Dwight TWILLEY BAND [Tulsa, Oklahoma]

The Godfathers of PowerPop.

7" « I'm On Fire » b/w « Did You See What Happened » (USA [Shelter #40330] 1975) 7" « You Were So Warm » b/w « Sincerely » (USA [Shelter] 1975) 7" « Could Be Love » b/w « Feeling In The Dark » (USA [Shelter] 1976) LP « SINCERELY » (USA [Shelter #SRL-5200] 1976) 7" « Twilley Don't Mind » b/w « Rock & Roll 47 » (USA 1977) 7" « » b/w « Here She Comes » (USA 1977) 7" « Lookin' For The Magic » b/w « Invasion » (USA 1977) LP « TWILLEY DON'T MIND » (USA [Shelter #?] 1977) CD « GREAT LOST ALBUM » (USA199?/197?)

Dwight TWILLEY [USA]

LP « TWILLEY » (USA [Arista #AB-4214] 1979) LP « SCUBA DIVERS » (USA [Emi #ST-17064] 1982)

Gary VALENTINE [USA]

7" « The First One » b/w « Tomorrow Belongs To You » (USA [Beat Records #001] 7/1978)

VAN DUREN [USA]

LP « ARE YOU SERIOUS? » (USA [Big Sound #BSLP-019] 1977)

VANCE OR TOWERS [USA]

LP « VANCE OR TOWERS » (USA [A&M #4551] 1975?)

VENUS AND THE RAZORBLADES [USA]

7" « Punk-a-Rama » b/w « Alright You Guys » (USA [Spark] 1977) 7" « I Want To Be Where The Boys Are » b/w « Dog Food » (UK [Spark] 1977)

Jimmy VIGTONE [Massachusetts]

Jimmy Vigtone's first band was actually "White Lightning", playing school dances and colleges between 1977 and 1980. They never released anything but one of their recorded song "I Hate School" did get on boston radio in 1980 played by Leslie Palmiter on WCOZ and Carter Allan on WBCN ! In 1981, Jimmy was working in a studio and decided to record some tunes and thats when he did "I Like It" b/w "When The Radio's On". To promote the record he put together a band called the Vigtones which did well for two years but no follow up record. In that band, were Jimmy on bass, Kevin Soares on drums and Tim May on guitar. They evenetually broke up because of a disagreement in style. Kevin and Jimmy wanted a more pure 60's pop sound while Tim was a bit more into punk and metal. In 1983 Jimmy teamed up with ex City members, Gary Tashian(bass), Dave Rosenberg(guitar), Scott Hoffman(drums) to form the Clicks. They released one great 45 rpm "I Should Of Told You" b/w "She's On Time" in 1984.

7" « I Like It » b/w « When The Radio's On » (USA 1982) "When the radio's on" is very good powerpop.

The WACKERS [Canada]

7" « Tonite » b/w « Captain Nemo » (USA [Bomp Records #102] 1975) Great slice of mid-70s powerpop!

Denny WARD [California]

See also Needles and Pins.

7" « When I Get Home » b/w « Show Me » (USA [Needles and Pins] 1978) The B side is an attempt to recreate this girl-group Wall of Sound (apparently one of the mid-`70s obsession -- but who would omplain about it?) with the kind of chorus which sticks like glue in your brain. If the sound had been "updated" to better fit the `70s it would be even better. This flip side was penned and produced by Steve Hufsteter.

Paul WARREN AND EXPLORER [USA]

LP « ONE OF THE KIDS » (USA [Rso #RS-1-3076] 1980)

The WAYS [Union, New Jersey]

7" « Thursday » b/w « Was It Real? » (USA [Ways #1A] 1981)

The WET! [Ontario?, Canada]

EP 7" « Deborah »« It's Alright » b/w « Get In Line »« It's All Up To You » (USA [Awesome #MC 001] 1980)

The WHITE LINES [Canada]

7" « Cos Your Not » b/w « Every Lover's Game » (USA [Automotive #002] ) 1980

The WIGS [Milwaukee, Wisconsin]

The Wigs were a Milwaukee pop band from 1979 to 1982, then relocated to LA and existed until 1986, when Marty Ross became a "New Monkee". The Wigs (Jim Cushinery, Big Bad Bobby Tews and Val McCallum) continued as the '57 Braves and released one single in 1987. A movie called My Chaufeur included some songs by the Wigs, with tracks like "Blind Deaf & Dumb" (written by Jim Cushinery) but apparently the soundtrack has never been released. Jim Cushinery and his partner in The Wigs, Marty Ross, have recently remixed their album for a 20th anniversary re-release.

7" « Hozoji » b/w « Sing This Song » (USA [?] ) Jim Cushinery remembers "I was but a mere teenager with no sense of style or direction when we did that. That band was actually the first of many versions of The Wigs. I am the only person from that lineup that continued on with The Wigs name." LP « FILE UNDER: POP VOCAL » (USA [Streetwise #SW 3691] 1981) A mix of more muscular (i.e. rocking) power pop with more traditional purer power pop. Vocals are really excellent, and production is pretty amazing also for a minor label. With a cover of Mony Mony that rocks. [mark l.] While a tape of their LP didn't grab me instantly, I have to say, after member Jim Cushinery sent me an advanced CD-R copy of its upcoming re-release, that it's a pretty good rockin'pop record in the most snappy vein. The LP doesn't reveal some kind of Raspberries-flavored pop sugary sweets I'd die for, but every song has it own originality (no filler) and is bursting with instrumental backing ideas, inside a formula which is Knack-like simplicity (ie guitar, bass and drums). Vocals are tougher than what your average pop record offers, but it really goes smoothly. Since it's going to be re-released soon, as a friend pointed out, it might appeal to people who usually don't care for pop records, especially if they sound too dated. I definitely recommend this one, especially if you dig the Plimsouls side of powerpop. [pierre]

The WILD GIRAFFES [Lake County, Ohio]

(1975-1984)

7" « New Era » b/w « » (USA [Neck] 1977) 7" « Love Me » b/w « When I Find Out » (USA [Neck #2] 1978) "Love Me" deserves a track in the 1980s Nuggets comp. 7" « I Don't Know About You » b/w « Crazy Mixed-up World » (USA [Neck #AAA-3] 1979) LP « RIGHT NOW » (USA ) Not very exciting.