BLUE ASH - No More, No Less (2008 reissue) :: Not Lame Recordings - power pop and melodic rock record label, music and CDs

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BLUE ASH - No More, No Less (2008 reissue)

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LIMITED EXCLUSIVE OFFER! This special offer expires November 1st(it`s been extended!)! Leader Frank Secich has gone back the original studios where the band recorded throughout the 70s and has unearthed a lot of songs to offer Not Lamers for picking up the reissue of "No More, No Less" from this site - Details on the Exclusive Bonus 13 Song CD-R are at the bottom of this information - so check that out! Frank describes the material as `simply amazing` and sounding like "Between The Buttons". This CD-R will ship with the official "No More, No Less" CD and, at least for now, it appears it will be ONLY AVAILABLE Until November 1st - so don`t wait too long!

As for the CD reissue itself, the 12 songs are all below for you to sample - they sound great and the liner notes from leader Frank Secich are in depth with the full behind the scenes story of this classic.

When England`s esteemed `Guardian` newspaper assembled their list of 1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die, the 1973 debut album from Blue Ash made the grade amongst all the established classicsÂpretty remarkable for an obscure record that was out-of-print for over 30 years! Well, this injustice has been rectified, so this critically acclaimed LP can take its rightful place in the power pop pantheon. Signed to Mercury by legendary rock critic/publicist Paul Nelson, this four-piece from Youngstown, OH was among the first power pop bands alongside Badfinger, Big Star and Raspberries to revive the virtues of mid-Â`Sixties rock against the then prevailing tides of prog excess and singer-songwriter self-absorption. `No More, No Less` showcases the bandÂ`s knack for melodic three-minute pop tunes delivered via a breathless attack that melded the ByrdsÂ` jangle with the WhoÂ`s rhythm section and the Fab FourÂ`s harmonies, as heard on the first cut and best-known track `Abracadabra (Have You Seen Her?)`. Also includes their rave-up of the Dylan rarity `Dusty Old Fairgrounds` and such proto-power pop gems as `I Remember a Time` and `All I Want`.This first-ever CD release features brand-new liner notes, courtesy of the bandÂ`s bassist and co-songwriter Frank Secich, along with rare photos from the bandÂ`s archives.

"This is one of the most spirited, powerful debuts ever from an American group. No More, No Less opens with "Have you Seen Her," a fast rocker kicked off by four whomps on David Evans` snare. This is the one that makes me think of The Who; the lead guitar is pure West Coast, though. "Just Another Game" is the one quiet song, an effective tonedown before "I Remember A Time." "Plain To See" is similar to "I Remember A Time" in the way its simple, compelling melody rocks out with vocal harmonies framed over a trebly Byrds guitar sound. "Here We Go Again" follows, midway between the hardest and softest numbers on the first side. What`s great here are the group vocals on top of the tuff folk-rock cum hard rock instrumental sound; it`s like killing two birds with one stone, the whole premise behind the old and new Mod groups (Small Faces, early Who, the Sweet), not to mention the hard pop masterpiece known to the world as "Do Ya." By the time this album ends, there`s no doubt about it, Blue Ash have got themselves one hell of a debut LP that may send fellow stateside groups like Stories, the Raspberries, and Big Star running back to the woodshed to come up with music even better than their present stuff."(Mike Saunders) LOST IN THE GROOVES.

"It was, in hindsight, unlike virtually everything else around. Teen-oriented three-minute pop songs, four part harmonies very similar to the Byrds, and a tough guitar/bass/drums sound modeled on The Who. A fantastic lead guitarist in the form of Bill "Cupid" Bartolin, a fine Keith Moon-style drummer in Dave Evans, a melodic McCartney/Ronnie Lane-style bassist in Frank Secich, and lead singer Jim Kendzor, capable of singing a razor line every time. As a live band, they were legendary. Released at the height of prog rock -- the same time as Quadrophenia and Goat`s Head Soup, and just before the New York Dolls` debut on Mercury -- NMNL got lost in the shuffle."-PowerPopCriminals. Tons of GREAT information on the band can be found at their blog - DO check it out - well worth it: http://blueashblog.blogspot.com/

DETAILS on the Exclusive Bonus CD-R:

Here is what Frank Secich sent along to me to inform you all!

The songs were recorded "live" at Peppermint Studios(our main studio throughout the 70s!) mostly on May 21, 1973 which ironically the week "No More, No Less" was released. Cool, eh? We used to go in often and do 30 or 40 songs in a day. Mostly the were new songs and we did them to see how they`d sound recorded and for copyright purposes and to send to the guys at Mercury. I think they have a real cool vibe to them and no one has ever heard them!! Myself included, until recently! I think that "I Thought I Knew You" is a particularly interesting song. I had forgotten all about it!

TRACK LISTING:

Hippy, Hippy Shake

(Chan Romereo)

Baby You Lied

(Secich- Bartolin)

Now All You`ve Got Is You

(Kendzor)

She Cried For 15 years

(Secich-Bartolin)

One After 909

(Lennon-McCartney)

I Thought I Knew You