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The Records — Starry Eyes
Album: Smashes, Crashes & Near Misses
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 596









Released: 1979
Length: 4:15
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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While you were off in France, we were stranded in the British Isles.
Left to fall apart amongst your passports and your files.
We never asked for miracles, but they were our concern.
Did you really think we'd sit it out and wait for your return?

I don't want to argue. I ain't gonna budge.
Won't you take this number down before you call up the judge?
I don't want to argue. There's nothing to say.
Get me out of your starry eyes and be on your way!

While you were on the beach, were you dreaming all about your share?
Planning to invest it all to cover wear and tear?
We paid for all the phone calls. The money's off the shelf.
Don't you know that while you're gone away, I've got to help myself?

I don't want to argue. I ain't gonna budge.
Won't you take this number down before you call up the judge?
I don't want to argue. There's nothing to say.
Get me out of your starry eyes and be on your way!

While you were in the pool, we were meeting with the boys upstairs,
Talking to the money men, and carrying out affairs.
We had no time for cocktails, or working up a tan.
The boys have all been spoken to. The writ has hit the fan.

I don't want to argue. I ain't gonna budge.
Won't you take this number down before you call up the judge?
I don't want to argue. There's nothing to say.
Get me out of your starry eyes and be on your way
Comments (119)add comment
Love me some jangly guitars. 
Posted 4 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 camerashy wrote:
That's Jude Cole, another Radio Paradise favorite, standing on the left side of the album cover !

 
Really?
I learnt sumthin nue!
Posted 6 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
 Hey_Porter wrote:
One Hit Wonder

 
If only I could produce one.

Love Power Pop!
Posted 6 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
One Hit Wonder
Posted 7 years ago by Hey_Porter    [ Reply ]
PASS!
Posted 7 years ago by Gloriastacholy    [ Reply ]
 kcar wrote:

(psst: I think it's a different song...)

I was going to write something snarky/goofy about Roky as The Most Interesting Man in the World and drinking Dos Equis, but wow his bio stopped me short. Another tale of madness, drug use and slow recovery. Good for you, Roky, to make it back. 

 
Dang, you're right. Funny that both would be so poppy.
 


Posted 7 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Sounds like a Ray Davies (Kinks) wannabe.
Posted 7 years ago by VV    [ Reply ]
Never heard this before.  Great song.  And the Banana a few comments down is in time.  
 
Posted 8 years ago by pwilborn    [ Reply ]
and just remember that we danced the "Grape Presser Stomp" ... :)
Posted 8 years ago by Far    [ Reply ]
For the record (no pun intended) this song is from 1979, not 1988.
Posted 8 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
That's Jude Cole, another Radio Paradise favorite, standing on the left side of the album cover !
Posted 8 years ago by camerashy    [ Reply ]
Wow, I now recall cueing up this snappy, bouncy, catchy tune during my Friday Rocks slot at the CU Radio Station when it came out...
Posted 8 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
yeah whatever, it's the great sound of this oldie thats working all the positive gray cells from so long ago, good times
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Summer music. Dancing in sand, tops down, cruising, looking for-at the future' adventure, connections... Making connections, breaking them, right people, wrong reasons, wrong people, ... I am so glad not to be in my teens. It was fun, necessary, and very painful.   Not doing that again. Now on to new ones, people, right-wrong, pain-bliss, it changes in style but not in fundamentals and it still hurts to make mistakes from ignorance and lack on honesty with self.  Living  life backwards, like Merlin, would be interesting but knowing what's coming and not changing anything would be worse than being ignorant, arrogant and blind the first time through. 3
Posted 9 years ago by AndyJ    [ Reply ]
The lyrics suggest an interesting back story for this song, I wonder what it is?
Posted 9 years ago by Typesbad    [ Reply ]
{#Bananajumprope}
Posted 9 years ago by Michallik    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
I always liked Roky's version(s):
 
 

 
(psst: I think it's a different song...)

I was going to write something snarky/goofy about Roky as The Most Interesting Man in the World and drinking Dos Equis, but wow his bio stopped me short. Another tale of madness, drug use and slow recovery. Good for you, Roky, to make it back. 
Posted 9 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
 twangfetish wrote:
You should follow this up with Kid by The Pretenders.

This shows just how very good the Pretenders were by comparison.
Posted 9 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
 tulfan wrote:
I love this one. It was on an old compilation I found with a Planet P song...cool

 
Wow, you rarely hear anything associated w/ Tony Carey: I never would have made that connection.
Posted 9 years ago by Foot    [ Reply ]
9 - Instant classic!
Posted 9 years ago by Foot    [ Reply ]
I love this one. It was on an old compilation I found with a Planet P song...cool
Posted 9 years ago by tulfan    [ Reply ]
 Sasha2001 wrote:

Or, you could say, "Roger McGuinn called Tom Petty and he want's his guitar back." But then again, Roger got his idea for the 12-string Rickenbacker when he heard George Harrison on "Hard Days Night."

Music is a river, not a tree. 

https://youtu.be/uyTge3XkLnw

 
Exactly.  
Posted 9 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
I always liked Roky's version(s):
 
 
Posted 10 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
 LPCity wrote:
Most likeable indeed. O.K. I was going to resist making the "Tom Petty called, he wants his guitar back" joke. But now Running Down A Dream is cranking in my headphones....
 
Or, you could say, "Roger McGuinn called Tom Petty and he want's his guitar back." But then again, Roger got his idea for the 12-string Rickenbacker when he heard George Harrison on "Hard Days Night."

Music is a river, not a tree. 

https://youtu.be/uyTge3XkLnw
Posted 10 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
It's been a long time since I've heard this one. Fun song!
Posted 10 years ago by olivertwist    [ Reply ]
I love a peppy pop song. 
Posted 10 years ago by PopKombo    [ Reply ]
Made me smile! More 60s than 80s, I think....
Posted 10 years ago by PierogiMom    [ Reply ]

Much like myself, some things just don't age well.................................{#Sad}


Posted 10 years ago by birdiestobehad    [ Reply ]
I saw this band once (Sept. '79 in Mpls. at the M-80 Music Fest), but I don't remember anything about their performance.

That is all...
Posted 10 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
 hayduke2 wrote:

Whaaa.....not memorable, oooohhh jeeeshhhh this sound hits instant cords from waaaaayyy back, and still cool in a way

  Agree. It always catches my ear. Then if I'm out the door I'm humming it. :-)
Posted 10 years ago by Wizzo_oz    [ Reply ]
The writ has hit the fan.
.....................................................
Get me out of your starry eyes and be on your way.

I am a sucker for witty lyrics.  Voting this an 8 on first listen.
Posted 10 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
Nice, but not memorable. Not rating it. It doesn't punch me in the soul.

 
Whaaa.....not memorable, oooohhh jeeeshhhh this sound hits instant cords from waaaaayyy back, and still cool in a way
Posted 10 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
...be on your way.
Posted 10 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
Sounds like?... oh so many ...BUT ...dance I must{#Bananasplit}
Posted 10 years ago by paradisepig    [ Reply ]
Classique!!!
Posted 11 years ago by dingusbother    [ Reply ]
FUN! Very '80s. Wow, I'm digging throwback music that's way below my 2012 age group. I think that's good. 
Posted 11 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Wow! X 2! I had their self-titled album on cassette 30 years ago and thought it was great pop-schlock that apparently no one else I knew had ever heard of. This song was also on that album. I have since found two copies on vinyl. 

Great to hear it on RP! 
Posted 11 years ago by R7-12    [ Reply ]
Wow, I havent heard this in decades.  I recall buying this single, and then buying many more by The Records. They all sucked except for this one. Sigh.
Posted 11 years ago by mrandrew    [ Reply ]
 midigitguy wrote:
Almost perfect power pop...
 
I was about to say "perfect power pop" but I guess no song is really perfect, so I'll go along with the "almost" perfect power pop.

I'm a bit of sucker for this - but only in small doses. 
Posted 11 years ago by Bat    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
Really listenable and danceable pop. Great hooks and verve. 
 
Indeed.  I had this single back in those days; I think I bought it at Bleecker Bob's.
Posted 11 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Really listenable and danceable pop. Great hooks and verve. 
Posted 12 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Almost perfect power pop...
Posted 12 years ago by midigitguy    [ Reply ]
Echoes of Roger McGuinn....
Posted 12 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
 ianmoff wrote:
Chorus sounds like Eddie and The Hot Rods ;-)

Ian 
 
Same era of British power pop - late 1970's.  Great stuff.
Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of the Flamin' Groovies. I dig it!
Posted 13 years ago by Photo-John    [ Reply ]
Jammin!!
Posted 13 years ago by whtahtefcuk    [ Reply ]
Nice, but not memorable. Not rating it. It doesn't punch me in the soul.
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 tpa29970 wrote:
Whaddayamean "Image not available?"  That just makes me  want to see it even more!
 


Here you go, a record of The Records and the EP

Posted 13 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
Whaddayamean "Image not available?"  That just makes me  want to see it even more!
Posted 13 years ago by tpa29970    [ Reply ]
 fretman wrote:
Pure now for pop people, the Records are go!
 
This is the sort of song I always thought I oughta be able to write but never could come close to.  It's just a perfect record.

Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
"Do anything you wanna do"....

Posted 13 years ago by gumbo73039    [ Reply ]
 Giselle62 wrote:
perfect pop.
 
True that.

Posted 13 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Oh, yes.  Yes, yes, yes.   The perfect cure.    I wish I knew what to call the disease.
Posted 13 years ago by tpa29970    [ Reply ]
has one of the best endings of a guitar-pop
song
Posted 14 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
perfect pop.
Posted 14 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
so very mediocre
Posted 14 years ago by admissiblecycle    [ Reply ]
Rockin' retro cool, Daddy-O. 
Posted 14 years ago by tpa29970    [ Reply ]
Yet still another CD I was compelled to buy because of RP...
Posted 14 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
If this doesn't get your toes tapping, you're dead.
Posted 14 years ago by Art_Carnage    [ Reply ]
Chorus sounds like Eddie and The Hot Rods ;-)

Ian 
Posted 14 years ago by ianmoff    [ Reply ]
So... heard this a while back on RP... and I added it to the playlist of this cheezy cover band I'm a part of... MAN what a great song to play, always got a great response.  Someone always comes up and asks who did that song... one of those songs that everyone seems to think sounds familiar but nobody has in their record collection!

Thanks RP!!!   
Posted 14 years ago by mfassett    [ Reply ]

John Wicks & Paul Collins ...

John Wicks (lead singer of The Records) & Paul Collins (The Nerves, The Beat and Paul Collins Band) perform @ Casa Padilla in Campbell, CA on June 6, 2009 as part of their house concert tour.

Posted 14 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
 japanmoran wrote:
Interesting Byrds/Tom Petty sound...behind and ahead of their time.
Nice. Totally. I don't know this band and never would have guessed this song is from 1979.
Posted 14 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
 superfido wrote:
An ok one-timer but i wouldn't want to hear this too often.
 

Yup, cute to hear once in a while, but it could start to annoy if played too often.
Posted 15 years ago by coffee-eyes    [ Reply ]
Now I'm ready for some Rubinoos!
Posted 15 years ago by spunkyboy62    [ Reply ]
fingerpin wrote:
Nope. Don't get this one. But that's ok. Yeah, I'm the Talking Heads, Tori Amos, Rusted Root one.
Pity... This is a run into the surf, I'm not at work, in the heat of the summer song. Deal with it!
Posted 15 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
man, I forgot all about Too Much Joy! aquadonia wrote:
It seems Too Much Joy's was a parody of sorts then. I agree that it was rockin'! It's great to hear the original. Great choice, Bill!
Posted 16 years ago by lifeboatb    [ Reply ]
twangfetish wrote:
You should follow this up with Kid by The Pretenders.
3/25/08 - Your wish is Bill's command!
Posted 16 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
An ok one-timer but i wouldn't want to hear this too often.
Posted 16 years ago by superfido    [ Reply ]
upinya wrote:
Too Much Joy did a rockin great cover of this on Mutiny. Changed the lyrics, though :(
It seems Too Much Joy's was a parody of sorts then. I agree that it was rockin'! It's great to hear the original. Great choice, Bill!
Posted 16 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
MCKY wrote:
a fun summertime tune
Yup. Makes me want to surf on some waves :D
Posted 16 years ago by Atombender    [ Reply ]
a fun summertime tune
Posted 16 years ago by MCKY    [ Reply ]
I do wish the singer had used more than four notes - it sounds awful samey and monotonic. The Shadows-style bell guitar is the best thing about this, IMO. A mere 2, down from a 3.
Posted 16 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
twangfetish wrote:
WOW I have not heard this since probably 1982. What great memories! You should follow this up with Kid by The Pretenders.
They shold follow up every song with Kid by The Pretenders. KID RADIO 12 out of 24 HOURS All Kid, Half the time
Posted 16 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
Early WHO come to mind. Not bad.
Posted 16 years ago by E_A_D_G    [ Reply ]
This tune is such a good revver upper! Whoooooooooo! I too had never heard it before RP. Upping my support today for sure.
Posted 16 years ago by slugore    [ Reply ]
Nope. Don't get this one. But that's ok. Yeah, I'm the Talking Heads, Tori Amos, Rusted Root one.
Posted 16 years ago by fingerpin    [ Reply ]
This is a great tune. Judging by the comments below, this is from the late 70's? I totally missed this if that's the case. Never heard it before RP (BRP?) and really enjoy it whenever it makes the rounds.
Posted 16 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
WOW I have not heard this since probably 1982. What great memories! You should follow this up with Kid by The Pretenders.
Posted 16 years ago by twangfetish    [ Reply ]
Pure now for pop people, the Records are go!
Posted 17 years ago by fretman    [ Reply ]
Like the Ramones in a funny way...guess cuz they both refer to Buddy Holly rockabilly hooks...
Posted 17 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
Wow, missed this in my FM college radio days in the late 70's. Also has a Thin Lizzy guitar thing going. Always fun listening to RP.
Posted 17 years ago by rscherm    [ Reply ]
raindancer wrote:
Actually, you're incorrect. The chord progression and arrangement is different in Do Anything You Wanna Do.
It's definitely similar. You can sort of hear Starry Eyes in there somewhere. (click here) to hear some of it
Posted 17 years ago by RockinBlueVoodoo    [ Reply ]
WOW!!! All the way up to ten!! (Both speakers and rating!) Love this one...during my college radio days back in '78, this was one of our staples. Great to see references in this thread to power popsters like Bram T, Eddie and the Hot Rods, Jim Ellison, etc: jingle jangle, baby!
Posted 17 years ago by rtkmusic    [ Reply ]
This could be the greatest single ever recorded.
Posted 17 years ago by dave-the-rave    [ Reply ]
Olympus_mons wrote:
Any song that references "ducktales" is good in my book
I read this and really started hearing "ducktales" I think I need a cocktail...
Posted 17 years ago by rexi    [ Reply ]
Used to listen to this album a lot in high school.Late seventies power pop. That and Bram Tchaikovsky. There were some good songs on the LP. Side one had this on it and all the songs kind of segued together. It'd be hard to think of a band like this re-forming. Somehow 40-50 year olds would look kind of silly singing a song like "teen-a-rama". But this one is fun to listen to once in a while.
Posted 17 years ago by Harpua    [ Reply ]
Have downgraded to a 7. Loved it the first time I heard it, but it has become somewhat boring. Too bad I bought the record as I don't like any of their other tunes.
Posted 17 years ago by earthbased    [ Reply ]
Geez this brings back memories... At one of the first concerts I ever went to, these guys warmed up for The Cars. It was an outdoor concert in New York's Central park, back in '79. They played this song, which I remember well.
Posted 17 years ago by bob789    [ Reply ]
Starry Eyes
Posted 17 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
I like this!
Posted 17 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
Any song that references "ducktales" is good in my book
Posted 17 years ago by Olympus_mons    [ Reply ]
Most likeable indeed. O.K. I was going to resist making the "Tom Petty called, he wants his guitar back" joke. But now Running Down A Dream is cranking in my headphones....
Posted 18 years ago by LPCity    [ Reply ]
Not the greatest song ever, just a sweet little memory. Too bad power pop died with Jim Ellison.
Posted 18 years ago by curtkare    [ Reply ]
AphidA wrote:
More power pop!
Ah, so this is that "Power pop" thing that the LRC forum is always talking about. Yes, I could listen more of it, I agree. Just don't slide down to that boring US teen-movie college-rock. Hope you know what I mean.
Posted 18 years ago by ce    [ Reply ]
AphidA wrote:
More power pop!
Yeah baby! Great to hear in the afternoon when I could really use a nap...wakes me right up. A 9.
Posted 18 years ago by babygirl614    [ Reply ]
More power pop!
Posted 18 years ago by AphidA    [ Reply ]
I doesn't matter what I'm in the mood for, I always enjoy hearing this tune.
Posted 18 years ago by byrd    [ Reply ]
Actually, you're incorrect. The chord progression and arrangement is different in Do Anything You Wanna Do. Apparently, a writer/interviewer misquoted a statement made by John Wicks and Will Birch. The Eyeliners have a version of this song. It's track #10 on their album No Apologies. The song Do Anything You Wanna Do was written by Graeme Douglas with help from Ed Hollis. Like John Wicks and Will Birch of Records fame, guitarist Graeme Douglas also came from the Kursaal Flyers. Do Anything You Wanna Do is a lame song and for that reason, Starry Eyes reached many on the BBC and even made the billboard charts in the U.S. Can someone post a clip Starry Eyes so we can compare it to Do Anything You Wanna Do? dadofsammy wrote:
Oddly enough, this is almost a note-for-note ripoff of another American power pop song by a band called Eddie and the Hot Rods (circa 1975-77 or thereabouts). The song was Do Anything You Wanna Do. Guess there weren't too many chords available back then....
Posted 18 years ago by raindancer    [ Reply ]
nice power pop. i miss this stuff (nick lowe, etc...)
Posted 18 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
I used to LOVE this song! I had completely forgotten about it! Thank you, BillG!
Posted 18 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
The Records are a good UK band from the 1970s and 1980s. About a year ago, I read that The Records got back together in the 90s. When I went to their website https://www.therecords.org I found out there are 2 different versions of The Records. John Wicks & The Records has the original singer, John Wicks on guitar and vocals. The Records UK contains the drummer Will Birch. The John Wicks & The Records website is https://www.johnwicksandtherecords.com which is where I pre-booked a copy of their new album Rotate. Does anyone have the Hearts In Her Eyes single from Philippines? It's a rare vinyl for record collectors and fans both. ">
Posted 18 years ago by raindancer    [ Reply ]
upinya wrote:
Too Much Joy did a rockin great cover of this on Mutiny. Changed the lyrics, though :(
love the too much joy! i uploaded three or four from them... they didn't make it. it's to bad... i thought "crush story" would sound great here at paradise.
Posted 18 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
Boy I haven't heard this in ages. Makes me want to look up the whole album.
Posted 19 years ago by knibbs    [ Reply ]
Thanks for who ever uploaded this - great tune I'd forgotten all about! Even if I remembered it I couldn't have told you who did it.... now I know more than I did a minute ago!!! ....and while tappin' my feet!
Posted 19 years ago by ciscochasbro    [ Reply ]
I had a tape of Al Stewart doing a acoustic version of this song for some show that aired on my local NPR channel.
Posted 19 years ago by Arthur_Two_Sheds_Jackson    [ Reply ]
I love this song too. I actually uploaded it last month because it didn't show up when I did a search and instead of getting an ALREADY HAVE it went 16/4 on the LRC and got SORRY'd. I'm glad it's actually on the list. Fun stuff!!! :-)
Posted 19 years ago by RockinBlueVoodoo    [ Reply ]
ScopArch wrote:
I had this L.P. (What we listened to before there were CD's)! Great tune! Great to hear it again!
.... I still have their first album .... although they didn't reach the big time .... I thought they had an original sound .... I remember the album being well produced with some nice guitar work ..... I'll have to go find it in the stacks this weekend ...
Posted 19 years ago by rolo    [ Reply ]
I am pretty sure I bought this on a 45 my Freshman year of college. Used to have a ton of those. Saved them for many years, thinking I might some day buy a jukebox for them. When I got married and realized the jukebox thing wasn't going to happen anytime soon, they got shuffled off somewhere during a move. Sigh. Oh well. Still a great song.
Posted 19 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
Too Much Joy did a rockin great cover of this on Mutiny. Changed the lyrics, though :(
Posted 19 years ago by upinya    [ Reply ]
Great jangly number, thanks for the upload! A 9.
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Interesting Byrds/Tom Petty sound...behind and ahead of their time.
Posted 19 years ago by japanmoran    [ Reply ]
What a great pop song. I'd forgotten totally about it , the late seventies were such a great time for music. *sigh*
Posted 19 years ago by etwilson    [ Reply ]
ScopArch wrote:
I had this L.P. (What we listened to before there were CD's)! Great tune! Great to hear it again!
Man! I used to love The Records! I'm so glad BillG played this! It's good to go down memory lane sometimes.
Posted 19 years ago by samiyam    [ Reply ]
i uploaded this about a month ago. it's back again on the LRC. it's good to hear it everywhere!
Posted 19 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
dadofsammy wrote:
Oddly enough, this is almost a note-for-note ripoff of another American power pop song by a band called Eddie and the Hot Rods (circa 1975-77 or thereabouts). The song was Do Anything You Wanna Do. Guess there weren't too many chords available back then....
Oh man, I thought it was familiar!
Posted 19 years ago by Skeletor    [ Reply ]
I had this L.P. (What we listened to before there were CD's)! Great tune! Great to hear it again!
Posted 19 years ago by ScopArch    [ Reply ]
Oddly enough, this is almost a note-for-note ripoff of another American power pop song by a band called Eddie and the Hot Rods (circa 1975-77 or thereabouts). The song was Do Anything You Wanna Do. Guess there weren't too many chords available back then....
Posted 19 years ago by dadofsammy    [ Reply ]
The first time I heard this song was yesterday on the Listener Review channel, and I was blown away by it. I looked it up, and couldn't believe it was 25 years old. Just a perfect pop song (in a good way). I may have to buy this album. I was in diapers when it came out, so I completely missed it back then.
Posted 19 years ago by IndiEric    [ Reply ]