Real Kids

Real Kids | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 16, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Norton
• ASIN: B000001UFC
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,351 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

In the late '70s through the early '80s, the Real Kids were Boston's original rock & roll slop band. Fronted by John Felice, main songwriter and guiding spirit, the Real Kids ran on equal parts adolescent rivalry, drugs, and as much beer as they could consume. When Felice wanted to tear up a club with his rockin' originals or his favorite rock & roll tunes (equally adept at both), the Kids could be a thing of raw beauty to watch and hear. When Felice wasn't in the mood, he could play pissed-off rock star to the max and the results were desultory at best. This Norton CD, however, catches them early in the ball game, their debut album for the tiny Red Star label with all the great John Felice tunes like "All Kindsa Girls," "Taxi Boys" (which later became the name of an offshoot group that recorded for Dave Pierce's Star Rhythm imprint, the label that also issued the second [or last, depending on how you're keeping score] Real Kids album), "My Baby's Book," and "Better Be Good" along with spirited covers of Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran material just to give you the big picture. Perhaps the Real Kids were just too undisciplined to make it big; maybe the drugs and the booze got in the way of the creativity. Alas, it's an old story, but Felice's reputation over in Europe continues to earn high marks and rumors abound that new material is on the way. In the meantime, check this one out -- close your eyes and you'll swear you've been transported back to the late '70s at CBGB's. Like their name, these guys were for real. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The real power pop!, April 10, 2002

By 

jason gilmour (Toronto, Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Kids (Audio CD)

This disc that you are looking at holds more up-beat energy than a thousand Strokes records! The Real Kids hardly get mentioned in any of the trendy "roots of punk" books and records that are all the rage with the new "garage/rock'n'roll" crowd and that is a real shame. This band deserves a spot in the damn rock'n'roll hall of fame for being so great! All Kindsa Girls has to be the best darn punk,rock'n'roll or pop song in the history of music! Buy this or be square for ever.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars have the vinyl, April 9, 2006

By 

Robyn (Schenectady, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Kids (Audio CD)

This is an amazing record - like others have said, it delivers an intense punch of pioneering power-pop sound that's just fabulous to listen to. Not only that, but there's a certainly defined skill that comes off of the vinyl grooves of this album; the songs vary from the jumpy ("All Kindsa Girls") to the incredibly heartfelt and rather slow ("Just Like Darts"- a MUST listen). I HIGHLY reccomend this album. Totally overlooked, but absolutely seminal.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Power Pop Pinnacle, April 19, 2002

By 

John Ramsey (Carrollton, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Kids (Audio CD)

Before there was the Knack, or any other of a thousand power pop wannabees, there was this album by a quartet of Boston kids with loud guitars and a passion for 60's rock. The songs are great, and fortunately time and money were short, resulting in a raw explosion of sound that virtually defines late 70's power pop.