Record Labels: Not Lame, Parsol, Permanent Press
Mail Order: Jam Records (www.go.to/jamrecords), Kool Kat (www.koolkatmusik.com),
Not Lame (www.notlame.com)
Magazines: Amplifier (all the other ones I used to know of, such as Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, are now defunct). Fufkin.com e-zine.
Compilations: Poptopia! Power Pop Classics of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s (three-disc set on Rhino); Yellow Pills, Volumes 1-4 (Big Deal)
Names: Bruce Brodeen (Not Lame owner), David Bash (writer and the man behind the International Pop Overthrow), John Borack (writer)
Local Radio Show: The Starry Eyes Pop Show on WXDU, 7-8 p.m. on Saturdays (disclaimer: I’m the host)
Five Essential Power Pop Records and Songs
(Note that all contributors said something to the effect that their choices were subject to change within five seconds after submittal. All lists are in no particular order. And Seth Gordon is ready and willing to debate anyone who thinks “Like a Rolling Stone” isn’t a pop song.)
Robbie Rist:
Albums:
Jellyfish–Spilt Milk
The Posies–Dear 23
The Raspberries–Starting Over
The Knack–Get The Knack
The Mockers–Living In The Holland Tunnel
Songs:
“I Wanna Be With You”–The Raspberries
“I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”–Rubinoos
“Ginna Ling”–Cockeyed Ghost
“Living In a New World”–Lane Steinberg (on Pop Under The Surface-Volume2)
“Retro Girl”–The Andersons
Mike Nicholson:
Big Star–Radio City
The Raspberries–Side 3
Jellyfish–Bellybutton
The Shazam–Godspeed the Shazam
Fountains of Wayne–Fountains of Wayne
“Starry Eyes”–The Records
“Condition Red”–The Sneakers
“Be Someone Tonight”–Velvet Crush
“Eloquent Spokesman”–The Spongetones
“Go”–The Apples in Stereo
Seth Gordon:
The Zombies–Odyssey & Oracle
Elvis Costello–Armed Forces
The Beatles–Revolver
The Kinks–The Village Green Preservation Society
The Who–The Who Sell Out
“Vanishing Girl”–The Dukes of Stratosphear (XTC)
“Like a Rolling Stone”–Bob Dylan
“I Can’t Reach You”–The Who
“Baby Blue”–Badfinger
“Is That Love”–Squeeze
Rick Cornell:
(C’mon, there was no way I was going to deny myself the exquisite torture of this exercise)
Velvet Crush–Teenage Symphonies to God
Tommy Keene–Songs From the Film
The Figgs–Low-Fi at Society High
Matthew Sweet–Girlfriend
Nick Lowe–Jesus of Cool (aka Pure Pop for Now People)
“Starry Eyes”–The Records
“There She Goes”–The La’s
“Surrender”–Cheap Trick
“Ridin’ in My Car”–NRBQ
“(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding”–Elvis Costello written by Nick Lowe)