Everything is Right

Change of pace time. It's Lps today.

The Velvet Monkeys put this lp out in 1982. It doesn't appear to have ever been released on Cd and I couldn't otherwise find it online. That's too bad. It's a killer album of 60's inspired tunes with a dark (then) modern twist. They occasionally used synths instead of a farfisa. Also enclosed are the two post-Future singles, a cover of the Classic IV's "Spooky" & a "Colors pts 1 & 2". (the b-sides on both are throwaways unfortunately.)  A few stray tracks made it onto the Rotting Corpse Au Go Go compilation, but it's one that needs to be digested in its entirety. I've had it probably since it came out and every time I pull it out I always think "This is great. I should play this more" and then forget about it for another few years only to rinse and repeat.

 

Future (1982)

If you're so inclined I'll throw in on this post a couple of other compilation Lps with Velvet Monkey related stuff. The 80's were a freakin' heyday for compilations and where the savvy consumer could be exposed to all kinds of new bands by buying them for the one or two tracks they might have by a known entity. Here we have the "No Room to Dance" lp, a compilation of Tidewater, VA bands from 1980. It's a good example of the various styles of New Wave floating about in 1980 from the power pop stylings of the X-Raves to the incompetent faux Jam aping of the Noise (complete with faux English accents again.) & as always some futuristic robot pop from Rock Bottom.

Of interest for our purposes is Citizen 23 who would within the year lose their drummer and move to DC to transform into the Velvet Monkeys. They are easily the highlight of the lp.

Compilations

The other one is a 1981 compilation by the renowned DC Limp label. It's a bit of a corker. Usually label comps will have a few stinkers in there. This one, not so much. The two power pop numbers by Tommy Keane are worth the price of admission alone, but you get some lots more. (I personally am happy with any tracks by the Nurses.) The newly christened Velvet Monkeys contribute ace two tracks for the discerning listener to swallow with their earholes.