More nostalgia madness due to my vinyl-pulling spree over the weekend. Best known as the group playing in the background on stage during the club scene in Pretty In Pink, the Rave-Ups were an Americana roots slash new-wave group who hailed from Southern California. The band released a six-song EP entitled Class Tramp in 1984 that went on to sell all 3,000 copies produced which, in turn, led to a full-length debut release in 1985 entitled Town & Country.Supposedly Molly Ringwald was a fan of the group which led to the Rave-Ups landing the movie gig in which you can see them playing what is probably my favorite song from Town & Country, "Positively Lost Me." Critical indifference soon followed which helps explain why you can pick up either of the band’s subsequent two releases, both put out on a major label, for .99 cents in the used-bin should you feel so inclined. The Rave-Ups did score one more time in 1990 with the song "Respectfully King Of Rain" which peaked at a respectful #12 on the Modern Rock charts. I’m curious as to which cast member of Beverly Hills 90210 was a fan of these guys as the Rave-Ups showed up in one of the show’s earlier episodes before they ultimately split in 1990. Hmmm…
Rave-Ups “Positively Lost Me” (mp3)
4 comments:
Really enjoy your blog...
The Rave-ups actually left Pittsburgh for L.A., and local Burgh band The Clarks covered "These Wishes" from "Book of Your Regrets" on their CD, 'Someday Maybe' and it's a great cover.
Another band from the Burgh, the long-lamented Affordable Floors used to cover "Positively Lost Me" live a lot, but never recorded it.
Cheers for the great links you post on your blog - longtime reader.
~Rupe
Another great tune from Town and Country is "By The Way."
Affordable Floors, Affordable Floors? Why do I know that name? I'll have to do some diggin' because for some reason that name sounds so familiar. Apologies for the Pittsburgh flub...wasn't the first mistake and I'm more than positive that it won't be the last.
Have only an old cassette tape of Town and Country, and have been looking for downloadable version of the album, but cannot find - does anybody know where some of the songs can be found? love the song, Class Tramp.
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