The Nails
Encyclopedia
The Nails were a six piece New Wave
band that formed in Boulder, Colorado
, during the mid 1970s. In Colorado, they were originally named The Ravers, and their roadie, Eric Boucher, later became known as Jello Biafra
of the Dead Kennedys
.
and by the late 1970s had established themselves on the club circuit. Hotel for Women, an EP
recorded in 1981, contained an early version of "88 Lines About 44 Women
", a song that caught the attention of RCA
. The Nails were signed to RCA By Bruce Harris, also known for bringing The Clash to America. In 1984 "88 Lines About 44 Women" was re-recorded for RCA and included on The Nails' full-length debut LP, Mood Swing. The song received regular airplay despite a number of double entendre
s and lyrical references to masturbation
and sadomasochism.
Two years later they released Dangerous Dreams, also on RCA. Both Mood Swing and Dangerous Dreams made the Billboard top 200 album chart and were critically acclaimed. But after the release of Dangerous Dreams The Nails left RCA. RCA did not release either LP on compact disc. "88 Lines About 44 Women" continued to appear on compilations 20 years after its release and was featured in a Mazda
television commercial that aired in the late 1990s.
The Nails were composed of vocalist Marc Campbell, bassist George Kaufman, saxophonist Douglas Guthrie, drummer Mike Ratti (Dennis McDermott on Mood Swing), keyboardist Dave Kaufman, and guitarist Steve O'Rourke.
In 1988, the band reconvened (without Guthrie and Dave Kaufman) to record a third album, Corpus Christi, which wasn't released until 1993 and received little exposure. The Nails deny ever receiving any proceeds from this album, citing a rift with their former producer, claiming that he swindled them of their rights. They post re-recordings of these songs on the late George Kaufman's site along with the explanation of the dispute. They strongly discourage fans from purchasing the album, as they will never be compensated.
In 2007, the band licensed Mood Swing and Dangerous Dreams from RCA parent company Sony-BMG Entertainment and released these albums on compact disc for the first time.
In March 2009, bassist George Kaufman died of complications following heart surgery. He was survived by his wife, Sharla, and his children, Isabel and Michael Kaufman.
Former lead singer Marc Campbell had an album, Tantric Machine, released in the Summer of 2010.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band that formed in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, during the mid 1970s. In Colorado, they were originally named The Ravers, and their roadie, Eric Boucher, later became known as Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
of the Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
.
History
The Nails moved to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and by the late 1970s had established themselves on the club circuit. Hotel for Women, an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
recorded in 1981, contained an early version of "88 Lines About 44 Women
88 Lines About 44 Women
88 Lines About 44 Women is the name of the hit single by the new wave band The Nails. Originally recorded for their EP Hotel for Women, the song was re-recorded and released to critical and commercial acclaim on the band's 1984 album Mood Swing....
", a song that caught the attention of RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
. The Nails were signed to RCA By Bruce Harris, also known for bringing The Clash to America. In 1984 "88 Lines About 44 Women" was re-recorded for RCA and included on The Nails' full-length debut LP, Mood Swing. The song received regular airplay despite a number of double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
s and lyrical references to masturbation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
and sadomasochism.
Two years later they released Dangerous Dreams, also on RCA. Both Mood Swing and Dangerous Dreams made the Billboard top 200 album chart and were critically acclaimed. But after the release of Dangerous Dreams The Nails left RCA. RCA did not release either LP on compact disc. "88 Lines About 44 Women" continued to appear on compilations 20 years after its release and was featured in a Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
television commercial that aired in the late 1990s.
The Nails were composed of vocalist Marc Campbell, bassist George Kaufman, saxophonist Douglas Guthrie, drummer Mike Ratti (Dennis McDermott on Mood Swing), keyboardist Dave Kaufman, and guitarist Steve O'Rourke.
In 1988, the band reconvened (without Guthrie and Dave Kaufman) to record a third album, Corpus Christi, which wasn't released until 1993 and received little exposure. The Nails deny ever receiving any proceeds from this album, citing a rift with their former producer, claiming that he swindled them of their rights. They post re-recordings of these songs on the late George Kaufman's site along with the explanation of the dispute. They strongly discourage fans from purchasing the album, as they will never be compensated.
In 2007, the band licensed Mood Swing and Dangerous Dreams from RCA parent company Sony-BMG Entertainment and released these albums on compact disc for the first time.
In March 2009, bassist George Kaufman died of complications following heart surgery. He was survived by his wife, Sharla, and his children, Isabel and Michael Kaufman.
Former lead singer Marc Campbell had an album, Tantric Machine, released in the Summer of 2010.
Albums
- Mood Swing - 1984
- Dangerous Dreams - 1986
- Corpus Christi - 1993
Singles
- "Cops Are Punks / Big Star / Another Lesson" - 1977
- "Back Street Boys / Rock & Roll Show" - 1978
- "Young and Wild / Transcontinental Ska" - 1980
- "88 Lines About 44 Women88 Lines About 44 Women88 Lines About 44 Women is the name of the hit single by the new wave band The Nails. Originally recorded for their EP Hotel for Women, the song was re-recorded and released to critical and commercial acclaim on the band's 1984 album Mood Swing....
" - 1982 - "Let It All Hang Out" - 1985
- "Things You Left Behind" - 1986
CD Reissues
- Mood Swing (remastered with bonus tracks) - 2007
- Dangerous Dreams (remastered with bonus tracks) - 2007
- Hotel for Women (remastered with bonus tracks) - 2009