Show #10 May 30, 2009

My first TWO HOUR show is all for Staceys!

Stacey- The Lyres 12 Classic 45s
Little Mascara- The Replacements Tim
Don't Get Mad- The Imposters Don't Get Mad 45
Let's Go- The Reducers Let's Go
Tell It To Carrie- The Romantics Romantics And Friends-Midwest Pop Explosion
Feast On My Heart- Pylon Gyrate
Airplay- The First Steps Anywhere Else But Here E.P. 7"
It's All Fire- Poison Squirrel Step By Step 45
^Back of My Hand (I've Got Your Number)- The Jags Evening Standards
Everybody Knows- Tom Dickie & the Desires Competition
Stay Sixteen- The Proof It's Safe
Civil War Buff- Richard X. Heyman Hey Man!
Bad Reputation- The dB's Stands for deciBels
Lose Your Love- Mandarines Trust You E.P.
*The Kids Are Alright- The Who The Who Sings My Generation
*No Matter What- Badfinger No Dice
*Go All The Way- Raspberries Raspberries
*I'm On Fire- Dwight Twilley Band Sincerely
Amnesia- The Rubinoos Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Rubinoos
Go Cruisin- Shrapnel Go Cruisin' 7''
I'm Blessed- Brendan Benson One Mississippi
Up the Junction- Squeeze DIY Starry Eyes: UK Pop II (1978-79)
Midnight Riders- Spys Midnight Riders EP
Plea From A Cat Named Virtute- The Weakerthans Reconstruction Site
Messing With My Head- Tinted Windows Tinted Windows
Give Me Passion- Positive Noise Give Me Passion 45
I Don't Know About You- The Wild Giraffes I Don't Know About You 45
Where's the Boy for Me?- The Revillos DIY Starry Eyes: UK Pop II (1978-79)
Hello Goodbye- L.A. Burgers L.A. Burgers
Why Can't It Be- The Names Why Can't It Be 45
When the Night Comes- The Boomtown Rats The Fine Art Of Surfacing
Heartbreaker- Knots Heartbreaker 7"

^Power Pop Peak: #84 Billboard Hot 100 6/7/80

*SacroSet: Roots Of Power Pop 1965-1975

In 1967, when New Musical Express asked about The Who's music, guitarist Pete Townshend responded "Power Pop is what we play." Now, All Music Guide's John Dougan correctly points out that "the musical sourcepoint for nearly all power-pop is The Beatles." Yet, for reasons I won't go into now, I won't be playing The Beatles on ALL KINDSA GIRLS. So, The Who lead off tonight's Roots Of Power Pop SacroSet, which also includes fellow Brits Badfinger and, representing the USA, Cleveland's Raspberries along with Tulsa's Dwight Twilley Band.

Elvis Costello had yet to dent the Billboard 100 in 1980, and wouldn't until 1983's Everyday I Write The Book. So, my friend Franzi (now Frank), an avowed Elvis Fanatic, was outraged that The Jags, who clearly appropriated (paid homage to?) Costello's sound, had a hit with tonight's Power Pop Peak, Back Of My Hand (I've Got Your Number). I still remember Frank singing over the Back Of My Hand chorus:

The Jags.....sound just like Elvis Costello...
The Jags.....sound just like Elvis Costello...
Elvis Costello...

In fact, I can't really listen to the song without hearing his high pitched squeal over the chorus. So, you've effectively ruined the song for me- thanks Frank.

Back in 1994 I found myself in San Francisco programming a radio station called Star FM (the ORIGINAL "Star" at 98.9/99.1 FM). Jaime was back in Rochester, NY packing up for a cross country move, so I was looking at about six weeks of pure "me time." While many 29 year old men would have opted for bars and strip clubs, I spent this glorious time in record stores, movie theaters and rock and roll clubs. While the theaters (Roxie, Red Vic, Castro, Four Star) are still around, most of the rock clubs (I-Beam, Purple Onion, Thirsty Swede, Berkeley Square) and record stores (Stoopid Records, Epicenter Zone, Neurotic Records, Rockit Records, Rough Trade) are long gone. One record store from back then is still going strong though, in fact it has thrived, expanding to San Francisco and Hollywood from its original location in Berkeley. After a week or so of hearing about Amoeba

Records from people in the SF stores, I navigated the Bay Bridge for the first time to Hippie Medina Telegraph Avenue (second only to Hippie Mecca Haight-Ashbury). I may have seen Berkeley's infamous "Naked Guy" on that first trip or another, but what I remember most about that day was entering the biggest record store I'd ever seen. I know it's cool to hate on Amoeba, but I think it is one of the best record stores I've ever been to. Yes it's a for-profit business, but I think they clearly value and love what they sell, elevating recorded music to its rightful place in our culture. Ask a Best Buy clerk for musical advice some time and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Anyway, one of the things Amoeba provides is a guide called "Music We Like" in which employees in the three stores list their favorite releases of the season. A few years ago I noticed that "Stacey" from the San Francisco store and I have a lot in common when it comes to music. We both love Power Pop and she has recommended artists like Silver Sun that I have played on ALL KINDSA GIRLS. Driving home after a day in San Francisco last December, which included the obligatory stop at Amoeba, I confessed to my wife, kids and Mom that, despite having never seen or spoken to her, I have crush on Stacey. I went on to state that I was sure she was a super-hot 27 to 31 year old who has Bettie Page bangs, awesome fashion sense

and drives a vintage Vespa to work. I was mocked heartily for this, my wife Jaime pointing out that "Stacey" can also be a man's name, while Jack and Nica were painting a picture of the record store equivalent of The Simpson's "Comic Book Guy." It was brutal- even Mum was piling on. This ridicule continued through Christmas Day when Jack presented me with the picture you see at the top of this post- one of the funniest things I've seen in years. I'll probably never meet Stacey, but we'll always have "Music We Like."

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ALL KINDSA GIRLS #10

Show #9 May 16, 2009

For all Veronicas, but especially MY Veronica...

Veronica- Honeyrider All Systems Go
The Punk- Cherry Vanilla Bad Girl
Kind Of A Girl- Tinted Windows Tinted Windows
Whatever Happened To Fun- Candy Whatever Happened To Fun
Kicks & Tips- Pictures Kicks & Tips 7"
^And We Danced- The Hooters Nervous Night
Never Come Back- Dogs Legendary Lovers
Face To Face- Code Blue Code Blue
*I Found Her- Boys Life Two Doors Down 45
*Radio- Sass Radio 45
*Prettiest Girl- The Neighborhoods 12 Classic 45s
*Magic In Her Eyes- The Trademarks Magic In Her Eyes 45
Always The Last To Know- The Yum Yums Sweet As Candy
Grounded-Twist And Shout Interpolation The A's The A's
Fast Food- The Blisters Fast Food 45

^Power Pop Peak: #21 Billboard Hot 100 8/10/85

*SacroSet: My Hometown- Boston, Mass

FINALLY found a suitable Veronica song. Almost went with Wreckless Eric's, but since it's a letter to a girlfriend from a soldier going off to war, I went with Honeyrider instead. You can't beat the first line in the song: "Veronica makes me smile when I'm feeling down and out..." I couldn't agree more.

I hardly ever have brand new music to play so it was pretty exciting tonight to debut Tinted Windows "Kind Of A Girl." The band has the ultimate Power Pop Pedigree: bass player/songwriter Adam Schlesinger is in Fountains of Wayne, singer Taylor Hanson has grown up quite a bit since he and his brothers gave us "MMMBop" in 1997, James Iha was in Smashing Pumpkins, and behind the drums is the legendary Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick. Very cool song- I'm looking forward to hearing more.

Tonight's Power Pop Peak is "And We Danced" by Philly band The Hooters. Still haven't heard whether or not the boobs n' burgers restaurant chain had to pony up for rights to the name, but I like to think the band got a HUGE payout.


Since I grew up on Boston Rock and Roll, it's a little surprising it took me nine shows to feature it in a SacroSet. The first song, Boys Life's "I Found Her," has a special place in my heart. Back in my dating days, when choosing "our song" with whatever lady friend I was with at the time, it never occurred to me to pick something from the radio or at least a well known album. Witness "I Found Her," which was my dating song with Jaime (who is now my wife- our wedding song is "You're Just The One I've Been Looking For" by Johnnie Taylor, another mega hit). The lyrics of "I Found Her" really fit the "best friends for a year who attack each other one night after a sweaty Zulus show at The Rat" trajectory of our relationship though, so the song earned its position in our lives. So much so that on our wedding day Jaime presented me with the groom's cake pictured above. How cool is that! A cake shaped like a Power Pop single! No wonder we've been together almost 20 years.

One fun postscript to tonight's SacroSet... In the Spring of 1980 I had a rare burst of school spirit and joined the Duxbury High School Prom Committee. I had a girlfriend (finally!) and was going to the prom so I thought I should at least try to help get a good band. My persistance paid off and thanks to the help of sympathetic popular girl and committee chair Lauren Spendley we got Boston Power Pop band The Trademarks to play our prom at Christos Restaurant in Brockton. They absolutely rocked in matching suits and ties with incredibly catchy originals, including "Magic In Her Eyes," and some great 60's covers. I'll never forget seeing seeing Paul Hansen and Mo Donelly jumping up and down in front of the stage because I was right there with them. There were a few people who weren't dancing though and when my girlfriend Gina asked them why, they replied "we hate them they're PUNK!" To these folks any band that didn't have long hair, beards, leather vests and/or denim jackets might as well have been the Sex Pistols. Still makes me laugh to think about it. One of the bright spots in four lackluster years of high school...

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ALL KINDSA GIRLS #9

Show #8 May 2, 2009

Hey Beverlys...you ROCK!


Beverly- The Flashcubes Bright Lights
Drive My Car- Nasty Facts Drive My Car 7"
2-4-6-8 Motorway- Tom Robinson Band DIY Teenage Kicks: UK Pop I (1976-79)
Take It Like A Man- Yankees High 'N' Inside
Fat Loose Fancies Me- Denzil Pub
^Turning Japanese- The Vapors New Clear Days
As You Were (Tomorrow)- The Crowd A World Apart
Freddy Mercury- De Cylinders Freddy Mercury 7"
*Radio Heart- The Secrets Titan: It's All Pop!
*Goodbye Goodtimes- Gary Charlson Titan: It's All Pop!
*Please Change Your Mind- Boys Titan: It's All Pop!
*No Way Baby- Arlis Titan: It's All Pop!
Pretty Please- The Quick Untold Rock Stories
Inner City Pressure- Flight Of The Conchords Flight Of The Conchords
Take It Easy- The Lonely Boys The Lonely Boys
Crocodile Tears- Mumps Crocodile Tears 45

^Power Pop Peak: #36 Billboard Hot 100 9/27/80

*SacroSet: Titan! Records Kansas City, MO

I remember hearing The Vapors' "Turning Japanese" for the first time and thinking "Nah, the song can't really be about THAT joke." For one thing, the joke I heard went "Why do CHINESE people have squinty eyes and buck teeth?" Second, you generally don't hear songs about onanism on the radio. Although now that I think about it, there's The Divinyl's "I Touch Myself," Cyndi Lauper's "She Bop," a few Madonna hits and Prince's entire catalog, so I probably shouldn't have been surprised. The band denied the song is about spanking the monkey, but after picking up these lyrics from the radio and MTV, I wasn't buying it:

I've got your picture... I'd like a million of you all round my cell...
I often kiss you when there's no one else around....
I want a doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well...
No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women no fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it's dark....

As if that wasn't enough, then there's the chorus:

You've got me turning up and turning down and turning in and turning 'round....I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so...

I'm sorry but mixing prison with a picture of a girl is a recipe for autoeroticism and no one will EVER convince me otherwise. In any case, the song was a Top 40 hit in many countries, including Japan, and reached #1 in Australia, so let's give it a big hand....

As for tonight's SacroSet, here's what AllMusic says about Kansas City's Titan! Records: 

"the label's output sounded like chart-topping hits from an alternate universe where The Raspberries were bigger than The Beatles, Emitt Rhodes ruled the airwaves, and The Scruffs and Dwight Twilley were the hottest new acts on the scene." (I'd like to think All Kindsa Girls would be a top rated radio show in this same alternative universe.) 

Between 1978 and 1981, Mark Prellberg and Tom Sorrells, two music "industry" neophytes, released a slew of buoyant power pop gems that were criminally ignored and thus commercial failures. The Numero Group's Titan! It's All Pop! album compiles all of the label's releases along with 20 bonus tracks- it is pure Power Pop Heaven! Titan! Records is what All Kindsa Girls is all about.

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ALL KINDSA GIRLS #8

Show #7 April 18, 2009

For Wendy's near and far...

Wendy- The Descendents Enjoy!
Abracadabra (Have You Seen Her)- Blue Ash No More No Less
Homicide- 999 DIY The Modern World: UK Punk II (77-78)
The Silence Between Us- Bob Mould District Line
Undercover Agent Zero- The Flys See For Miles (78-80)
You're An Angel- Happy Hate Me Nots You're An Angel 45
Which Way- The Finders It's So Insane 45
Me And You- Adam Schmitt Illiterature
*Shelly's Boyfriend Bonnie Hayes and The Wild Combo Valley Girl: More Music From The Soundtrack
*A Million Miles Away- The Plimsouls Valley Girl: Music From The Soundtrack
*Johnny Are You Queer- Josie Cotton Valley Girl: Music From The Soundtrack
*The Fanatic- Felony Valley Girl: Music From The Soundtrack
E=MC2- The Celibate Rifles Platters du Jour
Chillout Tent- The Hold Steady Boys and Girls in America
Easy Action- The Pop Down On The Boulevard 45

*SacroSet: Songs from the film "Valley Girl"

Growing up on Massachusetts' South Shore in the late 70's/early 80's, I felt strongly that a person's record collection could tell you all you needed to know about them. (Yes, I was just like the guys in High Fidelity.) While my love of punk rock was barely apparent in my fashion choices (or non-choices really), I nonetheless felt it defined me more than any other aspect of my personality. When you love something that is considered "underground" in our culture, your first instinct is to try to share it with others. You want people to know how great it is and, in turn, how cool you are. I was soon to learn, however, that this is a double edged sword.

Seeing the same jock douche bags that had been giving my friends and I crap for years in the Cape Cod Coliseum parking lot for The Clash's Combat Rock tour was in every sense a rude awakening. This was the band that changed my world view and to this day informs my political perspective. Yet, I was forced to witness these shirtless a-holes swinging t-shirts over their head screaming "Rock the f****in' CASBAH!" Did they even know what the song was about or what The Clash stood for? My head just about exploded.

"Pain" on CHiPs

Anyway, the whole Combat Rock incident (and The Clash's subsequent implosion in the face of fame) made me leery of any mainstream attention paid to my favorite bands. Luckily, most portrayals of "punk" in the early 80's were outright laughable. A January 1982 episode of CHiPs featured a punk band called "Pain" that caused multiple car pile ups wherever they went and September of that year saw the premier of

Johnny Slash

Square Pegs with "new wave fan" Johnny Slash (who seemed more like a hippie acid casualty to me). The mainstream's most infamous examination of "punk" came in the December 1982 "punk rock episode" of the television show Quincy (in actuality titled "Next Stop Nowhere") which featured this quote from the program's namesake:

"I believe that the music I heard is a killer. It’s a killer of hope. It’s a killer of spirit."

Quncy's "Mayhem" (not to be confused with
the Norwegian Black Metal Band)

Quincy taught us that being "punk" required meticulously
applied makeup

So, needless to say I was VERY suspicious of the movie Valley Girl, released in April of 1983 and marketed as a "Punk" Romeo and "Val" Juliet. The great thing about the film is that punks Randy (Nicolas Cage) and Tommy (Michael Bowen) are neither the raging tool psuedo punks of CHiPs and Quincy nor the raging tool actual punks from Penelope Spheeris' documentary The Decline of Western Civilization, which freaked my friends and I out when we saw it in 1981. 

No, Randy and Tommy are just a couple of idiots who act like morons around pretty girls, and who can't relate to that? Deborah Foreman was also a great casting choice as Julie because she looks like a high school girl, not a super model, though the marketing people chickened out and left her off the poster (see above) opting instead for Randy's slutty ex who only has one scene in the film.

Doubtless aware of punk rock's limited commercial potential, Valley Girl Director Martha Coolidge was very savvy in raiding LA Modern Rock station KROQ's playlist for songs for the movie, even though there was no budget for a soundtrack at the time (Rhino didn't release the albums cited above until 1994). For me, the soundtrack represents Power Pop's losing battle for mainstream acceptance vs. the "new wave" sound that would come to dominate MTV and the pop charts in the coming years. You also have to love seeing The Plimsouls in the club scenes, supposedly brought to the film by their friend Nicolas Cage.

In retrospect, it's easy to see why so many people have a strong bond with both the Valley Girl film and soundtrack. The filmakers weren't commenting on a subculture, they were simply trying to retell the Romeo and Juliet story for a new generation and they succeeded on all counts.

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ALL KINDSA GIRLS #7

Show #6 April 4, 2009

A salute to Barbra's the world over!

Barbra- Modernettes Teen City E.P. 12"

What It Is- The Dictators Blood Brothers

The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism-The New Pornographers Mass Romantic

Dance The Night Away- Tweezers Already!

This Life Is Killing Me-Velvet Crush Teenage Symphonies To God

Ghosts of Princes in Towers- Rich Kids DIY Teenage Kicks: UK Pop I (1976-79)

Little Lost And Innocent- Milk 'N' Cookies Milk 'N' Cookies

Can't Wait- Piper DIY Come Out And Play: American Power Pop (1975-78)

*My Mind- The Scruffs Wanna Meet The Scruffs

*Stupid Enough- Van Duren Are You Serious?

*Thirteen- Big Star #1 Record

*Drive Like A Pilot- Tommy Hoehn I Do Love The Light

You Got It (Release It)- Pearl Harbor & The Explosions Drivin' 7"45

Da-a-ance- The Lambrettas Beat Boys In The Jet Age

Don't Get Excited- Graham Parker Squeezing Out Sparks + Live Sparks

Artie J.- Bizarros Bizarros

Stop! Wait A Minute- Pezband DIY Come Out And Play: American Power Pop (1975-78)

*SacroSet: Memphis Heritage

A few days ago I was listening to the Milk 'N Cookies LP trying to decide which song to play when my son Jack came into the Rock Room and said "I'm sorry Dad, but this music is really gay." My reply was "don't say 'gay,' say 'lame' instead," to which he responded "but I mean homosexual, although it is pretty lame too." I thought about trying to explain the whole mid-70's gender bending glam rock scene, where the most mincing, fey (though straight) dudes scored tons of groupies, but I think you had to be there, so I just said "do your homework." In Jack's defense, I have to admit Milk 'N Cookies are laying it on pretty thick, which is one of the reasons I like the record.

The "SacroSet" replaces the unimaginatively titled the “Theme Set” this week. That's "SacroSet" as in “sacrosanct,” which is defined as 

1 : most sacred or holy : inviolable ; 
2 : treated as if holy : immune from criticism or violation. 

As much as I love Power Pop, it’s really the second definition I’m going for (and never mind about all the lower back pain relief remedies that have “sacro” in their name). I can't think of a better first SacroSet than tonight's, focusing on Memphis in the 70's, which helped kick start the Power Pop movement.

Another great addition are songs from the Rhino DIY CD's which David, a guy I went to high school with, reminded me of this week. David was no more geeky than the rest of us back then but he just couldn't play it cool when talking about things he was passionate about, especially music. I once spent a 45 minute car ride hearing him rant about Husker Du's Zen Arcade - the guy talked about that record like some people talk about Star Wars or Jesus. I was in a band in college called No Idea and to this day I don't know why we didn't ask David to be our manager. Who cares he wasn't a hip Boston
Rock scenester- he was a fan, a great photographer and without his car we would have missed several shows. Anyway, when I sent out the e-mail about Show #5, David was the first person who responded. All Kindsa Girls' first request is The Rich Kids' "Ghosts Of Princes in Towers-" this one's for you guy.

So, looking up the DIY discs I found that ALL NINE OF THEM are available for FREE download here. (I had to get this to extract the files.) Check out the first link for more information on this outstanding Rhino re-issue series. Thanks David!

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ALL KINDSA GIRLS #6

Show #5 March 21, 2009

For Elizabeth...

November 12, 1924-March 8, 2009

Elizabeth Smiles- The Dreamdayers All Things Come

Heart- Rockpile Seconds Of Pleasure

Do Anything You Wanna Do-Eddie and The Hotrods Life On The Line

Sound of the Rain-The Dils Made In Canada Double-7"

The First One- Gary Valentine The First One 45

Elephant Flares- Redd Kross Third Eye

Take This Heart Of Mine- The Saints Prehistoric Sounds

Days- Television Adventure

*I Don't Want Nobody(I Want You)- Boyfriends I Don't Want... 7"

*What Did I Say- Pete Holly and The Looks Baby Please Believe Me 7"

*Beat Your Heart Out- The Zeros Beat Your Heart Out 7"

*You're The One- Nikki and The Corvettes Nikki and The Corvettes

Can't See- The Drones Further Temptations

If You Really Love Me...Buy Me A Shirt- The Freshies The Very Best Of

I Don't Know Why(You Love Me)- Hi-Fi's s/t 7"

*Theme Set: Greg Shaw's Bomp! Records

As you can see from previous posts, each All Kindsa Girls show is dedicated to all girls and women who share a certain name. Tonight's show, however, is dedicated to one specific woman, my mother in law Elizabeth Jean Palmer Weiser who died earlier this month. Betty, you are missed.

The Great Greg Shaw

Since VH-1 has co-opted the phrase "Behind The Music" to define the rags to riches to rehab shame spiral of the pop stars we routinely gulp, swirl and spit out, it doesn't seem appropriate when talking about someone like Bomp! magazine/records founder Greg Shaw. Furthermore, the combination of the words "music" and "industry" gives any true rock and roll fan the shivers. That said, Greg Shaw built a vital small business as the man behind so many great Power Pop, punk and garage rock records over the years. Read about him here.

In the late 70's and early 80's, Bomp! was one of the few labels that I'd consider shelling out hard-earned paper route wages for without knowing anything about the band. The DMZ EP they put out in 1977 was the first or second Boston Rock 7" I ever bought. Bomp! also kept things in print for a long time. Even today, many independent labels do these blink and you missed it releases that, while they may generate hype, keep a lot of people from hearing the music and in the end probably benefit e-Bay more than anyone else. During Power Pop's 15 minutes of fame in the late 70's/early 80's, a lot of independent labels like 415 and Slash signed deals with major labels that ultimately lead to their demise. Bomp! never drank the corporate kool-aid and is about to celebrate its 35th birthday which is why it is in the All Kindsa Girls Hall of Fame!

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ALL KINDSA GIRLS #5

Show #4 March 7, 2009

Are you Rosemary? Then this one's for you!

Rosemary- The Dickies Stukas Over Disneyland
Another Girl, Another Planet- The Only Ones Special View
Wicked Gravity- The Jim Carroll Band Catholic Boy
Teen Line- The Shivvers Teen Line 45
Nice Girls- Any Trouble Where Are All The Nice Girls
First Time- The Boys The Complete Boys Punk Singles Collection
Stay Away- Rooney Rooney
Tennis (Again)- The Diodes Tired of Waking Up Tired
*The Shape Of Things To Come- The Headboys The Headboys
(#67 11/3/79)
*Starry Eyes- The Records The Records (#56 9/29/79)
*Girl Of My Dreams- Bram Tchaikovsky Strange Man, Changed Man
(#37 7/7/79)
*Good Girls Don't- The Knack Get The Knack (#11 9/1/79)
Shake Some Action- The Flamin' Groovies Groovies Greatest Grooves

*Theme Set: 1979- Power Pop Peaks On The Billboard Hot 100

Punk was huge in England in the late 70's but thanks to those dicks the Sex Pistols scaring American record and radio people, none of our class of '77 broke through here. It still pisses me off that "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" isn't a radio staple in America.

Ric Ocasek rocking a Skinny Tie

While punk didn't dent the American mainstream, it had a big influence on many musicians and by 1979 had created a new strain of Power Pop that I've heard called "skinny tie rock." This music was far more accessible than the punk rock that was blasting away in urban clubs yet it offered similiar high energy music stuffed into a three minute song. Cheap Trick ("I Want You To Want Me"), Joe Jackson ("Is She Really Going Out With Him?"), Nick Lowe ("Cruel To Be Kind"), Bram Tchaikovsky ("Girl of My Dreams") all had Top 40 hits in 1979. Coming on the heels of disco this was a breath of fresh air. What's more, I was sure it meant that since the music I loved was becoming popular that I would soon be popular too.

Me rocking a Skinny Tie w/ my
favorite Clash 16 Tons pin

I wore Skinny Ties to my job bagging groceries at Angelo's in Kingston, MA and every school day sported a different punk rock pin on my oxford shirt collar. I was sure my trench coat with Chuck Taylors look was about to catch on too. The summer of 1979 saw the ascent of the top charting Power Pop song of all time- "My Sharona" was #1 for six straight weeks that summer. Anything gets tired after that long so in retrospect the backlash (knacklash?) is not too surprising. Supposedly the band were tools too, so it didn't take long for the critics to start piling on, although not before "Good Girls Don't" went to #11. There were a smattering of Power Pop hits in the early 80's but the genre, largely displaced by MTV new wave and then hair metal, never reached its 1979 commercial peak.

As for me, in 1979 I was to remain unpopular, though I suppose I should be happy that my friends and I, especially "Most Individual" Jim Harris, were taunted with catcalls of "Devo" (thanks to "Whip It" #14 8/30/80) in the Duxbury High School hallways rather than "Freakin' Knackhead," "My Big Boner," etc.

The Jam wore the hell out of their Skinny Ties

Blondie were all in for Skinny Ties
(Love this photo- Clem is the only one who was ready...)

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ALL KINDSA GIRLS #4