Motels , The ‎– Shock 1985 New Wave , Synth pop (vinyl)

 Motels , The ‎– Shock 1985 New Wave , Synth pop (vinyl) 

stock photo

Label & Ser # ~ Mercury Records ‎– 830 264 1
Format 1 -disc, 10 tracks, Black Vinyl, 12-inch , 33rpm, LP.
Year of release ~ 1985
Country Manufactured ~Canada
New wave 

Sleeve Condition (Out of 10) ~ 10 / with inner sleeve
Label Condition (Out of 10) ~ 10
Vinyl Condition ~ (Out of 10)
Side 1 - 10
side 2 - 10
BIN # *28

The Motels are a new wave band from the Los Angeles area best known for "Only the Lonely" and "Suddenly Last Summer," each of which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, in 1982 and 1983, respectively. Their songs "Total Control" reached No. 4 on the Australian charts, and "Danger" reached No. 15 on the French charts in 1980.

Martha Davis (born January 19, 1951), the lead singer, reformed a version of the band called "The Motels featuring Martha Davis" in 1998 and toured as such with various line-ups of musicians.

In 2013, the band was rebranded with a permanent name, Martha Davis and The Motels. That band is touring the world with a line-up of musicians that have been playing with Davis for over 10 years, longer than the original Motels were together.

History

First incarnation

The first incarnation of The Motels formed in Berkeley, California, in 1971.^[1] Lisa Brenneis (bass) coaxed Dean Chamberlain (lead guitar), Chuck Wada (rhythm guitar) and Martha Davis (vocals, guitar) into forming a band (then called The Warfield Foxes).^[2] Hoping for better exposure and seeking a recording contract they made a move to Los Angeles in 1975. While in L.A., Lisa Brenneis left and the band changed its name to "Angels of Mercy" and then to "The Motels", with both Davis and Wada contributing original songs to the repertoire.^[3] The band acquired two new members around this time to fill vital slots: Richard D'Andrea on bass guitar and Robert Newman on drums.^[4]

The Motels and two other local bands, The Pop and The Dogs, kicked off the local band scene with a concert at a self-produced show titled Radio Free Hollywood, held at the old theatre, Troupers Hall.^{[citation needed]}Prior to this show, few if any unsigned bands played local high profile clubs like the Whisky and The Roxy.^[5]The band guested on Rodney Bingenheimer's popular radio show and, after recording a demo for Warner Bros. Records, which was turned down, they were offered a contract with Capitol Records. The band declined Capitol's offer and disbanded in 1977, citing musical differences amongst themselves.^[4] One song from their Warner Bros. demo, "Counting", was included on the Rhino Records compilation Saturday Night Pogo, released in 1978. Another demo from this line-up, "Every Day Star", was released on their compilation CD Anthologyland.

Chamberlain was heard again in his band Code Blue which signed to Warner Bros. Records. Richard d'Andrea joined The Pits and later enjoyed almost three years with The Know. Robert Newman is a successful art director and designer. Chuck Wada still writes and performs and is a financial advisor.^[6] Lisa Brenneis has written a series of books about Final Cut Pro editing software and grows pixie tangerines in Ojai, California.^[7]