With the advent of the digital age, an increasing number of pop groups are re-releasing archival tracks and even offering songs for the first time that were never before available except to die-hard fans, on cassette or bootleg. The Atlantics, a Boston-based punk/pop band that helped spearhead the new wave scene from 1976 to 1982, recently restored and released collections of the band’s powerpop hits, many of which had never before been released. available. The band’s first CD release was the self-titled “Atlantics”, on the band’s label, Something.Hot Communications. The 2006 collection included the Atlantics regional smash hit “Lonelyhearts” and the original vinyl “Can’t Wait Forever.” But what has made “Atlantics” a hit on CDbaby and on local radio was the inclusion of tracks that were favorites from their live concerts but had only previously been released on cassette tapes to New England radio stations. : “Pop Shivers,” “Wrong Number,” and Friday’s favorite “Weekend” when it comes to driving.
The tapes of all thirteen tracks had been stored in a trunk at the base of guitarist Tom Hauck’s parents. “Our drummer Paul Caruso took these analog tapes and professionally restored them at M-Works in Cambridge,” says Tom. “He was able to put together a thirteen-track digital master that offers very competitive sound quality. These twenty-five-year-old tapes sound as good as many records released today.” And now, because the tracks are digital, the process of deteriorating the tape has stopped.
Buoyed by the success of “Atlantics”, in 2007 the band released “Atlantics Live”, a Paradise Club concert recording. The March 1979 concert was originally broadcast live on WCOZ-FM and includes most of the hits from the band’s 1979 ABC Records “Big City Rock” album. Digital releases continue. A digitally remastered bootleg of “Big City Rock” appeared in 2008; this CD now fetches a high price on the used CD market, if you can find one.
The Atlantics are planning a third release for 2009. “PowerPop” will feature a whopping seventeen tracks dating from 1977 to 1982, including the never-released Jukebox Records 45 classic “When You’re Young.” Recorded in 1978, the song combined the Ramones’ wall of sound with a 1950s boy band tune and paved the way for post-punk hits like blink-182’s “Dammit” (compare the two, you’ll hear it). .
It shouldn’t be overlooked that ’80s glam band Ball and Pivot, with Atlantics’ Bruce Wilkinson on mic, went to the archives and released “Heart in the Sky” in 2008. The CD includes a digitally remastered version of their huge the club and radio hit “Down,” as well as favorites like “Two O’Clock Jump” and “Downtown,” the band’s high-octane Stones-esque tribute to the pleasures of the big city. Combining crunchy guitars, big beats and ’80s synths, “Heart in the Sky” is a surprisingly fresh-sounding collection that evokes a bygone era and packs a contemporary punch.
What makes the re-release market viable for bands like the Atlantics and Ball and Pivot is the availability of online CD retailers like CDbaby, regional chains like Newbury Comics, and digital outlets. “Twenty-five years ago, you had to have a major distributor for your vinyl LP,” say the Atlantics. “Now we can sell our music all over the world from one laptop. We’re selling more tracks today than when the band was playing. It’s great that old fans can get our music, and even new fans, kids who are looking for authentic sounds.” from before they were born, they can own a piece of history.”
