“The Lost Boys: Hard-To-Find ’80s Albums” gives you exactly what the title implies: a rare or out-of-print album from the ’80s in its entirety. Some will be from CD, but most will have been lovingly transferred from pristine vinyl culled directly from the Analog Kid’s vast collection. Whatever album I choose, it will be one that you can’t easily find a physical copy for sale on Amazon or in your local record store (if you even have one anymore). Death…by stereo!
The Plimsouls only released two albums and one EP during their early ’80s heyday, but that minimal output was enough to cement the band’s place as power-pop legends. Of course, The Plimsouls are best-known for their 1983 MTV hit “A Million Miles Away, ” a song the band also performed in the cult classic film Valley Girl. The group also contributed their debut single “Zero Hour” to 1982’s The Last American Virgin, a movie that I must have watched about 100 times on HBO during the summer of 1983. (And yes, I still want to kick the crap out of that asshole Rick! After all, someone has to stick up for all of the nice-guy Garys in this world– especially those of us who also happen to be named Gary!)
“Zero Hour” was just one of the many great songs on The Plimsouls, the band’s first full-length album from 1981. Main songwriter Peter Case had a knack for brilliant pop melodies, and one listen to “Now” and “Hush, Hush” will make you understand why Geffen Records jumped all over the band after The Plimsouls was released. Unfortunately, the band only made one record (1983’s Everywhere At Once) for Geffen before Case departed for an eclectic solo career.
The Plimsouls was finally released on CD back in 1992 by Rhino Records, but it’s been out of print for years now. I was lucky enough to find a used copy back in the late ’90s, and I am happy to share this long-lost classic with you here on the Analog Kid blog!
The Plimsouls: The Plimsouls
Planet Records, 1981
1. “Lost Time” (Peter Case/Joey Alkes/Chris Fradkin)
2. “Now” (Peter Case/Joey Alkes/Chris Fradkin)
3. “In This Town” (Peter Case)
4. “Zero Hour” (Peter Case)
5. “Women” (Steve Wright/George Young)
6. “Hush, Hush” (Peter Case/Joey Alkes/Chris Fradkin)
7. “I Want What You Got” (Peter Case)
8. “Nickels And Dimes” (Peter Case)
9. “I Want You Back” (Peter Case)
10. “Mini-Skirt Minnie” (George Jackson/Lindell Hill/Earl Cage, Jr.)
11. “Everyday Things” (Peter Case)
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Bonus Tracks!
The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.
The Plimsouls: “A Million Miles Away” (Peter Case)
From the album Everywhere At Once
Geffen Records, 1983
The Plimsouls: “When You Find Out” (Peter Case)
B-side of the 7″ single Now
Planet Records, 1981
The Plimsouls: “Hush, Hush” [Live] (Peter Case/Joey Alkes/Chris Fradkin)
The Plimsouls: “Dizzie Miss Lizzie” [Live] (Larry Williams)
B-sides of the 7″ single Zero Hour
Planet Records, 1981
Peter Case: “Two Angels” (Peter Case)
From the album The Man With The Blue Post Modern Fragmented Neo-Traditionalist Guitar
Geffen Records, 1989
The Analog Kid 
Very good information. Lucky me I found your blog by chance (stumbleupon).
I’ve bookmarked it for later!