IN IT / (same) (PS) EPIC US 34-05887

1986 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, promo

12" NO SAY IN IT / 5 MINUTES BLACK EPIC US EAS 2348

1986 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

7" NO SAY IN IT / MAN OVERBOARD (PS) WHITE AUS K 9489

1984 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" PRESSURE SWAY WHITE AUS X 12026

1983 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" PRESSURE SWAY / PUSH BIKE (PS) WHITE NZ K 9074

1983 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD UPTOWN WHITE AUS CD 38925

1988 11 TRKS 3^rd album

LP UPTOWN WHITE AUS L 38925

1988 11 TRKS

12" YOU GOT ME GOING AGAIN (DANCE MIX) / (Same) EPIC US EAS 2397

1985 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

For some reason, a small US indie label ‘licensed’ their Phantom label works for a CD EP in 2006/7. Was the Mushroom / White stuff too expensive to license, I wonder?

Their somewhat famous song in the 80’s was “Pressure Sway” – a good new wave track. It got a US release on A&M records.

I remember that there used to be a big catalogue of CD titles, towards the end of the 80’s – and it listed a US issue of their 2^nd album, “Big Music” – complete was a US serial number on Epic Records. Never saw it. I doubt it ever happened. It would be cool, as there was a track on the US album that wasn’t on the Aussie original album!

I guess their 3 albums went out of print on CD in Australia. I was once offered a lot of money for my Aussie CD of “Big Music”, but I declined to sell it. I think my favorite album is their 3^rd and final album, “Uptown” – really excellent songs.

I guess they re-formed in 1997 for some live shows – but didn’t do any recording of new material. I also remember hearing that singer Fred Loneragan had been injured in a car accident at the end of the 80’s. I hope he’s allright!

They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. All hail Machinations!

Time Machine 1970 #5

7-7-10

Time Machine 1970 #5

Strange Days magazine in Japan is keeping up with it’s “Time Machine” series, which I find quite interesting.

Strange Days 2010.07 lists “May 1970 Albums” as: The Beatles – Let It Be (Apple UK LP PCS 7096); King Crimson – In The Wake Of Poseidon (Island UK LP ILPS 9127); The Who – Live At Leeds (Track Record UK LP 2406 001); The Bee Gees – Cucumber Castle (Polydor UK LP 2383 010); Liverpool Scene – St. Adrian Co. Broadway and 3^rd (RCA UK LP SF 8100); Medicine Head – New Battles Old Medicine (Dandelion UK LP S 63757); The Can – Monster Movie (United Artists UK LP UAS 29094 – in Germany, this LP was Liberty LBS 83342 I); Love – Out Here (Harvest UK 2LP SHDW ¾ - on Blue Thumb Records in the US); and Carole King – Writer: Carole King (Ode US LP SP 77006).

I wish I owned the Liverpool Scene LP – I’ve never seen a copy!

But I do own The Beatles LP, in a boxed set version with a large booklet which insists the LP is called “Get Back”. I got the King Crimson LP almost as soon as it was released in the US on Atlantic Records – and an Island UK LP of it shortly thereafter. Also got a UK Polydor Bee Gees LP right after getting an Atco US LP of it. I do not own the aforementioned Liverpool Scene LP or Medicine Head LP (or anything else by Medicine Head). I have a German Can LP, not a UK one. I got a US pressing of the double LP by Love on Blue Thumb – and was not impressed with it – so off it went. I think I went back and got this Carole King LP after being charmed by “Tapestry” – though it took me nearly 40 years to find an A&M copy of it.

By May of 1970 – I was 100% paying attention to record collecting and the music business, as represented in Billboard, Melody Maker etc. I was seeing LP’s advertised, and the advertising made me curious.

There was a lot of interest in The Beatles at that time – the boxed set of “Let It Be” from England was $9 or $10 (when a regular new LP in the US was $3 at a hippie record store). And we had already bought a bootleg LP version of “Let It Be”: “Homogenized Beatles” as well as another version called “Get Back”. I think only “For You Blue” was new to us at that point. I also remember taking a cassette recorder into a movie theatre, trying to record the audio track from the “Let It Be” movie.

I had noticed the cover of the first King Crimson album at Wallach’s Music City, probably early in 1970 – my 12-year-old ears enthralled with “21^st Century schizoid Man”. When “In The Wake Of Poseidon” first appeared, I spent my allowance on it immediately – and was mightily amused with “Pictures Of A City” and “Cat Food”. And have been ever since. “Live At Leeds” was also very important – it being the first Who LP released after “Tommy” – all those great inserts and that poster! Took a while for me to get around to Can (maybe ’74 or so?)…

Portland, Oregon

7-6-10

Portland, Oregon

I recently visited Portland, OR for a week or so. I didn’t want to buy a lot of stuff, as it would all have to be carried back home on an airplane. The list:

BAILTER SPACE – SOLAR 3, TURNBUCKLE US CD

BONZO DOG BAND – SLUSH, U.A. US 7" promo

BRAND X – MACROCOSM – INTRODUCING…, VIRGIN UK CD collection

BRUCE, JACK – CITIES OF THE HEART, CMP DE 2CD Live

COUNTY, WAYNE / ELECTRIC CHAIRS – ROCK 'N ROLL CLEOPATRA, RPM UK CD collection

DICKIES – PUNK SINGLES COLLECTION, UNIVERSAL UK CD collection

FOCUS – SYLVIA, SIRE US 7"

FOX, VIRGIL – HEAVY ORGAN, MCA US LP re-issue

FRITH, FRED – GRAVITY, ESD US CD bonus tracks

FRITH, FRED – GUITAR SOLOS, ESD US CD bonus tracks

GOLDEN EARRING – MILLBROOK U.S.A., UNIVERSAL NL CD + DVD

GROUNDHOGS – HOGGIN' THE STAGE, TALKING ELEPHANT UK 2CD Live

HARVEY BAND, Sensational ALEX – IMPOSSIBLE DREAM, VERTIGO DE LP

HAYWARD, CHARLES – SWITCH ON WAR, SUB ROSA BE CD

HOPKIN, MARY – WATER PAPER & CLAY, APPLE US 7"

JO JO GUNNE – RUN RUN RUN, ASYLUM US 7" promo

KEBNEKAISE – s/t, SILENCE SW CD 1973 bonus track

M.F.S.B. – s/t, EPIC US CD bonus track

MANZANERA, PHIL – GUITARISSIMO, EG US CD collection, bonus track

MASSACRE – KILLING TIME, ReR US CD bonus tracks

MASSACRE – LONELY HEART, TZADIK US CD

MITCHELL, JONI – COURT AND SPARK, ASYLUM JPN LP

NILSSON, HARRY – SON OF SCHMILSSON, RCA US CD

O.S.T. – RULING CLASS, AVCO US LP

OLDFIELD, MIKE – HERGEST RIDGE, MERCURY UK CD re (’10 issue) bonus tracks

OLDFIELD, MIKE – OMMADAWN, MERCURY UK CD re (’10 issue) bonus tracks

QUATRE GUITARISTES DE L'APOCALYPSO-BAR – TOURNEE MONDIALE – ETE '89, AMBIENCES CAN LP

REVILLOS – TOTALLY ALIVE IN LONDON, SYMPATHY US CD

SEEMON & MARIJKE – VEGETABLE STEW, A&M US 7" promo aka “The Fool”

SHANGHAI – FALLEN HEROES, THUNDERBIRD UK LP Cliff Bennett

SOEURS WINCHESTER – s/t, ROSEBUD FR CD Philippe Katerine, prod.

UNDERSCORE ORKESTRA – NO MONEY NO HONEY ALL WE GOT IS US, U.O. US CD Portland, OR band

V.A. – BYG DEAL, B-MUSIC US CD Gong etc.

V.A. – LISTEN HERE, TRANSATLANTIC UK LP ‘68

V.A. – PUNK YOU Vol. 1, EMI US CD

V.A. – TOP OF THE STAX – 20 G.H., STAX US CD

VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR – TRISECTOR, VIRGIN UK CD ‘08

WAKEMAN, RICK – SILENT NIGHTS, TBG / PRESIDENT UK LP ‘85

WATERSON, NORMA – s/t, HANNIBAL US CD

WHO, THE – 5:15, TRACK UK 7"

WILLIAMSON, ROBIN – CELTIC HARP & DANCE TUNES, GREEN TRAX UK CD

ZAPPA, FRANK – KILL UGLY RADIO SOME MORE, RYKODISC US CD promo

ZAPPA, FRANK – WEASEL'S RIPPED MY FLESH, VIDEOARTS JPN CD kami sleeve

I bought a few more titles than this – some inexpensive duplicates, a 45 that was cracked (a T.Y.A. 45 I’d never seen before, on US Columbia) etc. A good haul…