***What’s bold is new again and what’s original never truly goes out of style. That is the thesis behind Only Fools Love Again, setting it and its author, Danny Ayala, up for long-term success and a tenure-track rotation on any discerning pop fan’s turntable. The touring bassist and keyboardist with glam and power pop wunderkinds, The Lemon Twigs, strikes again! Only Fools Love Again ranks near the top of an extremely short list of pop revival offerings that transcend sonic posturing and mere tribute-act dress-up pastiche. For the more seasoned listeners and denizens of the discount cut-out bins, the moves and styles on display will be instantly recognizable, however, for those newer explorers, the lack of fluency in the RAK and Bell label catalogues will not impede any enjoyment or dissuade repeat listens. A forward-facing throwback, showing off a range of influences both new and old, digital and analog, Only Fools Love Again is THE NEW Long Island Sound and it comes highly recommended. Get Only Fools Love Again today and baby you can go all the way.
LP $29.45
10/17/2025
***No need to dig up Paul Revere: this is NOT the beachhead for a British Invasion of the Boogie Down Bronx, but rather the barrio pop sound of STREET THE BEAT! Flying cut-sleeve harmonies with zip-gun riffs, the origins of the group trace back to THE GHETTO BROTHERS, a legendary gang of Puerto Rican musicians who left behind bats, knives, and guns to pick up guitars. Navigating the fiery rubble of the 1970’s, STREET THE BEAT left the gangs for the music, and it was the music that kept them alive and unified through the 1980’s and beyond. Pure Power-Fuerza Pop For Now People, these two never-before-released originals import and update the 60’s Merseybeat sound from the confines of the Cavern Club to the fire escapes and stoop corners of Charlotte Street. Recommended and Ready for YOU to be filed forever under Pop Vocal in your record shelves or DJ box.
7" $13.50
10/17/2025
***Of all the subcultural spores dispersed by the shockwave of Punk, the odds for a Brit-Pop, Jam-style Mod Revival sound germinating in a land-locked city in central Florida had to be tremendously slim. However, despite this low probability, the lack of tube stations at midnight and/or Eton rifles, or any type of local supporting scene or infrastructure, life finds a way. It also didn’t hurt that Comets guitarist and lead vocalist and songwriter, Mich Shields, was himself actually Anglo and not just an Anglophile and thus did not have to fake his English accent. Educated in and inspired by the London Mod scene, Mich Shield began working up sets of material with drummer Brian Johnson and bassist Harry Burns in 1980. The nascent Comets were also lucky to have veteran music publisher and promoter Edward Clark Sanford catch wind and take in one of their earliest rehearsals. Impressed by what he saw and heard in person as well as by a demo recording cut by the group at the Bellamy Brothers studio, Sanford decided to manage and market The Comets; creating Orange Records and issuing the first Comets single, ‘See It In Writing’ b/w ‘Living The Answer’ in 1981. Following a final single on Orange, ‘Big Business Jokes’ b/w ‘Help Me,’ in 1983, this is how The Comets story sat for nearly 40 years. Unfinished, until now. With this compilation containing all of the group’s official releases along with many unreleased recordings collected in one place, many being heard for...
LP $25.35
09/09/2022
***“Reminder leaps into now-time with the debut EP from TUXEDO CATS, a crisp NYC unit possessing an almost cartoonish punky pedigree. This brand-new clowder, comprised of heroes from APACHE, TOUGH SHITS, DANCER and HUMAN BEING LAWNMOWER artiste AVI SPIVAK, takes absolutely no shit, wastes zero time and flat-out rules from the jump. Recalling their dandiest Dancer moments, tuff-guy gurus DEE DEE and OMAR trade vocals across four dripping tongue-in-cheek odes to fast living, each delivered with an authentic dual-guitar pump that’s expertly welded with hooks. It’s a charged-up re-channeling of so many classic greats: Heartbreakers, Rubber City Rebels, Zeros, the elite league. Out The Bag has that certified scuzz, strategically sweetened for your pleasure. Get ready to punk out with the passion, in the highest fashion!”—Mitch Cardwell
7" $11.00
09/09/2022
***Originating on the Isle of Wight in 1978, the band that would eventually emerge as Cassie began initially appearing under the more denim-and-dog-collar monikers of High Voltage and Black Dog. A key moment in the nascent group's history came in late 1978 when Debbie Barker joined the group as lead vocalist and immediately formed a tight songwriting partnership with guitarist Nigel Hayes. Before long, fans of the group now known as Flirt, were calling out for the band’s own punky/pop material, rather than their staple of covers, and singing along with them at their numerous local gigs. Several demo and recording sessions occurred between early 1980 and 1983 all of which remained unreleased until now. Despite local radio airplay and gigging, it was not until Flirt caught the attention of former Black Sabbath co-manager and producer Wilf Pine in 1981 that they group would issue what would be their first and only single. Under Pine’s management and with the new name of Cassie, the group re-recorded new versions of ‘Change My Image’ and ‘Will You’ for a single release on A.K.A. Records in 1982. Despite the record’s strength, A.K.A.’s untenable financial situation resulted in almost zero promotion for Cassie’s single. Cassie continued to gig and record for a few more years before ultimately disbanding with its members joining other bands. A tragic moment in the band’s history occurred in 2002 with the passing of original songwriter and guitar, Nigel Hayles. Thankfully, his great talents are now showcased...
LP $20.85
07/30/2021
***Upon reading that the backstory of a little-known band from Tulsa, Oklahoma, contains, among its extended cast of characters, Dwight Twilley, Phil Seymour, Arturo Vega, Hilly Krystal, Mike Hudson, Bob Mould and Tommy Stinson, one could be forgiven for expressing incredulity. And if one did, one is (forgiven). Forgiveness is important as toward it lies the path to redemption. Though not in need of personal redemption or the aforementioned backstory for that matter, this collection of songs – some issued, the majority unheard – hopefully redeems the time, care, talent and utter willfulness poured into them by the duo at the heart of our story, Walter Kleinecke and Mitch Griffin and their band The Jacks. A band dealt a bad hand, but whose music ran the table. That songs this strong and material this historically significant remained unissued and largely unknown for so long is baffling. The Jacks’ punchy, melodic mix of everything from the British Invasion to Dwight Twilley to the Nerves to early 20/20 stands on par with the best of late 70’s power pop: seemingly tailor made for a BOMP! or Trouser Press cover feature. In a better world, they would have been snatched up in the post-‘My Sharona’ wave or, at the very least, have their Drome single command top dollar on the collectors’ market. Despite multiple different incarnations in multiple different zip-codes there is remarkable consistency and quality throughout the band’s entire existence as well as their earliest and latest recordings. Although it may...
LP $25.25
07/30/2021
***Formed on the Isle of Wight in 1978 the four-piece of Nigel Hayles-Guitar, Debbie Barker - Lead Vocals, Eric Biggs-Bass and Hugh Kim Lewis on drums was originally known as FLIRT before changing their name to CASSIE in 1979; likely as a nod to BLONDIE whose songs the group favored along with the likes of THE PRETENDERS, RAMONES and EDDIE & THE HOT RODS. Despite recording demos for WILF PINE, the former mobbed-up co-manager for BLACK SABBATH, major label deals were not forthcoming. Thus CASSIE issued their only single of two Barker penned, Pine-produced tracks, ‘Change My Image,’ backed-with ‘Will You’ on A.K.A. Records in 1982. ‘Change My Image’ is a bratty bubblegum-punk paean to future sell-out success (‘Gonna kick off my jeans and start smoking fancy cigarettes!’) while the furious guitar riffing on ‘Will You’ fortunately for today’s listeners finds CASSIE about three years out of step with the prevailing New Pop styles of 1982. Instantly obscure upon issue, CASSIE’s only record became instantly hard to find. The band would continue to perform releasing only one other track on a regional compilation before finally breaking up in 1985.
7" $11.00
07/16/2021
***Despite ‘I Wanna Make You’ hitting lead-off as the first track on Numero’s 2012 ‘Buttons’ compilation of rare Illinois power pop, if one had inserted sales during the band’s original lifetime as a measurable statistic, Chicago’s Prettyboys’ SABRmetric score would have seen them riding the pine in the basement of the AL Central. Thankfully, this poppy ensemble gets another at-bat with this fully-authorized reissue of their one and only single self-issued on the band’s own Bow Tie label in 1982. One of dozens of talented Chicago club acts passed over in their live heyday for the likes of Screams or Off Broadway, Prettyboys’ strength on display here on their self-produced 45 might well have been smoothed out or spoiled completely had they been picked up by a major label. Small compensation perhaps for Prettyboys’ members at the time, but today a must-have home run for fans of the slicker, more commercial end of the power pop spectrum. Reissued with the rarer alternate sleeve and available for legitimate purchase for the first time since the close of the Thirsty Whale, Prettyboys are finally primed to raise the pennant.
7" $11.00
07/16/2021
***Arising from the ashes of THE POPPEES, a four-piece Merseybeat/Brit Invasion “Pop Revival” band, the core of the BOYFRIENDS began to coalesce around the emerging Cavern Club of the Bowery: Hilly Krystal’s CBGB’s. Inspired by the heavier sounds of the Heartbreakers and Ramones, vocalist and rhythm guitarist PADDY LORENZO and lead guitarist BOBBY DEE WAXMAN ditched their mohair suits for a more austere look and a more stripped-down, street-level sound. Adding JAY NAP on bass and LEE CRYSTAL on drums, the original line-up of the Boyfriends was set. Thankfully, This criminally underrated group may now finally be getting the break that they’ve been waiting over forty years for as this compilation collects the band’s two singles as well as studio material and demos, remastered from the original tapes and available on vinyl for the very first time. With the talent, songwriting ability and pop craftmanship on display, The Boyfriends hopefully will finally now assume their rightful place in the New York City punk and new wave pantheon.
LP $25.35
TBD
***The sequel without equal: the second installment in the Heroes Of The Night compilation universe is now here! Picking up exactly where the first volume left off and featuring a cast of twelve of the best and scarcest D.I.Y., powerpop, punk and new wave 45 tracks from the likes of JACKIE, L’HOMME DE TERRE, BRENDA PRESCOTT, AQUILA and more. Something for the girl with everything or the boy who thinks he’s heard everything, Heroes Of The Night Volume 2 continues Reminder Records’ campaign to showcase the talents of post-punk’s female musical innovators and pioneers.
LP $26.95
TBD