The soundtrack of my life as a musician in Boston when punk blew everything apart, and what followed thereafter. In 1977, I was 18, and moved to Boston to go to Berklee. Definitely the right place at the right time.
Boston was an amazing melting pot of creativity. A relatively small city, with an enormous student population from all over the world, who brought their influences with them. All the bands knew each other, and everyone cross-pollinated. I was right in the middle of it. A steady diet of long nights at The Rat, college radio and free-form FM, such as WZBC’s No Commercial Potential, and playing a million gigs in every joint in town helped form my warped outlook on life.
Herein, my personal diary through the era. My desert island playlist of over 100 songs and counting, as diverse as the scene itself. Even though there’s twists and turns, I tried to make it flow. I’m a drummer with DJ inclinations – sequencing is important to me. 😉
For the uninitiated, there are many hidden gems herein. So many songs that should have been much bigger hits, but now at least, they’ll become a hit with you.
When hardcore came in, the scene changed. It kind of crowded everything else out. So, for me, the era pretty much ended with “This is Boston, Not LA,” even though I like a lot of that album, and included The Proletariat and Gang Green. This is a YouTube playlist, so any comments on the individual songs come from the original person who posted it, and are not editable by me.
Hope you enjoy!
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Roadrunner
Provided to YouTube by IIP-DDSRoadrunner · The Modern LoversRock Generation, Vol.6℗ 2015 Rapier MusicMusic Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.Auto-generated by YouTube.
Knock Me Down
Provided to YouTube by CDBabyKnock Me Down · The OutletsThe Outlets Rock 1980℗ 2007 Outlets RecordsReleased on: 2007-01-01Auto-generated by YouTube.
The Real Kids - All Kindsa Girls (1977)
True garage classic from Boston. Album version.
Classic Ruins - I Can't Spell Romance - 1986
DMZ - Mighty Idy
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Live at The Rat - "I've Gotta Rock" - Thundertrain
Recorded live at The Rat - Boston - 1976.
In 2001 the legendary building that housed Boston's infamous Rat was demolished, but this recording (catalog #528, same as the address for the establishment on Commonwealth Avenue in the heart of Boston) remains as evidence of what transpired in that "cellar full of noise." Inspired by Hilly Kristal's Live at CBGB's, this is truly the companion double LP to that disc on Atlantic, though the Boston compilation came close but failed to obtain major-label release. Recorded September 27, 28, and 29th, 1976, at the dawn of the "new wave," important and historic live recordings of some of the scenemakers live on within these grooves. Long out of print, it is considered to be the Holy Grail of Boston rock and roll.
Human Sexual Response ~ Pound
From: In a Roman Mood (1981) LP
Tribe - Abort
Third song from their album Abort.Lyrics:Yesterday I was thinking
It's a good time to change
Progress the future
It's happening it's ok
One day like another
Something to mend
It's tempting to press on
When will I reach the end
Sometimes evenings
Problems two-fold
I know how to solve them
Why go overboard
It's big
It's scary
It's been done before
I'm moving
Still moving
Moving
What of it
Fascist Lover - Lou Miami and the Kozmetix
Lou at the Channel in Boston, 1982
New Models - Permanent Vacation
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The Neighborhoods - No Place Like Home
great powerpop from boston.
Boys Life - I Found Her (1981)
Top notch b-side Power Pop off of their "Two Doors Down" 7'' released in 1981 on Seco Records.
Don't Give It Up Now
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesDon't Give It Up Now · LyresOn Fyre℗ 1984 Ace of Hearts RecordsReleased on: 2012-11-27Music Publisher: Crook And Flail PubAuto-generated by YouTube.
No Surfin in Dorchester Bay - The Gremies
No Surfin in Dorchester Bay - The Gremies1980Credits Bass, Producer -- Frank Dehler Drums -- Howie Ferguson Engineer -- Ted St. Pierre Executive Producer -- John Brusger, Mike Dreese Guitar -- Ralph Fatello Keyboards -- Jeff Conolly Saxophone -- Bob "Moose" Parsons Vocals, Guitar, Producer -- Rich Parsons
Peter Dayton Band - Perfect Wave
Our "Homage" film to one of our favorite songs by the Peter Dayton Band.The Peter Dayton Band was one of my favorite Boston Bands and they were one of the few East Coast bands that came out to LA to play the clubs. We were so enamored with this song of theirs, that we HAD to make a movie for it!I have no recollection of even making this movie, but since everyone in it, is a friend of mine, I can only assume I was behind the camera! It's ridiculous to look at now, but since this song isn't even on Youtube, I thought I would share it!Perfect Wave - by the Peter Dayton Band
From their EP "Love at 1st Sight"
Shoo-Bop Records, Boston, MAView other images and Music Videos from East Coast Bands on my website: http://www.MjWilsonPhotography.comView my Video of Skin Tight by Peter Dayton Band here: http://youtu.be/uWhpP4Wstok
Willie Alexander - MASS. AVE
from the lp ...Meanwhile back in the States
Where'd You Get That Cigarette
Provided to YouTube by Ditto MusicWhere'd You Get That Cigarette · Infliktors12 Classic 45s℗ Rick HarteReleased on: 2017-04-14Auto-generated by YouTube.
Reddy Teddy "Moon Out" (Matthew MacKenzie)
Led by guitarist-singer-songwriter Matthew MacKenzie, the original Reddy Teddy lineup included John Morse on guitar, bassists Scott Baerenwald and Ted von Rosenvinge and drummer Joe Marino. After cutting a demo for Mercury Records, the band was offered a less than spectacular contract - and told Mercury to take a hike. These guys had guts.
Coast to Coast
The Girls - "Jeffrey I Hear You" 1979 Hearthan
The seminal late 1970s Boho-art punk band from Boston with Daved Hild, George Condo, Mark Dagley, and Robin Amos. Produced by David Thomas. Recorded at Suma Studios 2/10/79. Hearpen HR106
La Peste - Better Off Dead (lyrics)
Better Off Dead
La Peste
Well, well, she started to grin
So I slid it right in and she said
"it feels so good",
and she dragged me off the bedYou'll be better off dead
Hey! Well, alrightWell then your mother came in
She was stinking of gin she said
Keep your hands off my daughter
You'll be better off dead
The girl's only thirteen
She ain't never given head
So you better keep your hands off her
Your hands will turn redYou'll be better off dead
Hey! Well, alright.That's where your father came in
He was stinking of gin she said
Keep your hands off my daughter
You'll be better off dead
The girl's only thirteen
She ain't never given head
So you better keep your hands off her
Your hands will turn redDead, dead, dead
(She'll be better off dead)
Dead, dead, dead
(She'll be better off dead)
21-645--Red Red
A classic from the golden age of Boston rock. From '81, got heavy rotation on WLYN.Phil Lenker: vocals and bass
Jay Parham: guitar
Randall Gibson: drums
LImbo Race - Down and Backwards (1982)
US Post-Punk
1982 - Limborations Records
Six
Provided to YouTube by Ditto MusicSix · The Neats1981 1984 The Ace Of Hearts Years℗ Ace of Hearts RecordsReleased on: 2017-04-11Auto-generated by YouTube.
Someone & The Somebodies - Workin' In A Coal Mine (1981)
US New-Wave/Art Rock
1981 - Modern Method Records
The Dark - Judy (Remastered)
Virtually impossible to find this song by my old friends, The Dark, so I took matters into my own hands. Gave it a bit of sweetening while I was at it.
My Hip-Music Video-1982
Boston Band My Hip Music Video
The Young Snakes - Give Me Your Face
Track 1 from the EP "Bark Along with The Young Snakes" from 1982. Great arty post-punk from Boston featuring Aimee Mann on vocals. Ambiguous Records - 001.
Dogzilla,Boston-PublicAccess-Blue Poison Light
The Lovers
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesThe Lovers · Think Treeeight/thirteen℗ 1990 PineApplePond PublishingReleased on: 1990-08-13Auto-generated by YouTube.
Limbo Race - Ina's Song (1983)
US Post-Punk
1983 - Limborations Records
Human Sexual Response - Jackie Onassis
human sexual response
The Maps - I'm Talking To You
A song from the Maps only single. Boston 1979
Dangerous Birds - Emergency
'Emergency' from the 'Laughing at the Ground' 7" on Propeller Records in 1982.
Art Yard - The Law (1981)
US Post-Punk
7" issued in 2011 by Ride the Snake
Originaly released in 1981 on Propeller Product K7
https://www.discogs.com/artist/1691953-Art-Yard
Morphine - Thursday
Cure for Pain (1993)
Native Tongue - Speaking in Captions (1981)
US Post-Punk
1981 - Détente Records
Blackouts - Dead Man's Curve
Band - Blackouts
Album - History in Reverse (1979-1984)
Song - Dead Man's Curve
Red And Grey
Provided to YouTube by Ditto MusicRed And Grey · The Neats1981 1984 The Ace Of Hearts Years℗ Ace of Hearts RecordsReleased on: 2017-04-11Auto-generated by YouTube.
The Prime Movers "True To Me"
from Claws [VA] (1985)
TURBINES - Wah-Hey
vinyl
Prettiest Girl
Provided to YouTube by TuneCorePrettiest Girl · The NeighborhoodsThe Last Rat℗ 2010 Ram Van RecordsReleased on: 2010-08-24Auto-generated by YouTube.
Pop Shivers
Provided to YouTube by CDBabyPop Shivers · AtlanticsAtlantics℗ 2006 The AtlanticsReleased on: 2006-01-01Auto-generated by YouTube.
O Postive Talk About Love
I remember WFNX and many college stations playing this track a ton
21-645 - Copulator
An unheralded Boston post-punk band from the early 80s. This song is from a demo which never got released on vinyl or CD.
360's - Garden of Departure
from 1991's "Illuminated"
Salem 66 - Pony Song
Salem 66 - Across the Sea b/w Pony Song 7" - Homestead Records - 1984
CCCP-TV
I Fear That Mindless
Think Tree, Hire a Bird (Official Video)
Here's the wacky video we made for our international mini-hit Hire a Bird.
Live Download Releases: https://www.facebook.com/events/385108449133554
LYRICS:
The sun will burn a hole right through
your parasols.
The clouds so sick they’ve split in two
from aerosols.
The air will fill your lungs with fists
for ev’ry breath
‘til future days, where life exists
to mirror death (“La muerte miroir”)So you’re wondering why they put heav’n on high,
why the gods don’t visit us anymore,
and you lift your eye to the deep blue sky.
The only way out is up.So you hire a bird to sing your song,
and you buy her the tree to start things off,
and you wire the words through lines of leaves,
and you hope that she shows when comes the Sun.
She may never sing, she may never show,
but you don’t know.The lake, the sea, the tireless gloves
where Nature’s hand
still holds her scepter far above
her bastard, Man.
The shore, where centuries of sand
through waves have raced,
invites a swim; but think where Man
deposits waste.So you’re wondering why they put heav’n oh high
why the angels tolerate pillowy floors.
As you lift your eye to the birth-blue sky,
the only way out is up.So you hire a bird to sing your song,
and you buy her the tree to start things off,
and you wire the words through lines of leaves,
and the higher you sing, the more she hears.
She may never sing, she may never show,
but you don’t know.
2x4s Bridgeport Lathe
Brilliant A Side Bridgeport Lathe by the Boston Band the 2x4s. Set to the educational film "The Machinist"
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