"Lost Gems"

[j25jim]

Hi all,

I've been asked to write a weekly series of articles by RiffRaf (a rock n roll blog) on "Lost Gems". We cover some great songs/bands that were skipped over or lost in the shuffle.

No one is being paid, no sponsors or anything like that. We’re just fans, writing about what we love… music.

The first article features The Cosmopolitans,” (How to Keep Your) Husband Happy”. A new wave band circa 1980, that sounded a lot like the B52’s, recorded some incredibly catchy singles and did a Go-Go girl/ Pompom act on stage. You have to see it to believe it. Only wished they had recorded more music.

Future articles will feature many power pop and new wave artists like The Records, The Producers, The Now, some great bands and songs I wish we could still hear on the radio.

Riffraf’s a pretty cool site. Check out the interviews, one with Photographer Mick Rock (famous album covers for Bowie, Queen, Joan Jett etc.). This week they had Semisonic drummer (“Closing Time”) Jacob Slichter.

I hope you guys like the series.

http://riffraf.typepad.com/riffraf/2012 ... itans.html


Best,

Jim

[rewind]

Ironically, as of one month ago, this gem is no longer lost. The Cosmopolitans compilation "Wild Moose Party" is now out digitally (the CD had been available for several years). Woo Hoo!

[SallyLightfoot]

I don't know the Cosmos, but that one song doesn't sound genetically distant from the post-punk/funk no-wave female bands such as Delta 5, Kleenex or the Raincoats of the late 70's scene.

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Always glad to discover a new band in this genre, so thanks for sharing and good luck with the Lost Gems. I think you're on the right site if you want ideas or new readers.

[SallyLightfoot]

With regard to The Records, The Producers, The Now, yes please. Power Pop bands were probably the most screwed out of success of all.

I recently asked for and received a copy of the out-of-print debut from 20/20 on this site. If you're not familiar with that album, I urge you post-haste.

[Frank_Chickens]

The Now - Fuzztone Fizzadelic is a great CD and comes highly recommended.

SL, agree with you about power pop. Power pop in the UK at the time was the musical equivalent of boarding the Titanic; many got on and not many got off.

[j25jim]

That's great news, rewind, I didn't realize they had released "Wild Moose Party' digitally.

SL, thanks for the "Kleenex" reminder, hadn't thought of them. As for 20/20, they were on the first list I made when I started the series. I own the debut album and love it.

Frank, my favorite part of the Fuzztone Fizzadelic record is the story about them getting together after 27 years, rehearsing for 3 hours and recording the whole thing in 2 days. Not sure if it's true, but it's a great story. Did they rerecord "Development Corporation" and "9 o'Clock" or were the original singles included on the album?

"The Records" post is up now:

http://riffraf.typepad.com/riffraf/2012 ... cords.html

Their story is well documented, so not too much is new if you're a fan. But it's all about beating the drums, so some great music sees the light of day.

I'm glad I discovered this site, I've already learned a lot. Great community.

[j25jim]

Does anybody remember Miracle Legion? You might know the song "The Backyard" or "You're the One-lee."

They became "Polaris" later, and were the house band for a popular 90's kids show called "The Adventures of Pete and Pete."

Both versions of the band had some really good songs.

We just posted something on them Monday.

http://riffraf.typepad.com/riffraf/2012 ... laris.html

Even if you don't want to read the article, listen to to the tracks if you haven't heard them. They deserved a bigger following. Really good.

[rewind]

[quote][i]Originally posted by j25jim[/i]
<br>Does anybody remember Miracle Legion? You might know the song "The Backyard" or "You're the One-lee."

[/quote]

Wasn't their "hit" 'Snacks And Candy'? They were being compared to R.E.M. for a while (not sure I agree with that, but...)

[j25jim]

I agree, I never thought they sounded like R.E.M.
Maybe because they were classified as "alternative" bands. Now they would be Indie pop.

"Snacks and Candy" was one of their bigger "hits." They performed it on the Letterman show in 1992.

If you were in college in the 80's, I Think you're more likely to remember "The Backyard" (my personal favorite),and a few years later the "You're the One-Lee" video was on "120 minutes" for awhile.

Twenty somethings love Polaris though.

[j25jim]

The Producers is featured this week, if anyone is interested:

http://riffraf.typepad.com/riffraf/2012 ... ucers.html

A great album and a really good band, in my opinion. It's a shame it's been out of print since 1998, I think.

Good news is the original line up is together again and releasing an album of new material in 2012.
Here's hoping they can recapture that sound 30 years later.

[mysterio2]

Love Cascade, by Leisure Process.

They had a couple songs, this was their best. Wish they did more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukJQAaiWZRk

[deevo0]

[quote][i]Originally posted by j25jim[/i]
<br>The Producers is featured this week, if anyone is interested:

http://riffraf.typepad.com/riffraf/2012 ... ucers.html

A great album and a really good band, in my opinion. It's a shame it's been out of print since 1998, I think.

Good news is the original line up is together again and releasing an album of new material in 2012.
Here's hoping they can recapture that sound 30 years later.
[/quote]

+1 for The Producers

I have a blog that does a NW song per day, some "lost" and some not: http://newwavecuts.wordpress.com/.

The following Lost Bands blog has some treasures, although I think it hasn't been updated in years:

http://lostbands.blogspot.com