1979

For a change of pace instead of writing a blog based on a word, this blog post will focus on the year 1979.

I was 19 in '79 and was enjoying life. I was crazy into music - so the bul of this blog post will revolve around music.

I'd get together with a small group of friends and drive to L.A. and do some record shopping. L.A. had the best used records store and I usually always found some great deals.

One of my best deals was buying a box full of 45's (must have been about 200 in the box) for just $5.00. I ended up discovering a few great bands that I would not have discovered had I not purchased that box.

David Bowie - D.J. (1979)

I used to wear OP brand clothes...

Talking Heads - Electric Guitar (1979)

Reggatta De Blanc

The Police was my favorite band in 1979 - along with Talking Heads.

The Police - Message In A Bottle (1979)

I watched the movie Kramer vs. Kramer with some friends. it was not my movie choice. I went into the movie with a negative attitude about it. I was certain I wouldn't care for the movie. I was wrong. I ended up liking the movie quite a bit and considered it a favorite for a very long time.

Gary Numan - You Are In My Vision (1979)

I truly enjoyed the electronic rhythms of Gary Numan.

I must have watched the rockumentary film "The Kids Are Alright" (about the rock band The Who) at least half a dozen times at the midnight movie. Rocky Horror Picture Show was another midnight movie favorite.

Blondie - One Way Or Another (1979)

Debbie Harry (Blondie) was about the most interesting female vocalist on the music scene in 1979.

The Cars - Double Life (1979)

I watched a good amount of movies in 1979 and there were quite a few which were excellent. Aliens, and Rocky II were a few. But the one movie that really stuck with me was Steve Martin's The Jerk. that was one outstanding film.

Supertramp - Breakfast In America (1979)

With both Styx and Supertramp releasing platinum certified albums 1979 was a great year for classic rock.

Styx - Lights (1979)

In 1979 I developed a penchant for the unsual...

Lene Lovich - Bird Song (1979)

I was 19 during the entire year of 1979 (turned 20 at the end of December 1979). It was one of the best times in my life.

1979

Klark Kent

Time for a bit of a diversion. Today's post will feature the late 70's early 80's new wave/post punk artist Klark Kent.

Kent was just a bit of a mystery in his earliest years, but that mystery quickly faded as his true identity came forth. Of course we knew that Stewart Copeland (drummer for the Police) was Klark Kent, sometimes spelled Klerk Kant and various other spellings of the name.

 Klark Kent

 Stewart Copeland

As Klark Kent, Stewart Copeland recorded for IRS Records. IRS Records is that small indie label which was founded by Copeland's brother Miles Copeland. IRS Records was distributed by A&M Records, the label for which The Police recorded.

Klark kent released only four singles and one mini album (EP).
Singles: 
"Don't Care" / "Thrills" / "Office Girls" - 1978 
"Too Kool To Kalypso" / "Kinetic Ritual" - 1978   
"Away From Home" / "Office Talk" - 1980 
"Rich In A Ditch" / "Grandelinquent" - 1980 

His EP was called "Music Madness from the Kinetic Kid" and was released on 10" green vinyl record in 1980. It's release fell half between the release of the Police albums Regatta de Blanc (1979) and Zenyatta Mondatta (1980). 
The EP contains 8 tracks as follows:

1. "Don't Care" – 2:08
2. "Away From Home" – 2:55
3. "Ritch In A Ditch" – 2:46
4. "Grandelinquent" – 3:09
5. "Guerilla" – 3:32
6. "Old School" – 2:44
7. "Excess" – 3:12
8. "Theme For Kinetic Ritual" – 4:18

Guitars, bass, drums, kinetically tuned piano, specially adapted kinetic klarinet, percussive perpetrations and vocals all done by Klark Kent.

Every song on this EP is upbeat and carefree. It's an enjoyable post-punk/new wave gem. Copeland donned the Klark Kent disguise and even created a fake biography which shows up in the liner notes of his EP. The fake bio portrays Kent as a computer programmer who sued IBM for stealing one of his inventions. Copeland recorded as Kent in order to record the songs he wrote for the Police that Sting didn't like. Klark Kent's songs are goofy and eccentric which was in complete contrast the the maturing sounds of The Police. 

Klark Kent - Kollected Works (Click Here) 

Klark Kent - Away From Home (1980)

Klark Kent - Don't Care (1978)

KLARK KENT