“Think Too Hard”
by The dBs
from The Sound of Music
Sorry, the MP3 is no longer available for download
4.3 MB download; 2:59 running time; lyrics)
“Amplifier”
by The dBs
from Like This
Sorry, the MP3 is no longer available for download
(4.5 MB download; 3:05 running time; lyrics)
The dBs deserved a lot more attention than they got. For my money, Peter Holsapple has been one of the strongest pop songwriters in rock; while Chris Stamey was perhaps not as consistent, he certainly has had his moments (as in “I Want to Break Your Heart” from the 1991 reunion album Mavericks). Add a strong and inventive drummer (Will Rigby) and you have one hell of a band.
Unfortunately, they seem to have been largely forgotten except by a few fans. The first two dBs albums are available on a single CD as an import, but I’ve had no luck finding 1984’s Like This or 1987’s The Sound of Music on CD.
These MP3s were digitized from cassette into Pro Tools, where they were EQed a little bit—but probably not enough. I find myself boosting the 2K and 4K sliders on iTunes’ equalizer to bring the vocals out a little more. Just a suggestion…. I still have the vinyl LPs but the XLII cassette, recorded the second or third time I listened to the LPs, seems to have held up better than the records. Go figure.
I was trying to decide whether to post “Think Too Hard” or “Amplifier” when I realized both together use a little less disk space than last week’s song, so I figured I’d just put them both up. Besides, it will be at least two weeks before I can post another song. So, there you go—be sure and check out the lyrics, because that is a big part of what these songs are all about. Enjoy!
One more thing: I couldn’t talk about The dBs without quoting one of my all-time favorite opening lines, from “Spitting Into the Wind”:
I can understand why you want a better man
But why you tryin’ to make him out of me?
Cool. I downloaded the tunes, gave them a listen went about my business. Then, later, I realized I couldn't get 'Think Too Hard' out of my head- what a great hook. Did somebody cover that at one point, or did the dBs get national airplay? Either way, it prompted me to do some more poking around online. Found this, which I don't think you've linked to: thedbsonline.net. Interesting too, that Holsapple had that connection to REM and toured with them in '91. Also, that he married one Susan Cowsill. Now I'm wondering if she was of 'The Cowsills' fame?.
Anyway, thanks for the music- now I want to crank up my twangy Strat, add some Phase and play '80s style :)
-Chris
> Then, later, I realized I couldn't get 'Think Too Hard' out of my head- what a great hook.
:-)
> Did somebody cover that at one point, or did the dBs get national airplay?
The only cover that I know of is Syd Straw, on her "Surprise" album. The connection there, as far as I know, is that she and Chris Stamey both played with The Golden Palominos, as did some of the members of R.E.M.
> Either way, it prompted me to do some more poking around online. Found this, which I don't think you've linked to: thedbsonline.net.
Thanks! I'll check that out.
> Interesting too, that Holsapple had that connection to REM and toured with them in '91.
See above. There may be other connections, of course.
> Also, that he married one Susan Cowsill. Now I'm wondering if she was of 'The Cowsills' fame?
Yes, the very same. From the *real* Partridge family. She, Peter Holsapple, and Vicki Peterson of The Bangles all played with a New Orleans-based band called The Continental Drifters, whom I've always wanted to check out but still haven't gotten around to. Susan Cowsill and Peter Holsapple were divorced a year or two ago, btw, and I think the Continental Drifters may have broken up. I have a friend who is producing a new album for the Cowsills, but I could have some of the details wrong.
I loved the dBs from the first time I heard them. And "Mavericks" is in my permanent car trip collection. All that jangly pop from the Raleigh-Athens axis of the mid- to late-80s really gets me happy. Did you ever hear Let's Active or The Swimming Pool Qs? Guadalcanal Diary is another favorite.
Yeah, I liked a lot of Let's Active's stuff, and I even saw them live on the "Every Dog Has Its Day" tour. Mitch Easter is a hell of a guitar player, and they had a really good drummer on that tour. Also, "Afoot" is one of my favorite album titles ever.
I think I have a Swimming Pool Qs album but I don't remember much about it. If I can get the closet cleaned out enough to get to my LPs again, I'll have to listen to it again. Thanks for reminding me!
Hey! My wife and I are headed down to Charleston, SC this coming weekend to see the Killer Whales (a band that was big in South Carolina in the 80s) and the Swimming Pool Qs.
Have you seen them live recently? I just really hope that Anne Richmond Boston is with them, as otherwise it may as well be a Supreme Court show.
i used to go see the pool qs and the killer whales all the time when i was at college at usc. they were two of my favorite bands in the early 80s. let me know if any of their music is available on disc. i look occasionally but have not found any.
The Swimming Pool Qs' reissue of "The Deep End" (with tons of bonus tracks and wonderful liner notes by Jeff) is available at www.swimmingpoolqs.com. Also, "World War Two Point Five" was released on CD, but I'm not sure where you'd find it; you could probably e-mail the Qs from the web site for info. And their new album, "The Royal Academy" (or something like that) is supposed to come out this winter. I lovelovelove the Qs (but like them better without Anne than with -- I realize I'm in the minority on that one).
Their web site has a lot of great pictures and stories from the 80s.
dBs fan here. listened to the 45s of "Amplifier" and "Ask for Jill" just a few weeks ago. So good!! Also just saw the Bangles here in SF and I think Susan Cowsill was lurking backstage.
Hey you can check out a lot of different bands lyrics here at Palace Gallery Song lyrics
You can pick up the Swimming Pool Qs at http://swimmingpoolqs.com
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