In 1979, Creem magazine ran a review for an album by a band called Durocs. It's been 30 years, so I couldn't possibly remember anything specific about the review. I do remember two things, though. Creem loved it, so I bought it...and I loved it.
Co-produced by Scott Matthews and Ron Nagle, two names that may not mean much to most, but I'm sure appear on more records in your collection than you are aware, 1979's "Durocs" was a record that hit upon every pleasure point in my body and brain. The spirits of 10cc, The Beach Boys, The Four Seasons, Phil Spector, and all my favorite new wave singles of the 70's were right here on this plat du bonheur. (That's French for Platter Of Bonya... or somethin'. Anyway...) Throughout their careers, Matthews & Nagle co-wrote, produced and/or played on records by John Hiatt, Barbra Streisand, The Tubes, Sammy Hagar, Leo Kottke, The Rubinoos, Huey Lewis, Hot Tuna, Dave Edmunds and Todd Rundgren, not to mention dozens of film soundtracks. But the Durocs record should have been the one, the record that made Nagle & Matthews household names.
One problem may have been the usual record company "What the hell are we supposed to do with these guys?" situation. Plus, even with 2 songs getting airplay-- I believe it was a Top Ten record in parts of Europe--and a pre-MTV video, they wouldn't tour.
About ten years ago, I dug out my vinyl and my long lost friend Spaz--where are you Spaz---did a beautiful transfer to CD. (He did this for hundreds of lost records of the 70s and 80s. Stay tuned.) This week I decided to dig out the CD.
LISTEN HERE to a few tracks from DUROCS!
4 comments:
Great album, if memory serves, but I was a fan because of a Nagle album on WB in the early 70s. Forget the title -- it had something to do with rice, I think.
In any case, the reason it and this Durocs album weren't hits is quite simple -- Nagle was a weird looking bald guy.
I seem to recall they did a brilliant production job on one side of one of John Hiatt's early 80s albums. "You May Already Be a Winner" and "She Loves the Jerk" come to mind...
I can recall it being a decent album with some catchy tunes. But the killer song that we went crazy over was the Gene Pitney cover of It Hurts To Be In Love. Remember Sal? I still listen to it, holds up after almost 30 years. Thanks Charlie, from Vinylmania for selling all those great (and cheap at the time) promos. FD
I had the Durocs record... I might still (who knows what's in those boxes of vinyl in my basement)!
Thanks for the memories.
Weird looking bad guys need love, too. And yes, it was John Hiatt's Riding With The King. The other side was produced by Nick Lowe.
Hey FD, saw Charlie a few weeks ago. Nice as ever!!
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