I like New Wave Power Pop in a 12" format

There were some 12" eps I needed to digitize. I share. Pictures unfortunately are from the deep end of the interwebs since the camera I have is kind of potato quality and photographing 12" covers is a pain in my lazy ass.


There was a time when it was totally uncool to enjoy local level New Wave records and nice pop songs by skinny tie wearing bands. That was not punk and you were a poser, or a loser or a dork or some such nonsense. You'd have to front a little at the all ages show to keep your street cred as somebody who was serious about their music and pop songs were way too commercial sounding to lend you any credence as a taste maker. Those guys were selling out and trying to make it big because apparently by joining a band you took some kind of unspoken vow of poverty in exchange for you artistic freedom which required you to make music that would only appeal to a small impoverished group of jerky pretentious teens in leather jackets and pink hair or something. Or so it seemed, at least.

I didn't care too much. I was/am a dork. I love a good pop song.

Love at First Sight (1981)

The Peter Dayton Band kicked out this jam in Boston in 1981. Previously Peter Dayton had been part of La Peste who were responsible for the second best song referencing blow jobs to come out of the Boston area, "Better Off Dead"(Which is in the queue somewhere down the line, kids) But where La Peste were a driving kbd style band, the solo stuff was a lot more farfisa new wave with surf and rockabilly reference points. It rocks a lot more gently but you can dance to it and your girlfriend would go with you to the show. Ric Ocasek was behind the board for the recording of this and the rest of the Cars make appearances in various capacities as well for those Cars completists.
My only experience with the band is an appearance at some really odd outdoor show that me and some teenage friends piled in a car to drive to the boonies to see. Peter Dayton played the first slot and then there was the Jim Carroll Band (with Lenny Kaye on guitar) and the headliners were the Ramones. There were probably a few other bands in there too, but none of them remain in the failing memory banks. It was wicked good as the kids are wont to say.

It's the Renaissance (1983)

Meanwhile a couple of years later in Nebraska, a young gentleman by the name of Danny O'Kane released this little new wave power pop elongated player with backing by the Model Citizen Club. It seems pretty unfairly obscure. Perhaps it's the congas. I find it to be otherwise pleasant listening. Brief googling suggests that these intrepid musicians made their way east to better enjoy obscurity and poverty in New York City where another record was released. It only awaits the days to come where the obscurists and enshrine it as a lost masterpiece based on its rarity more than its content. Until then, enjoy it. It's a worthwhile spin.