Retrosonic Podcast Baby Shakes Special - Mary, Claudia & Judy from New York's Finest Punk Power Pop Band on their Story, Influences, Favourite Music & their New Single with Damian & Billy from The Undertones

Photo by Nate Frohn

For this very special episode of Retrosonic Podcast we are very pleased to welcome Claudia, Mary and Judy from Baby Shakes, New York's finest purveyors of pure Punk Power Pop into the virtual studio to discuss the band's history and influences. We chat about what it's like in New York for bands during lockdown, how the girls met, what inspired them to form a band and their song-writing process. We learn about some of the great musicians and artists they have gigged with and their favourite countries to play, including a special section on their affinity with Japan. Along the way they pick some of their favourite and most evocative songs including those that played a part in shaping the Baby Shakes sound. Then, of course we concentrate on the band's own music, from their very first single right up to date with their fantastic brand new release, "Sweet 'n' Sour", a glamtastic 7" single featuring Damian O'Neill and Billy Doherty from their heroes, The Undertones. You can subscribe to Retrosonic Podcast for free at Spotify, iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Mixcloud or directly from our Soudcloud site below, so sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy!

 

Retrosonic Podcast · Baby Shakes

Full Tracklisting

Baby Shakes "Love Song In Reverse"

Baby Shakes "Ooh La Love"

Baby Shakes "Really Really"

The Undertones "Get Over You"

Bikini Kill "Rebel Girl"

The Misfits "Where Eagles Dare"

Baby Shakes "Let's Go JetGlo"

The Incredible Kidda Band "Saturday Night Fever"

Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers "Let Go"

Slade "Gudbuy T'Jane" 

The Gymslips "Drink Problem"

Baby Shakes "Stuck on Blue"

Baby Shakes "Shake Shake"

Firestarter "Saturday Night (Is The End of The World)"

Carol "Funky Monkey Baby"

 

Baby Shakes "Wasurenai Wa"

The Starjets "School Days"

Baby Shakes "I'll Be Alright"

The Equals "Diversion"

Hector "Bye Bye Bad Days"

Jook "Crazy Kids"

The Rubettes "Sugar Baby Love"

Cock Sparrer "I Got Your Number"

Abba "Ring Ring"

Chron-Gen "Outlaw"

Tequila "Dime Que Me Quieres"

Baby Shakes "Cause A Scene"

Baby Shakes "Running Through The Night"

Baby Shakes "Sweet 'n' Sour"

Useful Links (please click on the highlighted link below for more information)

Baby Shakes Official Web-site

Baby Shakes Official Facebook page

Dimple Discs Records

Damian O'Neill & The Monotones

Retrosonic Podcast with Damian O'Neill

The Undertones

Poor Cow Bar, Tokyo

Surfin' Ki Records

Nate Frohn Artwork & Photography 

Profits from the sale of the "Shake The System" LP go towards the NAACP

You can check out the recent Retrosonic Podcast with Damian O'Neill from The Undertones here, where he also discusses working with Baby Shakes on the "Sweet 'n' Sour" single. Podcover Photo by Nate Frohn. Retrosonic Theme by Adam Donovan. For more information and news on Baby Shakes please check out their official web-site here. Here's the superb video to "Sweet 'n' Sour", the single can be ordered from Dimple Discs Records here. With thanks to Claudia, Mary & Judy.

Retrosonic Podcast Lockdown Lowdown Episode 5 with Duncan Reid of The Boys & The Big Heads

Podcover photo by Peter Andersen courtesy of Duncan Reid

In Episode 5 of our special Retrosonic Podcast "Lockdown Lowdown" series we welcome Duncan Reid, formerly the bassist with original Melodic Punk Pop legends The Boys and currently performing and recording with his own band The Big Heads, into the virtual Retrosonic studio. In this thoroughly enjoyable romp through Duncan's life we go right back to his earliest childhood musical memories including seeing the Rolling Stones on TV amongst his disapproving Beatle-loving family and we discover the first record he bought with his own pocket money. He tells us of the first gig he went to and what he found in his Dad's cupboard and how it played an important part in his life. There are examples of his favourite singles and albums along with the artists and gigs that have had an impact on him over the years. He explains who influenced his bass playing and confesses to how he upset Bass Guitar magazine. Then we learn why he was awarded the freedom of a South American capital city, how he became big in Kensington and Chelsea and even bigger in Japan (without even knowing it!). All this and much, much more! Generously soundtracked by Duncan's own pick of the Pops throughout the episode and of course, including some of the very best of his own recorded work from his time with The Boys and Hollywood Killers to his debut solo album and bang up to date with The Big Heads excellent new LP "Don't Blame Yourself".

Retrosonic Podcast can be streamed and downloaded directly below or from our Soundcloud site here. Alternatively, you can subscribe for free at iTunes and Apple Podcasts.

Retrosonic Podcast · Lockdown Lowdown Episode 5: Duncan Reid of The Boys & The Big Heads

Full Tracklisting

Rolling Stones "You'd Better Move On"

The Beatles "Penny Lane"

The Jam "Funeral Pyre"

The Who "Pictures of Lily"

Mr. Bloe "Groovin' With Mr. Bloe"

Alice Cooper "School's Out"

Heavy Metal Kids "Delirious"

Queen "Now I'm Here"

Hollywood Killers "No Joke"

The Boys "First Time"

The Boys "I Don't Care"

The Boys "Brickfield Nights"

Duncan Reid "Kelly's Gone Insane"

Duncan Reid & The Big Heads "Bombs Away"

Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers "Born To Lose"

Duncan Reid "Montevideo"

Marc Bolan & T-Rex "Jeepster"

Chris Isaak "Wicked Game"

Ramones "Swallow My Pride"

Duncan Reid & The Big Heads "To Live Or Live Not"

Useful links: Please click the highlighted links below for further info, news and merch:

Duncan Reid & The Big Heads official web-site

Duncan Reid & The Big Heads Facebook page

You can order the new Big Heads LP at Duncan Reid & The Big Heads Bandcamp site

The Boys official web-site

The Boys Facebook page

Here's the great video for "To Live or Live Not" from the new Big Heads album, enjoy!

Retrosonic Podcast has a valid PRS certificate. Podcover photo by Peter Andersen courtesy of Duncan Reid. Check out our previous Lockdown Lowdown episodes with Leigh Heggarty of Ruts DC, Raymond Gorman of That Petrol Emotion/The Everlasting Yeah, Buddy Ascott of The Chords/The Fallen Leaves and Mike & Elsa from The Jack Cades.

Retrosonic Podcast Lockdown Lowdown Episode 1 with Brett "Buddy" Ascott from The Chords & The Fallen Leaves

Photo by Retro Man Blog

Brett "Buddy" Ascott, drummer with The Chords and The Fallen Leaves (and many more besides...) is our first special guest in a new series of Retrosonic Podcasts entitled "Lockdown Lowdown". Buddy tells us of his earliest musical awakenings, the first record he ever bought, his first gig and what event changed him from innocent fan of Pop music to the dark side of Rock & Roll. Along the way we hear who inspired him to pick up the drumsticks, some of his own memorable experiences as a musician and the favourite tracks from his own recordings. Buddy tells us of his favourite albums and singles and most treasured item of music related memorabilia. The episode is soundtracked by songs by David Bowie, The Kinks, Sex Pistols, The Who, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, The Undertones, That Petrol Emotion, The Auteurs, Dodgy, Lightning Seeds, The Thrills, Arcade Fire, The Clash and of course The Chords and his current band, The Fallen Leaves.

Full Track-Listing:

David Bowie "Jean Genie"

The Kinks "Dead End Street"

Sex Pistols "Problems"

The Clash "Garageland"

The Who "Doctor Jimmy"

That Petrol Emotion "Sensitize"

The Thrills "Found My Rosebud"

The Lightning Seeds "Pure"

The Kinks "Days"

The Who "Baby, Don't You Do It" 

The Chords "I'm Not Sure"

The Chords "What Are We Gonna Do Now?"

The Undertones "Get Over You"

The Auteurs "New French Girlfriend"

The Fallen Leaves "So Much More"

Arcade Fire "Modern Man"

Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers "Born To Lose"

Dodgy "In a Room"

You can order The Chords box-set "Re-Chordings 1979-1982" here. For more information on the forthcoming book "Remembering The Chords" by Ray Butler, please check out the link here. Details on how to donate and bid for the signed drum-skin can be found at the Roll Out The Barrel Trust web-site here. The Retrosonic Podcast special featuring the full story of Buddy Ascott's musical journey is still available to download/stream at our Retrosonic Podcast Soundcloud archive here.

Subscribe to Retrosonic Podcast on iTunes for free or download/stream at Soundcloud below:

Retrosonic Podcast · Lockdown Lowdown Episode 1: Buddy Ascott (The Chords/The Fallen Leaves)