This podcast features The Romantics, as they were, and as they are now. Two songs from the past, and two songs from their latest effort.

The songs included are:

01- What I Like About You

02- Talking In Your Sleep

03- Devil In Me

04- Get Out Of My Mind

The two newest songs are from the CD "6149"

http://www.romanticsdetroit.com

An overlooked, but great album from the early 80's. The songwriting is excellent, and the overall feel is much like 60's good time rock and soul music. This album contained a minor hit, "I Need You".

The songs included are:

01- Lesson In Love

02- Always Better With You

03- I Need You

04- From Now On

My 'shouldabeenaBIGGERhit' pick:- "I Need You"

http://www.carrack-uk.com

Much like their name, The Vapors quickly vanished from the music world after only two albums in the early 80's. Their lead singer David Fenton did record a solo album, but it's so rare I've only seen pictures of it and can't find it anywhere.

Their debut album was a great new wave/punk/pop album. Featuring the quirky hit "Turning Japanese", it was chock full of upbeat rhythms and catchy hooks.

I have NO idea if they are still together, or what any of them are doing today. I tried to research this, but came up empty.

Here are the tracks featured:

01- Turning Japanese

02- Sixy Second Intervals

03- Prosoners

04- Trains

No link available

It's not widely known, but The Cars was NOT the first group that Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr had. The first group they formed was named Milkwood.

It was 1973 and they released on LP, "How's The Weather". Good luck finding it. It's NOT on cd, and most likely never will be. It's reported that Ric Ocasek absolutely HATES this album and will do whatever he can to keep it from being re-released.

The album was a reflection of the music at the time. Very acoustic, kind of like Bread or Crosby Stills and Nash. Some very good songwriting still however.

So direct from vinyl, here are two songs from the extremely rare LP "How's The Weather", by Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr, then known as Milkwood.

The tracks are:

01- With You With Me (Ric Ocasek Lead Vocal)

02- Lincoln Park (Benjamin Orr Lead Vocal)

Some more various gems from the wonderful 80's!! The decade of prosperity, NOT greed!

Some good songs on this one. Paul McCartney's "Coming Up". Although this studio version was intended as the A side of the single, radio stations played the B side which was the live version. I like the studio version better. "Breaking Away" by Balance was a great song. It's a shame the group didn't do anyting else. "Take It Easy" by Andy Taylor was a great song as well, featured in the movie "American Anthem". Sammy Hagar's "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy" is a good song with an interesting story: Rick Springfield covered Sammy's "I've Done Everything For You" and had a hit with it. Sammy had some disparaging words for Rick's version. Then Sammy promptly hires Rick's producer to do his next album and comes out with this Rick Springfield sound-a-like song and has a hit!! And "Voices Carry" by Aimee Mann's group 'Til Tuesday is an 80's cult classic. It barely made the top 40 but it's a great song.

The songs featured:

01- Coming Up (studio version)- Paul McCartney

02- Breaking Away- Balance

03- Take It Easy- Andy Taylor

04- Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy- Sammy Hagar

05- Voices Carry- 'Til Tuesday

Some more rarely heard gems from the 80's.....

The songs featured are:

01- Fantasy- Aldo Nova

02- When The Rain Comes Down- Andy Taylor

03- Holiday- Nazareth

04- I Don't Mind At All- Bourgeois Tagg

Another Pot Luck edition of Forgotten 80's. A couple of rare gems in this one; one you may not have even heard of.

The songs featured are:

01- Lunatic Fringe- Red Rider

02- On The Loose- Saga

03- Square Rooms- Al Corley

04- What You Need- Joe English Band (Joe English was drummer for Paul McCartney's band Wings)

While you many not know Robert Fleischman, his voice in undeniable. Robert was the original lead singer of Journey. (yes, there WAS someone before Steve Perry!) If you listen closely, I believe you'll hear a voice that, in my opinion, Steve Perry on some level tried to emulate. Having said that though, I believe Robert has a much stronger voice and wider range than Perry.

These songs are from Robert's solo album "Perfect Stranger".

The songs featured are:

01- All For You

02- Southern Lights

03- Ace In The Hole

04- One More Time

My 'shouldabeenahit' pick- "Southern Lights" (I just love that one for some reason!)

http://www.robertfleischman.com

The second and final official release from the States, "Picture Me With You". How this was NOT a hit I don't know! Their sound was tailor made for the 80's. I got to see the band at Western Carolina University in NC back in '83, and they were just as good live as they were on the records. They were all really nice fellows as well. The States on this release were:

Jimmy McDonnell- lead vocals

Dominic Butch Germano- bass

Morgan Hampton- drums/percussion

Barry Scott- lead guitar/vocals

Robert Schindler- keyboards

Steve Chandler- special effect guitars/vocals

The songs featured are:

01- Picture Me With You

02- Let's Roll

03- Get It

04- Just A Dream

05- Love On The Line

One of my favorite bands of the 80's. As far as I know they only had two albums released, although I've heard rumor of a third independent release, which I'm sure, if it exists, I'LL never be able to find it! I have no contact info for the band as they are no longer together. I have no info on current projects either. If I find out anything I'll post it. This podcast features the States first release. The States on their debut release were:

Jimmy McDonnell- lead vocals;

Dominic Germano- bass guitar; Stephen Chandler- electric/acoustic guitars/vocals;

Barry Scott- lead guitars/vocals;

Robert Schindler- keyboards;

Jimmy Wilkins- drums:

The songs included are:

01- My Latest Girl

02- Cry If You Want

03- Lies

04- Fire