Bitter Sweet Alley

[Geoff]

 

I just noticed these guys aren't on this site and found it curious as I'd assume they'd be up some people's alleys (the likes of Jez and Bernd perhaps?). I've heard a bunch of songs from these guys; mostly terrible sound quality, and to be honest they're not that great. They probably would have been okay with a decent producer, but there's one song I absolutely love from their collection (from 1986), which is this one:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JZZTFoq2mw

 

Just sort I'd post it because I assume others will love it too.

 

Another pretty cool one is this one:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sslVYcQMQLU

 

Their discography seems to look a little like this:

 

Forever (1983)

Some Like It Hot EP (1985)

3 by 5 EP (1986)

 

I'd be interested to know people's thoughts and experiences with this band.

[AlphaMale]

So good you posted it twice??

[Geoff]

So good you posted it twice??

 

Oh did I? I only saw it once. My computer chose that moment (as I was posting it) to fuck up, as it does.

[Dead Planet]

Those 2 songs are decent....the production is acceptable....I'm not sure I would pick up a release though...

[Nightrain]

Good stuffs, probably 75%-ish album

[Grey]

I lived in the Detroit area in the '80s, and as a local band they got plenty of airplay.

 

This one was probably their most popular (and my favorite):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx8CTVp5JvU

[Delbert]

 

I just noticed these guys aren't on this site and found it curious as I'd assume they'd be up some people's alleys (the likes of Jez and Bernd perhaps?). I've heard a bunch of songs from these guys; mostly terrible sound quality, and to be honest they're not that great. They probably would have been okay with a decent producer, but there's one song I absolutely love from their collection (from 1986), which is this one:

 

 

Just sort I'd post it because I assume others will love it too.

 

Their discography seems to look a little like this:

 

Forever (1983)

Some Like It Hot EP (1985)

3 by 5 EP (1986)

 

I'd be interested to know people's thoughts and experiences with this band.

Geoff

 

There is a rare 17 track compilation CD that was released in 1999 on a tiny indie label of the USA. Originally recorded between 1982 and 1986 and previously available only on LP, this CD compilation includes tracks from their first album, "BSA", which was a hard edged pop rocker with a couple of decent tunes and some nice guitar work. Then with the second, "Some Like It Hot", came a change in image and sound, with the tunes taking on a more straight ahead melodic rock stance, but still with pop rock sensibilities helped by the keys being noticeably higher up in the mix. The third is a 3 track ep ("3 X 5") of fine Aor, that showed a marked improvement in songwriting and vocals, with Bill Blake taking the mic on all the tracks, and original member Gary Spaniola (guitar/vocals) sitting it out, contributing to the production only. (he's produced all the albums). That's pretty much what I can tell you about this band and the 3 albums.

[Delbert]

Oh, I forgot.....the track list for the album is as follows:

(BSA)
Don't You Leave Me
Last To Know
Time To Move
Forever
I Can't Find The Words
She's Gotta Change
Hold On To Me
Didn't Feel A Thing
Turn It Up

(SOME LIKE IT HOT)
Crossin Over
Runnin
Stop Spinnin Me Round
Hold Me Down
Some Like It Hot

(3X5)
Don't Know How To Tell You
Till It's Over
From Now On

[Geoff]

Cool, thanks for the info! The MP3s I have for are unlabelled, but I'm 99% sure that's what I have. The sound quality is poor but I wonder if that's more the quality of the MP3's than the album itself.

[Grey]

Cool, thanks for the info! The MP3s I have for are unlabelled, but I'm 99% sure that's what I have. The sound quality is poor but I wonder if that's more the quality of the MP3's than the album itself.

 

It's worth noting that the original masters weren't saved after they were pressed to vinyl. The 1999 CD is a vinyl-to-CD transfer that the band put together for charity. It's been filtered a bit. It doesn't sound great but I've heard worse.

 

If you're mp3s sound really bad, maybe you found bad vinyl rip from somebody else. If you could post one, I could compare it to what I got.