New England Music Scrapbook
The Lifters

The Lifters

The Lifters scored a big hit at WBCN this spring with the power-poppish "Memories Fade." It's a briskly effervescent song and at the same time hauntingly memorable; the combination made this single a top request item for several months.

The story goes that "Memories Fade" was released at Christmastime,3 but took three months to finally hit at 104 FM. That may be true, but the wait paid off for the Lifters, as you'll see them at Spit on Saturday, June 26 in this year's Rumble.4 -- Guide to the 1983 WBCN Rock and Roll Rumble, which I believe was published as a supplement to the June 21, 1983, Boston Phoenix



The Lifters
"Memories Fade" b/w "Heartbeat" (45, Bosstown, 1982)

This is the debut record from Boston's Lifters--and they don't waste it! "Heartbeat," written by bassist Gerry Carbonara, is a Nick Lowe styled rocker that strongly backs "Memories Fade," penned by brother John Carbonara. Sounding uncannily like John Hiatt with his patented marbles-in-the-mouth-style, John Carbonara's vocals provide a charming melody (fluttering "memories fay-yay-yade" on each chorus). Without resorting to dense vocal layering or hard guitar pummelings, the Lifters have crafted a pleasant debut single. -- Carter Alan, Boston Rock, February 23, 1983, Issue 37



The Lifters were a pretty good outfit ... the rhythm section (Gerry Carbonara on bass, Howie Oven on drums, John Carbonara singer and rhythm guitar, and myself on guitar, lead and rhythm) was pretty tight as we had all played in blues or R&B bands (East Coast Muscle, George Leh and the Thrillers). That R&B "groove" stuff was what the Lifters were good at. We worked long hours perfecting tight little groove machinations that got the folks dancing. -- Rob Amaral5

1. This name is given as Howie "Oren" in the Rumble guide, though it is Howie Oven according to the "Memories Fade" single. Rob Amaral assures me that Howie Oven is correct.

2. Steve Seleb was a guitarist in an earlier Lifters lineup. David Amaral played keyboards late in the Lifters' history.

3. "Memories Fade" b/w "Heartbeat" (45, Bosstown, 1982).

4. Each year quite a variety of bands, including some serious talent, take part in the WBCN Rock and Roll Rumble; and 1983 was no exception. Christmas, the Del Fuegos, Digney Fignus, Jane and Jeff Hudson, the MIAs, the Prime Movers, Salem 66, 'til tuesday, and the Mike Viola Alliance were among the other contestants.

5. E-mail message, 1/10/2002.

Rob Amaral: ramaral@usinspect.com

Howie Oven, Rob Amaral, John Carbonara, Gerry Carbonara

Notes copyright © 2002 by Alan Lewis.
All rights reserved.

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