Who were the preeminent purveyors of power pop?

There are a lot of artists listed in this thread (won't get into it) who have nothing to do with power pop. I think it was easier to define as a genre back in the 70's when the borders between it and other forms of music were more clearly defined.

 

Getting names and linked tracks helps in new discoveries since a lot of this stuff wasn't that commercially successful in an era when progressive and hard rock were the dominant styles. I've got a very expansive psychedelic collection, but my 70's power pop is far more limited.

 

And a lot of the best power pop comes down to a single or two by an artist. Take Michel Pagliaro, whose "Some Sing, Some Dance" and "Lovin' You Ain't Easy" are brilliant representations of the form. But his vast catalog, while containing many gems from a lot of very different genres, doesn't contain anything else that really sounds like those two.

 

Here's an example of a band having one great power pop tune. The Cryers came to New York in the late 70's and played CBGB a lot, usually opening for the Dead Boys. Their sole album is pretty lackluster, but this song is a true gem.

 

A little too close to "Twist and Shout" for copyright comfort, but a good tune, nonetheless.

 

Another late 70's New York Band.

 

Thanks. I always forget about Dwight Twilley. I gotta get me some of his albums.

 

Here's another one in that vein. I'm a big fan of Brownsville Station. I wouldn't label them power pop but there's certainly this, "Mad For Me".

 

Any of his first three are excellent.

 

And if he's correct, I'll have to change my definition, because Cheap Trick and The Knack are always the first two that come to mind when I think of PP.

 

Exactly. That fact works against the idea that there have ever been "pre-eminent purveyors of power pop." So many of the best power pop songs are by short-lived bands, or they're one-off hits, or they're minor masterpieces that aren't equaled by the rest of the output by a given band or artist. Or they're part of a much more eclectic range of songwriting, as is apparently the case with the example you brought up- Michel Pagliaro (someone with whose work I'm unfamiliar.)

 

Power pop isn't layered with synthesizers. It's guitar music.

 

I actually thought about BS, but then I was looking at the "definition" of power pop and deemphasizing any blues influences is one prerequisite. But they did tend toward concise arrangements and teen themes.

What about their Big Tree lablemates, Diamond REO? I have their albums, but haven't spun them in so long, I forget what their sound is.

 

Don't know a thing about Diamond REO.

 

Just found this on Youtube. Don't have it in my collection. . . yet.



(A little heavy for power pop, but still kicks it).

 

But that Grand Funk Railroad and Bad Company are power pop.

 

Much better than that "I Can't Stop This Feeling" song that was all over the radio a few years later.

(I'll show myself out.)

 

What other defunct truck company has three bands named after it?

 

This is killer.

 

Don't forget The Rubinoos.

 

There's a 12 cd collection that came out a few years ago. He's really all over the map stylistically, and a lot is sung in French. The Hit Parade comp is a pretty good single disc best of that contains the 2 singles posted up thread and other goodies. The boxset is up on Spotify.

 

Greg Kihn
Marshall Crenshaw

 

Yet another late 70's NYC band, The Marbles.

 

Hey Ralph, I detect a little similarity with Alive and Kicking "Tighter and Tighter from '70.
Co-written by Tommy James and A & K are from Brooklyn!!

Alive & Kicking - Tighter & Tighter [MP4]

 

A little would be right.
Was that a national or regional hit? I remember it being played a lot back then here in NYC.