The Revelons - Anthology (2004, Sepiatone)

I picked this one up several moons ago on the expectation that it might be interesting - and it was.  Covering The Revelons 1977-82 lifespan, the hodgepodge Anthology entails the band's precious few recordings, including a single cut for Ork Records in '79 ("The Way (You Touch My Hand)" b/w "97 Tears").  Denizens of New York and fixtures at CBGBs (Hilly Kristal contributes brief liner notes) the Revelons dabbled in a myriad of punk-related pastiches including proto, post and wave.  Sometimes operating as a quartet, others as a five-piece, frontman Gregory Lee Pickard was the band's focal point.  The Revelons revolving door of collaborators included Fred Smith of Television and Jay Dee Dougherty courtesy of Patti Smith's tribe, though these guys barely harkened to the sound of either of those legends.  The first half of this collection easily trumps the second, not only containing that edgy Ork Recs 45, but a pair of previously unreleased power pop jewels, "Brighter Side" and "Outlaw With a Gun."  Culled from a 1981 studio session, these dandy ditties slot vaguely in the vicinity of The Knack and Dwight Twilley, and would have made for a winsome follow-up single.  Anthology closes out with two tracks from a 2002 reunion session.

By the way, that aforementioned Revelons single for Ork was reissued as part of the Ork Records Complete Singles 7" box set, perhaps the most decadent treat of this years cavalcade of Record Store Day releases.  Check out the specifics at Numero Group's website. 

01. Red Hot Woman (1980)
02. The Way (you touch my hand) (1978)
03. Lover's Dilemma (1978)
04. 97 Tears (1979)
05. Brighter Side (1981)
06. Outlaw Without a Gun (1981)
07. My Town (1980)
08. It's a Beautiful Life (1982)
09. White Elvis (1982)
10. All These Things (The world's fair) 1977
11. A Children's Story (1982)
12. The Way (you touch my hand) (1979)
13. Sail Away (2002)
14. Architecture of Love (2002)

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