It’s time for a blast from the past! Get ready as Happy Growl Records preps to release a “lost album” titled For Kenny. But first, for those not up on the act in question, a bit o’ background.
Locate Your Lips (a.k.a. LYL) was a short-lived supergroup in Milwaukee, Wisconsin back in the 1980s. They reportedly ruled the club scene, This premier local band included: producer Jim Eannelli (guitar and backing vocals), Andy Cavaluzzi (bass and lead vocals), Kenny Baldwin (drums and percussion).
Baldwin and Eannelli had previously performed together in the synth-pop-rock group known as Colour Radio, which had briefly been with A&M Records. Along with Cavaluzzi, they fleshed out LYL’s signature sound. It became an assortment of influences from a mélange of musical genres including garage rock, jazz, pop, progressive rock, punk and a dash of mid-1960s British Invasion thrown in for good measure.
The group recorded tracks for their premiere platter. Unfortunately, things fell apart, the band members went their separate way and their intro album was never released. Fast forward to 2015 following the loss of drummer Baldwin to cancer. Re-enter Eannelli sat down with producer Gary Tanin to finally put together the first Locate Your Lips album. It drops on April 5th.
Dedicated to Baldwin, this double-disc debut presents LYL performing live and in the studio. In the liner notes, Eannelli discusses his motives for releasing this project now:
He notes: “Sometimes all it takes is stumbling upon a couple of old music tapes from 1984-5 to bring light to the darkness. When I placed my hands on these long-forgotten recordings that you now hold in your hands, I realized that I could no longer share them with my drummer/friend/soldier/confidant/visionary Kenny Baldwin, as he had succumbed to cancer a few years prior."
This disc presents live cuts from a May 1985 broadcast on WQFM radio. “DJ QFM Jock Introduction” establishes the live setting of the disc.
The first song is “Stethoscope” which has a retro feel now but was obviously quite new when introduced in the local clubs.
“Alive” offers immediate evidence of the band’s capabilities as a live act.
Their very real live signature sound seems to fully gel on “It Seems Like.”
The band picks things up with “Get Away.”
They move on to “I Can’t Take It” which further demonstrates their capabilities as well as their influences at the time.
Their tuneful teamwork continues on “No Reason.”
“I Can’t Take Another Taste Of This” has a more upbeat poppy sound to it. Reminiscent of more alternative acts of the time, it would work quite well in any soundtrack set in the corresponding era.
“Got A Lot Of Nice Things” works surprisingly well for a three-piece band. One can only wonder what it would have sounded like with some studio polish to it.
It’s followed by “No Refuge” which sounds like a great, determined traveling track.
“This World” follows and works well here, too.
The next number is “Waiting For You To Run.” Here they hit it hard and steady with garage rock energy.
Gotta love “Dance Or Die.” It’s got an attitude and the band wants to make you sweat. Just do it indeed.
The closing cut on this live side is “Cosmopolite” which presents the raw pumpin’ version of what became a fun fave.
This disc contains studio tracks from the following year. Note the difference production makes on the repeated pieces. It opens with “Got A Lot Of Time.” It’s an excellent example of what the band can do with just a little studio time.
The second selection is a clean, clear version of “Cosmopolite.” It’s even better here.
Perhaps one of the best cuts here, “De Lon Jon” seems specially written for the studio. It features a bit of what one might call reverse “guitar impressionism.” It’s highlighted by some sax work from the Stooges’ Steve McKay.
“I Can’t Take Another Taste of This” is a winner that sounds even better in the studio. In fact, it is oddly reminiscent of other 1980s acts such as Let’s Active or the dB’s. (Either that or your rockin’ reviewer partied too much in college. Maybe a bit of both.)
Had the act not imploded, the more experimental “Take Off Your Clothes” would have probably been one of the songs chosen for a video both for the upbeat sound and the more obvious lyrical reasons. It remains great fun and would have worked quite well as a single on Ralph Records.
“Indecision” has merits of its own as well. It truly feels like a song born of the times. It belongs here.
“It’s A Beautiful Day” has an unusual mixed message and a feeling that is both ethereal and heavy at the same time. “I Don’t” is next. It’s both fun and ready for college radio or television.
Oddly “Alive” while cleaner and clearer here has a musical identity that works both in the club and in the studio.
“If You Could Have Anything” is another worthwhile track with a vague sense of world music to it. It would close the studio side just fine. . . not that it has to though since there’s more.
These additional audio offerings are “live” songs recorded at The Boardwalk club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The first one is “Staring Slowly.” Not sure what inspired this one but it somehow stands out for a live cut and clearly gets people up on the dance floor.
“This Conversation” follows. It’s apparently well-received.
The very last track is “You Got No Taste” which is a nice bonus bit to flesh out and finalize the project.
Overall, it’s a fitting tribute to the late drummer albeit an unfortunate reminder of what might have been. Nevertheless, it is ample honest evidence of what the band did had begun to create both in and out of the studio. So check out Locate Your Lips’ For Kenny and you might realize it’s “Got A Lot Of Nice Things.”
(All media courtesy of original owners)
