I was roommates (briefly) with Gallo when he lived on Spaulding St in Hollywood back in '80? '81?. We both loved (still do I'd guess) 60's pop and Mike (who was older) turned me on to a lot of great records old and new (from Emitt Rhodes, Big Star to Siouxsie Sioux). He liked to tell me he was "nuts"....I came to believe him (bipolar, ADD?) but he was a vivid character and a great song-writer (especially considering he was a drummer) who encapsulated and bridged the gap between 60's pop and the "New Wave". The 1st thing he played me of his was "I need Somebody" (an updated version w better chorus) which killed me with it's "Who Sellout" sensibility...It was a great time to be young in Hollywood, hanging out with Peter Case (I heard the fresh out of the oven radio mix of "A Million Miles Away" from him) and Steve Allen, going to clubs, seeing the Romantics, The Plimsouls, The Go-Go's, X etc... We were in a short lived post 20/20 pop-wave group called "Radiomusic" but I got tired -very quickly- of the volcanic, Italian bullshit and fled after killing it at a gig at CSULB. Still, I never lost my respect for Mike's pop sensibilities. Listen to these songs...Tom Petty, eat your heart out.
Such a great band. If they'd just been recorded well with a producer who didn't need to put his "stamp" on the sound and picked more of this incredible material, they could have hits alá The Go-Gos. "Yellow Pills" was too slick to launch a group like this. Mike Gallo brought out the best in the group with his instincts. If you knew him, you'd understand.
Yes, totally agree. This collection is beyond amazing. Friends with Mike on FB and heard some of his back story, he really was a major force in the band but Ron stopped that. I think Yellow Pills was a great launch song but met resistance with the impending 'just say no' sentiment. If only they could have worked these other songs into the first or second records. Thanks so much for this upload!
These guys along with bands, Beat, Plimsouls,Twilley, (early) Motels and Romantics ,Rollers, w DF, Raspberries etc,, always kept me singing and happy, some of my friends weren't into this style, after listening to this, I don't think I will play it again, and wonder would I feel this way hearing all the songs I loved for the 1st time today, if I would still love love the originals (Like I do today) Have I changed that much? :)
my band played a few shows with these guys in the early 80s east side Seattle , they were a really cool band , those were the best times of my life , they even made it to MTV , such an underrated band , they should have had a better chance at it , , ,
For me, these guys were the very best thing to come from the power pop movement which actually produced a lot more good music than its lame label would suggest. My single complaint was that the production on their studio albums seemed a little too compressed. No problem with that here. That makes this upload even more valuable. Come to think of it, anyone who thinks ‘Turning Japanese’ was the only song the Vapors had to offer missed out on two damn near perfect albums. Most underrated band in rock history. 20/20 were also ignored by people who should have known better. The Big Star Curse ?
@@WocklessGamingforAnimeMoms Except that Remember the Lightning was several years earlier than Ride the Lightning so 20/20 prob weren’t thinking much about Metallica.
Didn’t know this existed. Proof that these guys had a lot of catchy songs in addition to what’s on the LPs. And their energy really comes through even though it’s demo stuff.
Danielle Kinikini your not missing anything. Their version is weak. And Ron likes to bad mouth the Groovies Tells you it was the only good song the FG ever wrote.
![Ace of Base - The Sign (1993) [Full Album]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RZ8SbN2plwg/mqdefault.jpg)
Was lucky enough to catch these guys on a rainy Tuesday night ('79?) at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach. Great show, great memory. Thanks. guys!!
I was roommates (briefly) with Gallo when he lived on Spaulding St in Hollywood back in '80? '81?. We both loved (still do I'd guess) 60's pop and Mike (who was older) turned me on to a lot of great records old and new (from Emitt Rhodes, Big Star to Siouxsie Sioux). He liked to tell me he was "nuts"....I came to believe him (bipolar, ADD?) but he was a vivid character and a great song-writer (especially considering he was a drummer) who encapsulated and bridged the gap between 60's pop and the "New Wave".
The 1st thing he played me of his was "I need Somebody" (an updated version w better chorus) which killed me with it's "Who Sellout" sensibility...It was a great time to be young in Hollywood, hanging out with Peter Case (I heard the fresh out of the oven radio mix of "A Million Miles Away" from him) and Steve Allen, going to clubs, seeing the Romantics, The Plimsouls, The Go-Go's, X etc...
We were in a short lived post 20/20 pop-wave group called "Radiomusic" but I got tired -very quickly- of the volcanic, Italian bullshit and fled after killing it at a gig at CSULB. Still, I never lost my respect for Mike's pop sensibilities. Listen to these songs...Tom Petty, eat your heart out.
bellinghammond Mike ever explain how he got screwed out of songwriting royalties when he was booted from the band ??
yea, but he was optimistic for what was to come....we all were
@@grooviefan Do you have any Radio Music demos? Or other Mike Gallo related recordings? Let me know
Paul Kalfahs no I have been looking but no luck .
Such a great band. If they'd just been recorded well with a producer who didn't need to put his "stamp" on the sound and picked more of this incredible material, they could have hits alá The Go-Gos. "Yellow Pills" was too slick to launch a group like this. Mike Gallo brought out the best in the group with his instincts. If you knew him, you'd understand.
Yes, totally agree. This collection is beyond amazing. Friends with Mike on FB and heard some of his back story, he really was a major force in the band but Ron stopped that. I think Yellow Pills was a great launch song but met resistance with the impending 'just say no' sentiment. If only they could have worked these other songs into the first or second records. Thanks so much for this upload!
Nothing wrong w their producer
These guys along with bands, Beat, Plimsouls,Twilley, (early) Motels and Romantics ,Rollers, w DF, Raspberries etc,, always kept me singing and happy, some of my friends weren't into this style, after listening to this, I don't think I will play it again, and wonder would I feel this way hearing all the songs I loved for the 1st time today, if I would still love love the originals (Like I do today) Have I changed that much? :)
My favorite power pop band!
would love an official demos/obscurities release. these early versions have a Who'ier quality that i appreciate.
my band played a few shows with these guys in the early 80s east side Seattle , they were a really cool band , those were the best times of my life , they even made it to MTV , such an underrated band , they should have had a better chance at it , , ,
Those songs belong in films. I honestly think that is what will get them the respect they deserve.
wow this is all so good
The legendary 20/20 demos- yes!!! Thank you so much for sharing- this is great!
Has a 1960s jangle sound that I did not appreciate until after the 1980s ended.
14:05 I Need Somebody. That should have been done "right". I prefer the prior demo, with the banging on the suitcase.
For me, these guys were the very best thing to come from the power pop movement which actually produced a lot more good music than its lame label would suggest. My single complaint was that the production on their studio albums seemed a little too compressed. No problem with that here. That makes this upload even more valuable. Come to think of it, anyone who thinks ‘Turning Japanese’ was the only song the Vapors had to offer missed out on two damn near perfect albums. Most underrated band in rock history. 20/20 were also ignored by people who should have known better. The Big Star Curse ?
I agree about the Vapors they have tons of great songs.
This is awesome. My band covered a few of their songs. Remember the Lightning
Sort of an obvious play on The Metallica song of the similar name. You can tell how Power Pop,Heavy Metal,New Wave,and Punk overlapped heavily.
@@WocklessGamingforAnimeMoms Except that Remember the Lightning was several years earlier than Ride the Lightning so 20/20 prob weren’t thinking much about Metallica.
Didn’t know this existed. Proof that these guys had a lot of catchy songs in addition to what’s on the LPs. And their energy really comes through even though it’s demo stuff.
Great to hear these demos, really good stuff. Loved them back in the day and still sing Yellow Pill to myself.
Maybe the greatest unreleased US power pop record ever.
So grateful for posting this holy graal comrade!!!!
Cheers! / Jesper
Fantastic!
Extraordinaire.
Thanks a lot,my friend.
Far better than the official releases.
I like
these earlier recordings more than the debut lp.. thanks for sharing!
desde san juan Argentina gracias !!! me encanta la banda !!!!
Grosso, aguante San Juan y las semitas!
Quite enjoyed this. :)
Brillante!
Yeah
These guys rocked out with Tom Petty!
Reminds me of Arthur Lee.
Instead of 4 or 5 songs on Zeppelin went with the new invasion
I wish someone would post their version of Shake Some Action
Danielle Kinikini your not missing anything. Their version is weak. And Ron likes to bad mouth the Groovies Tells you it was the only good song the FG ever wrote.
Did you ever see 20/20 play it live???? I did!!!!
qwerty qwerty sure did. It was a F’n joke. Was at a knitting factory show. One of their reunion shows. A real butcher job of SSA