dimanche, janvier 08, 2006
The Dads
"Rhythm Master"
album: The Dads
Estate/CBS, 1984
I started college in the fall of 1984--and, more importantly, began working at the college radio station--just as the pop music world was making the transition from the carefree New Wave era into a resurgence of social consciousness (what Alicia Silverstone's character would dismissively label as "complaint rock" more than a decade later in Clueless--a harbinger of the cultural pendulum swinging back once again).
During that autumn, the song generating the most reaction among my college radio station's listeners was--by far--"Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. The song had a veneer of politics associated with it. A patina. It was nominally about the Cold War, a had a video featuring lookalikes of Ronald Reagan and then-USSR leader Konstantin Chernenko fighting each other mano-a-mano, pro-wrestling style. But like Paul Hardcastle's hit "19" the following year, very little was on the minds of FGTH or their fans except dancing. It was, after all, from an album called Welcome to the Pleasuredome.
Meanwhile, the Psychedelic Furs saw a ghost in you
. Ultravox was dancing with tears in their eyes. OMD was talking loud and clear. The Hoodoo Gurus were just hitting local record stores for the first time, asking us to let's all turn on.
Also that year a burgeoning movement was afoot in the U.S. South. A number of bands had been emerging with a "jangly" guitar sound that bridged the gap between New Wave and the country music heritage of their hometowns. While Athens, GA's R.E.M. was the standard bearer of this movement, there was also the Chapel Hill band of R.E.M. producer Mitch Easter, Let's Active. From Winston-Salem, there were The DB's, and Marietta, GA, spawned Guadalcanal Diary. Each of these groups released key albums in 1984: and JoBoxers. Other songs recall Difford & Tilbrook's 1984 self-titled album and there's even an approximation of U2's style (which was then de rigueur among rock bands). The ten songs on the band's one album are highly catchy and sweetly harmony-laden, although some suffer under the weight of an excessively '80s production sound (also, in retrospect, not uncommon for the times).
The Dads were managed and produced by Paul Leka, a producer and songwriter who produced the Lemon Pipers' "Green Tambourine" and co-wrote and performed on Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye." In a 2003 message board posting by a "Snowdome01,"
Harvey would later form House of Freaks, along with drummer Johnny Hott, a terrific duo which would release about four albums before disbanding. Both Harvey and Hott would also become members of the indie "supergroup" Gutterball (which also featured the Dream Syndicate's Steve Wynn and Bob Rupe of The Silos fame).
And even later--on New Year's Day 2006--Harvey would be murdered in his Richmond home along with his wife and two children. album, released just as I was beginning my full time career in radio--an important milestone in my life during which all the period's music was burned indelibly into my consciousness, just as it was when I was beginning my college radio experiences in 1984.
UPDATE (August): The killer was convicted.
album: The Dads
Estate/CBS, 1984
I started college in the fall of 1984--and, more importantly, began working at the college radio station--just as the pop music world was making the transition from the carefree New Wave era into a resurgence of social consciousness (what Alicia Silverstone's character would dismissively label as "complaint rock" more than a decade later in Clueless--a harbinger of the cultural pendulum swinging back once again).
During that autumn, the song generating the most reaction among my college radio station's listeners was--by far--"Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. The song had a veneer of politics associated with it. A patina. It was nominally about the Cold War, a had a video featuring lookalikes of Ronald Reagan and then-USSR leader Konstantin Chernenko fighting each other mano-a-mano, pro-wrestling style. But like Paul Hardcastle's hit "19" the following year, very little was on the minds of FGTH or their fans except dancing. It was, after all, from an album called Welcome to the Pleasuredome.
Meanwhile, the Psychedelic Furs saw a ghost in you
. Ultravox was dancing with tears in their eyes. OMD was talking loud and clear. The Hoodoo Gurus were just hitting local record stores for the first time, asking us to let's all turn on. Also that year a burgeoning movement was afoot in the U.S. South. A number of bands had been emerging with a "jangly" guitar sound that bridged the gap between New Wave and the country music heritage of their hometowns. While Athens, GA's R.E.M. was the standard bearer of this movement, there was also the Chapel Hill band of R.E.M. producer Mitch Easter, Let's Active. From Winston-Salem, there were The DB's, and Marietta, GA, spawned Guadalcanal Diary. Each of these groups released key albums in 1984:
- R.E.M., Reckoning
- Let's Active, Cypress
- The DB's, Like This
- Guadalcanal Diary, Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man
and JoBoxers. Other songs recall Difford & Tilbrook's 1984 self-titled album and there's even an approximation of U2's style (which was then de rigueur among rock bands). The ten songs on the band's one album are highly catchy and sweetly harmony-laden, although some suffer under the weight of an excessively '80s production sound (also, in retrospect, not uncommon for the times).The Dads were managed and produced by Paul Leka, a producer and songwriter who produced the Lemon Pipers' "Green Tambourine" and co-wrote and performed on Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye." In a 2003 message board posting by a "Snowdome01,"
According to someone I knew in the band--and, kids, knowing a Dad in those days meant something, damn it--Leka was visiting DC and saw them busking in the Riggs Bank parking lot at the corner of Wisconsin & M, liked what he saw/heard (probably in that order), stood around for a while, and then laid some rap on them about being an NYC producer, etc. Anyway, they agreed sort on the spot to a spec deal under which we would endeavor to bag them a record deal in return for a piece of the action, ie cut of the advance.The band members were guitarist/singer Kevin Pittman, guitarist David Ayers, drummer Michael Tubb, and the bass player and singer was Bryan Harvey.
Harvey would later form House of Freaks, along with drummer Johnny Hott, a terrific duo which would release about four albums before disbanding. Both Harvey and Hott would also become members of the indie "supergroup" Gutterball (which also featured the Dream Syndicate's Steve Wynn and Bob Rupe of The Silos fame).
And even later--on New Year's Day 2006--Harvey would be murdered in his Richmond home along with his wife and two children.
"It's safe inside these four walls when the atmosphere's all wrong...Ooh, that's the only place to hide away...They say the world's a mess but not here in my room..." ~~The Dads, "Four Walls"When I read the story, I was deeply saddened. The deaths of his nine- and four-year-old daughters made a brutal crime much, much worse. And to have enjoyed Harvey's music for so long made it feel like he was an acquaintance of mine. Not only did I play the hell out of "Rhythm Master" from The Dads in college, but I loved the House of Freaks' music, particularly their Cakewalk
album, released just as I was beginning my full time career in radio--an important milestone in my life during which all the period's music was burned indelibly into my consciousness, just as it was when I was beginning my college radio experiences in 1984.Oh yeah...so sad...that's right...too bad...what do...you do...it hurts...me too...I was always upset, but I have too much to learn...you don't inherit crazy, it's something that you earn... ~~The Dads, "Wonderworld"This weekend, I pulled out my vinyl copy of the album by the The Dads, a name which now rings with a touch of heartbreaking irony (actually many of the lyrics have unintended resonances, as quotes above and below may attest). Although out-of-print and hard to find today, it's worth seeking out.
"From our old hiding place down to the lake, I heard your favorite song and now it's keeping me awake... Oooh, you made it clear that all I have are souvenirs... ~~The Dads, "Souvenirs"According to the latest news, two suspects for the Harvey family murders are now in custody.
UPDATE (August): The killer was convicted.
note: in most cases, link for songs are active for only a week. all music is for evaluation and educational spelunking use only. you are encouraged to support all artists wherever possible. if copyright holder would like the file removed, please let me know.
