 Formed part of the Seattle scene in the early '80s, The Heats began life as The Heaters before dropping the "er" when they found out that their name was already used by another US band. It seems that they were very popular locally (along with The Cowboys) but in fact they were quite unknown outside the Pacific Northwest. Recently their "Have An Idea" LP featured as one of 50 essential albums in the Powerpop special issue of Goldmine and gave the band an airing. Musicwise, the band played a sort of "new pop" (as Paul Collins once qualified The Beat), respectful of the genre but also very inventive and hook-filled. The great "When You're Mine" sounded like the ultimate powerpop song the Romantics never recorded (at least during their Nemperor era), and "Nights With You" or "I Don't Like Your Face" could bring to mind early Plimsouls or rather should I evoke The Nerves, when the ultra-pop format and neat harmonizing contrasted with the singer, nervous and restrained at the same time, as if he was bursting out of his skinny-tie suit (which The Heats didn't wear). Irresistible! The Knacks syndrome left much of a mark on some tracks ("Questions Questions") but The Heats easily stood comparison. Their repertoire also included more direct songs like "Call Yourself A Man" ,"Sorry Girls" or revealed a slight country feel like in "Ordinary Girls" or "Some Other Guy". As for the instrumental backing, The Heats weren't afraid of going through all that again with that Chuck Berry legacy to the `70s, like if a new generation eventually took over Stones-like rockers and Richard-esque guitar licks ("Call Yourself A Man"), but pumping a Mersey Sound exuberance into it, without neglecting a pinch of pub-rock feet tapping. The sound of The Heats surprisingly turns out to be fresh and exciting, even 20 years later.
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Steve Pearson : guitar,vocals
Kenny Deans : drums
Keith Lilly : bass,vocals
Don Short : guitar,vocals
7" « Ordinary Girl » b/w « I Don't Like Your Face » (USA [Hrrr Records #HT-001] 1980)
First release on their own label. Produced by Buck Ormsby of the Wailers & Etiquette Records fame. I read it sold 18,000 copies locally. The versions are (slightly) different from the corresponding LP tracks.
LP « HAVE AN IDEA » (USA [Albatross Records #HR-1001] 1980)
Imagine a record exhibiting the freshness of the first Paul Collins' Beat with slighty slowed down tempos and a collection of songs bursting with guitar riffs and pop hooks. Undoubtedly one of the great overlooked (should I say unknown ?) album from the early `80s powerpop era.
7" « When You're Mine » b/w « Sorry Girls » (USA [Albatross #HRS 2001] 1981)
7" « Rivals » b/w « Count On Me » (USA [Albatross #HRS 2002] 1981)
Two non-LP tracks. "Count On Me" reveals the poppiest side of the band and it just sounds excellent. "Rivals" tends towards the more greasy sound of the 2nd LP, although Fab Four influences can still be heard.
LP « BURNIN' LIVE » (USA [Sushi Records #SU-1801] 1983)
CD « SMOKE » (USA [ Chuckie-boy Records #CB1008]1980,1983/sept.1998) Chuckie-Boy, a Steattle-based label, has released this 13-tracks compilation which virtually includes all of the tracks from the "HAVE AN IDEA" LP (strangely the Knack-tinged "Remember Me" is an hidden track and "Questions Questions" is missing) as well as two tracks from "Burnin' Live". Powerpop of the highest calibre !
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