Ever since I first plugged this release at the '70s Teenpop Facebook page a few weeks back, I've been pretty psyched about it: The first three Rubinoos albums remastered on colored vinyl with new artwork and bonus tracks! Talk about the perfect Christmas gift for yourself. Well, if you're that sad...and I very obviously am.
And now it's finally here! And it is everything it was hyped up to be, and then some. It's a lovingly and carefully assembled package from the good folks at Wild Honey Records in Italy - clearly a labour of love. It sounds and looks absolutely beautiful. When the original albums are getting increasingly harder to come by on vinyl, what better way is there to get re-acquainted with all the early Rubinoo classics ("I Think We're Alone Now"; "Leave My Heart Alone"; "I Wanna be Your Boyfriend"; "Rendezvous"; "Hurts Too Much", et al.) than head on over to StripedMusic.com and order yourself a set. I do believe it's one of them "Limited Edition" thingys. And I swear I am not in any shape, way or form paid to do and say this - it is just that sweet of a deal.
San Fransisco and the Bay Area in the late '60s/early '70s, with its obvious and all-too-recent hippie history, seems like an unlikely place and time for a band like The Rubinoos to flourish in. The Saturday morning cartoon bubblegum of The Archies and the DeFranco Family were more their kind of thing, although Rock & Roll, Doo Wop, R & B, and the classic Girl Group sound also played part in cementing the Rubes' sound. "The LP Collection Volume 1" exhibits The Rubinoos at their best.
Already anxiously awaiting Volume 2 in the series...
It's nothing less than mind-boggling to comprehend, but those lovable rascals the Rubinoos are currently celebrating their 45th year as a working unit. And although only singer Jon Rubin and guitarist/main songwriter Tommy Dunbar still remain from the original pre-teen line-up (bassist Al Chan is also a longish serving/suffering member), it's pretty darn impressive to have stayed together this long, never mind sustained a career out of it (the band enjoys especially loyal following in both Japan and Spain), but to be still issuing albums of new and original material truly tops it all.
Admittedly, although primarily a big fan of their first two albums, 1977's "The Rubinoos", and 1979's "Back to the Drawing Board" (and the career-spanning "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About The Rubinoos" CD box set from a few years back is also a must), I haven't been keeping up much with the Rubes recently. So, the other day, after reading a favorable review of their latest outing, the simply and aptly titled "45", I found myself inclined to improve on that sad situation. And, upon heading straight to www.rubinoos.com I dutifully ordered their two latest CD's, the aforementioned "45", as well as 2010's Spanish-import "Automatic Toaster" - not to mention, for good measure, an XL-sized T-shirt.
In 2010 the Rubinoos teamed up with Power Pop legend and former child actor (I'm not even going to mention cousin Oliver here!) Robbie Rist, who not only produced the "Automatic Toaster" album, but also played drums on it. Clocking in at just under the half hour mark, it's a sparse and to the point effort. It's also ample in energy and sheer power...pop, as opener "Two Guitars, Bass, And Drums" very ably demonstrates, like this live version from Spanish television perfectly proves.
The Rubinoos' goofy, Monkees-like humor is also never too far from the precedings, which might be one of the reasons why "Earth #1" was also recorded for their children's album(!) "Biff-Boff-Boing!" (2010).
All in all, "Automatic Toaster" is an enjoyable and hook-heavy Power Pop primer from true masters of the genre. The wheel isn't exactly being invented here but who cares. Only unnecessary cover "Black is Black" and novelty (children's?) songs "Zombie Night in Madrid" and "Cave Girls" test this listener's patience.
*** (3 out of 5)
Four years later and we're up to date with the brand-spanking-new Rubinoos album "45". Off the bat, it's obviously not quite as energy-driven as its predecessor. The guitars have been turned down a tad, there's balladry a plenty and the Rubes' love of early pop styles such as Doo Wop is very well served indeed - especially in the sole cover here which comes in the form of Lou Christie's "Rhapsody in the Rain" (their cover of Christie's "If My Car Could Only Speak" from a good decade back is excellent and far exceeds the original IMHO). Their love of Richard Berry's Garage Rock classic "Louie Louie" is even addressed in, well, "I Love Louie Louie". But it wouldn't be a proper Rubinoos album without the pure pop hooks and here they are in abundance.
Unfortunately there don't seem to be any videos to songs from the album on the otherwise almighty YouTube, so you, much like I did, just have to head over to www.rubinoos.com and order the ACTUAL CD - you won't be sorry.
**** (4 out of 5)
And yes, the T-shirt's very comfy. ***** out of 5, as a matter of fact :-)
And just in case you aren't entirely convinced of the Rubinoos proper '70s Teen Pop credentials, here are a few minor, near and non-hits they scored during the latter part of that fabulous decade. Enjoy...
Update, February 10th 2015.
I received the following e-mal from Rubinoo Tommy Dunbar yesterday:
Thanks for the nice review of our recent recordings, glad you liked them! I only wanted to mention that our drummer Donn Spindt has been with us since 1970. He was off doing other things for a moment in the 80s, but he's been with us almost all of that time. Our bass player (Al Chan) has been with us since 1980. He's the NEW guy! ;-}
Duly noted, Tommy. And sorry for the blunder! Rock & Roll on :-)
Including at least an album's worth of top-notch unissued material, The Paley Brothers' "The Complete Recordings" (Real Gone Music) is truly a treasure trove. But not entirely without its rarities and oddities, since, for starters, it seemingly contains a COMPLETELY different mix of the Paleys sole album release from 1978. And, in theory, this was supposed to be the long-awaited re-issue of that very album! Well, never mind. I, at least, got over that fact fairly fast.
Influenced by Spector, Wilson, Everlys, et al, for better or worse brothers Jonathan and Andy Paley always wore their musical hearts on their their collective sleeve. Much like the Rubinoos, they just seemed a bit out of place and time during the angst-ridden late '70s - although there certainly were other acts around (for instance Blondie) at the time which sought obvious inspiration from the more innocent sounds of the late '50s and the early '60s.
Furthermore, Andy's work as an up-and-coming songwriter and producer for other acts (As early as 1977, he worked on an unreleased material with the Shangri-Las for chrissakes!) also seemed to interfere with the natural progression of the Paley Brothers as a proper performing and recording act in their own right. But "The Complete Recordings" clearly shows they had the material as well as the chops to succeed in that area.
Among the unreleased gems included in the collection is "Boomerang" (Featuring future Andy Paley collaborator Brian Wilson on backing vocals), the Phil Spector-produced "Baby Let's Stick Together" (A cover of the 1976 single Spector did with Dion), as well as a couple of exciting excerpts from their now legendary warm-up slot for Shaun Cassidy at the Madison Square Garden in the summer of 1978.
The rarities are nothing to sneeze at either. With The Ramones (Minus Joey, who was sick in the hospital) the Paleys recorded a cover of the Ritchie Valens classic "Come on Let's Go" for the "Rock & Roll High School" soundtrack, and under the nom de plume The Young Jacques, the brothers (with a little help from a few of The Cars) did the irresistible one-off surf single "Jacques Cousteau" in 1979.
Further high points include previously unissued originals such as set opener "Here Comes My Baby", and track number 2, "Meet the Invisible Man" - both done in the Paleys' exemplary early '60s pop meets late '70s power pop style - not to mention the previously mentioned remix of the Paley Brothers first and only proper LP, plus its adjoining singles.
Without a doubt, the (re)issue of the year!
One helluva session! From L to R: Darlene Love; Phil Spector; Joey Ramone; Andy and Jonathan Paley.
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.
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.
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.
