It’s strange to me to have excellent bands that have a devoted fanbase but yet be relatively unknown among the rest of fans. The ’60s and ’70s, even ’80s were rife with such “unknowns”. If you look to the later ’70s, one such Chicago band that enjoyed a hit (maybe regionally) with “Stay In Time”, and that was Off Broadway. The singer of that band was Cliff Johnson, who passed in 2022. But before Off Broadway usa, Cliff Johnson once sang for another Oak Park outfit by the name of Pezband. Pezband, in my estimation, was cut from the same Pop/Rock cloth as Cheap Trick, and , I believe, is on the same creative level as Cheap Trick. Nevertheless, for those that remember Pezband and are interested, this is for you.
Already in release (May 9) is a new collection of Pezband and their best tracks simply called Best Of Pezband. Released via Pavement Entertainment, the label revisits the classic tracks that permeated the Chicago post-punk scene (BGinnings, Park West, etc). The band issued three full length sets and two live EPs including the excellent 30 Seconds Over Schaumburg (1978). The CD version of the newly remixed and remastered tracks contain a healthy selection of 23 tracks that include two live performance tracks. The LP edition allows for only ten of the CD’s 23. Listen to “Stella Blue” below
As expected, Pezband is released on CD, DD, and vinyl LP.
Best Of Pezband – Pezband
01 Baby It’s Cold Outside (on LP)
02 Stop! Wait A Minute (on LP)
03 On And On
04 Angelique
05 Stella Blue (on LP)
06 Please Be Somewhere Tonight (on LP)
07 Tracer
08 Meika
09 I’m The One
10 Hold On
11 Lovesmith (Live) (on LP)
12 Cover To Cover (on LP)
13 Didn’t We
14 African Night
15 Alternate Ocean (Instrumental)
16 I Can Only Say Yes
17 Back In The Middle
18 Hero Hero
19 Runaway
20 Back Within The Arms I Love (on LP)
21 Anything For Fun (on LP)
22 Close Your Eyes (on LP)
23 Hippy Hippy Shake (Live) (on LP)