The Berkeley, California-based indie label trafficked in power pop and alt-rock stylings, with early acts including Earth Quake, The Rubinoos and Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers. Kihn, a Baltimore-born singer/songwriter living in Berkeley was an early signee, as well; his debut recording was released on the label's first LP, the audaciously titled Beserkeley Chartbusters Vol. 1.
Despite the size of that claim, Kihn would indeed become the main (and by the '80s, among the only) artist for the label, with huge hits in "The Break Up Song (They Don't Write 'Em)," which peaked at No. 15 in 1981, and "Jeopardy," a No. 2 hit in 1983. (The latter was, of course, an early tune parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic as "I Lost on Jeopardy." Kihn even appeared in the video!)
The Greg Kihn Band stopped putting out records in 1986, a few years after Beserkley folded; Kihn now operates as a radio DJ in San Jose. Rhino issued a compilation of their work in 1989, and other labels have licensed the Beserkley catalogue in the decades since. The Riot label takes the reins on this new disc, which gathers 21 of the band's best singles and album cuts for a new generation to enjoy.
The set is out now, and can be ordered after the jump.
The Greg Kihn Band, Best of Beserkley '75-'84 (Riot, 2012)
- All the Right Reasons
- Any Other Woman
- Madison Avenue Man
- For You
- Remember
- Sorry
- Rendezvous
- In the Naked Eye
- Moulin Rouge
- The Break Up Song (They Don't Write 'Em)
- Valerie
- Can't Stop Hurtin' Myself
- When the Music Starts
- Happy Man
- Every Love Song
- Testify
- Jeopardy
- Tear That City Down
- Someday
- Love Never Fails
- Reunited
Track 1 from Beserkley Chartbusters Vol. 1 (Beserkley, 1975)
Track 2 from Greg Kihn (Beserkley, 1976)
Tracks 3-4 from Greg Kihn Again (Beserkley, 1977)
Tracks 5-6 from Next of Kihn (Beserkley, 1978)
Tracks 7-9 from With the Naked Eye (Beserkley, 1979)
Tracks 10-13 from Rockihnroll (Beserkley, 1981)
Tracks 14-16 from Kihntinued (Beserkley, 1982)
Tracks 17-20 from Kihnspiracy (Beserkley, 1983)
Track 21 from Kihntagious (Beserkley, 1984)
Think I might get this, I always liked the few things I heard by them, including a later single (I got) Lucky which I think was on EMI (or maybe EMI America) here in the UK. There was a 12" mix of Jeopardy too, which would have made a nice bonus.
If you go to Greg's website (which is linked in the Second Disc text) you'll see that the Greg Kihn Band LIVES! They're playing tomorrow night (5/19) at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz....their old musical stomping grounds. It's a record release party as well as a performance. One of the great links on Greg's site is to "the guitars he'll use" at the gig. Check it out, very cool Vox Phantom 12!! Tickets still available Bay Area people....there's even a meet and greet. If you attend, let us landlocked Kihn lovers know how it goes...pleez?
And now I get news (I'm on his e-mail list) from him saying he'll be re-releasing all his old albums as downloads-only.
Didn't mention anything about extra songs.
I'm not into downloads, so it's good news and bad at the same time.