Genre: new wave
Rating: 4 stars ****
Title: The Akron Compilation
Company: Stuff
Catalog: GET
3
Year: 1978
Country/State: Akron, Ohio
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: blue vinyl
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5583
Price: $25.00
For years this was one of those records I'd repeatedly read about and 'run across' via other albums in my collection (Jane Aire, The Bizarros, The Rubber City Rebels), but never actually encountered. Thanks to a local flea market I finally scored a copy this past summer.
As far as compilations go this one's pretty entertaining. The brainchild of songwriter/A&R man/producer Liam Sternberg who attracted considerable attention (notably from rock critic Robert Christgau) for 'discovering' and promoting 'Akron' scene band such as Devo and The Waitresses, 1978's "The Akron Compilation" showcased ten Akron bands spread across 13 tracks. The talent line up ranged from soon-to-be-nationally-known (Rachel Sweet and The Waitresses), to locally heroes (The Rubber City Rebels, Sniper, and Tin Huey), and finally total mysteries (at least to me) like Chi Pig, Idiots Convention, and Terraplane. Released by the British Stiff label, the album was also famous (make that infamous) for the scratch and sniff sleeve - scratch the cover and as a homage to the city of Akron you were rewarded with the scent of rubber.
So here's an abbreviated track by track description of the set:
- I'm a big Jane Aire fan and 'When I was Young' has an attractive angry young woman edge. Unfortunately the song sounded like it was recorded in a bathroom stall - major distance and echo effects here. Makes the subsequently Jane Aire & The Belvederes LP sound positively over-produced.
- I own most of the Tin Huey catalog, but have to admit that after years of trying to 'get it', these guys are still a complete mystery to me. No denying that the brief 'Chinese Circus' was one of their poppier song (yes I'm using that word in a broad sense), but the Alvin and the Chipmunk speeded up vocals were totally lost on me ...
- I'm a big Rachel Sweet fan and had never heard 'Truckstop Queen'. Far rawer than anything on her albums and her voice didn't seem as big here. Those weren't actually bad characteristics.
- I have a couple of EPs and LPs by The Bizarros. They've always come off as power poppers on those releases. In contrast 'NOVA' had a far rawer, pseudo-Velvet Underground edge to it. Kicks along with quite a bit of energy, though the cymbals are kind of irritating.
- Ah, the late Patty Donahue ... instantly recognizable voice on a track that was far rougher than anything they recorded for Polydor. Not sure what the atonal mid-section was about.
- Given all the new wave bands that actually managed to hit the national charts you have to wonder why these guys couldn't get arrested. 'Rubber City Rebels' was a fantastic slice of teenaged anger and frustration ... no poising here.
- 'Slide' was kind of unique for The Waitress in that it was one of the few songs that didn't showcase Patty Donahue on vocals. Nice slinky rocker with Chris Butler handled the leads.
- 'I'm An Actress' was apparently the song that got Jane Aire signed to Virgin and it's completely unlike 'When I was Young'. Imagine an American version of Kate Bush, complete with weird time signatures and you'll have a feel for the song.
- Sniper was complete unknown to me and since 'Love Is Making Me Bleed' was kind of dull, they're still a mystery to me.
- Idiot's Convention was another unknown quantity to me. 'Mephistopheles' Passion' was probably the weirdest track on the album.
- Sweet's second cut was probably my favorite song on the compilation - who would have expected a reggae song like 'Tourists Boys'? Nice horn solo to boot.
- Hum, a ska band from Akron? Why not. 'A Beer and a Cigarette' was cute and as good as anything coming out of those UK two tone labels.
- Chi Pig (named after a local BBQ restaurant) was the biggest surprise on the set. The band consisted of drummer Rich Roberts, guitarist/keyboard player Susan Schmidt, and bassist Deborah Smith and they actually recorded a LP following the release of this compilation. Unfortunately the album entitled "Miami" (which is where they recorded it) sat on a shelf for 25 years before being released by the trio on their small Chi Pig label in 2004 (Chi Pig catalog number 019722). Penned by Smith 'Apu-Api (Help Me)' was an incredibly weird slice of music ... not even sure how to describe this. Imagine early B-52s deciding that the Talking Heads had the key to life in their world music explorations. Yeah, that didn't come within a country mile of describing the song.
"The Akron
Compilation" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) When I was Young (Liam Sternberg) - 3:02 (Jane Aire & The Belvederes)
2.) Chinese Circus (Mike Aylward - Harvey Gold) - 1:52 (Tin Huey)
3.) Truckstop Queen (Pietro Nardini) - 3:07 (Rachel Sweet)
4.) NOVA (Nick Nicholis - Terry Walker) - 3:17 (The Bizarros)
5.) The Comb (Chris Butler) - 3:20 (The Waitresses)
6.) Rubber City Rebels (Rubber City Rebels) - 4:33 (Rubber City Rebels)
(side
2)
1.) Slide (Chris Butler) - 2:36 (The Waitresses)
2.) I'm An Actress (Liam Sternberg) - 3:00 (Jane Aire & The Belvederes)
3.) Love Is Making Me Bleed (Seward Thomas Davis III) - 2:30 (Sniper)
4.) Mephistopheles' Passion (Marty Block) - 2:47 (Idiot's Convention)
5.) Tourists Boys (Pietro Nardini) - 3:09 (Rachel Sweet)
6.) A Beer and a Cigarette (Ted Harris) - 3:19 (Terraplane)
7.) APU-API (Help Me) (Debbie Smith) - 3:07 (Chi Pig)