Dogs –Charlie Was A Good Boy EP: No Way/19/Charlie Was a Good Boy –Melodies Massacre MM 45001 (1977 France)
At their best, The Dogs were undoubtedly the best French band of their or any other era. Their Rock ‘n’ Roll attitude, chops and melodic appeal were second to none. 19 was my initial introduction to the band when it came out on Beggars Banquet's Streets Comp where they supplied the stand out track for me. When I first heard 19 I got the same shivers down to the back bone as when I first heard the Flamin’ Groovies Grease EP. Like the Groovies’ EP, the sessions recorded on a 4 track and whatever the sonic limitations, the pure energy just jumps out at you. The cutting ultra trebly guitars, the locomotive drumming from Mimi and Dominique’s barking vocals were just so spot on.In their leader Dominique Laboubée; The Dogs had a classy front man who was also a unique song smith. Check out their Different, Too Much Class for The Neighbourhood or Legendary Lovers LPs for ample proof. Dominique kept on rocking until the end when he passed away while on The Dogs' first US tour in 2002.
At their best, The Dogs were undoubtedly the best French band of their or any other era. Their Rock ‘n’ Roll attitude, chops and melodic appeal were second to none. 19 was my initial introduction to the band when it came out on Beggars Banquet's Streets Comp where they supplied the stand out track for me. When I first heard 19 I got the same shivers down to the back bone as when I first heard the Flamin’ Groovies Grease EP. Like the Groovies’ EP, the sessions recorded on a 4 track and whatever the sonic limitations, the pure energy just jumps out at you. The cutting ultra trebly guitars, the locomotive drumming from Mimi and Dominique’s barking vocals were just so spot on.In their leader Dominique Laboubée; The Dogs had a classy front man who was also a unique song smith. Check out their Different, Too Much Class for The Neighbourhood or Legendary Lovers LPs for ample proof. Dominique kept on rocking until the end when he passed away while on The Dogs' first US tour in 2002.
Hear a full version of 19
7 comments:
Call it provincialism, but I tune out when the French Dogs are mentioned, as I am so much a fan of The Dogs, Detroit/L.A. power trio who've rocked from the late 1960's through right now 2010. Only the great ones have that kind of drive y'know.
But did you give the track a chance?...The other Dogs -the ones who covered Are You A Boy Or Are You A Girl?
Well, I've got stuff by the Detroit Dogs and it's all pretty good, down 'n' dirty stuff, but it's closer to the standard rock sound of the era, few surprises, whereas this French Dogs EP has far more raw energy and definitely wins it in the excitement stakes. I too first heard '19' on 'Streets' and it took me 5 years to find the 7" back then (no internet, y'know?) and it broke my heart when I was forced to sell my record collection. Long live Blog sites for helping me get it all back!
..."Algomania" is a great tune too! There were many great French punk rock bands in the 70s...
Same story here; got introduced to this one c/o Streets as well. The best French p-rock 45 ever IMHO...
Thanks for the post. GEM song. Have been looking for this song online for a while. I still have the original Streets LP. Other faves from this period are "One to Infinity" THE OUTSIDERS and "The Saints are Coming" THE SKIDS.
Anyone have the Lyrics??
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