Plimsouls,
Nerves And Peter Case
In early 70's I was just a small kid, and I didn't know much at all. But,
I think I can imagine how was in in those years for a 20 year old. Well, my
parents were in their early twenties and I know my dad wasn't listening much
of the new music in those days. Except for a very interensting soul scene
and power pop hit here and there, rock was waiting for something more interesting
to happen. In Europe, kids were going crazy for Marc Bolan and David Bowie.
America wasn't quite ready for that scene yet, but kids of that age were thinking
of a new music quite different than the top 40 and stadium rock attractions
such as Emerson Lake & Palmer. Ramones
family, Lenny Kay with his Nuggets - New York was set for punk revival and
L.A. was soon ready to replace Eagles with Germs. It's not so well known but
elsewhere in America there were kids boiling some pretty good ideas too. Alex
Chilton and Chris Bell started Big Star in Memphis, and Peter Holsapple, Don
Dixon and Mitch Easter started Rittenhouse Sqare. Back in San Fran, a young
boy, Mitch Easter's age, felt equally dissatified. His name was and still
is Peter Case. Along with his friends Paul Collins and Jack Lee he formed
a rock power trio called The Nerves. Name suited the music. It was a nervous
pop with some really nice changes, catchy melodies but sang with a voice that
was somewhat unsettling. How approptiate for the moment in time!
And, that band, The Nerves will change the face of rock'n'roll with just one
song. Jack Lee's Hanging On The Telephone became a small underground
hit, and as a wonderful tune it didn't just pass by Chris Stein and Debbie
Harry. When they were looking for a new single in 1978 as a follow-up to their
very succesful single Denis, Blondie took Hanging On The Telephone,
covered it, openned their album Parallel Lines with it and hit it big
once again.
Other songs delivered by The Nerves were equally good tho, but they stayed
an underground name. Their only ep with Hanging On The Telephone on
it is still not released on a cd as far as I know. Although 1978 was a stellar
year for their song Hanging On The Telephone, the band went parts that
year. Jack Lee completely disapeared from the public if we don't count his
solo album in 1981 which exsits, but I don't know anyone who heard it, Paul
Collins formed Paul Collins Beat and was a little more active than Lee, but
once again, that was all very obscure even though some of it was supposedly
published by CBS.
Peter Case was a different story. He went on in a similar direction forming
The Plimsouls who stayed in a bunker for a year or two and then in 1980. they
came out with an ep called Zero Hour and their debut album followed
in 1981. Songs on those records were very well accepted in the college circuit
an band created a great reputation.
And then in 1982 their song A Million Miles Away appeared in the Valley
Girl soundtrack and that really fired them into an orbit. A lot of people
heard the band and a song and that was all in a good old time when movies
maybe sucked, but soundtracks kicked ass.
Thar year they signed for Geffen and in 1983 their second album came out as
Everywhere At Once and then the band fell apart. They reappeared in
1998 on an album I haven't heard.
The reasons for Plimsouls break up may be numerous. There were probably tensions
among the members as they expected more success after A Million Miles Away
hit it big, but the main point was the fact that Peter Case wanted to slow
down a little bit and go folky. Since 1986 he made eight albums, all full
with high quality songs and performances, and the ninth one is just about
to come out.
Peter Case was lucky to collaborate with T-Bone Burnett right on the start
of his foly solo career. Burnett also helped singing and also co-wrote a couple
of songs on it acting like a friend but also as an experienced mentor. Old
Blue Car is a standout song from that album. Album stands today as one of
the classics of 80's americana or alt. country if you like...
The follow-up, The Man with the Blue Post Modern Fragmented Neo-Traditionalist
Guitar in 1989 just confirmed what happened with his first album. Interesting
enogh, Peter Case stayed on Geffen Records all those years, but the nineties
will end that relationship... same as his marriage to Lucinda Williams. Companionship
with Lucinda only strenghtened his folk aspirations, but it ended up in divorce...
While on Vanguard, Case recorded several very consistent records and the next
one is already recorded, but due in September 2002.
http://www.petercase.com/
http://www.plimsouls.com/
Do
you speak Spanish?