FOOLS FACE Tell America 1981 PRIVATE POWER POP LP HEAR

$

50

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

FOOLS FACE "Tell America"

Original 1981 LP on the TALK RECORDS label, STEREO D2036

Cover:  EXCELLENT

Vinyl:  SUPER CLEAN, plays NEAR MINT

COMES WITH FOLDOUT LYRIC INSERT TOO!

From 1981, here’s one of the finest new wave power pop albums you’ve never heard of, and you’re not alone.  Tell America, the second long-player from Springfield Missouri’s finest, Fools Face.  I take that back – you might’ve heard of ‘em if you read Trouser Press or Creem back in the day – they shouted Fools Face from the rooftops but no one listened.  And no one bought.  So finding these original albums today is a whole lot harder than, say, the first two Knack albums.  Or Mariah Carey’s Christmas CD, and this is much better.  If you dig those first two Knack albums, or the Shoes, or 20/20, Marshall Crenshaw, XTC and Elvis Costello for that matter, chances are you’ll really dig Fools Face.  Sure, they’re no longer around to take your ticket money, but I’m sure they’ll be happy to know you got there eventually.  30 years later.

If the Beatles had survived into the 80’s with their dignity intact, they might’ve sounded like this.  “American Guilt” even quotes the Fab Four:  “When push comes to shove, all we need is love.”  But all hippie sentimentality is confined solely to the lyrics – the music is pure unadulterated guitar pop, the purity of which you could ONLY find in the smack-dab middle of America – Springfield Missouri – where the disco electro nightclub and new romantic import scene hasn’t infiltrated.  “Maiden USA” is not only a great title, but a stone-cold power pop new wave GEM, with a monster guitar riff that any of those fancy major label bands would’ve killed for.  “Behind Bars” is a bouncy new wave dance tune at breakneck speed with paranoid nerd rock vocals that sound a lot like Devo (who were middle America too) and the herky jerky skittish rhythms of XTC (who were middle UK I guess).  “Valentine” is a solid slice of Knack-alike pop, but with a much more paranoid and ominous undercurrent than anything the happy-go-lucky “My Sharona” boys could ever muster.  And “L5” is perhaps the single GREATEST lost power pop hit of the 80’s, a breathtaking catchy slice of pounding power pop about space colonization that should have been a standout track on one of those Just Can’t Get Enough CDs.  It wasn’t, of course, and despite this being one of the best pop albums of the decade, so few people have heard it today, and it ain’t even out on CD, those bastids.  Tell America is not just a title, it’s a request.  And with pop music in a more sorry state than ever today, it’s your civic duty.  So go on, Tell America how great Fools Face was.  Better late than never.

 HEAR IT!

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS REQUIRE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, WHICH IS AN EXTRA 75 CENTS.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $16 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  ALL FOREIGN ORDERS REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF SHIPMENT, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $1.10.  I accept payments through Paypal. 

I try to grade as best as I can, and I list as many blemishes/imperfections I can find (writing, ringwear, scuff marks, etc.) – Also, please note that I DO listen to these albums – I may not listen to every track, but my grades are based on LISTENING, not just looking at it, since chances are you’ll be listening to the record you buy, not just looking at it.  Most of the albums I sell are the ones I’ve enjoyed for years – and I treat my records with kid gloves.  But sounds speak louder than words, so check out the sound clips below – they’re from the actual record you’re bidding on. 

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Listen, I buy a bunch of records too (when I’m not getting outbid at the last second, which is more often than not) – and I know what it’s like to get a rare, one-of-a-kind album packaged dangerously in a flimsy bubblewrap package.  I hate that too.  So rest assured, I ALWAYS package albums with stiff cardboard reinforcements, same for 45s.  And yes, the records are removed from the sleeves (for albums).  I ship out once a week, every Friday, because I have a regular day job.  But I’d be willing to give that up if you’d all be so kind as to bid my items up to stupidly high amounts. 

And finally, I include delivery confirmation on all shipments inside the US.  This is my proof of shipment, and also helps us to track your package if it doesn’t arrive when it should.  I will email you within 2 days of shipment and give you the confirmation number at that time.  Insurance is always optional, but for larger orders, it’s highly recommended.   I DO NOW REQUIRE THAT ALL FOREIGN BUYERS PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1.10 FOR PROOF OF SHIPMENT.  IT'S A NOMINAL FEE AND THE CHEAPEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT I ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T JUST POCKET YOUR MONEY AND SKIP TOWN.  For more security and international tracking, you may request GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL - but bear in mind the cost of this service is upwards of $30.  For expensive items, however, it may be well worth it.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a cost-effective way of tracking parcels to foreign countries yet, and shipping times vary depending on your country’s postal system.   Italy in particular seems to be really bad at delivering packages quickly, or delivering packages at all, now that you mention it.  I will always email you when your package ships, but once it’s on its way, please don’t ask me when it will arrive because I don’t know.  If the world’s postal systems can ever agree on a universal tracking system that’s affordable, I’ll be the first to use it.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…

I will always leave positive feedback for successful transactions, and would appreciate the same in return.  All I ask of you is the following – please pay for your items within 14 days of the close of auction.  Compared to other sellers, that’s a generous amount of time, so if you don’t pay within 2 weeks, then I have to assume something’s wrong.  You’ll get an Ebay payment reminder at that point, and possibly a decapitated horse head in your bed.  If, after 30 days, you still haven’t forked up the cash, I’ll relist the item and yell at you if I ever see you in town.