Shoes (band)
Encyclopedia
Shoes are an American power pop
band, formed in Zion, Illinois
, in 1974 by brothers John and Jeff Murphy, and Gary Klebe and incorporating several different drummers over the years including Skip Meyer, Barry Shumaker, Ric Menck, John Richardson, and Jeff Hunter. The Murphy brothers and Klebe were high school friends and decided to form a band following graduation. At the time none of the members knew how to play an instrument so each member picked an instrument to learn and promised to reunite within one year. Within the first year the three got back together to rehearse and eventually record their first album.
In 1977 Shoes recorded the album Black Vinyl Shoes in Jeff Murphy's living room and pressed 1,000 copies on their own label, Black Vinyl Records. The album was sold at local record stores and by mail order through Bomp! magazine. Shoes then released a single "Tomorrow Night" on Bomp! Records
in June 1978. Soon after that Black Vinyl Shoes was licensed to PVC Records which released the album in November 1978. The group signed to Elektra Records
in April 1979 and released their first major label album, Present Tense, that September. The album peaked at number 50 on the Billboard 200
and yielded the minor hit single "Too Late" which reached number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
When MTV
went on the air on August 1, 1981, the channel aired
four of Shoes' videos: "Too Late", "Tomorrow Night", "Cruel You" and "In My Arms Again", making Shoes one of the first bands to be shown on MTV. The band went on to do three more videos: "In Her Shadow" (1982), "When Push Comes To Shove"(1985) and "Feel The Way That I Do" (1991).
Shoes also formed their own record label, Black Vinyl Records, and owned and operated their own commercial recording studio (Short Order Recorder) from 1983 to 2004. Many artists recorded at the studio and some went on to sign major label recording contracts, including Local H
and Material Issue
.
In early 2007, the band released a double CD titled Double Exposure, which contains demos of their songs from the albums Present Tense and Tongue Twister. In the same time frame, Jeff Murphy published a book entitled, "Birth of a Band, The Record Deal and the Recording of Present Tense" which documents the band's inception, major label signing and subsequent recording of their first internationally distributed album, Present Tense. In January 2007 Jeff released a solo album titled Cantilever.
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...
band, formed in Zion, Illinois
Zion, Illinois
Zion is a city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,866 at the 2000 census, and estimated at 24,303 as of 2005. The city was founded in July 1901 by John Alexander Dowie. He also started the Zion Tabernacle of the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church, which was the only...
, in 1974 by brothers John and Jeff Murphy, and Gary Klebe and incorporating several different drummers over the years including Skip Meyer, Barry Shumaker, Ric Menck, John Richardson, and Jeff Hunter. The Murphy brothers and Klebe were high school friends and decided to form a band following graduation. At the time none of the members knew how to play an instrument so each member picked an instrument to learn and promised to reunite within one year. Within the first year the three got back together to rehearse and eventually record their first album.
In 1977 Shoes recorded the album Black Vinyl Shoes in Jeff Murphy's living room and pressed 1,000 copies on their own label, Black Vinyl Records. The album was sold at local record stores and by mail order through Bomp! magazine. Shoes then released a single "Tomorrow Night" on Bomp! Records
Bomp! Records
Bomp! Records is an Los Angeles-based indie label formed in 1974 by fanzine publisher and music historian Greg Shaw.-History:The label has featured punk, pop, powerpop, garage rock, new wave, old school rock, neo-psychedelia among other genres, and its roster has included artists such as The Modern...
in June 1978. Soon after that Black Vinyl Shoes was licensed to PVC Records which released the album in November 1978. The group signed to Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
in April 1979 and released their first major label album, Present Tense, that September. The album peaked at number 50 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and yielded the minor hit single "Too Late" which reached number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
When MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
went on the air on August 1, 1981, the channel aired
First music videos aired on MTV
This is a list of the first music videos broadcast on MTV's first day, August 1, 1981. Video of the launch of MTV was uploaded onto YouTube in 2009.-List:#"Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles#"You Better Run" by Pat Benatar...
four of Shoes' videos: "Too Late", "Tomorrow Night", "Cruel You" and "In My Arms Again", making Shoes one of the first bands to be shown on MTV. The band went on to do three more videos: "In Her Shadow" (1982), "When Push Comes To Shove"(1985) and "Feel The Way That I Do" (1991).
Shoes also formed their own record label, Black Vinyl Records, and owned and operated their own commercial recording studio (Short Order Recorder) from 1983 to 2004. Many artists recorded at the studio and some went on to sign major label recording contracts, including Local H
Local H
Local H is an American rock duo, formed by Joe Daniels and Scott Lucas in Zion, Illinois in 1987. Local H's 1996 album, As Good as Dead, includes the top 10 hit "Bound for the Floor" Author, rock critic and Rolling Stone contributor Greg Kot and the Chicago Tribune named the band its 2008 Chicago...
and Material Issue
Material Issue
Material Issue was a 1980-1990s power pop trio from Chicago. The band's trademark was pop songs with themes of love and heartbreak, where a number of song titles using girls' first names.-History:...
.
In early 2007, the band released a double CD titled Double Exposure, which contains demos of their songs from the albums Present Tense and Tongue Twister. In the same time frame, Jeff Murphy published a book entitled, "Birth of a Band, The Record Deal and the Recording of Present Tense" which documents the band's inception, major label signing and subsequent recording of their first internationally distributed album, Present Tense. In January 2007 Jeff released a solo album titled Cantilever.
Albums
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974/5 | Heads or Tails | private release | Limited 4 copies - acetate LP |
| 1976 | One in Versailles | private release | LP |
| 1976 | Bazooka | private release | Cass |
| 1977 | Black Vinyl Shoes | Black Vinyl PVC Sire (UK) Black Vinyl (BV10092) |
LP |
| 1979 | Present Tense | Elektra | LP, Cass |
| 1980 | Tongue Twister | Elektra | LP, Cass |
| 1982 | Boomerang | Elektra | LP, Cass |
| 1984 | Silhouette | New Rose (France) Demon (England) Line (Germany) Black Vinyl (BV15191) |
LP, Cass |
| 1987 | Shoes Best | Black Vinyl (BV19787) | CD |
| 1988 | Present Tense / Tongue Twister | Black Vinyl (BV19888) | CD, Cass. Re-issue |
| 1989 | Stolen Wishes | Black Vinyl (BV10189) New Rose (France) VC (Japan) |
CD, LP |
| 1990 | Boomerang / Shoes on Ice | Black Vinyl (BV18190) | CD Re-issue |
| 1994 | Propeller | Black Vinyl (BV10294) | CD |
| 1995 | Fret Buzz (live) | Black Vinyl (BV10495) | CD |
| 1997 | As-Is | Black Vinyl (BV10596) | Double CD (re-issue of "One In Versailles", "Bazooka" and other rarities |
| 2007 | Cantilever | Black Vinyl (BV10101) | Jeff Murphy solo CD |
| 2007 | Double Exposure | Black Vinyl (BV11979) | Double CD |
Singles and EPs
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "Tomorrow Night" b/w "Okay" | Bomp (Bomp116) | 7" single |
| 1979 | "Too Late" | Elektra | 7" single |
| 1982 | Shoes on Ice | Elektra | 12" EP |
| 1995 | Tore a Hole | Black Vinyl (BV10395) | CD |
Tracks on compilations
| Year | Album Title | Shoes Track | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | The Best of Bomp Volume One | "Tomorrow Night" | Bomp! Bomp! Records Bomp! Records is an Los Angeles-based indie label formed in 1974 by fanzine publisher and music historian Greg Shaw.-History:The label has featured punk, pop, powerpop, garage rock, new wave, old school rock, neo-psychedelia among other genres, and its roster has included artists such as The Modern... |
|
| 1989 | Everyday Is a Holly Day | Words Of Love | New Rose (France) Emergo (EMD9465) |
Buddy Holly tribute CD |
| 1991 | Yuletunes | This Christmas | Black Vinyl (BV12591) | Christmas CD |
| 1993 | Shake It Up! – American Power Pop II (1978–80) | "Tomorrow Night" "Too Late" |
Rhino Rhino Entertainment Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes... |
|
| 1993 | Yellow Pills Volume One | I Miss You | Big Deal (9003) | American Pop CD |
| 1994 | Yellow Pills Volume One | Thing of the Past | Big Deal (9006) | American Pop CD |
| 1996 | The Roots of Powerpop | "Tomorrow Night" | Bomp! |
External links
- http://www.shoeswire.com - The official Shoes band web site
- http://www.blackvinyl.com Their label website: Black Vinyl Records