I was turned onto WAZMO NARIZ through a 1981 compilation: I.R.S. GREATEST HITS VOLS. 2 & 3.
Trouser Press said this about it: This double album has its musical ups and downs, but it’s a well-assembled sampler by a label that, at the time, had a phenomenal roster. A lot of these bands have since made better records than the items included here; still, it fulfills its appointed mission skillfully, and does contain a lot of good material.
It was also my introduction to Skafish, another Chicago band that shares a lot of similarities. Both were decidedly uncool, oddball, & original. There wasn't a pretty boy in either band, both shared their name with the stage name of the lead singer, and both were early 80’s new wave bands.
Of WAZMO, Trouser Press journo Steven Grant wrote: Despite a wealth of talent and wild humor, Nariz fell between niches — too bizarre to be pop, too pop to be avant-garde — and the band dissolved amid financial worries & critical apathy.
But their successes certainly stirred some envy in their peers. Their first single Tele-Tele-Telephone was picked up by STIFF Records—and was one of the label’s first UK releases. After releasing an EP, the band caught the attention of I.R.S. Records’ founder Miles Copeland who put them on tour with his brother’s band THE POLICE. Two songs from an appearance opening for them at Santa Monica Civic Center are included here.
They were prolific songwriters. None of the songs on their EP were included on their debut album. To my knowledge, they didn’t record any cover songs.
Lead singer Wazmo Nariz (Larry Grennan) was an early host of MTV’s Cutting Edge. Wazmo/Grennan went on to work with Stan Ridgway, and his drummer Bruce Zelesnik was a member of Ridgway’s band. Grennan popped up in several national commercials back in the day.
Doug Stone reviewed their lone I.R.S. release: This inaugural LP spurts Bryan Ferry trilling trapped in bouncy Oingo Boingo biscuits. Skinny-tie before skinny ties made the scene (hence Nariz' trademark of two wide ties) and new wave before new wave crashed on the shore, Nariz and his Wazband are undeniably talented but strikingly odd. If you like your '80s pop off-kilter and kooky, chances are you'll dig Things Aren't Right, which sets the standard for standing apart.
A shout out is in order to (friend of the blog) ViacomClosedMeDown. He posted the lion's share of the tracks contained here on his blog. While I had some of the tracks on CD, I used his rips so it would have the warm crackle of vinyl throughout--except for of a couple of live YouTube videos I converted. Check out VCMD's Wazmo post here: Down Underground
We ask downloaders to reward our efforts by leaving a comment, or by joining the conversation below.
ReplyDeleteI mentioned the compilation that exposed me to WAZMO NARIZ above: I.R.S. GREATEST HITS VOLS. 2 & 3.
Which compilation album introduced YOU to the largest number of artists that you remain passionate about?
THE BEST OF WAZMO NARIZ
https://pixeldrain.com/u/9TMxkh5T
Quick note to those of you who are unable to download this compilation (or others).
DeletePixeldrain's database "is currently unstable" according to its founder. "You might see the site go down sometimes until I have found a solution."
I actually have a second link ready, from when Pixel was being difficult the other night. Here it is:
Deletehttps://www.mediafire.com/file/vlq62whlu73rir5/%252Bh3_B3%2524t_%257B%257Df_VVazm0_N%2540r%2521z.zip/file
Koen had Geef Voor New Wave on his blog. It brought me so much new artists back then that are still huge favorites. Another was Keihard & Swingend, also Dutch and equally important for me. Thank you, Stinky
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw Koen's blog post, it solved a decades-old mystery for me! Back in the early 80's, I met a Milwaukee area musician named Scott Puffer who had recorded a single and released it on his own label, "Geef Voor Réköördz". I had absolutely no idea that there was any meaning behind the words "Geef Voor", or what the language might be. Now I know WHERE he got the name, but still don't know WHY he chose it. I posted Scott's single as part of a blog compilation, but the download links are dead.
Deletehttps://jonderblog.blogspot.com/2023/01/mke-80-milwaukee-singles-from-1980.html
https://www.discogs.com/label/1469646-Geef-Voor-R%C3%A9k%C3%B6%C3%B6rdz
Koen posted the album "Geef Voor New Wave" here -- but if you want it, you'll have to wait until Pixeldrain is running again! Maybe my old friend Scott Puffer had a copy of this New Wave compilation album?
Deletehttps://musicfromoutoftime.blogspot.com/2026/04/new-wave-charity.html
It DOES look great, Richard. Thanks! I'll check it out when Pixel is back online.
DeleteSweeeeet Stinky!!!! Tough question but perhaps MRR#1, Blitz or BYO/Rat Music comps. I can brag today that our current company President is the guy who let me tape his Wacker Drive 7 (Tele-tele), Magazine's album and The Bongos when he was our factory rep in Chicago area with his father--a master of the electromechanical products and since deceased after getting our largest OEM machine builder now--as I stayed in Chi-town and Ohio on trips in Red Roof Inns for six months right out of engineering college while they taught me where to look at factories for applications during sales calls. He retired from playing drums a few years ago when he moved to Florida. He was also big into prog music like Yes, Al Kooper, The Flock, Electric Flag and other 'horn' rock bands that I featured a decade ago when he lent me those vinyl. Yeah, being in MN we had so much local band talent that I hadn't heard of those big three in early 90's. Looking forward to bonus songs, thanks!
ReplyDeleteHahahaha. "Horn Rock"! Thanks for the rips!
DeleteI'm still thankful for The Enigma Variations 1 & 2 for so much good music/artists/bands. Thanks Stinky.
ReplyDeleteYeah, those WERE great comps, NO! We appreciate you stopping by.
DeleteA&M records No Wave compilation from 1978 changed some of what I listened to then and now
ReplyDeleteNO WAVE was a great compilation, featured here on the blog not long ago:
Deletehttps://jonderblog.blogspot.com/2024/10/no-wave-another-blatant-attempt-to.html
PROPAGANDA was a similar A&M new wave compilation album:
https://jonderblog.blogspot.com/2024/10/propaganda-blatant-attempt-to-influence.html
I shouldn't brag, but I had that one on a picture disc!
DeleteI have the pizza one too. They must have pressed more picture discs that the regular. I was also proud till I found out.
DeleteLinks to Mike 80 Milwaukee are dead.
Come to think of it, I HAVE seen a lot of those. :)
DeleteI definitely went through a picture disc phase. Musos always said they didn't sound as good, but they worked for me!
The 1983 compilation album “The Blasting Concept” turned me onto the SST world, specifically the Minutemen, Black Flag, Meat Puppets & Husker Du. One of my favorite albums that I still listen to. Extra bonus points for the Raymond Pettibon cover artwork that continues to be met with grimaces, head-shakes & lectures lmao
ReplyDeleteWonderful to see you over here Gonzo. I forgot about "The Blasting Concept." I wore out a second-hand cassette of that release.
DeletePettibon's art is great. Whoever came up with this Black Flag/Beach Boys mash-up deserved $25 of my money:
https://in.pinterest.com/pin/god-only-knows-by-the-beach-boys--51158145740112129/
Not sure if Pettibon did the cover portrait of Elvis, but "The Future Looks Bright Ahead" was a wonderful 1981 cassette comp with Posh Boy bands on one side, and SST/New Alliance on the other. It had the best tracks from the first TSOL EP and the Descendents EP, plus Dez singing "Six Pack" and Channel 3's "Manzanar" (about the US internment camps for Japanese immigrants during WWII, something that I had never learned about in US History class. Good thing nothing like THAT has ever happened again!)
Deletehttps://rateyourmusic.com/release/comp/various-artists/the-future-looks-bright-ahead/
My favourite comp of all time was Heroes and Cowards,a Stiff italian-only LP wich features the Damned first single and the fabolous Snuff Rock EP by Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias,plus many other acts that I discover there
ReplyDeleteWhat a great name for a comp, and I always loved Stiff Records. You almost can't go wrong with one of their compilations.
DeleteI wasn't aware of Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias, so I zipped over to YouTube, & the first video that came up: KILL, is great:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7PQxA7ffAo
Thanks for turning me onto them, Roberto.
Snuff Rock was brilliant. Still is! "Gobbing On Life" and "Kill" were perfectly executed parodies but equally enjoyable as great punk rock.
DeleteFlipside Vinyl Fanzine #1. The soundtrack to The Return of the Living Dead (goes well with those Enigma Variations mentioned above). The Wailing Ultimate (it was some time before I realized that Dinosaur - the band that did the opening track- and Dinosaur Jr. were the same band...). The State of the Union Dischord comp - probably more for the insert (especially the book recommendations and sociopolitical stuff) than the bands - I did a book report on The Autobiography of Malcolm X in high school because of that. But that Flipside one... that was the beginning.
Delete