Another band that missed the masses but were a hit on college radio in the 80s.
Only Love was released in 1986. The Bodeans opened up for U2 on their Joshua Tree tour and you would think they would have broken through a little more than they did.
This song was on the album “Outside Looking In” their second album released in 1987. Their first album “Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams” was released in 1986 and it lead to a full-page profile in Time Magazine. The story, written by critic Jay Cocks, quotes Llanas as saying, “We were a big fish in a little pond. Now we’re little fish in a big pond. You’re a local band until you get a record contract, then all of a sudden Bruce Springsteen is your competition.”
In 1977 Sophomores Sam Llanas and Kurt Neumann meet in study hall at Waukesha South High School and bond over a shared love of music. The two later end up playing music together. In 1980 At Neumann’s urging, Llanas dropped out of college to pursue music full-time. The group pursues gigs at small bars, clubs, dances and events. Llanas comes up with the name, Da BoDeans.
Llanas and Neumann added drummer Guy Hoffman (Oil Tasters, Confidentials, later the Violent Femmes) and bass player Bob Griffin (The Agents) to fill out their sound in 1983.
Their first album was referred to as cowpunk, rockabilly, roots-rock, revivalist rock, and as a synthesis of the a Rolling Stones and the Everly Brothers. Band member Sammy Lianas made more modest claims for the group, telling Cosmopolitan columnist Michael Segell, “I’d describe us as a band that writes a lot of good songs in different styles and plays most of them pretty well… . Our biggest influence was mid-sixties radio.
The band was still touring as of 2019 but Kurt Neumann is the only original member left.
Only Love
See you walking down the street now every day
Pushing by the people as you make your way
You’re walking proud now, baby
You got your head held high
Want you to know that this whole world
Sees your heart cry
Now see how hard you try
To make yourself believe
It’s only love
It’s only love
It’s only love
It’s only love
Maybe love shouldn’t have to be so hard to take
Shouldn’t have to feel that love
Until your poor heart breaks
So why you tell yourself
You know there’s no one else
Then it ain’t worth the waiting anymore
Don’t you wonder if there’s such a thing
It’s only love
It’s only love
It’s only love
It’s only love
You better look in there
Believe it, even if it’s too hard to
Someone who’s been waiting
Oh, baby, just for you and love
It’s only love
If I could, I’d take you, baby, in my arms
Take away all love’s blame
And all love’s scars
Maybe we could ride away
Till we get so far away
And then I couldn’t see us coming back again
Well show me what you think of it
Show me what you need
It’s only love
It’s only love
It’s only love
It’s only love
It’s only love
It’s only love
It’s only love
It’s only love
…
Discover more from PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
This band is one I heard of back then, but never got to hear their music. I do like their sound. It’s funny, but what I remember now is their appearance on a short-lived tv series I liked back in the mid-late 90s, called Relativity. The main characters went to a BoDeans concert.
I think they did the “Party of Five” tv show theme also. They had a nice sound.
I had to look up ‘Party of Five’. Totally missed out on that show in the 90s. But I do recognize the song as another one I like.
I was surprised how many were familiar to me that I had forgotten about.
I guess there is no going back, once you become a big fish.
Never heard of these guys, but I’d buy one of their albums before I’d buy one by Springsteen…
I like Springsteen until the Tunnel of Love album in 87-88…after that I haven’t listened to much.
I never liked him, for some reason. It sounds like he’s shouting his songs instead of singing them…
I totally get it…
You know, you have a point there.
Another band I remember the name of more than the music, though I did hear them infrequently on the alt station in the 80s. Not bad at all though I guess they weren’t all that memorable or different… but that garage rock -by – way- of- rockabilly sound just didn’t seem to catch on very well. when I saw U2, they had Lone Justice opening, they were good, but also fizzled out quickly.
The guy has a good point about the big fish/little pond thing… in some ways being signed to something like IRS back then might have been ideal… big enough to get into stores across the country (as opposed to being on a totally indie label maybe run out of your corner record shop) but still small enough that they’re really going to devote their attention to you , whereas CBS or Warner might not if you’re not seen as being a sure bet to sell multi-millions.
Lone Justice…I still don’t understand that…I was writing a post on them last night. If I controlled the eighties…completely…Maria McKee would be huge…much more than that other blonde singer of the decade…lol
You are right about the record companies…something like that can make all the difference.
Maria is like a little, blonde Janis Joplin. Ever watched her live stage performances?
The “other blonde singer” wasn’t even blonde.
Yea she has it all…I wish I could see her live.
She isn’t a lot of things.
LOL!
I was watching some video of her the other night on YouTube – she definitely had the stage presence and charisma to be huge
She was a dynamo. I don’t know about now. She’s two years older than I am (and same month). My 54 year old ass couldn’t bop around on stage like that, now.
You want to feel bad? Go see Ringo Starr…he was 72 and all over the damn place. I thought about it the whole time…I could NOT imagine my 72 year old grandpa doing that!
Rich folks have access to better food and technology.
It’s also that 1940s English genes lol…many of them are skinny as a rail
I’d agree with the 1940s thing. Ken is a testament to that, even with his damn vices. Big Ag and Big Tech hadn’t contaminated the food supply back then. There *was* rationing but, the food was still cleaner. English genes? I suppose.
Look at Mick, Daltrey, and most of all…Keith!
Keith is not human.
LOL
It seems she’s gone to more pop ballads now so may be moot 😀
I’ve seen a lot of musicians change over time. Two, in particular, come to mind…Elton John and Rod Stewart. Their styles changed as they aged.
Geffen & Jimmy Iovine had a lot to do with their downfall:
https://youtu.be/pwSGS9xxaI0
She had a lot of backers….it’s curious that she didn’t make it.
Geffen went after her band. They tried their best to separate her from the other members. They wanted to turn her into a “star” and she had other ideas. Mainstreaming conflicts with vision and talent. Look at the fight Taylor Swift had.
Yea they changed their music….I’ll be posting one of those songs but yea it wasn’t as good.
A Lone Justice song?
Yes…their last hit…I did their first two already
Hmmm…
It has a different sound but is good.
I saw in your list that you did Ways to be Wicked (a Tom Petty/Mike Campbell piece…#71 on the Hot 100) and I Found Love (McKee in collaboration with Springsteen’s Van Zandt…which only charted in the UK @ #45). You doing Shelter (McKee-Van Zandt…#47 on the Hot 100) or Sweet, Sweet Baby (McKee, Van Zandt & Benmont Tench…#73 on the Hot 100)?
Shelter but I may do the other pretty soon also
SUH-WEET. My fave Lone Justice piece, though 95% of that album is awesome.
I wonder if part of the problem was they were given all these great songs from others and weren’t given the chance to write their own and develop more slowly as songwriters and performers.
That was probably part of it. It’s such a change from the first album to the second…the second one was pure pop eighties.
Agree. Although I still love those Van Zandt ones a lot.
That was due to personnel changes. She went thru, like, two drummers, two bassists…plus, cowpunk doesn’t sell as well to the masses as does pop.
Yea but she got all the interest doing the thing she was good at. That is what people forget. You can have variety but don’t change everything.
She came out of the cowpunk scene in Los Angeles. That is what got her noticed but, I don’t think Geffen cared about what genre she/they were in. They just wanted her to make money for them. This is a good write-up about it:
https://trouserpress.com/reviews/lone-justice/
You’d probably like the early recordings:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Lone_Justice:_The_Vaught_Tapes,_1983
I just found a lot of it on youtube…that stuff is great.
Nah. Maria was big on songwriting (assuming attribution is correct from the albums):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Justice_(album)#Track_listing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelter_(Lone_Justice_album)#Track_listing
She was born into the industry. Her half-brother is Bryan MacLean. She’s had her fingers in a lot of things, even if in the background.
Ok I stand corrected. Unfortunate that record company thought they knew better
Record execs only see dollar signs. And, too, pretty people sell more.
She made it elsewhere:
https://youtu.be/vUUCgDGh2ac
What was interesting here is that in the interview she barely mentions her time in Lone Justice – refers to it as a country type punk band
That is odd since that was her start
My feelings is that it was not a good experience for her and so she would rather forget it. Would be interesting to know if once she went solo she ever performed any LJ songs.
Yea I would like to know that. When I first heard Ways to be Wicked… and then I Found Love…I thought wow…they are going to be huge.
Have you followed any of her solo stuff? I got her first one and enjoyed it (was still deep in the crush phase at that point LOL but then lost track of her
I have heard some of her 90s music but yea I lost track of her…yea I’m with you on that!
Hey Paul…an off topic question… another band I’m looking at….The Connells. Know much about them?
No not much – I’ve heard of them but don’t really know their stuff
Ok… 10,000 Maniacs are a definite…it’s like dragging old pictures out of the closet with these bands.
They were at the Cat’s Cradle in February. In fact, Far Too Jones announced it on one of their FakeBook pages (I’ve found two).
That is cool! I didn’t know they were still together. I like some of their songs
https://www.facebook.com/TheConnellsOfficial
That is really cool that they are still doing it.
I wish the same about Far Too Jones.
Yeah. The focus was more on Days of Thunder.
It was funny though how the male co-host was intrigued when she mentioned her early band – he had no idea
Depending upon his age, he may have completely missed them.
Yes he looked a big on the younger side
Bit not big
Yes! I watched this the other night. Ridiculous amount of pressure for a 18 year old – all she wanted to do was play music and perform but the record company had other ideas.
The “suits” knew that she could make them money and set about driving a wedge between her and her band.
You can thank Linda Ronstadt for Geffen.
Every one from Dolly Parton and Bob Dylan expressed interest…it was wild. Geffen was at one time an Artist guy…but he may have changed.
The main introduction came from Ronstadt (Geffen).
Yea that makes sense.
Wow Max you are taking me back! I was really into BoDeans back in the day and was actually going to suggest you feature them. Really enjoyed their songs for that string of albums in the 80s. Saw them live once. Funny that they also opened for U2 – maybe there’s a opening for U2 curse 😀
LOL yep! Lone Justice and the Bodeans.
I saw U2 once and Big Audio Dynomite opened opened up for them…and they broke up not long after…hmmm.
It’s been a while since I heard them.
Also not to nitpick but I think Only Love was on Outside Looking In.
No you need to say something…I hate having false things. I wrote this in two different sections…hold on
Ok…look at that…I don’t know how the hell I did that.
We’ll also have to discuss more some time Springsteen post Tunnel of Love. Being a big Bruce fan I want to convince you he had some great songs post 80s. 😀
LOL…no doubt. I did listen to Wrecking Ball some…and you know I love Bruce and I even liked some of Lucky Town and Human Touch but it kind of ended there….but more from not hearing them…so it wouldn’t be hard.
My City of Ruins from The Rising makes my Bruce top ten.
My son knows his music from 2000 on like the back of his hand…I told him about Tenth Avenue Freeze Out around 3 weeks ago. I need to raid his cds.
No argument from me re the quality of his earlier stuff – yeah you definitely need to get him familiar with his 70s albums. 😀
He is getting more and more into them. He is like me…once he hears one he starts checking out everything.
Radio Nowhere from Magic is good too. Doesn’t really match up to the old stuff for me though.
I did listen to and watch Western Stars which was pretty good but yea…Its hard to live up to the older music.
Yes that’s one of my highlights from The Rising as well. Interesting that it started as a song about his “hometown” Asbury Park’s economic decline and then got rebooted if you will after 9/11 to be about NYC. I still remember how stunning his performance of it was to open the benefit TV special about a week after
Yup, I read that – it fits really well on The Rising though.
This is nice, although I normally prefer the punk-derived side of 1980s alt-rock rather than the rockabilly type stuff.
They got a little more commercial as they went along…good band though.
BoDeans! Party of Five (Closer to Free). I haven’t heard this tune in years. I remember going to a record store in Durham on Ninth Street (Duke student hangout) and seeing their material, intermixed with all the 90s alt stuff. I’m surprised you like them. They are, what do you call it, mainstream? Too polished? Commercial?
How were they a college radio hit in the 70s? They didn’t form until 1980.
They have a similar sound to our local (Raleigh) band Far Too Jones (I love that name!):
https://youtu.be/2EIZ_92hZJc
I’m doing the 80s college radio a lot now…that is when college radio took off… I didn’t say 70s is the post did I? I hope not lol.
Yea I’ve always liked them.
Read your first sentence…LOL!
I really screwed this one up…I also put the wrong album earlier….that is fixed…what the hell was I doing?
As Homer would say D’oh!!! 😀. It’s all good though
Yes I did…I appreciate you saying something.
Funny I got into BoDeans while I was at Duke as well – was in Grad school
Well that fit perfect lol
What years?
87-91
You were gone by the time I got there. I started working in Durham in 1992 and moved there for two years from 1995-1997 off of Club Blvd. where all the state streets are (close to Hillandale). Do you remember the Trooper station on the East side of town between US70 and Miami Blvd.?
I had many classmates that went to the School of Science & Math (old Watts Hospital).
To be honest it’s been so long I don’t really remember specifics of the town anymore. I have heard it’s changed dramatically.
NC has had a lot of immigration from up north. I lived in Texas 2002-2011 and, when I returned to NC, *I* didn’t recognize much. I-85 went from its original four lanes to eight. Downtown Durham is full of high-rise apartments, everywhere. Duke is HUGE, now…so many campuses.
I try not to go there much, anymore. The crime rate has skyrocketed. When I was reminiscing, above, I was reaching back to how things were. Sorry…
Yes when I was there downtown Durham as banks and furniture stores and on weekends was deserted 😀. For music we always heard over to Chapel Hill – the Cats Cradle i think one place was called and another I can’t recall the name.
That song sounds really good Vic
Far Too Jones? They were excellent.
Yes them! I missed the youtube video because I was reading the side panel
LOL!
I like how you pull these bands out that I have not heard in years…lol Great stuff Max
Thanks for reading dude! Glad you like them
Like this band a lot. I have a T shirt to prove it.
Lol… they are a band that should be huge.
Ive never wore it. Maybe I could sell it and break even.
Lol… wear it with pride dude.
Im an old Jethro guy. Any thing BoDean works for me. CB BoDean, Max BoDean.
WOW, 114 comments!!!
“Only Love” is pretty good. The only song of theirs I’m very familiar with is their 1993 hit “Closer to Free”, which was their highest-charting single. I liked it a lot, and still do.
Of all the ones to get comments on! I like the BoDeans but I would have never dreamed this many.