Mania (Canada, 1988?)

This one is totally new to me. It is from Toronto. There is no date on it but from the label number (8801) I'm going to guess 1988. Usually I don't pay much attention to most things from that era but the name and cover photo caught my interest. The songs are pleasant pop tunes but from the name and the cover photo I was expecting something with maybe a bit more energy.

Mania - In Your Eyes / My First Love 7" (Delca SDC-8801, 1988?)

Numberz (Canada, 1981)

I've been looking for the Numberz record for years, ever since I saw it listed on eBay as (of course) "powerpop". I finally found a copy and needless to say, it isn't. At least it didn't cost me much to find out. The A side is tolerable and the less said about the B side the better. For anyone looking for it because you saw it on my wanted list, you may wish to reconsider.

Numberz - Gimme Cash / Discharmonic Dance 7" (Premiere PR. 1000, 1981)

Other Guys (Canada, 1982)

After a little vacation I'm back with some Canadian obscurities. First up is a 10" EP of powerpop/rock from The Other Guys who appear to be from the Toronto area. Sealed copies have been selling on eBay this year in the $30-70 price range.

Other Guys - s/t 10" EP (Hollywood Queen / Cindy / Lonely Other Guys // High School Girls / Ordinary Man / (Bloody) Lies) (Night Sound NSP 1003, 1982)

Tømrerclaus & Boline Erfurt (Denmark, 1979)

Hippie punk novelty? Interesting title for the A side but I think I almost prefer the non-punk B side. Both Tømrerclaus & Boline Erfurt released various other non-punk records. No year is listed on the record or sleeve but the internet consensus seems to be 1979.

Tømrerclaus & Boline Erfurt - Punk Them Into Shit / Neon Lights 7" (Karma KMS 1, 1979)

Chromotones (USA, 198?)

Something from somewhere in the USA that I know nothing about. Another one from that big "power pop" black hole.

Chromotones - Girl On The Radio / Fashions Of The 80's 7" (Agla V-49536, 198?)

Acrobats (Germany, 1982)

The A side of this one was described as "good powerpop" when it was listed on eBay. I'm not so sure about that but then we all know how accurate eBay descriptions can be. If you do like it, it probably won't cost you much when you do find it.

Acrobats - Hunting A Dream / Wonderin' 7" (Acrobats, Best.-Nr. 180659, 1982)

Boys (Australia, 1982)

Not the Boys from Perth, Australia that released several singles and an LP on the Parole label, this outfit were from Adelaide. At least that's where it was recorded. No year on the record and no sleeve with my copy (if ever there was one) but maybe from 1982?

Thus ends today's pop/powerpop posting.

Boys - Who Was That? / I Don't Wanna Go 7" (EMI Custom 13056, 1982)

Normandy Invasion (USA, 1981)

Obscure pop from Omaha, Nebraska. Only 100 copies pressed apparently. Never issued with a picture sleeve. They have an earlier EP that is supposed to have more of a punkier sound but I don't have it.

Normandy Invasion - Can't Forget You / Won't Give Up 7" (Herblore UR 2746, 1981)

Novels (Canada, 1980)

A nice powerpop obscurity from Vancouver that doesn't turn up too often. A couple copies have sold on eBay recently in the $150 - 200 range.

Novels - I'm Being Followed / Son Of Sam 7" (Novelty NO 004, 1980)

Basta (Belgium, 1977)

The third and final post for today is an obscure record from Belgium by a left wing political band from Gent. The back of the sleeve has a pro-abortion text and inside there are addresses for women's shelters and clinics throughout Belgium. The A side has appeared on the Killed By Death #24 LP.

Basta - Abortus vrij, de vrouw beslist / Kom op zusters 7" (Agitat AG 439, 1977)

The Mix (Canada, 1985)

The Mix, from Nanaimo, British Columbia, released just this four song EP in 1985. A few years outside my main period of interest, it has been described as an "absolute killer mod/punk single". I don't know if I'd go that far but it is certainly a worthwhile record. Copies on eBay have sold for almost $200 in the past with more recent auctions more around the $75 mark. It comes with a nice sleeve and insert.

The Mix - Break Up Shake Up EP (Maybe (Face To The Wall) / 3 Acts Of Love // Look To The Other Side / Break Up/Shake Up) (Zoinks Records, 1985)

The Gas (Canada, 1979)

I've posted the songs from this one before but I've decided to dedicate a post to it. Not because it is musically great but because I recently discovered that it was released with 2 different sleeves.

Inspired by the 1979 Mississauga train derailment and subsequent evacuation it seems to be more of a novelty record than something done by a regular band. Neither of the 2 versions I have has a date but it would presumably be from late 1979 or early 1980 in order to quickly cash in on the event.

I have no idea if both sleeves were done at the same time. Perhaps the more topical "Evacuate Mississauga" one was done first and then the "Special This Week" came later once the event had passed and there were unsold records. As far as I can tell the 2 records are identical (matrix numbers are C-301-A-1A-2HDZ / C-301-B-1A-2HZ:). The label number is P.W.K.R. C-301 while the back of the sleeve lists Bomb 5020.

I've heard as few as 100 or 200 were pressed but I have no definite number. With 2 different sleeves I would have expected a larger number. It does seem to be a fairly scarce item these days though.

Gas - Evacuate / Special This Week 7" (P.W.K.R. C-301 / Bomb 5020, 1979?)

Fraudulent - Di-Lem-ma LP (Finland, 1982)

Still in Finland, here is an LP with a more standard pop/rock/powerpop sound compared to what I've posted recently. I think some of the songs are catchy and enjoyable. All except one are sung in Swedish.

Fraudulent - Di-Lem-Ma LP (Kompass KOLP-42, 1982)
(Idyllisk busslåt / Agnes / Einars spadpåsar / Tröst i mörkret / Comin' Home To You / Wiljo // Tomma ord / Älskling, slemma ner mig / Tryckarvisan / Hotel aston / Till kollektivet / Gunnar spinner råg)

V/A - Hede-Levy LP (Finland, 1981)

While we're on the subject on obscure Finnish releases here's an LP that I haven't seen around very often. It's from 1981 and that's all I know about it. Side 1 is mostly punkish songs and some of the recordings give a new meaning to the term "lo-fi". A couple of them sound like they were recorded with the singer in a room down the hall and the band playing in a basement 2 blocks away. Side B is a mostly spoken word piece. I have no idea what is being talked about. The photo is from Finnmusic.net.

V/A - Hede-Levy LP (HeLP-1, 1981)
Akisisters - Jos maailmansota syttyy
R.A.H. - Jehova!
Höyste - Mustan puolikuun mafia
Greaseheads - South Gonna Rise Again
Tenavatuokio - Rahamiehet
Uusi Laine - Isot pojat
Nivelreuma - Valheita
Rash - Kaivola (a.k.a. Paavola)
The Huhgubs Jazz-Band - Mies ja valkovuokko

Obscure Finland v1 - Part 2 (1978 - 1983)

OK, due to popular demand (well, several requests) here are the rest of the songs from the records that were included in the previous post. I'm surprised anyone would like or care about most of these. Now you can decide if I chose the best tracks for the original post.

Note that the Taavi ja Rytmiryhmä track "Kuolleet ovat kauniita" isn't complete. My copy has a nasty gouge near the end of the song that is unplayable so the recording ends early.

More info and photos of many of these are at finnmusic.net.