1.4.5. "Pink Invasion" 12 inch EP, 1981 Archive Label

1.4.5. is from Syracuse, New York and features Paul Armstrong from seminal powerpop band Flashcubes of “Christi Girl” fame. Christi Girl was released in 1978 on the Northside label. The “Pink Invasion” 12 inch from 1981 is the first thing 1.4.5. ever released, followed by the Rhythm n' Booze 10 track LP released in 1988. The band is still together and performed live in Boston last year. I was lucky enough to find 2 copies of this record in San Diego during the same week of 2000. Great loud and rockin' tunes that hold up to anything from the golden powerpop era. Another great blog “Crud Crud” posted these songs a while back but the links don’t work anymore. Check out the Flashcubes web site here. They have a CD of new material available.

Track Listing:

She Couldn't Say No

Lets Groove

Mom & Dad

Sorry Wrong #

1.4.5. is the logical progression. Damn right!
Pink Invasion rar file

UPDATE! Saw 1.4.5. perform at P.A.'s Lounge in Somerville last November during the International Pop Overthrow festival. The set was amazing! Loud and tight with great vocals by Paul. They've still got the harmony thing down after all these years. I was mildly disappointed that Christi Girl wasn't on the set. I know it's not a 1.4.5. song, but come on guys, it's a GREAT song! Despite this omission, the set was superb with blistering versions of all four "Pink Invasion" songs and two or three others. A short and sweet set directly aimed at the heart of any true rock n roll fan. I hope they make it back to Boston for the next IPO.

Long Blondes: Not so many "Singles"

Like many of you, I was saddened to hear that the Long Blondes cease to exist and even sadder to hear that their reason for disbanding was that wonderful lead guitarist Dorian Cox suffered a non life-threatening stroke in June 2008. What even made it stranger for me was that I had just seen them play a blistering live set at the Great Scott in Allston, MA in late May or early June (I forget exactly when). The show was fantastic with a huge crowd in attendance. It was my first time seeing them and I was impressed with Kate Jackson's singing and the entire band. I was really getting into the more dance oriented songs on the new (at the time) album "Couples" .

Long Blondes released the "Singles" album in October 2008, shortly after the break up announcement. I was excited and anyone who has done any research will know, the CD singles and 45s that have the non-album b-sides are pretty hard to track down. When I heard that this compilation would include rare b-sides, I was stoked. Unfortunately, its not comprehensive, missing quite a few great songs. It's still a good buy though, because it does have some rare tracks worth hearing. Particularly good are "Autonomy Boy" and "Appropriation." For those unfamiliar with it, here's the track listing:
Better yet, support the band and buy it here.

1. "New Idols",
   
2. "Long Blonde"
3. "Autonomy Boy"
4. "Giddy Stratospheres"
5. "Polly"
6. "Darts"
7. "Appropriation By Any Other Name"
8. "My Heart Is Out Of Bounds"
9. "Lust In The Movies"
10. "Separated by Motorways" (Demo)
11. "Big Infatuation"
12. "Peterborough"
    

Songs left off "Singles"

Whippet Fancier
Unbearable Lightness Of Building
Never To Be Repeated
I'm Coping
Fullwood Babylon
Five Ways To End It
Christmas Is Cancelled
All Bar One Girls

I have never heard "Last Night On Northgate Street" " Platitudes" or "Who Are You To Her." If you have these for sale or trade, please contact me. And yeah, I know some of these have been posted before, but never together like this.