NRBQ

Here's wishing Joey Spampinato a happy birthday.

His old band, NRBQ, should've been a presence on the airwaves. Instead they showed up mostly on the college radio and NPR affiliates left of the dial. While the band had friends and admirers in high places - Keith Richards, Bonnie Rait, REM, the Simpson's, Dr. Demento, Captain Lou - they never managed a mainstream breakthrough.

In part, perhaps, it was of their own making. They could play, play anything: and they did. Their first album, in 1969, includes covers of Sun Ra, "Hey Baby", Eddie Cochran - that last, one of the best ever.

With three songwriters contributing equally, they may've been too eclectic and radio didn't know what to do with them.

The debut also included a song of Joey's - "You Can't Hide" - which points the way to the the band's power pop of their late '70's - early '80's heyday. In fact the band would return to the song on 1980's "Tiddlywinks".

The Dadrock 101 editorial board's consensus is that the band's 1978 release, At Yankee Stadium, is their strongest and most consistent.

The cover shows the band - you have to look closely, and squint, but they're there, next to the first base dugout - at Yankee Stadium. It isn't a live album. Rather, Joey's bandmates arranged for a private visit as a birthday present.

Our sampler is heavy on the band's power pop tunes and humorous stuff. If anything, it is short on their roots rock and and country stylings.

Good stuff throughout, and founder Terry Adams is still touring with the band.

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