nerves

this EP is sick.

It's sad how much better the orig Hanging is than the Blondie version, but many fewer people have heard it.

That version is on Rhino's excellent DIY Powerpop compilation, I believe.

John Reis' Swami Records was supposed to be issuing a The Nerves CD with the original 4 song EP and a bunch of other stuff that nobody had heard, but I haven't heard anything about it for ages. I wrote Swami a couple years ago and they wrote back saying "we're doing it, for sure... coming soon..."

No Age apparently cover one of the EP songs on their new 7". "Working Too Hard," maybe? "When You Find Out"?

What a great band! Sadly, they came too early for national success and attention. On year later they could have been huge. If I remember correctly, the demos are rougher, faster, and punkier than the officially released ep.

Paul Collins' Beat was fucking great too

The Nerves EP is one of the greatest records ever.

Heads up!

THE NERVES COMPILATION TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY NOV. 25
By Jeremy Medina on October 30, 2008 3:14 PM

Chances are you've heard "Hanging On The Telephone." It's been covered by a number of artists, most notably Cat Power and Blondie. But the original was crafted by The Nerves, a '70s power-pop group that only released an EP but made enough of an impact people for to still be talking about them decades later. Now, Alive Records has announced it will release the first full-length from the group (with its blessing), entitled One Way Ticket. It hits stores Nov. 25.
The Los Angeles-based trio—comprised of Jack Lee on guitar, Peter Case on bass, Paul Collins on drums and all three on vocals—were said to be in the center of the punk rock scene in the mid-'70s, even touring with The Ramones at one point. But things quickly went astray and the trio disbanded in 1978 after releasing just the aforementioned four-song EP. Each member moved on to different projects and different bands (including The Breakaways, Plimsouls and The Beat).

But "Hanging On The Telephone" still thrives today, with Cat Power's cover appearing in a popular Cingular commercial. Beyond that signature song, One Way Ticket will feature no less than 20 tracks, including demos, previously unreleased material and songs from the member's other bands.

The full tracklist:
1. One Way Ticket
2. Paper Dolls
3. Hanging On The Telephone
4. When You Find Out
5. Working Too Hard
6. Give Me Some Time
7. Walking Out on Love (The Breakaways)
8. Thing of the Past (Plimsouls)
9. It's Hot Outside (Jack Lee)
10. Too Many Roads to Follow (demo)
11. Are You Famous? (live from the Magical Blistering Tour)
12. Why Am I Lonely? (live)
13. You Won't Be Happy (live)
14. Any Day Now (live)
15. Letter to G. (live)
16. Come Back and Stay (live)
17. I Need Your Love (live)
18. Stand Back and Take a Good Look (demo)
19. Are You Famous (demo, CD only)
20. Letter to G. (demo, CD only)

just the live version of "come back and stay"? LAME.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/node/147255

omg i need this

Does anyone own this? I can't find any reviews, and I think I might buy a physical copy today.

It's sad how much better the orig Hanging is than the Blondie version, but many fewer people have heard it.

What he said. Last week I was in Amoeba and they were blasting it and I'm still humming it today.

Power pop can be such a generic genre with most of the bands never transcending their influences, but The Nerves are one of the exceptions, especially their harmony singing, which I think is right up there with those guys from Liverpool and the Everly Brothers.

Damn, that's a hard recommendation to resist. I too feel Power Pop usually ends up generic. I've been thinking about the Shoes, though at odd times, lately. Really should dig up that first Shoes album somehow. Black Vinyl Shoes...

I saw Paul Collins live a few months ago, he opened with Hanging On The Telephone, it was great. I got his new album at the gig, it's not bad at all. Especially dig She Doesn't Want To Hang Around With You.

I think it was Chuck Eddy who said, "Power Pop, too much pop and not enough power," or something to that effect. Black Vinyl Shoes, on the other hand, is pretty good. What makes the album stand out from the crowd is the unique production. It's almost a proto-shoegaze sound with guitars chiming or buzzing in the back of the mix, ethereal vocals floating over top, and a rhythm section throbbing underneath. The band made the entire thing in their living room using 4 track recorders. Just imagine how difficult that was in the pre-digital age. While their proper studio albums are good, they never quite matched the quality and mystery of their debut.

Yeah, I took a listen to that today and you're right about the unique sound of the guitars ("buzzing" is a good word for it) and I still think it's surprising (and charming) that their vocals come across so effeminate, especially since they're mostly just singing the standard lyrical stuff about girls. I thought their second album was pretty good as well, but you're right, I didn't get the impression they ever matched their first album.

was this thread started by the home blitz dude?

yeah, he has a few posts lying around

leavethecapital about Black Vinyl Shoes. It sounds like it was recorded on lasers.

Hadn't realised there was one before it too:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:w9ftxqrhldje

leavethecapital about Black Vinyl Shoes

my otm vanished!

Holy shit I have to listen to those earlier Shoes albums! I love Black Vinyl Shoes :)

I found a "marked" copy of Present Tense on LP for $2.99 when I was in LA this year - plays perfectly.

I didn't know there were any pre-Black Vinyl Shoes recordings either. I'll have to track those down.

Can't get enough of the Nerves Ep right now. Also never heard of the shoes before and picked it up after reading the thread and my mind has been blown. Specially liking 'Not Me'.

Home Blitz is also pretty amazing, didn't know Daniel used to post around here.

Also just read this list of his on Dusted: http://www.dustedmagazine.com/features/895

Get the Message by Cyrus Erie is one of the few truly great powerpop songs of all time.

RIP Jack Lee.

Even though The Nerves lived in San Francisco for just a brief spell, they recorded one of the great USA proto-punk EPs here. All-time classic.