I.R.S. Greatest Hits Volume 1 (IRS Records/1981)

I.R.S. Greatest Hits Volume One was a sampler of material by artists on I.R.S Records. It was available via an offer that came with copies of I.R.S. Greatest Hits Volume 2 & 3. It is quite possible that this album was the Doing Time On Vinyl compilation album that was scheduled, but never released. It was released in a plain white sleeve with a orange sticker indicating the name of album and the slogan “A sampler of tunes you want to hear over and over again”. The copyright date is 1980, but considering it was only released via an offer from an album that came out in 1981, me thinks this didn't actually see the light of day until 1981 as well.

It features great singles from Klark Kent and The Buzzcocks, two tracks from both Oingo Boingo and The Stranglers and a rare single by Berlin with Virginia Macolino on vocals, before Terri Nunn joined the band. It also features Henry Badowski's first appearance on a US LP, Chelsea's fine cover of The Seeds' “No Escape” and Payola$ excellent “China Boys” single.

It's a nice little alternative new/wave compilation album. I've only seen this album two times, tops in the record shops. So, it's a semi-rare release. Recommended.

Here's the video review:

Payola$: Christmas Is Coming (A&M/1983)

From their third album, Hammer On A Drum, Vacouver's Payola$ released this Holiday gem in 1983. It's a mid-tempo love song filled with longing and loss, reverb on the snare and chorused guitars. It was the 80's thank you very much. It's a fine song, Holiday-themed or not. Nice, logical chord progressions in the verses. It was released on nice clear green vinyl in the US. Not too much to say other than it's not regarded as a holiday classic and it's a damned shame that it isn't.

Recommended holiday listening.

I.R.S. Mini-Albums (IR7700 Series): The Humans: Play / Payola$: Introducing (IRS Records/1980)

I.R.S. Records (International Record Syndicate) was formed by Miles Copeland in 1979. With distribution from A&M records, it was the most successful independent label (although its ties with A&M conflicts the notion that it's an "indie") of the 1980's. Nonetheless, it brought The Go-Go's, R.E.M., The Cramps and The Fleshtones to the general public at large (and responsible for distributing albums by The Buzzcocks, The English Beat and The Stranglers to a U.S. audience).

I.R.S. could sometimes be a little gimmicky to offset their impressive innovations. One such little gimmick, for want of a better word, was their 33 & 1/3 7" Mini-Album series (the 7700 Series). That's an EP to the rest of us. It lasted for all of two records: Play by The Humans and Introducing by Payola$ both released in 1980.

 The Humans were a Surf-y New Wave band from Santa Cruz, California. They'd played together previously in the surf band Eddie & The Showman, who had released singles in the 1960's. Play (7700) is a fine little four-song album (an EP in all but name). "I Live In The City" is a fantastic New Wave relic that vocally recalls Wall Of Voodoo and even The Dead Milkmen (or vice versa). The title track and the cover of "Pipeline" are well-worth hearing as well.

Payola$ were a Vancouver, BC band that featured producer Bob Rock (Areosmith, Motley Crue. Metallica) and had the hit "Eyes Of A Stranger", that was in the Valley Girl movie & soundtrack.
Introducing Payola$ (7701) is a pretty fine release. The lone stand-out track is "Jukebox", which is better than it has any business being. It's excellent. It was also re-recorded for their debut album In A Place Like This.

Very nice little collectables and true anomalies from I.R.S. Records. If you love New Wave (as I do), fetch these up.

Here's the video review: