The Paley Brothers



Today I was reminded of The Paley Brothers - a late '70s pop act that kind of fell by the wayside during the Punk era, apparently just because how ill-fitting their sound and image was to the times.  The Rubinoos - sort of - had the same problem, although they enjoyed more commercial and lasting success.

The Brothers' (Jonathan and Andy) sole self-titled album is hardly a lost pop classic, but it does nonetheless contain a handful of well-crafted Spector/Beach Boys/Everly-influenced pure pop songs. 

A CD-reissue has been in the planning stages for years, but has yet to materialize.  It could contain some interesting bonus material, since the Paleys reportedly worked with Phil Spector on some previously unreleased material in the late '70s. 

Among other of their accomplishments, they also opened for Shaun Cassidy at the Madison Square Garden at the height of his fame.

But in order to read more about The Paley Brothers click on the link.

There also was an excellent 4 track EP issued, containing a couple of their most memorable non-LP cuts, "Rendezvous" (Also recorded by The Rubinoos) and "Ecstasy" 

 



Their collaboration with another set of brothers - albeit not by blood - the Ramones, from the soundtrack to "Rock & Roll Highschool" (1979), was a snappy Power Pop cover of Ritchie Valens' "Come on Let's Go"...

 

 

"You're the Best" is the opening track on "The Paley Brothers" album. 

 

 

"Come Out & Play", however, arguably the strongest track from the album wouldn't have been entirely out of place on a Bay City Rollers record...

 

 

I always felt the Talking Heads nicked bits and pieces from this song for their otherwise excellent mid '80s hit "And She Was".  The connection, perhaps, being that the Paleys hung around CBGB's a lot during the mid-to-late '70s.  Hence, also, the aforementioned Ramones tie-in.

 

 

Since the '80s, Andy Paley has made a name for himself as a record producer of some repute, working with, among others, his idol Brian Wilson.  Jonathan, meanwhile, has tried his hand at various things such as modelling and acting.  Here's an excellent interview with him.

 

 

Update, Sept. 16, 2013: At long last, the previously mentioned "The Paley Brothers Complete Recordings" CD is out!

 

 

See also: THE '70s TEEN POP (RE) RELEASE OF 2013.

 

Pre script: The Sidewinders were Andy Paley's early '70s, pre-Paley Brothers band.  They issued one, self-titled album on RCA in 1972, which was produced by Lenny Kaye, later of the Patti Smith Group.