New Bangles single is out!

"Something That You Said" was released this week in the UK. It's the first single from the upcoming Doll Revolution, the Bangles first album since 1988. The production is contemporary but it otherwise wouldn't seem out of place on one of their old albums. Nice lead vocal by Susanna Hoffs, with classic harmonies from the Peterson sisters and Michael Steele. A welcome return! I know that many of the purists loathed their last two albums, but I thought they were one of the best singles bands of the mid-to-late '80s. Can't wait to hear the rest of the album...

 

Hero Takes a Fall hooked me - man, they could harmonize mi-t-fine, yessir! Mebbe I'll give this a shot...

 

"Doll Revolution?" Are they covering Elvis Costello??

 

Yes, they performed the Costello song on "Good Morning America" last year. Sounded good to me.

 

This is wonderful news! I never tire of classics like "Eternal Flame", but some new material from Bangles is most welcome. Thanks for spreading the news!

 

A longtime friend had the good fortune to catch them on tour, and said they were the sexiest thing he ever saw.

I miss The Bangles. Their covers ("September Gurls," "Hazy Shade of Winter," "Going Down to Liverpool") always bettered the very good originals, and their own songwriting weren't bad at all. I wish Sony would release a definitive two-CD complete recordings or something.

 

Me too.

It would be nice to get a CD version of their first EP.

A&M Records released a 3"CD of that EP some years back, but while the size of the disc could easily handle that entire EP, they choose to drop 2 of the original tracks and "The Real World" was a remix.

And, I've never heard their first single "Getting out of Hand."

The LP All Over The Place was one of my experimental purchases way back when. It was one of those blind buys that I got purely on the look of the cover alone .

Nice surprise when I got home and played it.

Joel

 

They are BIG Beatles fans and if memory serves, John Lennon's death had something to do with their formation. Does anyone have insight into this?

They combined great singles with a great image. Who can forget Susannah Hoff's eyes rolling from side to side? "If she knew what she wants I'd be giving it to her" was highly evocative back then. Still is!

Thanks for bringing the Bangles back to our attention fsutall (if that's your real name).

 

If you purchase the Japanese version of the new album, it's included as a bonus cut. Great song!

FWIW, the new cover of "Tear Off Your Own Head" is even better than the first single!...IMHO.

 

I love the Bangles.

 

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes

 

They are really hot! I love them all! Great looks and great talent as well.

Speaking of girl bands, anyone know how the Mastersound gold CD of The Indigo Girls sounds?

 

From www.thebangles.com:

[ 02/01/2003 ] THE ESSENTIAL BANGLES
SONY ANNOUNCES NEW BANGLES COMPILATION RELEASE
Sony U.S. has announced that it will be releasing 'The Essential Bangles', a greatest hits compilation featuring classic cuts from the Bangles' Sony catalogue. Look for 'The Essential Bangles' in stores March 2003.

Unfortunately, this Essential title doesn't show up anywhere at Sony's Legacy website, so I'm not sure if this got bumped or cancelled altogether.

All Over The Place is definitely my favorite album (one of my Top 20 of all time, actually!). Everything is underrated.

 

Read above again Kym.

 

Beat ya to it, Dave!

 

Is the new single being released in the US for sale or just to radio?

 

No word on that yet, but I'll be surprised if a commercial single is released in the US. Not to be a pessimist, but it's going to be a big challenge for them to make this album a success given the lack of interest they'll likely receive from radio and the video channels.

 

Are they still recording for Sony? If so, there might be a 7-inch single.

 

They're going the independent route in the US, releasing the album on their Downkiddie label. They're on EMI everywhere else, except JVC in Japan.

 

I love the Bangles! I wrote a fan letter to them in 1984 and got a signed photo back. I have always had a huge crush on Susanna Hoffs. It was good to see her in the Austin Powers movies(because her husband, Jay Roach, directed them). I have yet to hear the new stuff but I will seek it out! All Over The Place rules!

 

Most of the time, self-released stuff doesn't show up on vinyl. Darn!

 

The Bangles also did very nice covers of Jules Shear "If She Knew What She Wants", The Merry-Go-Round (Emitt Rhodes) "Live", and that Prince character, "Manic Monday". I was a fan in the early days with that whole "Paisley Underground" tag that The Bangles had along with Dream Syndcate, Green On Red, The Rain Parade, etc. I was especially fond of Suzzana Hoffs.

Found this bit of information at: http://www.seds.org/~michaelk/Bangles.html

"...In November of 2001, the band went into a secluded house up in the Los Angeles mountains with instruments in toe... and producer Brad Wood to record a new album. All in all, it took the band nearly six months to record and mix 15 songs. This also marked the first time that the band were co-producers on an album.

After still more months shopping the album around to other record labels and distributors, the band struck gold with distribution deals with EMI-Liberty Records in the UK and Europe and JVC/Victor Entertainment in Japan, both of whom expect to release the Bangles new album, DOLL REVOLUTION in their respective regions in the spring and summer of 2003. The band decided to issue the album on their own label, Dowkiddie Records of course, to maintain artistic and creative control over their own music..."
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Who will be distributing the Bangles new CD in the U.S. and Canada? Up here it's currently only available through HMV Canada pre-order as a U.K. or Japanese import. The Japanese disc has two bonus tracks.

Here is the track listing.

1. Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution) - (E. Costello.)
2. Stealing Rosemary - (S. Hoffs/D. Peterson/V. Peterson)
3. Something That You Said - (S.Hoffs/C.Caffey/V. Peterson)
4. Ask Me No Questions - (D. Peterson/W. Ingleheart)
5. The Rain Song - (S. Cowsill/V. Peterson)
6. Nickel Romeo - (M. Steele)
7. Ride The Ride - (The Bangles & D. Schwartz)
8. I Will Take Care of You - (S. Hoffs/D. O'Brian)
9. Here Right Now - (D. Peterson/ P. Rajelson)
10. Single By Choice - (V. Peterson)
11. Lost At Sea - (D. Peterson./S. Hoffs/M. Steele)
12. Song For A Good Son - (M. Steele/D. Peterson)
13. Mixed Messages - (V. Peterson)
14. Between The Two - (M. Steele/D. White)
15. Grateful - (S.Hoffs/B. Bottrell/D. Schwartz)
BONUS TRACKS (Japan CD only)
16. Getting Out Of Hand
17. Call On Me

Guests appearances on the album include the great Peter Holsapple on mandolin, 12 string guitar and keyboards. Dave Grohl is also rumoured to be on the record providing some vocals.

Some Web sites have the album released date as March 3. Others have March 17. A Japanese site has the album slated for release on February 26th.
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Slightly off topic - You can go to this link and watch a clip of the Merry-Go-Round peforming a lip sync of "Live" on the Dating Game in 1968. There is also another clip of Emitt Rhodes and two other band members as contestants on the show.
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For a brief moment I thought it was The Bangles with Sheryl Crow. These women are beautiful and still look the same as they did in 1989, if not better.

 

In related news, Vicki Peterson just got engaged to John Cowsill (yes, of THOSE Cowsills)