Manual Scan
Encyclopedia
Manual Scan was an American mod
and power pop
group from San Diego, active between 1981–1991.
Manual Scan released numerous CDs, LP
s and 7-inch singles, in England, Spain and the U.S.
. They toured in the USA, England (including a 1986 appearance at the 100 Club
in London), and Mexico
. The group’s song, “Nothing Can Be Everything” was included in the 1990 Columbia Pictures release, A Girl To Kill For.
, guitarist Kevin Donaker-Ring , bassist David Fleminger and drummer Paul Kaufman, though within a few months of the bands formation Kaufman was replaced by Paul Brewin and singer Yvonne Simon was added on backing vocals and guitar. All except for Fleminger were former students of La Jolla High School
. The bands line up changed frequently during it’s existence, with Mendoza and Donaker-Ring as the core members. Other notable players included drummer David Anderson
and Tom Ward
, both formerly of Voxx Records group Gravedigger Five
.
Guests of note include Anthony Meynell, frontman for British mod revival trio Squire
, who the band backed in 1985 and Jeff Conolly of garage rockers Lyres who sat in with Manual Scan for six shows in 1989.
group, The Shambles in 1992, with Mendoza joining shortly after. Manual Scan has reunited several times since 2005, recording a live session on 28 January 2010 with producer Alan Sanderson
for San Diego based radio station, KBZT
(FM94/9)
on their album of the same name.
Mod
- General :* Honour Moderations, a first set of examinations at Oxford University* Maximum operating depth, in scuba diving, the depth at which a gas mix exceeds safe limits* Ministry of Defence, the part of a government responsible for matters of military defence...
and power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
group from San Diego, active between 1981–1991.
Manual Scan released numerous CDs, LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
s and 7-inch singles, in England, Spain and the U.S.
. They toured in the USA, England (including a 1986 appearance at the 100 Club
100 Club
The 100 Club is a music venue in London situated at 100 Oxford Street, W1, originally called The Feldman Swing Club.The 100 Club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942....
in London), and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The group’s song, “Nothing Can Be Everything” was included in the 1990 Columbia Pictures release, A Girl To Kill For.
Members
The founding members of Manual Scan were guitarist / singer Bart MendozaBart Mendoza
Bart Mendoza is an American journalist, musician and songwriter.From 1981 to 1990, he was frontman and chief songwriter for mod-influenced group Manual Scan. Since 1991 he has performed with power-pop group The Shambles...
, guitarist Kevin Donaker-Ring , bassist David Fleminger and drummer Paul Kaufman, though within a few months of the bands formation Kaufman was replaced by Paul Brewin and singer Yvonne Simon was added on backing vocals and guitar. All except for Fleminger were former students of La Jolla High School
La Jolla High School
La Jolla, CA 92037 Enrollment 1,650 Colors Black & Red██ Mascot Viking Rival Schools The Bishop's School, Cathedral Catholic High School, Mission Bay High School, University City High School Homepage...
. The bands line up changed frequently during it’s existence, with Mendoza and Donaker-Ring as the core members. Other notable players included drummer David Anderson
David Anderson
David A. Anderson, is a former Canadian cabinet minister.Educated at Victoria College in Victoria, BC and the University of British Columbia, Anderson served as a foreign service officer in the Department of External Affairs between 1962 and 1968...
and Tom Ward
Tom Ward
Tom Ward is a British film, stage and television actor.-Early life:Tom Ward was born in Swansea, to the poet and academic John Powell Ward and Sarah Ward OBE, a farmer. His brother Tristan became a partner at Macfarlanes LLP, a firm of solicitors in the City of London.Ward was sent to the Dragon...
, both formerly of Voxx Records group Gravedigger Five
Gravedigger Five
The Gravedigger Five – often shown as Gravedigger V – was a garage rock revival band formed in 1984 in San Diego, California. The band was part of the Paisley Underground, a musical movement centered around Los Angeles, California, which referenced 1960s West Coast pop and garage rock...
.
Guests of note include Anthony Meynell, frontman for British mod revival trio Squire
Squire
The English word squire is a shortened version of the word Esquire, from the Old French , itself derived from the Late Latin , in medieval or Old English a scutifer. The Classical Latin equivalent was , "arms bearer"...
, who the band backed in 1985 and Jeff Conolly of garage rockers Lyres who sat in with Manual Scan for six shows in 1989.
Post-split activities and reunions
Following the demise of the band Donaker-Ring co-founded power popPower pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
group, The Shambles in 1992, with Mendoza joining shortly after. Manual Scan has reunited several times since 2005, recording a live session on 28 January 2010 with producer Alan Sanderson
Alan Sanderson
Alan Sanderson is a Grammy Winning recording engineer, mixing engineer and record producer. Alan Sanderson is credited with working on some of the most successful albums during the 1990s while working as an engineer at Cello and Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood, California...
for San Diego based radio station, KBZT
KBZT
KBZT is a commercial modern rock music radio station in San Diego, California, broadcasting on 94.9 FM.-History:During the 1970s and '80s, KBZT was known as "KBest95" but in the 1980s morphed from oldies into soft rock, before being sold to Sandusky Radio and becoming "Y95" in 1987...
(FM94/9)
Plan of Action
The art work for the band’s 1982 E.P., “Plan of Action” was included in the book, The Album Cover Art of Punk Rock, from Gingko Press. The E.P. itself was re-released by Spanish label Munster Records in 2006. In 2000, the song “Plan of Action” was covered by Canadian ska band The KingpinsThe Kingpins
The Kingpins featuring Lorraine Muller - The Queen of Ska was a ska band from Montréal, Canada, signed to the Stomp Records label. The last Kingpins tour took place in 2004, after which the members of the band reformed under the name Lo and the Magnetics founded by Muller in order to reflect the...
on their album of the same name.
Albums
- One (England / Hi-Lo, 1986)
- Down Lights (U.S. / Susstones, 1988)
- Plan of Action (Spain / Snap, 1997)
- All Night Stand (U.S. / Get Hip Records 1043, 1997)
7-Inch E.P.’s
- Plan of Action (U.S./ Dance & Stance – PS, 1982)
- The Lost Sessions (U, S. / Get Hip 116 – Blue or Black Vinyl, 1989)
- Days & Maybes (U.S. / Susstones IMS 548 -PS second print with over sleeve, 1991)
Flexi Discs
- "And We Still Feel The Same” and “Plan of Action” were included on a cover mounted flexi disc with British modzine, In The Crowd #18, 1986, alongside a track by the Risk.
Compilation appearances
- The Cutting Edge (England / Razor S16, LP 1985) – Jungle Beat (remix)
- American Heart & Soul (England / Hi Lo Records LO-6, LP 1986) – New Song
- The Phase III Mod Bands (England / Unicorn, 7" EP 1987) 31968
- It’s A Mod, Mod World (England / Antenna Records, CD 1997) – New Song, Confidence and Love
- This Is Mod Volume 6 (England / Cherry Red , CD 1999) – American Way, Nothing You Can Do, Jungle Beat, Anymore, New Difference