Concrete Blonde is an alternative rock band based in the United States. They were active from 1982 to 1995, from 2001 to 2004, and then reunited in 2010 and have been active since. They are best known for their 1990 album Bloodletting, their top 20 single “Joey”, and Johnette Napolitano’s distinctive vocal style. The band released a single called “Heart Attack” under the name Dreamers on the 1982 compilation album, The D.I.Y. Album; this was evidently their first recording. (More from Wikipedia)
On one of my Atlanta shopping trips to the Criminal Records store, I found one of the most delightful albums I have purchased in the past five years: a collection of early 1980’s punk rock simply called The D.I.Y. Album. (The album is described as using the “Han-O-Disc” recording process, whatever that means). On it is the first known song by the band that later became Concrete Blonde: “Heart Attack” by Dreamers. This song was made even before they took the name Dream 6 in 1982. Johnette Napolitano’s reedy but compelling vocal on “Heart Attack” could hardly sound more different from the way it is on the Deviants’ version of “You’re Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond”. As a result of these two recordings, I have gained a whole new respect for Concrete Blonde and Johnette Napolitano.
Mainly on the strength of this Dreamers recording (though there are other terrific songs as well, including an early song by Black Flag), The D.I.Y. Album brought $50 at auction on eBay in 2006 (I paid maybe half that much myself!), according to popsike.com – a great resource if you are interested in what original vinyl recordings have been bringing at auction and in private sales.
(August 2013)
