Spies (TX)
SPIES "MY RADIO / BAD GIRL" 7" (HOUSTON, TX- GIANT SQUID, 1982)
8.5.2011 UPDATE
I posted upgraded rips of both songs that are full-length versions, unlike the previous rips I had on here- enjoy! Also added a scan of the back of the sleeve which, like the front, has very cool artwork done by someone named Kathy H (I can't make out the whole last name). Some copies also came with an insert but I don't have a picture of it. Supposedly there were only a total of 100 copies pressed so the insert is very rare.
Here is a total mystery band- thanks to the Collector Scum Texas Discography I know the label name and that the band was from Houston, home of many fine bands like Really Red, Legionnaire's Disease Band, Hates, etc, etc. Like The Mel, the Spies suffer from an un-Google-able name and an internet search turns up only a bunch of horseshit that has nothing even remotely related to the record.
For my ears, "My Radio", is the real winner here with its speedy pace and great guitar strumming. Very catchy. A bit poppy but not too poppy, let's call it "pop flavored punk with a nice bite". The B-side, "Bad Girl" is more poppy, what with its hand claps and sing-along lyrics, but they still pull it off OK and don't turn off people like myself who are usually not fans of poppy stuff. Luckily, they did NOT insert any "Whoo ohhh ohhh" wanna-be melodic singing or else I would've totally skipped it over ya hear.
In 1982, when this disc was released, I can only imagine that it flew off the store shelves since hardcore was beginning to take over the land. I kid, I kid, I be sarcastic- I am guessing that this Spies 7" was largely ignored by folks who wanted it faster and louder in 1982, not melodic and catchy, and that the 7" quickly faded into obscurity and thus into the realm of "the ultra rare" after copies were either tossed away or starting lining bird cages of Houston hardcore fans. Ah the scenarios we can only imagine 28 years removed, eh.
I don't have a vinyl copy of this record unfortunately. One day "My Radio" played during a random shuffle of songs on my iPod so I decided to post it- happy accidents rule!
My Radio.mp3
Bad Girl.mp3
ENDNOTES
The other punk bands with a similar name- the Spys from Canada and the Spy's (with an apostrophe S) from Sweden- also put out fine 7"s in case you forgot- ‘specially them Swedes. There was also a Spys from the U.K. who put out a powerpop-ish 7" if you're so inclined. The Canadian Spys also have a posthumous LP that came out on Incognito about 9 years ago that is pretty good too.
8.5.2011 UPDATE
I posted upgraded rips of both songs that are full-length versions, unlike the previous rips I had on here- enjoy! Also added a scan of the back of the sleeve which, like the front, has very cool artwork done by someone named Kathy H (I can't make out the whole last name). Some copies also came with an insert but I don't have a picture of it. Supposedly there were only a total of 100 copies pressed so the insert is very rare.
Here is a total mystery band- thanks to the Collector Scum Texas Discography I know the label name and that the band was from Houston, home of many fine bands like Really Red, Legionnaire's Disease Band, Hates, etc, etc. Like The Mel, the Spies suffer from an un-Google-able name and an internet search turns up only a bunch of horseshit that has nothing even remotely related to the record.
For my ears, "My Radio", is the real winner here with its speedy pace and great guitar strumming. Very catchy. A bit poppy but not too poppy, let's call it "pop flavored punk with a nice bite". The B-side, "Bad Girl" is more poppy, what with its hand claps and sing-along lyrics, but they still pull it off OK and don't turn off people like myself who are usually not fans of poppy stuff. Luckily, they did NOT insert any "Whoo ohhh ohhh" wanna-be melodic singing or else I would've totally skipped it over ya hear.
In 1982, when this disc was released, I can only imagine that it flew off the store shelves since hardcore was beginning to take over the land. I kid, I kid, I be sarcastic- I am guessing that this Spies 7" was largely ignored by folks who wanted it faster and louder in 1982, not melodic and catchy, and that the 7" quickly faded into obscurity and thus into the realm of "the ultra rare" after copies were either tossed away or starting lining bird cages of Houston hardcore fans. Ah the scenarios we can only imagine 28 years removed, eh.
I don't have a vinyl copy of this record unfortunately. One day "My Radio" played during a random shuffle of songs on my iPod so I decided to post it- happy accidents rule!
My Radio.mp3
Bad Girl.mp3
ENDNOTES
The other punk bands with a similar name- the Spys from Canada and the Spy's (with an apostrophe S) from Sweden- also put out fine 7"s in case you forgot- ‘specially them Swedes. There was also a Spys from the U.K. who put out a powerpop-ish 7" if you're so inclined. The Canadian Spys also have a posthumous LP that came out on Incognito about 9 years ago that is pretty good too.
Man...that was awesome, too bad they get cut off. Thanks for sharing.
Tony
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Cool post But the picture of the skyline you posted is AUSTIN TEXAS not Houston... there is a big difference to us Austinites
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If you still need/want mp3s of XYZ, lemme know. cmakamson AT gmail DOT com. You won't want the a-side.
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Hello sir, I read mention you were thinking about posting the Crucified record. One reason I really want to hear it is I've been on the phone with the drummer (second from left). My friend Abe (he runs Discourage here in Portland) described it as Kiss channeling the Gizmos, or vice versa. For years I've relied on the kindness of collectors - after my house burned down back in '99 Behjan and Paul Routenberg sent me about 15 tapes. (I'd buy every record in the Discography but I'm on a budget - I'm on SSI now, I had to give up teaching b/c of epilepsy and hallucinations). So blogs like yours are a lifeline for me. I like making theme CDs for people -- the last ones were a Connecticut one and a 3 CD set of every all girl Swedish band. I wish I had things on your wish list - I do have the Rapes but its not that great a rip -- I'd love to hear Story of Failure (heard "the Last Ride" on Homework and the flip of "Free Charlie" would be so cool. I tend to like a lot of new wave and experimental (but not TOO experimental) stuff that usually gets denigrated. My top wants from Texas are
the Bodysnatchers EP (which seems ever more overlooked than the Inanimate Objects -- thank you for that one!). I also am curious about Whoom Elements, mostly because they're on ESR. Did ESR put out anything else besides Dot V and Trend? Others I wanna hear are Fotomat by the Ticks, Labial Fricative, lots of stuff from Champaigne, Il, and stuff from the Limp label, like the Nurses singles. Lastly, I have a track by a band called the Spys called "Lies" which is GREAT powerful pop kinda like the Reruns. But I'm not sure where it's from. Alright, thanks for everything, it really makes my day.
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I actually have a copy of this SPIES record! I can't find any other mention of it on the internet, nor any documented sale via Popsike or Collectors Frenzy documentation sites. It came in a rather minimal picture sleeve. Thinking it might be rare, I googled it and came up with your site. I haven't played it yet to find out of the songs "fade" at the end or what...I've been working on several boxes of punk which will be offered on my January 2011 record catalog. I live in Illinois, lived in Toledo OH in the early 80s but I used to pick up a LOT of punk and such (Rattlecats, Foams, Condominiums, etc.) on Texas trips in the early Eighties. Almost surely my copy came from Austin. I can send you more information if you want.
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You can see the record's sleeve here:
http://waxidermy.com/the-spies-my-radiobad-girl/
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I was a founding member of The Rattlecats and we did several shows at Houston's Island Club with The Spies in 1981 and 1982. Martin was the first name of the guitarist and composer of the two songs on the 45. He was very cool with a Brian Jones haircut. I thought that they were a great band, but like The Rattlecats, were too melodic for most punk tastes at the time. If you like the Spies stuff, you can check out the two songs from the Rattlecats only single, both of which can be found on the Hyped2Death compilation album Teenline 101. And check out my current band The Soulphonics (Austin). The drummer is also from The Rattlecats. I just can't get away from the guy!
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Hopefully I can take the "Mystery" label away from The Spies. I played drums with the band and was on the single that was mentioned, the only recording that The Spies made. Glen was right, we played several gigs with the Rattlecats at The Island in the early 80's. We also played gigs with The Haskells and The Skunks as well. The record was recorded in Austin but the band is from Houston. Martin and I still play in bands (although not the same band) in the Houston area. We still keep in contact with each other. I have not heard from Buzz (bass player) since the band broke up.
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