… and we’re back! Power pop is the original basis for this webzine’s existence so I thought it’d be appropriate to highlight all you needed to know about the foundations of true-blue original POWER POP. Enjoy…
Thanks to the Breaking Bad finale, Badfinger is back in vogue. This British band originally consisted of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans and were signed by The Beatles to Apple Records in 1968. Badfinger had four consecutive worldwide hits from 1970 to 1971: “Come and Get It” (written and produced by Paul McCartney), “No Matter What”, “Day After Day”, and “Baby Blue” (the song featured in that Breaking Bad finale).
Unlike Badfinger, Big Star ironically were never successful the first time out (the early seventies) and the value of their music only received due recognition two decades later. Not only did they combine the influences of the 60s (The Beatles, The Byrds, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks et al) but their exploration of dark, existential themes (especially in the songwriting of the late Alex Chilton) foreshadowed the alternative rock of the 80s and 90s. “September Gurls” (from second album, Radio City) has become the quintessential power pop anthem.
The Raspberries had a run of success in the early 1970s music scene with their crisp pop sound, and drew influence from the British Invasion era—especially The Beatles, The Who, The Hollies, and Small Faces—and its mod sensibility. After they disbanded, their music helped to inspire the power pop sound that came to prominence subsequently.
…still there’s more…