Lost Hits of the New Wave #25

"True Love, Pt. #2" by X

Man oh man, the sound and visuals are scratchy, but I still love it. I can remember a time way waaay back in early 1984 when I would wear out this track on More Fun in the Big World. I came to X quite late, and probably to many purists, this album, produced by Doors organist Ray Manzarek, represented the band selling out - but I loved it hard.

I don't know what it was about "True Love, Pt. #2," whether it was the driving groove, the medley vibe it had featuring "Black Betty" and "Freddie's Dead," or that it simply included the first song I ever learned to sing myself - "Skip to My Lou" - I thought it was da bomb.

X formed in Los Angeles (also the name of their perhaps greatest album) in 1977 as one of America's first punk rock bands. The charismatic line-up was composed of co-vocalists Exene Cervenka and John X. Doe, smiling guitarist Billy Zoom, and drummer DJ Bonebrake. From the 1980s through the 2000s they have released over a dozen albums (about half live and greatest hits, but hey they rule live), and today they still tour.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lost Hits of the New Wave #23

"The Fanatic" by Felony



Folks who were at last night's Dumpsta Players show in Philly got their heads refreshed for this one.

While they did continue to perform and make records, Los Angeles' Felony secured a true one hit wonder here, with "The Fanatic," which was used not only in the film Valley Girl in the 1980s, but also the recent Take Me Home Tonight.