Retro Spins: Pointed Sticks - Perfect Youth

Inspiration from the Monty Python skit, Self-Defense Against Fresh Fruit, would lead to the name of the band, but their label's financial issues would ultimately lead to a short lived career.

Nick Jones, Bill Napier-Hemy, Ian Tiles, and Tony Bardach, AKA, The Pointed Sticks, would be the first Canadian band signed to record label, Stiff Records. However, the label was in a financial crisis, and therefore, never released a full studio album from the group. Instead, they would produce four singles, as well as a three track seven inch.

The band would be joined by Gord Nicholl, and shift to Quintessence Records, where they would record and release their 1980 debut, Perfect Youth. Where Pointed Sticks stood out among the punk scene were their incorporation of pop friendly sounds, as well as all members harmonizing on vocals.

What actually drew me to the album was the cover. It brought back memories of standing in front of a record rack in stores, having no knowledge of the band, no internet to reference. Just the cover, which said, "I'm interesting enough to sell this album." You old folks like me can relate. Unless we knew the artist, the only thing we had to gauge about buying an album was if the cover was cool.

In playing it, most interesting to me was the similarities in style to Cyndi Lauper's work with Blue Angels. I couldn't help but feel like if she was singing that this album would have been a massive success. This particularly stood out on, When She's Alone. That's not to say that the band didn't do a great job on the track. It's probably my stand out favorite.

It's definitely a punk sounding record, and that's first and foremost what you'll get. With the added elements of pop, it definitely stands out in a genre jammed pack full of establishment and frustration laden lyrics. Will you find Billboard hits here? No, not really. There are certainly tracks that could have been contenders. The aforementioned When She's Alone, 1-2, and Real Thing stick out in this regard.

Overall, it was an enjoyable album, and I kind of wish there was a follow up to jump into.

While some of the member's would be featured in the 1980 Dennis Hopper film, Out Of The Blue, that was essentially the last heard from them until 2005. It would be this year that Sudden Death Records would re-issue their sole album on CD for the first time, including four bonus tracks. This was followed by a compilation of singles, outtakes, and other rarities, entitled Waiting for the Real Thing.

Pointed Sticks would reunite in 2006, albeit with a different lineup, and embark on a series of sporadic tours. They would also finally release their second studio album, 2009's Three Lefts Make A Right. This was followed in 2015 by a self titled album, and then 2022's Beautiful Future. Where they go from there is anyone's guess.

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THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
April 3, 1982

 

Retro Spins: Dire Straits - Making Movies

Brother Mark and David Knopfler formed Dire Straits with friends John Illsley and Pick Withers in 1977. Despite early success, and Grammy nominations, feuding between the two siblings would ultimately lead to a departure, but greater success.

The group recorded a five-song demo tape which included their future hit single, Sultans Of Swing, as well as Water Of Love, and Down To The Waterline. However, when it was presented to MCA, the label passed on them.

Though they would go to DJ Charlie Gillett, presenter of Honky Tonk on BBC Radio London seeking advice, the host liked the music so much that he played Sultans of Swing on his show. Shortly thereafter,  the Vertigo division of Phonogram Inc. would sign them.

Their self titled debut was released in 1978, and led by Sultan's Of Swing, got the attention of Karin Berg of Warner Bros. Records. She felt the music was perfect for a US audience. While many weren't in agreement with her, a tour that same year with Talking Heads, and the re-release of singles which went to number one in the UK convinced them otherwise. By 1978, Dire Straits had released their debut album worldwide.

The band released their 1979 follow up, Communiqué to great success. It went to number one in Germany, and number three in the UK. They would not only be nominated for a Grammy in for best new artist in 1980, but begin work on their third album, Making Movies. It would be during these sessions that tensions would mount between the brothers, and David would leave the band.

Despite the absence of David, the trio would press on with session musicians releasing the album in October 1980 to critical praise. Making Movies would stay in the UK charts for five years, peaking at number four.

So let's stop here, and fire it up!

Tunnel Of Love sets a nice tone with its organ style intro, which blasts into some of the finest guitar work from Knopfler. It elevates further with Rome And Juliet, and my personal favorite, Expresso Love. However, in between those, while it doesn't necessarily offer a poor experience, the remaining tracks just don't reach the heights of the aforementioned ones.

I actually had to take a break from typing for a while, because while I wanted to say more than the above about my listening experience, I honestly couldn't come up with anything.

While I may not have anything further to say, Dire Straits did. They went on to release 1982's Lover Over Gold, and then their biggest album to date, 1985's Brothers In Arms. The latter was heavily supported through music videos which were featured on MTV quite frequently. Ironic, as Knopfler was against the whole idea of videos. In fact, it would take MTV reaching out to Warner Bros. pleading with them to convince the artist to create a concept video for them to play.

Knopfler would take a break in 1987, but in 1988 would announce the group had disbanded. He would state in a later article, "A lot of press reports were saying we were the biggest band in the world. There's not an accent then on the music, there's an accent on popularity. I needed a rest."

Dire Straits would reunite in 1990, and release one final album, 1991's On Every Street. Perhaps it was because times had changed, or that their departure from the spotlight gave people time to forget, but the album received only moderate success, and mixed reviews. After a contractually obligated live album in 1995, Knopfler quietly disbanded the group again. Though they have reunited periodically for one off shows, the band has yet to release any further studio albums.

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THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
April 2, 1983

 

THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
April 2, 1988

Retro Spins: Falco - Einzelhaft

Johann "Hans" Hölzel knew at a kid that he wanted to be a pop star. He showed signs of being a musical prodigy incredibly early in his young life. As a toddler, he was able to keep drum beat time with music he heard, and by the age of four received a grand piano as a birthday gift. A year later he would receive his first record player, giving him the ability to play albums from The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Cliff Richard.

He would attend Vienna Conservatoire at the age of sixteen, but grow frustrated with the experience, and drop out. He would then take a job at the Austrian employee pension insurance institute. However, this too would be short lived.

In the late 70's, Hölzel would envelope himself in the Viennese nightlife. It would be here that he would play bass guitar for a number of bands. Though unlike his fellow band mates, would stand out for his clean cut appearance, and pressed suits. He would also adopt the stage name, Falco. After one particular performance of Ganz Wien in 1981, he would be approached by Markus Spiegel, who would sign him.

Falco would begin writing and composing his own music, presenting the single, Helden von heute as his first release. However, it would be the B-side, Der Kommissar, which his manager, Horst Bork, would be interested in. Rap was relatively rare in Western Europe at the time, and this made the singer hesitant. Despite this reluctance, the song would become a major hit in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Japan, reaching number one in each country, while charting high in several others.

Unfortunately, the track would fail to pique interest in the US and UK. That is until it was loosely covered and released in 1983 by band, After The Fire. That same year, Laura Branigan would change the lyrics, and release a none single cover entitled, Deep In The Dark.

While we won't be visiting the more popular cover version today, we will go back to where it all began. Of course, I'm talking about Falco's 1982 debut, Einzelhaft.

As I played through it, I found myself having mixed feelings. On one hand, it was nice to hear Falco's voice, and more so, something "new" from him. However, this didn't necessarily make for a good album. Overall, the tracks had a very slow pace, and dated sound to them. Early synthpop, which didn't necessarily stand the test of time.

Truthfully, while I like the Der Kommissar, I favor the remake from ATF. It's one of those rare occasions where the cover is better than the original.

The overall poor impact that Einzelhaft had on me was probably heavily due in part by it being strictly in German. Unlike future releases, where the singer had his breakout in English speaking territories, and thus incorporated that language, the fact that I couldn't understand anything deterred me from being able to get into it. I didn't understand anything, and since the music wasn't catchy, it all just kind of fell flat.

Hearing Helden von heute, I can understand why Bork favorder Der Kommissar as the lead single. However, this could be bias, as ATF kind of already cemented by love for that song. I can't say as it would have been as good if it were the first time I was hearing the tune in general.

It was a shame really. Falco 3 is one of my favorite albums from the 80's, and I really want to like the singer more than I do. Alas, that just doesn't seem to happen.

Falco returned to the studio in 1983 to record his follow up, 1984's Junge Roemer, but has stated very openly that the pressures were on from the label to deliver the same success of his debut. This unfortunately didn't happen with the release. Though it would reach number one in Austria, it failed everywhere else in the world.

Perhaps this was for the best, as this led to the singer parting ways with his original production team, and beginning to experiment with different musical styles, including the English language. Falco 3 was released in 1985, and led by Rock Me Amadeus gave him the success he was looking for across the globe. While this would have paved the way for further albums produced in the US, as well as collaborations with other artists, his personal additions to drugs and alcohol impeded this from occurring.

Instead, Falco released his 1986 follow up, Emotional. The album would fail to chart in the US, and start a steady decline of his worldwide popularity. Specifically in English speaking countries. Sales declined even further with his 1988 album, Wiener Blut.

Falco would release two additional albums in the 90's, 1990's Data de Groove, and 1992's Nachtflug, but continued his trend of declining popularity. It wouldn't be until 1995 that he would return to the studio to work on his comeback album, 1998's Out of the Dark (Into the Light). Sadly the album would be released posthumously, as Johann Hölzel would unfortunately die in a car crash on February 6, 1998, just thirteen days before his 41st birthday.

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THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
April 1, 1989