Hello music lovers! 🎵
It's a Tuesday, time for #threetunetuesday, and a chance for me to share something I'm listening to.
My last post here was a week ago, and continuing with the music, I'm recalling memories from the past together with you.
Today I remember a band that never managed to come out of the underground and become known, or at least commercially successful enough to survive more than a few years.
Opal was an American rock band formed in 1982 and active until 1989. Originally called Clay Allison, the founding members were David Roback (died 2020), and Kendra Smith, and they also hired a drummer and a keyboard player for gigs.
The band's name 'Opal' comes from the song Opel by Syd Barrett, vocalist and guitarist from the early days of Pink Floyd. Opal is placed in the so-called Paisley Underground genre, a mix of psychedelia, rich, melodic vocals, and intertwining guitar riffs.
The original line-up released two EPs and one album, 1987's Happy Nightmare Baby, with a few more recordings on a few compilations. Kendra Smith left the band in 1988 and later went on to perform with Dream Syndicate. She was replaced by Hope Sandoval and in 1989 the band changed their name to Mazzy Star.
I also post about Opal because I saw them live in Trieste in 1988 and it was an extraordinary performance, with the original singer, which I still remember today.
For those of you who are not (yet) familiar with #threetunetuesday or #ttt - these are tags you need to set when you post.
It's a music initiative started by @ablaze, and with his words, the jist is as follows:
Every Tuesday I'm going to share 3 songs that I like to listen to and I invite your feedback in the comments below. Better still, why not have a blast of your own Three Tune Tuesday and mention me in the post and I'll come and find the post and upvote it. If you could also use #threetunetuesday tag that would be great, as that is what I use when sifting through all the entries every Wednesday. It'll be a sweet way for us all to discover new music. You'll also be in with a chance of winning the reward.
So, I've picked out a few clips to continue with the music.
Opal - Happy nightmare baby
Happy nightmare baby was their biggest hit (if you can call it a hit). A slightly different love song. It was released on their eponymous debut album in 1987 and the following year, on a promotional tour, lead singer Kendra Smith left the band. I was lucky enough to see them in Trieste in their original line-up.
Opal - Empty Box Blues
The song Empty Box Blues dates from 1985 and was released on the second album, actually a compilation, Opal Early Recordings in 1989. It's a bit of a sad song, about relationships and lost opportunities. The video is nothing special, we see founding members Kendra Smith and David Roback walking on the beach and meadow. But it's good for me as archive footage...
Opal - Rocket Machine
The song is from the 1987 debut album Happy Nightmare Baby. The lyrics describe the beauty of a girl. The style of playing, with its distinctly electric guitar, reminds me of Marc Bolan and T.Rex and their approach to music. Huh, idea for the next #ttt :)
Opal - Magick power
And a bonus at the end is just a blue sky with clouds and a slightly longer Magick Power song.
Some people probably won't like it, but it's pure, real, crazy psychedelia, like Hawkwind, H.P.Lowecraft or Pink Floyd played on their first two albums in the sixties. You rarely hear sounds like that nowadays.
That's all for today, thank you for your attention. I hope today's selection was interesting and put you in a relaxed mood like it did me :)
This is my 39th post for #threetunetuesday, which was started by @ablaze.
I hope what I'm sharing is interesting for others too, because then it makes sense.
If you're curious about the latest music, follow me on #newtunes, or take a look at my rare recordings at 3speak channel - video, or Seckorama's Music Podcast - audio.
If you like jazz, I recommend Jazz-Matinee regular Sunday blog by @w74.
More #ttt posts? Take a look at Modern English, The Dandy Warhols, Seasick Steve, Echo And Bunnymen, Morphine, The God Machine, Modern Lovers, New Model Army, Wishbone Ash, Brian Setzer, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard.
The front image is mine, created in Night Cafe Studio and edited in Photoshop.
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Support and vote for those exceptional witnesses:
@good-karma, @liotes, @fbslo and @detlev.witness.
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