Rockpile – Seconds of Pleasure
Back in the 70s with the new wave & pub rock bands one of the recipes they followed was that opening number had to be ear-candy. An immediate catchy melody with playing that had vibrancy. Rockpile knew how to do this in 1980.
The first time I heard “Teacher Teacher” I was a DJ in Massachusetts & it was a glorious rocking piece of sparkling music. I always liked opening a show with something that had energy, would appeal & embody what was going to happen in the next 3 hours. “Teacher Teacher” had this ingredient. Hey, it’s marketing.
The band itself applied swipes into power pop rock & rockabilly & added the new wave sugar to enliven its poke into young people’s ears of the era. Despite their live success & having recorded many tracks, only one definitive LP was ever released. This reissue contains 12 tracks of delight & more than just Seconds of Pleasure (Drops June 7/Yep Roc Records Reissue).
The reissue with some vinyl pressings manufactured in yellow vinyl may lasso the ears of younger enthusiasts. The guitars often had a heavy dose of Byrds-like jangle that was appealing (“Now & Always”) with its pub rock edge in the vocals. Rockpile was a short-lived quartet that was influential, nonetheless. Since its music was developing in the pub rock scene of the UK as early as 1974 with Brinsley Schwartz (who recorded the original version of “(What’s So Funny ‘bout) Peace, Love & Understanding”) it didn’t take too long for the genre to cross the Atlantic.
After this LP other songs that were written appeared on 3 Dave Edmunds solo LPs & one Nick Lowe LP. The curiosity is that Rockpile appeared as a backing group for Mickey Jupp (on one side of his 1978 LP) & Nick Lowe’s wife Carlene Carter’s (1980) album.
The songs are quite varied. There are after all 3 distinctive vocalists in place. On “Pet You & Hold You,” there’s a Beatle-esque melodic feel to the arrangement & performance. I can hear Lennon & McCartney sing this. With “Oh, What a Thrill,” the musicians tap into an old Chuck Berry tune & they elevate the oldie to a hearty new perspective. The whole album was conjured up to be musically magnetic & still is.
Highlights – “Teacher, Teacher,” “If Sugar Was As Sweet As You,” “Now & Always,” “A Knife & Fork,” “Play That Fast Thing (One More Time),” “Pet You & Hold You,” “Oh, What a Thrill,” “When I Write the Book,” “Fool Too Long” & “You Ain’t Nothin’ But Fine.”
Musicians – Dave Edmunds (vocals/guitar/organ/piano), Nick Lowe (vocals/bass guitar), Billy Bremner (vocals/guitar) & Terry Williams (drums).
Color image of the band courtesy of their Facebook. CD @ Amazon & https://www.yeproc.com/rockpiles-seconds-of-pleasure-reissue-announcement-available-on-yellow-color-vinyl-out-june-7/