Kihn’s best-known number, THE BREAKUP SONG (They Don’t Write ‘Em) is a power pop classic, which is why it appears here three times. If you sing a song every time you perform for 42 years, you wind up with more than one “keeper” in the can. So included here are the original hit version, a live version, and a solo version.
Bill Graham regularly booked The Greg Kihn Band at Winterland, and the next to the last show presented at the venue was Kihn opening for Tom Petty. Greg Kihn was one of the first acts to record a Bruce Springsteen song. Manfred Mann scored a hit with Blinded By The Light in 1976. Kihn nailed his 1977 recording of For You, the same year Robert Gordon released Fire, which Springsteen wrote especially for him. Patti Smith’s co-write with The Boss (Because The Night) followed in 1978.
Kihn could always spot a good song. His cover of Beserkley Records label mate Jonathan Richman’s Roadrunner is nearly as good as the original. He plucked Cheri Baby from Hot Chocolate’s set list, and serves up a quirky almost new wave version of I Fall To Pieces. On this collection he covers Telstar, Love’s Made A Fool Of You, Not Fade Away, and a second Springsteen track, Thunder Road.
Starting in the mid-1990s Kihn was a longtime DJ in the San Francisco Bay Area and was a nationally syndicated nighttime radio host. He also wrote novels.
ELSEWHERE IN THE BLOGOSPHERE: The Greg Kihn Band live in Milwaukee (1983) at They Don't Make Albums Like That Anymore Albums That Should Exist.
We don't do a lot of "in memoriam" posts, but who can resist that Kihntagious grin?
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I won't! Only know "Jeopardy" (yeah, I don't think "The Breakup Song" was big outside the States), and weirdly, his version of "Roadrunner", so this will be good to make some Kihnecction with the man..
DeleteThanks Jonder I know one tune you mentioned very well from our old AOR station KQ you’re excellent intro post for me has been a thorn in my side now ousted! And following Patrick Cowley post and the Space Cowboys Ben And Steve San Fran’s fancy city of our west and golden rich music has kept us thrilled it was our very first family of 10 growing up vacation out state as we say in MN from Coit tower down US1 to my folks along the way we stopped for dinner at Korean send off spot when they were 17 & 18 met old nun friend then to ‘Diego great ride
ReplyDeleteSounds like quite a family vacation, from MN to the Golden State! Stinky compiled this one, and Richard made the connection between Patrick Cowley and the SF band Indoor Life. Thanks again for all the music you share at the Downunderground blog, and for posting links to our blog!
DeleteVery embarrassing to admit, but I wasn't very familiar with Greg, so this is a welcome addition!
DeleteNothing to be embarrassed about -- an artist you haven't heard before can be a real treat. It looks like "Jeopardy" charted internationally in 1983, but IDK if "The Breakup Song" was popular in non-English speaking countries. I didn't know until today that Joe Satriani played in Greg's band for awhile.
DeleteI probably had one of those Beserkley Records compilations with some Kihn tracks on them...
DeleteKihn and a really good band played a July 4 fireworks show in my little town a couple of years back and slayed. When the Breakup Song started it got as big an ovation as the fireworks!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a perfect song to listen to on a summer night of fireworks in a small town festival atmosphere.
DeleteThanks for this. Saw The Greg Kihn Band supporting the Rubinoos (or vice versa) in Manchester Uni Students' Union in '78 or '79 - both fabulous!
DeleteI kihn dig it! Not very familiar either so this Stinky curated comp should do nicely!
ReplyDeleteMy work here is done. Thanks for all your comments! - Stinky
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