08 July 2023

RPM - ABC - Where’s Karen?

Now that leftovers are cleared away, let's get down to the ABC's of July. 
 


I shared Drowning Pool here some time back. Their debut self-titled album & some tracks from Satori were produced by one R. P. McMurphy. 

That happened to be the alias of one Chris Maneke who played an even bigger role in the band Abecedarians. They were a Los Angeles based trio active in the mid to late 80s featuring: Chris Manecke - guitar, vocals, keyboards; John Blake - bass: & Kevin Dolan - drums. 

They played  reverb heavy, synth driven post-punk.

 



They have the distinction of being the only American band to have recorded under the legendary Factory Records label, the company that produced records for such artists as Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays, & Orchestral Maneuverers in the Dark. 

 

Abecedarians - Smiling Monarchs 12", Factory FAC ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN, 1985.
all decryption codes in comments

Side A -
Smiling Monarchs

Side B -
Benway’s Carnival
 
 
 
 

The bands first full-length was released a year later on Southwest Audio Reproductions. This is the original release which includes the song "Beneath the City of the Hedonistic Bohemians" which was replaced on the 1987 Caroline reissue with "The Other Side of the Fence". 
 
Abecedarians - Eureka, Southwest Audio Reproductions 7PV50772, 1986.

Side 1 -
Ghosts
Soil
Beneath the City of the Hedonistic Bohemians

Side 2 -
I Glide
Mice & Coconut Tree
The Misery of Cities
 
 
 
 

Their sound here captures perfectly what was happening in the Los Angeles & Orange County underground art rock scene that included bands like Savage Republic, Drowning Pool, Psi-Com, Homeland, & Red Temple Spirits. The song "The Other Side of the Fence" from the Caroline reissue spawned a 2x10" vinyl release.
 
Abecedarians - The Other Side of the Fence 2x10", Independent Project Records IP 031.032, 1990.

Sida A -
Beneath The City Of The Hedonistic Bohemians
Ghosts
John's Pop

Side B -
Come Out
Classic
Spaghetti Western

Side C -
Switch
Where's Karen
Soil

Side D -
The Other Side of the Fence
Wildflower
They Said Tomorrow


 
 
A further unofficial release of Other Side of the Fence 2 gathered together vinyl only tracks from various sources plus seven tracks credited to Live in LA 6-17-88. That show was a gig at Harry C's 

Where Whitie ain't Allowed
Press Escape
Dinner
Lift Off
Spaghetti Western
I Glide
Soil
Mice & Coconut Tree
Suffrin' Tarnation
Laugh at Yoursel
Untitled
Dinner (soundcheck)

Enjoy,

7 comments:

  1. Smiling Monarchs 12“
    EVvTvbWvJsBhi76iSGFrPbJnYzupFp31cgumuPMn4bw
    Eureks
    CktiwFMSILX77HlUJD0tQ9geEqbzeJEoDshXDA-MCL0
    The Other Side of the Fence
    n4Vw9_UzeSS4X8xowj0yM2xyx3m-5aX4KyCHqVJdt58
    Live at Harry C’s
    _BxYL6QD5PoOFxt_Rm2KyIy-F2Nmj5wBL5df-eiR6Pc

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey Nathan Always loved this guys, only a few records available...
    Don't know if you're aware of First Men on the Sun, a band containing 2/3 of the original Abs.
    Worth checking.
    Cheers
    Diego

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the comment, brother. Don't really know First Men. Am going to check them out right now. Always appreciate your input.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, they sound more 90's (logical seeing the release date) but some of their sound still hangs'round. Just a tip for completists...
    D

    ReplyDelete
  5. D,

    Maybe more 90s than ABC but well worth the listen in our (yours & mine) opinion. So, as you sez: "Just a tip for completists...", here's Chris Manecke & John Blake of Abecedarians with Jason Toney

    First Men on the Sun - Self-titled, Southwest Audio Reproductions SAR56744, 1995.

    https://mega.nz/file/uosxQAwD#zXbJAt06wHa4oUPA5c2MRdyQoiQeqJ9HLjbrwNpjObE

    Enjoy & all thanks to Diego

    Sorry for the delay.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This dead blog still has live links for the Resin lp and the AB-CD compilation... for the completists:

    http://monstertrax.blogspot.com/search/label/Abecedarians

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for this. I still go back to Monstertrax & pillage FLAC versions of much grat tuneage.

    ReplyDelete