The Toy Box

Retro Spins: Faster Pussycat - Faster Pussycat

What did I know about Faster Pusscat until today? Nothing. I came across them while digging through online lists of 80's hair and glam bands. That same list that led me to Warlock and Hanoi Rocks. Those Retro Spins turned out to be worthwhile, so hopefully I can keep that trend going.

Formed in 1985 by Taime Downe, they'd come up in the Hollywood, California scene among the likes of Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, L.A. Guns, and Vinnie Vincent Invasion, to name a few. Initially, the lineup consisted of Downe on vocals, and both Greg Steele, and Brent Muscat on guitars. Several members would fill in on bass and drums before eventually Kelly Nickels and Mark Michals came along.

The L.A. strip was a feeding frenzy for record labels, who were eagerly signing glam and metal bands as the next big thing. As a result, Faster Pussycat quickly got an offer of their own, joining Elektra Records. Unfortunately, leading up to the recording of their debut album, Nickels would be severely injured in a motorcycle accident, resulting in Eric Stacy taking his place. Nickels would later go on to join L.A. Guns.

With the aid of their music videos for Bathroom Wall, and Don't Change That Song, the band quickly made a name for themselves among the heavy metal, glam rock, and sleaze rock scene. Their popularity would only be further boosted as the opening act for Alice Cooper, David Lee Roth and Motörhead in support of their 1987 self-titled debut. This was followed by an appearance in the cult classic rockumentary, The Decline of Western Civilization part 2 – The Metal Years.

While I had no expectations for the album, I was pleased to come away with it feeling it was quite good. Though there weren't necessarily any standout tracks, as a whole, it flows nicely, and each track holds its own, delivering something worth listening to.

It does wear many hats. At times it's straight up rock, but then slides nicely into rhythm and blues, only to end up being metal. What it doesn't do is ever slow down, nor provide any ballads. Mind you, I don't hate that at all.

Downes vocals are unique, to be sure. He's not here to necessarily carry a tune but rather belt it out in your face. Think Axel Rose, if he stubbed his toe, and then got something stuck in his throat. At times, he even reminds me of the Beastie Boys. Loud, raspy, but kind of whiny. Does that make any sense?

But again, it all somehow comes together, and works. It's not a bad record by any means, and I am intrigued to jump into their second, and final album for the decade, 1989's Wake Me When It's Over. That's where I'll be at tomorrow, and hopefully, you'll stop by too to check it out.

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Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.

Retro Spins: Rick Springfield - Rock Of Life

After finishing his series of tours in 1986 for the album Tao, known as the Cathode Ray Tour, Rick Springfield did something unexpected. He took a break. It wouldn't be until 1988 that he'd return to the studio to record his final album of the decade, Rock Of Life.

Commercially, it would not be a success for him, failing to sell enough units for any certifications. Additionally, it would end his success of top forty albums on the Billboard 200, peaking at number fifty-five. It did, however, produce the number twenty-two Billboard Hot 100 hit, Rock Of Life (the song). This was followed by the single, Honeymoon In Beirut. The single would fail, becoming his first in the 80's to not chart.

In terms of what he released throughout the 80's it's definitely a week album. The title track, Rock Of Life, as well as World Starts Turning, and Hold On To Your Dream, are decent tunes, but nothing that really feels memorable in the long run.

It does capture that late 80's rock vibe, but at the same time doesn't feel superior to what else was available, such as Roxette, Living Colour, and even harder stuff like Metallica and Guns N' Roses.

Beyond that, I've not much more to say.

Though Springfield intended on launching a support tour, also intended to be a comeback for him, plans were cut short when he was involved in a near fatal motorcycle accident. Physically unable to perform, and mentally suffering severe writer's block, he instead returned to his hiatus with his family. It wouldn't be until 1991 that he'd return to the stage, and a whopping eleven years before he'd release another studio album.

During this time, he instead focused on his family, raised his children, and returned to acting. Regarding the latter, his roles generally consisted of made for television films, or appearances in existing series. My favorite being his voice work on the Johnny Bravo episode, Beach Blanket Bravo, playing Andy.

But that about wraps up my Rick Springfield listening sessions. It's on to something else tomorrow.

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Retro Spins: Rick Springfield - Tao

Though his album sales steadily declined since 1982's Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet, Rick Springfield was an artist that still delivered multiple hits from each of his albums, peaking multiple times on the Billboard Hot 100, and producing albums which consecutively charted in the top forty on the Billboard 200. Though this streak would be broken by Mercury Records and the album Beautiful Feelings, a record full of aborted 1978 tracks remixed and recorded by the label, and released without Springfield's knowledge or input, his 1985 released Tao would return him to form.

Granted, his overall popularity and sales continued to decline. However, this was more so driven by the artist aging out of his teeny bopper status, as well as the previously flopped 1984 film, Hard To Hold. Tao would peak at number twenty-one on the Billboard 200, and with it come the Billboard Hot 100 hit singles, State Of The Heart (22), and Celebrate Youth (26).

It's odd how the liner notes for the album:

"I was going through a major depression back then, and had been for a few years. I was spiritually lost, and finding it hard to cope with everything that was going on. Even my success was causing me pain. I couldn't come to terms with earning so much money while others were struggling to find small change even to eat. It seemed so wrong, but what could I do about it? On top of that, I had real problems dealing with my father's death. It all meant that I was in such a mess, which is why the lyrics on the "Tao" album are definitely the darkest of my career."

I say this because out of the starting gate, I found nothing edgy or dark about any of the music. It starts off with Dance This World Away, and then goes into Celebrate Youth, both of which just come off as catchy rock tracks.

As a whole, it's a pretty decent album, and another solid rock entry from Springfield. Naturally, there were standout tracks that shined brighter than others. For me, those were the two noted above, The Tao Of Heaven, Stranger In The House, and Walking On The Edge. The latter is probably my favorite from Tao.

Following the album's release, Rick appeared on the Philadelphia side of Live Aid, performing Love Somebody, State Of The Heart, and Human Touch. From there, he finished his own support tour in 1986 and opted to take a hiatus.

While he'd return in 1988 for his final album of the 80's, Rock Of Life, the Cathode Ray Tour, which was the tour name for Tao would be his final for the decade. He wouldn't return to the stage until 1991, but now we're just getting too far ahead. First, I need to listen to his '88 release, which I'll do tomorrow.

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Retro Spins: Rick Springfield - Hard To Hold

After releasing his third consecutive Billboard 200 top forty album, rather than return to the studio, Rick Springfield instead stepped back in front of the camera to film the movie, Hard To Hold. Though it would ultimately become a box office flop, the subsequent studio album / soundtrack which followed would become another smash success for him.

Hard To Hold, the album, would become his fifth top forty album, and fourth consecutive. With it would come the Billboard Hot 100 hit singles, Love Somebody (peaking at number five), Bop 'Til You Drop (twenty), Don't Walk Away (twenty-six), and Taxi Dancing (fifty-nine).

Disappointing for me was that I saw the awesome music video for the song, Bop 'Til You Drop before seeing the film, which set an unrealistic expectation for me.

When I saw that video, I was like, "Wow, is that the movie? That looks awesome!" Yeah, no, that's not even close to how the movie is. The film itself is a love story / drama. No sci-fi, no aliens, no laser blasts. Lame...but still my favorite song from the album.

Which is the perfect segue for today's Retro Spin. Things start out with the classic Love Somebody, before jumping into the next single, Don't Walk Away, and then Bop 'Til You Drop. Then it goes right into Taxi Dancing, basically blowing through all the hit singles right out of the gate, even if the latter isn't one really wasn't for me. The other three, however, are awesome tunes.

Things take a pretty steep nosedive from there, with the only real standout being the instrumental, S.F.O. Basically, if I were to sum this one up, which I will, listen to side A, and then turn it off. This is by far my least favorite of the albums over the past three days. I'm hoping things pick back up, but I'm also admittedly doubtful.

Wanting to capitalize on Springfield's success, Mercury Records would dig up tracks from a previously aborted album in 1978, remix and record them without the artist's input, and release Beautiful Feelings, and album which I've already done a Retro Spin on. Though he'd make no comments publicly about the label's move, its release would break the streak of his consecutive top forty Billboard 200 releases.

As for me, tomorrow I'm heading into his 1985 album, Tao. Like I said above, I'm hoping for things to pick up again, but I'm not expecting they will. Tao would be his final album to receive any sales certifications and begin a steady decline in overall popularity for him, possibly aided in part by the above Mercury Records release. That all unfolds tomorrow.

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Christmas Catalogs - JCPenny 1976

Hey! You want to spend the next two years looking at the fantastic Christmas catalogs produced by Sears, JCPenny, and Montgomery Ward? Cause I do! Yeah, I said two years, cause that's a lot of catalogs! Join me on most Monday's each month as I post up one of those fabulous books starting with 1970, and ending with 1989.

Look through every page, feeling every bit of nostalgia. Chuckle at the look and style of the wardrobes those zanny past decade people wore. Gawk at the toys you used to have, but long since parted ways with. Bring back all those memories of hours spent laying on the floor, combing every inch as your young mind pined over everything you wanted. Reminisce over the Christmas that followed as you unwrapped those lucky few that you got.

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