An album you wish more people knew about

Johnny & the G-Rays - Every Twist Reminds, a great mix of rockabilly, rock and punk energy that should have been a hit.

Johnny and the G-Rays were one of the best bands to emerge from the thriving punk, new wave and alternative music scene of Toronto in the late 1970s.

Lead by the singer/songwriting John MacLeod and lead guitarist Harri Palm, the band was known for great live performances. They performed often at Toronto "new music" venues such as The Horseshoe Tavern. I remember the excitement and energy of those gigs, and Johnny and the G-Rays was one of my favourite bands.

Their album Every Twist Reminds was released in 1980, produced by Stacy Heydon (Iggy Pop/David Bowie guitarist). Its rootsy rock, rockabilly and frenetic punk energy was an unusual blend. Though the band was embraced by the punk movement, it wasn't punk. And it certainly wasn't the "big hair" rock popular on mainstream radio at the time. Just after the record's release, the record company imploded, with the exec responsible for the G-Rays project fired and all promotion ceased.

Over thirty years on, Every Twist Reminds remains one of my favourite albums. Johnny got the master tapes and has issued the album on CD, along with Johnny & the G-Rays bonus tracks recorded at the same sessions. It has aged well, still sounding fresh and wonderful.

 

Tons and tons come to mind, but to make it simple, the one pictured in my avatar:

Felt - Forever Breathes the Lonely Word

RIYL: Television, Lou Reed, Belle & Sebastian

 

The Moody Blues - Seventh Sojourn (1972)

 

Here's a few 80's classics that never get mentioned ....
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Mick Jagger - Wandering Spirit
The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Blondie - Panic Of Girls
The Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania

 

Not sure how many copies I have bought to give away. If there is one album I would want anyone to hear, it would be Living with the Law.

 

Completely different genres but these are few I like that I never hear anything about:

Fatima Mansions "Lost In The Former West"
Gwen Mars "Gwen Mars"
Pages "Future Street"
The Verve Pipe "Underneath" (and really all their stuff other than "Villians")

 

Good call there. I just dumped the entire Maybe It's Right To Be Nervous Now 3-CD box set onto my iPod last night and have been playing Magazine all morning. They're definitely due a revival.

 

Silver Jews -- American Water

Not exactly obscure, but David Berman is such a great lyricist that I think this band is painfully overlooked. Stephen Malkmus is a co-collaborator, but the Jews sound nothing like Pavement. Thoughtful and laid back but too sharp to ever sound sleepy.

Jeff

 

Iggy Pop - New Values

 

As you're probably know they are back together (though minus John McGeoch and Barry Adamson) and released a new album 'No Thyself' last year - it's well worth getting

 

I did know, but haven't heard anything from the new one yet. I'll keep an eye out -- thanks for the recommendation!

 

Recommended in past threads...

The Botticellis - Old Home Movies

Some of the songs on this album ("Who Are You Now", for one) would make a fine companion piece for the new Beach Boys album.

 

"Bikini Red"- Screaming Blue Messiahs

 

Volcano Suns. All Night Lotus Party.

Mission of Burma skinsman Peter Prescotts howling mayhem. Lots of hooks and fun heaviness.

 

LOVE this album.

 

Besombes - Rizet - Pôle (1975)
Dzyan - Time Machine (1973)
Fred Frith - Cheap at Half the Price (1983)
H.N.A.S. - Melchior (Aufmarsch der Schlampen) (1986)
Hölderlin - Rare Birds (1977)
Kollektiv - Kollektiv (1973)
Nekropolis - Nekropolis 2 (1982)
Hans Reichel & Eroc - Kino (1986)
David Torn, Mick Karn & Terry Bozzio - Polytown (1994)

 

Self edit here.....Gwen Mars "Magnosheen"

 

No brainer for me: Tripping Daisy "Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb". Lost in the all the record company merger junk of 1998.

 

An album that I had almost forgotten myself, until a recent thread here....

 

Totally agree! Rock Candy just reissued both releases of Wireless two weeks ago. Have them on order.

 

FM - Black Noise
Brian Protheroe - I/You
Blue (same)
Gotic - Escenes
Tomasz Stanko - Dark Eyes
Public Foot the Roman
ANYTHING (almost!) by Camel!

 

Wow, that's the thing I love about music.. there is just so much to explore. Im struggling to recognise anything in this list (which is the point of the post, of course!). I'll certainly be checking out some of these recommendations though. Thanks all!

 

Mark Eric-A Midsummer's Day Dream

This 1969 album reminds me a bit of Pet Sounds, here's a link to a review:

http://talkaboutpoppopmusic.blogspot.com/2009/10/mark-eric-midsummers-day-dream.html