THE NERVES seven inch EP
$
61
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Description
This is it, could have been it or should have been it. This power pop EP by the Nerves could have set the bar for the whole LA new wave scene. Why it didn't had nothing to do with evil managers, drugged up musicians or any of the usual perils that beset the young and the talented. The reason these three musicians, the Nerves, failed to rule the scene was simply that they were already burned out, sick of each other and done as the rest of the scene was only starting.
Fortunately, posterity had other ideas and this EP is now considered the gold standard of power pop recordings. One of its four songs, “Hangin' on the Telephone,” became a hit by Blondie. Rest assured, this, the original, is far better and the three songs that come with it are each as good.
I read about the Nerves in some zine of the day and a few days later while going through a rack of new indie singles in some Westwood record store came upon and purchased their EP. One hates to call anything Beatlesque, but my first impression was of Americans singing early Beatles songs. I still feel that way. The songs are as catchy and urgent as the first day I heard them.
I immediately copied the vinyl to cassette and played the life out of the tape rather than the disc. So this should be an excellent sounding copy. It looks very clean, no visible scratches. The label is pristine. The jacket is also in excellent shape. There is no yellowing of the paper as I always kept it in a book designed for seven inch discs. The remains of a price tag floats above Jack Lee's head. The black backdrop shows slight scuffing. The bottom is a little worn and weary. The black ink background of the back cover shows more scuffing and signs of ringwear.
As for Jack Lee, Paul Collins and Peter Case —the Nerves themselves, they each went on to other greatnesses of the time. Jack Lee has an impressive songwriter catalog. Paul Collins tours still. Peter Case went on to even loftier heights as a producer, singer/songwriter, folk musician and curator.
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