Coming together in 1973, the Poppees were born either a decade too late or a few years too early.
Pledging allegiance to the pert and pithy sounds of Merseybeat, the New York City band was somewhat of a novelty in an age when idioms such as soft pop, hard rock and soul music dominated the charts.
To further emphasize how off their timing was, the Poppees broke up in the fall of 1976, only months prior to the arrival of the power pop and new wave movements. Considering both these genres were greatly inspired by the British Invasion acts of yore, the Poppees would have fit flawlessly into these thriving scenes.
In any case, the band did experience a round of raves on the regional circuit, cut a pair of singles and a host of material that failed to make it onto vinyl. And that’s where Pop Goes the Anthology (Bomp! Records) enters the picture, providing a needed showcase for these nuggets.
The first Poppees single, “If She Cries,” twinkled brightly with melodic allure, vibrant vocals, jingling licks and heart-fluttering harmonies, while the flip side of the disc was a cover of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s sugary sweet “Loved of the Loved” that was actually never issued by the Beatles but presented to Cilla Black, whose version cracked the Top 40 across the pond.
Produced by Cyril Jordan of the Flamin’ Groovies, the sharp-and-spunky “Jealousy” backed by a manic interpretation of Little Richard’s “She’s Got It” dialed in as the second 45 from the Poppees, although the effort didn’t see the light of day until 1978, which by then the band was no more.
Among the previously unreleased treasures heard on Pop Goes the Anthology are original numbers like the beautiful eye-watering ballad “Sad Sad Love” and the chipper kick of “Tender Love,” along with live recordings of the chugging shuffle of “Woman” and the high-voltage charge of “She’s So Bad” that is assisted by a blast of howling harmonica work worthy of the blues-wailing Yardbirds.
Not only did the Poppees expertly reprise the mood and inflection of the British combos they were so smitten with, but they also physically resembled the part in their neatly-pressed matching suits, skinny ties and Cuban-heel boots.
Following the demise of the Poppies, singer, songwriter and guitarist Arthur Alexander and drummer Jet Harris formed the comparably exciting pop-driven Sorrows. The band acquired accolades left and right, and delivered two albums that are now tagged as collector’s items.
As Pop Goes the Anthology indicates, the Poppees were the Big Apple’s ’70s answer to all your favorite bands from the initial run of the British brigade, be it the Searchers, the Hollies, the Swinging Blue Jeans or of course the Beatles. Yeah yeah yeah!
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