KSNT 27 Topeka Presents Taking Pride in Topeka Impact Broadcasting 1990

KSNT 27 Topeka Presents Taking Pride in Topeka Impact Broadcasting 1990

This is terrible. It's found in countless terrible record collections near and around Topeka, KS. Similar albums are found throughout the entire US. Impact Broadcasting was a Nashville, TN company that went all over the US peddling these albums to Chamber of Commerce leaders or whoever would listen. Odd thing, Topeka agreed to it in 1990, a time when vinyl was considered on the decline.

"Fuck yeah! That's Topeka!" - Said No One Ever

It's a very flashy package and for that, good job Impact Broadcasting. It's a glossy gatefold cover, with photos of area attractions and placed sponsorship spots throughout. Taking Pride in Topeka was sponsored by Pizza Hut, T.J. Maxx, Kansas Expocentre, Highland Park Bank & Trust, JM Bauersfeld's, Fairlawn Plaza, KTPK Country 107, and obviously TV station, KSNT 27 Topeka who agreed to present this pile of shit.

The actual record features narration by politician, Ron Harbaugh, who attempts to tell the story of Topeka. His narration embellishes; a lot. It literally makes you think of the story of Blaine, MO as told by the actors in Waiting for Guffman. Then, the music comes on. Canned production music which Nashville exceled at. The players or female singer don't even get credited as it's pretty apparent, the same tunes were just recycled (seriously, only the first track actually mentions Topeka) on other titles such as Taking Pride in Mid-Missouri, Taking Pride in San Antonio, or Taking Pride in Whatever Town, USA, that fell for the same scheme. I wonder if the town wasn't interested, the salesman then opened up his jacket and asked if anybody wanted to buy a watch.

The Embarrassment God Help Us Bar None 1990

The Embarrassment God Help Us Bar None 1990 CAT #7 72635-1

When I first tracked this down, I was a disappointed with it.  The production is beefy, loud, and unforgiving. The band re-records previous classics and it just sounds forced.  It was also released in 1990, yet it seems to hearken back to 1985 for influences, which make it sound more out of place than the production.

It was a reunion album of sorts.  The band's catalog was secured by Bar None so the all encompassing Heyday 1979-1983 could be released.  Apparently, the people at Bar None were so enamored by the Embarrassment they asked them to do an album to coincide with Heyday and a post-83 compilation that was never released.  The band obliged.  Simple as that.  The fans didn't expect it and I don't even think the people at Bar None expected it, but it happened.

Listening to it again, it has it's moments.  While certainly not the band in its prime, any Embarrassment is good Embarrassment.  The first track, 'Train of Thought' is excellent and wouldn't miss a beat on anything they released previously (this goes equally for the song's reprise on the flip side "...The Train Repirse").  "Horror of the Fire" has a good roots rock vibe and likely would have been scoffed at it the band's earlier days, but gets the nod on a release like this.  "Podmen" has some great guitar work.  At the same time though, I could do without the song "Albert."  The remake of "Sex Drive" draws too much on metal and hard rock.  Finally, the remake of "Burning Love" is worthless and adds nothing to the album.

Horror of Fire
Train of Thought

The Coctails Hip Hip Hooray Hi Ball Records 1990

 The Coctails Hip Hip Hooray Hi Ball Records 1990 CAT# LPC-8255

First, I stole this from Vinyl Renaissance.  $9 is all they wanted, I did initially say they should sell it for more, but yeah, I wasn't about to make them charge me $25 to $50 for it.  Furthermore, it's not like I haven't traded in some absurdly good stuff to that store.  A Niki Aukema album they are selling for $50, the first Police 7" they DID sell for $75, and some other rarities that weren't getting the bids on eBay.  It all comes back in the end, so I hope me and store keep a solid relationship of mutual ripping each other off.

I previously brought up this band when discussing the amazing Bangtails LP as it features Archer Prewitt who went onto form this band.  The Coctails initially started in Kansas City as students of the Kansas City Art Institute.  They weren't able to gig much around KC, but the story goes they did do the first two albums here in KC in a home studio.  They would later pack up and go to Chicago.  Which is better suited for this type of thing in all honesty.  They were able to cast a bigger net in that city and in the end, helped shape the 90's Chicago indie-rock scene.

You can read the back liners, it's a nod to old jazz LPS.  However, it's not entirely correct.  For one, at this time the Coctails were indie-pop with Jazz tendencies.  You aren't going to hear echos of Charlie Parker, but you do get a strong sniff of vocal jazz and the structures of Kansas City Jazz.  Later, they would develop what they termed "lounge core" and that's were the whole Thrill Jockey, Sea & Cake, Tortoise scene come into play.  Well, Tortoise is bit of their own thing and started around the same time.  But the Sea & Cake reference is easy as Archer Prewitt would play in that band with another Kansas City Art Institute alum, Sam Prekop.

The Coctails GO BIG TIME