Boston: The Musical!

Flyer for SS Decontrol and Mission of Burma show, c. 1982.

This seems to be the season for making lists about Boston, (books and movies have been covered), so I will throw out another one.  Some time I ago I posted a preliminary list of songs about Boston, I'm now asking for reader recommendations for best albums by Boston-based bands and/or Boston natives.  Any genre is fair game, although I'm not sure the Boston Symphony Orchestra would appreciate being called a "band".  I'm also interested in a related theme--jazz recordings made in Boston clubs.

Some of my favorite albums by Boston bands:

Scruffy the Cat, Tiny Days
Criminally unavailable--should be re-released with the EP High Octane Revival.

The Lyres, On Fyre
Boston's finest garage rock band and the all time leader in the category of "Obscure Cover Versions".  The CD reissue adds another 9 tracks.

Mission of Burma, Vs.
Unlike anything I had heard before in my formative teenage years and still remains almost impossible to describe.  The reunion show I caught a few years back was incredible and their new releases show they haven't lost anything.

Charlie Chesterman and the Legendary Motorbikes, Dynamite Music Machine
Charlie Chesterman's post-post-Scruffy the Cat band cuts loose in the studio--go see them live when you can.  You can listen to several songs at his website.

Who else has favorites?  NKOTB?  Anyone want to talk about Donna Summer? The Boss-Town sound?  New hip-hop releases?

Special mention goes to The Noise, which has been covering the Boston music scene since 1981.

Another special mention to the only record label that I know of named after a Boston neighborhood:  Dorchester's own Ashmont Records.

Update:  Jay Fitzgerald at Hub Blog talks Boston Rock too, and adds a few valuable resources in his post.

Update 2:  John Daley rocks out to "She Pays the Rent"--but is it the slow or fast version on Some Lyres?  I can't remember.

Update 3:  My own update on this post, with links to even more resources, can be found here.

Update 4:  Charlie Chesterman and the Legendary Motorbikes will be playing the Abbey Lounge on 29 April 2006, with the Incredible Casuals and the Classic Ruins.  See you there!

Comments

[John]

The Neats!

I actually like their last one best, "Blues End Blue," though I think most people like "Crash at Crush" bes.

[JL]

Since your post on songs about Boston mentions Jonathan Richman's "The Fenway", it's only right to note here the record it comes from, perhaps his best: Rockin' and Romance. While technically out of print, it can be obtained on cd (with pretty good sound) by direct order from largely dormant Twin/Tone records. Well worth it.

[kris]

bridges, squares by ted leo:
As i walked to kendall square,
and crossed the river basin there,
the charles was black, the sky was blue,
the view was old, the bridge was new.
and past the flow's constricted mouth,
commercial lines flowed mostly south,
or east across a boundless sea,
where rising soon, the star would be.
the tides are moved by sun and moon.
the spring will last from march to june.
the red line train will pass behind,
as long as bridge joins stream and sky.
and from that point where i did stand,
i wondered at the works of man.
i wondered how this walk began,
til red line train came round again.
but it's not the time to ossify.
it's not the end of wondering why.
it's not in your faith or your apostasy.
it's not the end of history.
======
Edit: from the CD "Hearts of Oak"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000084T2V/bostonhistory-20/

[adamg]

Weren't Robin Lane and the Chartbusters local? If so, then "Robin Lane and the Chartbusters."

[Chris]

Magnetic Fields, Wayward Bus
Pixies, Surfer Rosa
Cars, self-titled
Helium, Pirate Prude

I could probably go on listing indie bands, but you want the best albums, not completism, right?

[Cranky Blogger]

Cavedogs: Joy Rides for Shut-Ins

[john]

tiny days...man...so many memories.

[Janet]

James Montgomery Band, the song, "Train" from their album "First Time Out"

Duke & the Drivers, "Check Your Bucket"

Private Lightning, "Physical Speed"

[Steve Garfield]

Boston, self-titled

Aerosmith, Toys in the Attic

Cindy Bullens, Survivor

The Pousette Dart Band, Amnesia

Private Lightning, self-titled

J. Geils Band, "Live" Blow Your Face Out - 1976

[Bruce]

Great topic:

I gotta add:

"Down on the Floor" by The Zulus, the Human Sexual Response spin-off band featuring the inimitable Larry Bangor on vocals.

Scruffy the Cat was the first thing that came to mind when I read your post here. Saw them many times back in the day.

So many great Boston bands from the 80's, so little time.

[lora]

I can't believe no one's mentioned Morphine yet... Cure for Pain, Good, The Night...

[Kirsten]

While not about Boston specifically, the Cape-based 80s hardcore band the Freeze came up with "I Hate Tourists" -- a local song the Greater Boston Visitors & Convention Bureau probably won't be playing anytime soon: (from memory)
"I hate tourists
Tourists suck
It's only their daughters
I want to ****
There isn't a tourist that
I don't hate
So get the hell out of my state"

[ultrapod]

seconded on the pixies, "surfer rosa".

[Chris W]

I second the vote on the Zulus, but I think their best record was the one with their name spelled out in bones on the cover. Most of those songs made it onto Down On the Floor,but the production on this first record was a little more spare and understated, so the whole thing seemed to rock harder.

I will also mention the New Models and their record Sight and Sound. They played every club in town, and had a great song in Permanent Vacation. They also played a heck of a cover of Its a Long Way to the Top if You Want to Rock and Roll (altho they had no bagpipes.) They were a 3 person band for most of their life (no bass.) Ric Ocasek tried to get them a record deal - no idea why that didn't happen - they were great. Got to see them open for the Cars at the Gahden one time. Miss those days!

[john zarba]

Down Avenue - R.I.P. Charles P.

Who was the band that had that bald lead singer and one of their most popular songs was "Great White Way"

Schemers! And later Rain Dogs

Private Lightening

[chisfam]

Great topic indeed!!

To John Zarba, about your question above:
The band was called "Adventure Set" and the singer was named Ken Scales, formerly of Pastiche. They put out an EP, called "Blue is for Boys". I can't find a copy of it anywhere...does anyone have a copy?