Paul Chastain and Ric Menck are most well-known for their perfect power pop combo Velvet Crush, but the two were in a lot of great bands before they began writing teenage symphonies to God. Besides Choo Choo Train, Bag O’ Shells, and The Paint Set, the duo recorded as The Springfields, putting out Byrds-meets-C86-inspired singles on fabled indie labels like Sarah, Summershine, Bus Stop, Seminal Twang, and Menck’s own Picture Book.
On November 15, the equally-legendary record co. Slumberland Records will release The Springfields’ Singles 1986-1991on CD, DL, and LP (first pressing on cloudy-clear vinyl with a poster).
Although the tracklist below looks more than a little familiar, beggars can’t be complainers, and an omnibus of this important indie duo’s early recordings is always a welcome thing. Containing the entire Springfields singles output, the compilation features a handful-and-a-half of Menck pop gems, the Matthew Sweet-penned “Are We Gonna Be Alright?,” and covers of The Hollies’ “Clown,” The Pastels’ “Million Tears,” Primal Scream’s early, unreleased “Tomorrow Ends Today,” and “Tranquil,” the only single by short-lived Scottish band The Clouds.
Here be the pre-orders, and here be the jangly jewel “Sunflower” from 1988:
Singles 1986-1991 tracklisting:
01. This Perfect Day
02. Bicycle Song
03. Sunflower
04. Clown
05. Are We Gonna Be Alright?
06. Wonder
07. Tomorrow Ends Today
08. She Swirls Around Me
09. Million Tears
10. Reachin’ For the Stars
11. Tranquil
12. Scatter Good Friends
More about: The Springfields, Velvet Crush
