If you remember Platinum Blonde from the 80’s, you may be asking “What the fuck are they doing here?!?” They evolved into this horrible band that got really big in Canada in the 80’s and had all the trappings of that sad era-- hair-sprayed manes of hair, embarrassing clothes, etc (see photo below). BUT this very first record of theirs, released on their own label, is a superb very catchy, kinda poppy record that is wimpy in all the right ways. I don’t enjoy much poppy stuff, but I think both sides of this 7” are wonderful, especially "Hey Hey You"- dig the bass plucking throughout the tune and the cool middle part where the drums pounds away- that's what I'm talkin about! I have been in love with this single since someone (thanks B.C.) first taped it for me about ten years ago.
I doubt that they released it on their own label so they could support any sort of DIY ethic-- I am guessing that this 7” served as Platinum Blonde’s “calling card” to major labels so they could get a big record deal and all that crap. This 7” is rare as hell (and therefore expensive as hell too)- if you have a spare copy that you want to give away, please consider me a worthy recipient. I ripped these mp3’s from my cassette copy, so these will not be “audiophile” quality and may not sound too good on your five grand stereo and/or your $1,000, noise-cancelling headphones. But, as the Screamin’ Mee Mees famously said on the back of their 1st EP, “Play loud on cheap stereo”. (Or “cheap CPU”, to kind of update it for 2007…)
Here is Platinum Blonde a few years later in the 80's when they sucked... (well, now that I look again at the cover of the 1st great 7", I guess they didn't look much better then either...)
5 comments:
Tony, congrats on the baby! You have too many downloaders here ha ha :). Always exceeds the bandwidth limit.
Good record but the songs are a bit too long.
Thanks! My wife and I now have two boys so they are keeping us on our toes, especially this new one. A new host is coming soon so the bandwidth issue will be resolved! That's probably why no one comments on my posts-- because they can't even listen to the songs to comment on them! I know, these songs go a little past your "2:36 maximum length" rule but, fuck, I like them! Aren't you ever happy?! :)
- TONY
Yeah, plus that it takes some time for people to find you. And add to that that you need to update the site quiet often to get some loyal fans.
No I'm never happy. I stay in all day and listen to The Cure and Joy Division ;).
The sound quality is suprisingly good, and so is the record! Not what I would have expected at all.
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