Search - Paley Brothers :: Paley Brothers

A lost gem of Brian Wilson influenced power pop!

Michael Krause | United States | 07/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Before going on to their west coast endeavors with Brian Wilson the Paley Brothers were a band of legendary status in the northeast for a brief time in the late 70's. Killer tunes, arrangements and stunning moments of brilliance by guitar virtuoso Eric Rose (aka Rosenfeld; easily one of the greatest this reviewer has ever seen). Highlights include Magic Power, Tell Me Tonight & a Yardbirds style rave up on Buddy Holly's Down The Line (with Eric in fine form). For more info there is a great site at: http://www.punkblowfish.com/BlowfishPaley.htm. Get this CD before it falls off the radar!"

Bubblegum with great production & songcraft

Perry M. Koons | Crownsville, MD United States | 02/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, I should note that unless this is somehow a different import version than the one that I have, the track list is missing the song "Come Out & Play," one of this band's most endearing tunes. Anyway, this little record is a pure slab o'fun in the vein of the Rubinoos, Beach Boys, Bay City Rollers, etc. Lots of cheesy arrangements, but undeniable performances (vocals on "Lovin Eyes Can't Lie", guitar on "Stick With Me"). Put it this way, the cover says it all...this isn't exactly the Sex Pistols or Van Halen here. Basically, if you are a Rubinoos fan (which I am) you'll be quite interested in this obscure gem. Hard to find, underrated, and really quite likable.



Best Tracks:



"You're The Best" - Power pop from the late 70's was a pretty formulaic sound, and these guys nail it - with a few extra production flourishes.

"I Heard The Bluebirds Sing" - Stylistic diversity keeps this album snappy, this is a 40's style country charmer that would persuade your great grandmother to get down with this record.

"Stick With Me Baby" - Rubinoos-style raveup, maybe one of my favorite power pop songs of this era. Great solo too...

"Lovin' Eyes Can't Lie" - Should have been the prom song of 1977. This is just an amazing song if you can get into pure sappy soft rock, I love it.

"Come Out & Play" - OK, this CD has something for everyone, including this song that sounds like it came right off of Sesame Street. But somehow it comes off as sincere, earnest, and enjoyable. Pure pop joy."

+1/2 -- Pure pop for bubblegum people

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 04/25/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Paley Brothers are an oddly smooth product of a Boston scene known more for its taverns and punk rock than its bubblegum. With Andy and Jonathan Paley singing harmonies up front, their band pulled in players from legendary Beantown acts like The Sidewinders and Nervous Eaters. By the time they recorded this 1978 LP with Earle Mankey in Los Angeles, they'd developed the same sort of Teen Beat following as The Rubinoos, and were playing the same sort of super-sweet pop music.



The album itself is finely produced, well played and sung, but the original songs simply aren't as memorable as those from the Rubinoos, Raspberries, or other pure popsters. The power ballad "Turning the Tide," for example, is more noticeable for Mankey's production tribute to Phil Spector than for the song itself, and one of the album's standouts, "Stick With Me Baby," is an Everly Brothers cover that was written by Country music legend Mel Tillis. The Paley's own "Lovin' Eyes Can't Lie" does have a terrific Beach Boys styled vocal arrangement that shows off the brothers' pipes.



The album really takes off at the end of side two with the effervescent original "Come Out and Play." Produced by Jimmy Iovine in New Jersey, there's a wonderfully insistent beach feel to this track, anchored by a monster melodic hook and sparked by verbal percussion ala The Vogues' "Five O'Clock World." It's a shame they didn't include the other three songs Iovine produced for the band ("Ecstacy," "Rendezvous," and "Hide 'n' Seek"), as they smoke the Mankey-produced tracks that are here. Even still, this is a sweet treat that lines up nicely with a few other pop bands that were plowed under by punk rock. 3-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2007 hyperbolium dot com]"