Tag: The Records

The Records – Teenarama…. Power Pop Friday

When I started Power pop Friday I started with The Records song Starry Eyes back in July of last year.

I really like this song…you have a crunchy brit sound guitar open it up with another great rhythm guitar intertwining with it.

Mutt Lange produced 4 songs on this album (Shades in Bed) including this one when he had to leave the album for prior commitments. the rest of the album was produced by Tim Friese-Greene. The last song recorded, “The Phone,” was a late addition to the album and was produced by Huw Gower.

Music City Mike reviewed this album here.

The Records were an English powerpop band formed in 1978. Teenarama was off their debut album Shades in Bed. The band included John Wicks – rhythm guitar, vocals, Huw Gower – lead guitar, vocals, Phil Brown – bass guitar, vocals, and Will Birch – drums, vocals.

AllMusic called the album “a pure pop masterpiece”

Teenarama

I wanted a holiday
You sure had a lot
To say every night
I thought that a younger girl
Could show me the world
That was right
Co-co-co-cola
Is all you ever drink
The way you smile
The way you wink

Teenarama
Is what you’re givin’ me
(What you’re givin’ me)
Teenarama
Injections in the knee
(Injections in the knee)
Teenarama
All that mellow drama
Gimme gimme gimme gimme
Gimme gimme
Teenarama

I wanted a change of style
To be with a juvenile
For a week
So I rented an apartment
Then you went and lost the key

Sugar candy
Is all you ever eat
You’re so skinny
You’re so sweet

Repeat Chorus

Monday
School day
You wait
Weeks late
Dirty star
Coffee bar
First bra
Too far
Ahhhh
Co-co-co-cola
Is all you ever drink
The way you smile
The way you wink

Repeat Chorus

Gimme 15x

Teenarama 

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My 10 Favorite Powerpop Songs

As you may have guessed by now I’m an extreme fan of power pop. This list was hard to write…I kept changing most of it… but I knew the top choice and worked from there.

I just gave my self ten choices or I would have gone on and on. A lot of artists and their songs were left off…such as Todd Rundgren, The Cars, Sloan, The Lemon Twigs, The Flamin’ Groovies, The Shivvers, The Jayhawks,  and too many more to mention.

10. The Ride – Twisterella– 1992 – I found this a few months back and have been listening to it ever since.

9. The Records – Starry Eyes– 1979 – Great song. Starry Eyes would end up being The Record’s best-known song. Robert John “Mutt” Lange produced their debut album for The Records.

8. The La’s – There She Goes– 1990 – A very good power pop song that has no verses…It just repeats the chorus four different ways four different times…but that doesn’t matter.

7. Cheap Trick – Voices– 1980 – One of my top Cheap Trick songs. Robin Zanders voice sounds great in this Beatlesque song.

6. The Who –Pictures of Lily– 1967 –  When this song came out Pete Townshend coined the name “power pop” and this song is about the childhood…lusts…of a boy.

5. Raspberries – Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)– 1974 – An epic song by the Raspberries. Not their most popular…that would be “Go All The Way” but this encapsulates everything power pop is about. Bruce Springsteen on Overnight Sensation: It’s one of the best little pop symphonies you’ll ever hear.

4. Big Star – The Ballad of El Goodo – 1972 – The tone of the guitars, harmonies and the perfect constructed chorus keeps me coming back listen after listen.

3. Badfinger –No Matter What– 1971 – The only band to make this list twice. Why? because this song defines the crunchy power pop of bands like Cheap Trick to come.

 2. Tom Petty – American Girl– 1977 – The Rickenbacker, the hook, and a Byrds sounding track.

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  1. Badfinger – Baby Blue – 1972 – The number one song was the easiest decision of the list. The rest were changed a few times…this one for me is a no-brainer. This song is the perfect power pop song…strong vocals, Crunchy Brit  guitar, great hook,  and great melody