In the mid-seventies on the Lower East Side of New York a small group of energetic original bands created a rock scene of amazing vitality. Based around just two clubs, Max's Kansas City and CBGBs, The Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Television and Patti Smith laid down the framework for the enduring genre of music known as punk. By 1978 those bands were all recording and touring and a new wave of bands were emerging from those same streets and playing in those same clubs.
One of those bands was The Colors. Formed in 1978 when native New Yorkers Tommy Cookman (vocals) and Paul Sass (guitar) began playing together, they were joined in early 1979 by Australian bassist Robert Vickers. Their first shows were at a small but now legendary Soho club called Tier 3. Soon after they asked neighbor Ed East to play drums and built a rehearsal room in his storefront on Rivington Street a few blocks from CBGBs. It was at this time that Paul appeared in the Robert Stigwood flop turned cult classic, 'Times Square'.
Their rise on this small, closely watched scene was quick. They were renowned for their brief but intensely exciting live sets and were deemed 'Local Band Most Likely Destined for Commercial Success' by The Soho Weekly News in 1979. They were young, attractive and played energetic pop/punk with very short melodic songs that appealed to an equally young audience. After a playing only a few shows they signed a management deal with CBGB's owner Hilly Kristal and became the house band there, opening for people like John Cale and Levi and The Rockats and headlining weekend shows.
Tracks were recorded for 'Live at CBGBs Vol. II' but the album was never released. Instead they signed with local indie label, Infinite Records. Clem Burke of Blondie, an early supporter, agreed to produce. At this point the relationship with Hilly Kristal was dissolved and Ed East left the band. Clem Burke stepped in to play drums with them, live and on the record, and took over management. A second guitarist, Charly Pip, formerly of The David Johansen Band was also added.
The EP, 'Rave It Up' was recorded at Electric Lady studios with Jay Burnett (Planet Rock) engineering, and released in 1980. Many great shows followed, opening for The Undertones, Eddie and the Hot Rods, The Bay City Rollers, The Plasmatics, etc. The Colors built a loyal and enthusiastic fanbase in New York and ventured out to tour the East Coast. Despite this being pre-MTV, two videos were made for the EP. Produced by Ed Steinberg of Rock America, Diane Harvey directed both. Three graffiti artists were hired to do a backdrop for the party scenes in the videos. One of them, 'Samo' under his real name, Jean-Michel Basiquat, later became an internationally renowned artist.
A new drummer, known only as The Elf, was recruited and The Colors began doing cable TV shows such as The Uncle Floyd Show and New York Dancestand as well as interviews on the fledgling college radio circuit that in the 90s would play such an important part in independent music. They played Chicago, regularly toured the East Coast and ventured deep into New Jersey. They also began working on an album for Infinite, recorded at Intergalactic Studios in New York with the same production team. A song was even written for them by a member of the Bay City Rollers and recorded during these sessions although it did not make the album.
Unfortunately Infinite folded during the recording and the album, 'The Colors' came out in early 1983 on Dirt Records too late to save the band from breaking up. Paul Sass had left and Robert Vickers soon left to join Australian band The Go-Betweens in London. The Colors had a brief existence, less that four years in total, but their star shone brightly during that time; illuminating the murky grim of the old Bowery and the dimly lit side streets of a low rent, crime ridden Manhattan that disappeared so completely in the boom of the late 8os. This album is a snapshot of that time, of boundless youthful optimism in a bankrupt city on the edge of America.
Colors tracks can be found on the new Numero Group compilation 'Yellow Pills: Prefill'. Mp3s and a video is available at http://www.numerogroup.com/catalog_detail.php?uid=00217
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