Rating: *** (3 stats)
Title: A Woman's Got the Power
Company: Arista
Catalog: 19554-1
Year: 1981
Grade (cover/record): VGVG
Comments: small cut out notch in spine
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4166
Price: $8.00
Cost: $1.00
Ahh! I'm always a pushover for quality power pop and Philly's The A's were briefly prime purveyors of the genre.
Anyone having heard this Philadelphia-based outfit's self-titled debut is going to wonder what happened to them in preparing for the release of 1981's "A Woman's Got the Power". Well, the answer is that their label apparently pushed them to become more commercial. Produced by Rick Chertoff (The Motors' Nick Garvey handling three tracks), most of the debut's new wave edge is gone ("Insomnia" standing as one of the few exceptions). In its place the band explores a pop-orientated approach that occasionally recalls fellow Philly band The Hooters (whom producer Chertoff also worked with). Individually the ten tracks are all pretty good, with the title track, "Electricity" and "I Pretend She's You" providing the standout efforts. Elsewhere, "Little Mistakes" is a worthy addition to the "death rock" genre. Commercially the set faltered at # 146, effectively ending their relationship with Arista Records. For completists, Arista pulled the title track b/w "Heart of America" as a single (Arista catalog number AS-0609).
"A Woman's Got the Power" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) A Woman's Got the Power (Richard Bush - Rocco Notte) - 4:43
2.) Electricity (Richard Bush - Rocco Notte) - 3:40
3.) Heart of America (Richard Bush - Rocco Notte) - 4:10
4.) How Do You Live (Richard Bush - Rocco Notte) - 3:51
5.) When the Rebel Comes Home (Tom Jans) - 3:48
(side 2)
1.) Johnny Silent (Richard Bush - Rocco Notte) - 3:49
2.) Little Mistakes (Richard Bush - Rocco Notte) - 5:32
3.) Working Man (Richard Bush - Rocco Notte) - 2:45
4.) I Pretend She's You (Richard Bush - Rocco Notte) - 3:37
5.) Insomnia (Richard Bush - Rocco Notte) - 4:44
After the band broke up the members scattered. Bush and Notte briefly played together in The Candles. Di Fonzo ended up supporting Roger Waters as a member of The Bleeding Hearts band (he's on "The Wall" video).