VA - Radio Ready (Lost Power Pop Hits 1978-1983) Texas, Vol. 1 [2013]

POWER POP

VA - Radio Ready (Lost Power Pop Hits 1978-1983) Texas, Vol. 1 [2013]

Released in 2013 by Cheap Rewards Records, Radio Ready: Texas was the inaugural entry in the label’s ambitious project to document overlooked regional power pop. The compilation gathers tracks from Houston, Austin, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Amarillo, presenting a vivid snapshot of a scene that thrived in the shadows of punk and new wave. Bands like the Pengwins, Bruce Moody, The Fad, and U.S. Mods deliver sharp hooks and jangling guitars, echoing the British Invasion while channeling Texan grit. Many of these songs had languished on scarce singles or unreleased tapes, making their inclusion here a revelation for collectors. The LP was pressed in limited runs of colored vinyl, with gatefold packaging and liner notes that contextualize the era’s DIY spirit. What makes this set essential is its balance of rarity and accessibility: tracks that once circulated only among insiders now stand preserved for a wider audience. By spotlighting Texas, Cheap Rewards underscored the state’s role in shaping American power pop, proving that the genre’s brilliance extended far beyond coastal hubs. For enthusiasts, Radio Ready: Texas is both a rediscovery and a validation of a scene that deserved recognition. (B)

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Track lists

01 Pengwins - What You Gonna Do 3:25

02 Bruce Moody - This is It 2:56

03 Fad - Think 2:14

04 Haskells - Pop Art 1:32

05 Lawnmowers - Want You Bad 2:29

06 Rattlecats - Those Are The Breaks 1:53

07 Jemmy Leggs - Fireworks 3:33

08 Amatones - Plastic Surgeon 3:24

09 Spies - My Radio 3:19

10 Shades - The Big One 3:24

11 Take - Tonight 2:30

12 True Hearts - All My Time 2:51

13 Us Mods - I'm Gone 2:18

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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