Various - "DIY: Come Out And Play - American Power Pop I (1975-78)" & "DIY: Shake It Up! - American Power Pop II (1978-80)" (Rhino, 1993)

I abstain a lot to think of my self as a power pop specialist, but on the other hand I have heard over the years so many records under that term that I believe I’m able to have a word or two without being categorized as a smart-ass, right? Those two volumes were part of Rhino’s once upon a time attempts to anthologize in the best possible way, the mid to late 70s punk rock scenes for the both sides of the Atlantic. And except for the fact that are actually the best volumes of the series (9 in all), are also and probably the best official compilations on the genre. You know, the other day I was checkin’ up my ‘zines library and on this Fast, Loud Rules issue found that this first volume seems to was in the beginning a boot LP in which the good guys at Rhino based upon (and copied possibly everything as you can see…) to create this issue (but then again I never saw it with my own eyes so let’s see this as a good trivia)! Who said bootleggers are only thieves and cheaters? Cause if you consider yourself a true rock & roll fanatic (which is probably true if you’re here not accidentally, haha!), the totally brilliant series in the likes of KBD compilations only this time for Power Pop under the “Powerpearls” name, are (guess again) bootlegs too! Anyway, I always liked Power Pop and what a great name to come up with! Instantly all the guiltiness about finding yourself enjoying a rather melodic tune with hooks and sha-la-la’s goes away! And that was power pop’s life story. A generation of punk rockers who felt free to dive in shamelessly in the earlier days of Fab Four without the fear of being accused by comrades as squares! Cause on both volumes these bands had more in common (if not a straight line inspiration) from the Mersey Beat 60s scene than the one of U.S. Garage. Every little song here’s a sparkler, piece of history and one way ticket back to the days where you were able to see girls as innocent creatures and not as evil monsters (for my female readers: don’t get it wrong sweeties, I’m no sexist - I just have clear memories of how in my mind females translated in less than a year from cats to leopards)! And you can get the crème de la crème even if names like the ones of Dwight Twilley or Phil Seymour shine in their absence (rights owners may have my curse!). Name check? Alright then! Count the classics: The Shoes – “Tomorrow Night”, The Nerves - “Hanging on the Telephone”, The Real Kids – “All Kindsa Girls” (in a probably demo-ish recording, for sure rawer than Norton’s Red Star debut CD reissue) Cheap Trick – “Southern Girls”, The Diodes – “Tired of Waking Up Tired”, The Rubinoos – “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”, 20/20 – “Giving It All”, The Beat’s both cuts, Fotomaker’s “Where Have You Been All My Life”, The Plimsouls – “Zero Hour”, Flamin’ Groovies (of course!) – “Shake Some Action” and Chris Bell – “I Am the Cosmos”!!! And all the above tracks, are those that come in me mind without to check the track-list in the back, right this moment OK? Looking at the date both CDs been released (on the back says 1993...) I really wonder why for so MANY years someone hasn't put out a box in the likes of ‘Nuggets’ or ‘No Thanks!’ for Power Pop's little jewels? A matter of rights maybe? Anyway, if you ever face up these two volumes at a second hand store, don't let 'em slip away. A good way to have in one place some of the best products American power pop ever produced. Till then, here they are for your ears pleasure (sorry for the marked 'M.H. Lime' on the sleeves, when I was younger I used to stamp all of my records). I believe we owe more than we think of to Greg Shaw...