I've got a playlist I call "Random '90s" and there are some songs on there I have yet to tap into. This will be the start of it.
Material Issue were three guys from Chicago, three guys who loved _Big Star_. Their first album is a pop masterpiece (at least I think). This song
"Valerie Loves Me" is the first song off of that album _
"International Pop Overthrow"_('91). It's also the song that they are most well known for. In 1997 singer Jim Ellison committed suicide and the fun was over. Before he made that decision he and the band put out a total of 4 studio albums and one great live album. I wish he would have stuck around.
Posted on 08/04/2007
My Trusted MOGs
oh heck! I remember this track...like 1991 these guys were all over college radio..well at least KUNV in Las Vegas where my friend was a DJ. I agree, they had some really great sounds! It's too bad about the singer..what is it with those lead singer types? Either they get strung out on heroin or make a adte with a shotgun..well all the cool ones anyway..seems like the cheese whiz mass produces their version of crap ad nauseum until we the listener wish to get strung out on heroin or make a date with a shotgun...you know who I'm talking about Britney..dont think the feigned mental instability is throwing us a curve either...wait..maybe it's not feigned..let's review her body of work shall we? Material Issue..is one more casualty of the emergence of Pop-Alt..a genre that in the early 90's actually existed. It was kind of sad how it declined the minute the labels started exploiting it...okay so I liked a cople of Spin Doctors songs..but honestly there were some REALLY innovative acts that went the way of the white rhino..and we the listener just watched and waved..I regret that a little bit..I truly enjoyed listening to alt radio in the early 90's. thanks for posting this...it was cool to have this reminder!
My Trusted MOGs
Thanks for the stream of conscientiousness stuff that was fun!! 'tis true about the Pop-Alt phase we went through in the early '90s but hey without it we wouldn't have such perennial favorites as _4nonBlondes_ or _Green Jello_. Think about it.
My Trusted MOGs
mmmm 90s...Can only ever say I'm educated in late 90s, and only really pop music, but I still miss some of those old, innocent-compared-to-todays-stuff pop songs. Goo Goo Dolls etc. Fantastic song. that's the sort of stuff we need more of now!
My Trusted MOGs
Love these guys & posted about them here . I thought their big hit was "Diane" which was their breakout single but according to their Wiki "Valerie Loves Me" hit #3 on the charts but "Diane" only hit #6, which suprised me. I like them both but my fav is "Diane". Damn Jim could write such great pop songs. Btw, he passed on June 20th, 1996 which you can verify on the wiki link.
In my post I wrote that they had 3 proper albums but I was incorrect(counting problem I guess, heh). They also had an ep that was released before the first cd, which I've not heard as well as a promotional only cd to push "International Pop Overthrow" that has live versions/ covers/ alternate versions. I have that cd that I picked up used. They do a great live cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "The Boxer" which is really rockin':
I have "Intl. Pop Overthrow","Destination Universe" & "Freak City Soundtrack" but not their ep, live cd, or their last cd .
My Trusted MOGs
Valerie Loves Me is a classic mate but i thought it came out before the 90's it was allways played on CFNY in toronto and i left there in 92
My Trusted MOGs
Great poat, great comments. A new addition to my musical sphere!
My Trusted MOGs
They used to play this on KDGE in Dallas frequently. Great memories.I love me some power pop!
My Trusted MOGs
oceanrain: Allmusic has the release date for "I.P.O" as february 1991, I couldn't find the date for the single issue of "Valerie" which could have been up to six months earlier, maybe. Does that timeline seem to jibe with yours?
My Trusted MOGs
Sorry, thats not the live version of "Kim the Waitress", still a good listen none the less. This cover is from "I.P.O." as well.
My Trusted MOGs
This tune was #389 on my local college radio "Modern Rock 500", WOXY, in 2006, great tune and a great post. Thank Dach!
My Trusted MOGs
The 'Ish!
Fantastic band.
Saw them live at Notre Dame back in 88 (a rare occurrence of an indie Chicago band making the trip down). They messily rocked the gym (yes, the gym) to about 3 dozen people and then everyone showed up for the campus cover band that was playing after them.
I did score a bootleg of the show, tho. Here's She's Going Through My Head with a little witty intro from Jim Ellison.
My Trusted MOGs
Wow Soda, thanks for sharing that clip, that's great to hear such an early live version, it rocks.
Dachmo, yea I agree, radio stations really dictate what is a hit in what area of the country. Glad you liked "The Boxer", it's a great cover. Was looking forward to hearing that cover of "Kim the Waitress" by another band. C'est la vie.
My Trusted MOGs
Soda: Did you know the sound guy, that was nice and clear. Any chance they were doing "Valerie" back then? That could explain why oceanrain thinks he heard it before '90. And if it is there , please post!
My Trusted MOGs
Dachmo,
I was a DJ at the college radio station and a fellow DJ was doing sound - hence the clean sounding board tape (w/ the band's permission, I might add).
They did not play Valerie that night - they mention their new album a few times and I remember they had a 45 or EP for sale and nothing else.
The track listing for the EP that came out in 87 is Change of a Lifetime Diane Cowboy Song Valerie Loves Me Blockbuster
My Trusted MOGs
There's a live version of "Valerie Love Me" on the promo that "The Boxer" is on. It could be that it was on their ep in '87.
My Trusted MOGs
p.s. I found out, after a web search that they included the 87 ep on the posthumous cd release of "Telecommando Americano" but the track listing is different than what Soda has above. You can see it here. It's the last six songs.
My Trusted MOGs
Ah. The problem is the EP I listed was a radio promo that came out in 91 - not the first Material Issue EP.
My Trusted MOGs
Oh, no wonder Soda, haha! Do you own that promo? Yea I also checked on Amazon.com to double check the track listing listing I found & it concured with what I found.