Thursday, August 21, 2025

250 Albums- An Arbitrary Rumble Through My Record Collection # 138 The Smithereens - Especially For You

 


The Tube. Some records make me speed, (like an arrow to the bullseye of a target), back to The Tube, and a Friday Night episode which led me to biy the record I'm listening to now. Such is the case this moment. I have a mug of piping tea in front of me, dressing gown warm on my skin and I'm listening to Especially For You the debut album by New York mid eighties New Wavers but essentially retro poppers  The Smithereens.

I first saw The Smithereens churning out three choice cuts from  Especially For You one eveningmid Eighties  on The Tube. It was an odd show. I found it so. The presenters seemed to have done no preparations whatsoever and have the deepest disdain for both the audience and the people they were interviewing. The comedians weren't funny, the audience fron Newcastle were clearly being herded by the crew like cattle from stage to stage.But it was something you didn't miss. Largely for the music which was frequently stagggering. Sometimes life changing.. 

 The Smithereens weren't quite that. But they were impressive and I went out and bought the record. They made you want to be in New York. They were  street and had that street glamout. The whiff of the hardlands of New Jersey. They went straight to the Sixties. Who could blame them. The Ramones and Blondie did that. The album's a pearl.


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