Human Sexual Response: Fig. 14 1980 + In A Roman Mood 1981

 

Human Sexual Response — six men and one woman, a mix of gay and straight musicians, who

became a key part of the Boston new wave scene from 1978 to 1982. Although they were pegged to be the post-punk era's next big thing, Boston's Human Sexual Response did the opposite, and crashed and burned after four years and two albums.
                      

No band had a lineup like the Humans. There were four singers: A main singer (Bangor) and

three backup/occasional lead singers (Cameron, Bangor’s younger brother Dini Lamot and his then-boyfriend/now husband Windle Davis). Gilbert was joined by a rhythm section comprising drummer Malcolm Travis and bassist Chris Maclachlan (who replaced original bassist Rolfe Anderson).
          

                
But during their short existence, they created a substantial buzz in their hometown and on the East

Coast for their arty and energetic live shows and their sophisticated postmodern pop. Fronted by four singers and backed by a power trio that featured the excellent guitar work of Rich Gilbert, HSR combined a punk rock ethos with a camp sensibility reminiscent of early Blondie.
            

Prominent vocalist Larry Bangor offered songs like "What Does Sex Mean to Me" and the irreverent

"Jackie Onassis" in a jittery tenor voice that conjured up sex, outrage, and comedy in one neat package. Never eschewing controversy (Bangor was refreshingly outspoken about his homosexuality), HSR is the only band in the annals of American rock & roll to perform a song entitled "Buttfuck" on television.
                

HSR played the New England circuit for another year and split in 1982. Rich Gilbert formed the cool

(and loud) combo the Zulus, while drummer Malcolm Travis went on to beats skins for Bob Mould in Sugar. The ensuing decades spawned the occasional reunion, resulting in sporadic, yet well attended live shows that found the group's fan base, both the seasoned and the newly smitten, largely intact.
                  

Members of this band branched off to become the Zulus, while Dini Lamot re-emerged as the

successful and highly notorious drag queen Musty Chiffon, who includes "Jackie O'Nassis" in his stage act. Outside of a few "reunion" gigs, this essential act is no more.   
                

HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE - FIG. 15 1980

The best record made by this promising band, Fig. 14 has the comic, campy qualities that made Human

Sexual Response such a fun band, including "Jackie Onassis" and a screwy cover of "Cool Jerk." Bangor's singing might get a little irritating, but Rich Gilbert's big guitar always saves the day. In many ways, Fig. 14 is a classic piece of early-'80s new wave rock.
                     

Human Sexual Response – Fig. 15
Label: Eat Records – EAT CD2
Format: CD, Reissue, Remastered 1991
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Post-Punk

TRAXS

             

01. Guardian Angel
02. Dick And Jane
03. Jackie Onassis
04. Cool Jerk
05. Butt Fuck
06. Dolls
07. What Does Sex Mean To Me?
08. Marone Moan
09. Unba Unba
10. Anne Frank Story

LINE - UP

                 

Bass – Chris Maclachlan
Drums – Malcolm Travis
Guitar – Rich Gilbert
Lacquer Cut By – HW
Lyrics By – Lamot (tracks: A3), Bangor (tracks: A1 to A3, A5 to B4)
Vocals – Casey Cameron, Larry Bangor, Windle Davis
Vocals, Tambourine – Dini Lamot

JACKIE ONASSIS LYRICS

            

I want to be Jackie Onassis
I want to wear a pair of dark sunglasses

I want to be Jackie Onassis, oh yeah
Oh yeah

I want bodyguards all around
I'm anxious to avoid an autograph hound

I want to be Jackie Onassis, oh yeah
Oh yeah

I'm ready for the world to take a good look at me
Photographers can snap my picture, I'll pose for free
Tabloids can make my name a household word
I'll belong to millions but be free as a bird

                

I want my portrait done by Andy Warhol
I'll let them market a Jackie O doll

Just let me be Jackie Onassis, oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah

First the world will call me Bouvier, hey
Then I'll change to Jackie K
After my date with tragedy
I'll let Aristotle take care of me

I want to be Jackie Onassis, oh yeah
I said, I'd be happy to be Jackie
I'd be happy to be Jackie
(I'd be happy to be Jackie)
(I'd be happy to be Jackie)
I want to be Jackie Onassis (I'd be happy to be Jackie)
I want to be Jackie Onassis (I'd be happy to be Jackie)

Flac Size: 281 MB

IN A ROMAN MOOD 1981

                

"Andy Fell," "Pound," and "Land of the Glass Pinecones" are three extraordinary pieces of music on an

equally extraordinary album. For those who felt producer Mike Thorne missed the mark with 'Til Tuesday and some of the Shirts' Street Light Shine album, he redeems himself here recording this essential Boston band with both accuracy -- something many of the contemporaries of Human Sexual Response failed to get -- and great production. Andy didn't fall in "Andy Fell," nor was he pushed.
     

He jumped. It's a song about suicide at a dormitory, a frightening and haunting prophecy, since this

practice had come into vogue at campuses around Boston in the late '90s. The drums on "Marone Offering" kick right in, as does Rich Gilbert's incessant guitar. The band's genius was generated by the multiple vocalists fronting a perfect rock unit. Imagine a hard rock Temptations during their experimental period fronted by the B-52's. It's a strange mixture that worked, thanks to a combination of talents, all who contributed mightily.
              

"Keep a Southern Exposure" is not one of the band's more well-known tunes, but it provides insight

towards their unlimited creativity and ability to execute. Discovered by Don Rose, who went on to form the legendary Rykodisc label before it was purchased by Chris Blackwell, the two HSR Passport Audio albums were re-released on Eat Records, distributed by Rykodisc. Eat was Don Rose's imprint prior to the creation of Rykodisc. In a Roman Mood remains a tremendous work of art just waiting to be rediscovered.
              

Human Sexual Response – In A Roman Mood
Label: Don't Fall Off The Mountain – X11
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1981
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave

TRAXS
            

SIDE A.

                

A1. Andy Fell   3:24
Written By – Bangor - Gilbert - Anderson - Hild
A2. Marone Offering    3:31
A3. Pound    3:25
A4. Public Alley 909   4:27
Written By – Bangor - Gilbert - Anderson
A5. 12345678910    3:57

SIDE B.

                 

B1. A Question Of Temperature    2:41
B2. Keep A Southern Exposure    3:08
B3. Blow Up   2:05
Written By – Bangor - Gilbert - Anderson - Hild
B4. House Of Atreus    4:31
B5. Land Of The Glass Pinecones    4:12
B6. Bodyguard   4:35
Written By – Bangor - Gilbert - Anderson

LINE - UP

                  

Bass – Chris Maclachlan
Drums – Malcolm Travis
Guitar – Rich Gilbert
Synthesizer – Mike Thorne (tracks: B5)
Vocals – Casey Cameron, Larry Bangor, Windle Davis
Vocals, Tambourine – Dini Lamot
Written-By – Maclachlan (tracks: A2 to A4, B2 to B5), Hild (tracks: A1, B2), Henny (tracks: B1), Schnug (tracks: B1), Bangor (tracks: A1 to A5, B2 to B6), Travis (tracks: B4), Appel (tracks: B1), Gilbert (tracks: A1 to A5, B2, B4, to B6), Weiss (tracks: B2)

Flac Size: 213 MB