Here is a real treat. As usual, I've been background collecting new rare tracks by Mike Viola for the last several months and have pulled together a new bunch for your listening pleasure. This time its a collection heavy on covers - featuring tracks originally by Phil Spector and Ellie Greenwich, Andy Partridge of XTC, Morrissey of the Smiths and Ratt.However the pick of the bunch in my opinion is the new version of Andrew Gold's Lonely Boy. Stalwart fans have already heard the version of that track that Mike performed in the studio on his radio session on WFMU (recorded with an extremely out of tune piano). This is an entirely new studio version that Mike cut earlier this year that he was kind enough to share with me (and gave me permission to share with you!). Listen carefully and let me know if you don't think this is one of the best Power Pop tracks of the year. Great arrangement of a classic song replete with Blue Swede style "oohs" and "aahs". This is real Power Pop magic.
Thanks to Andy at Power Pop Square who made me aware of many of these great tracks on this comp. I'm really excited to hear Mike's new album Acousto De Perfecto. Until then let me know what you think about these rare tracks (and PLEASE let me know if you have any I'm missing).
1. Lonely Boy - New Studio version of the Andrew Gold hit
2. Be My Baby - Studio cover of Ronette's hit by Spector and Greenwich
3. 1000 Umbrellas - Cover of XTC's great track with the Section String Quartet
4. Round and Round - Menacing cover of Ratt's hit
5. Do it All Night - Studio rehearsal out take from WFMU session
6. Primary Caretaker - Original solo track from Radio Show
7. Start of Something - Cover of Steve Allen tune from 1955. Briefly the theme to the Tonight Show.
8. How Soon is Now - Cover of Smith's hit recorded with the Section String Quartet
9. Little One - Lullaby
10. Motel Mood - Solo Acoustic version of this great track
11. God Give me Strength - Mikes cover of the classic Costello, Bacharach collaboration. Recorded with "the Violas"
5 comments:
As expected: Fab! Lonely Boy is really beautiful. Thanks you!
Lonely Boy didn't do it for me (primarily because it didn't stress the best part of the song -- the off-beat base note in the last verse...)
The Smiths and XTC covers, though were good. As was the Ratt cover.
Thanks! Can't wait to hear this!
Thanks for the nuggets Haper. Any word from Mike if a studio version of "Dolly and Jane" will ever see the light of day? Thx. B
Love this! Thanks for sharing. Any idea when Mike does something new with Bleu?
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