The Rings

Patience is a virtue. Or so they say. Who the heck are ‘they’ anyway when someone says that?

Mike at Fusion 45 has been asking for a while now for something about The Rings, a Boston based band from the early 80’s that made it nationally with “Let Me Go".

Let me tell you, few bands, seen live, could excite me as much as The Rings did back in their heyday. I used to see them at Boston Mecca’s like The Rat, Spit, Cantones and I believe I saw them at Bunratty’s. The crushing power pop, hooks that dug deep and a tightness rarely seen out of a studio saw me going time after time and playing their freshman offering over and over. It’s one of those albums that when you hear a track off of it you transport mentally to a certain time and place.

Originally named ‘The Rings Of Saturn’, the band included Bob Gifford on bass and vocals, Mark Sutton on guitar and vocals, Mike Baker on guitar and Bob Woodbury on drums. To me, they’re another one of those ‘should have been huge’ bands from Boston that for one reason or another didn’t quite grasp the brass hook – along with ‘The Atlantics’. Shame too, because they were a quality band that didn’t need gimmicks to get the music across.

There's a great writeup of The Rings - and info on lots of other Boston bands, at a nice storage facility I found recently called Boston Rock Storybook held together by Joe Harvard. Joe's got a good rock and roll story to relay, and he's 'been there, done that', playing with the likes of Unnatural Axe (who I saw numerous times) and has even played with, and calls among his friends, Willie "Loco" Alexander (personal favorite of mine) and the great Johnathan Richmond.

Third Generation
No nonsense rock with a fast beat, superb lead that accentuates without a need to be pushy, drums that actually sound as if they’re contributing instead of being just part of the backbeat and with enough continuity but diversification of sound that pulls it all into one cohesive brawny blast.

Third Generation got nothing to say!
Second generation don’t get in the way.

We don’t ever want to take no time,
We just wanna steal it.
Don’t you ever think its gonna be a crime?
Don’t you every feel it?

Standing out lazy make you crazy.
Make you wanna scream and shout.
Never put it out never put it on,
You’re inside looking out!

I said, Third Generation got nothing to say.
Second generation don’t get in the way!

Got My Wish
Indeed, it was The Rings ability to diversify that was part of my attraction to their music.

This track was (is) probably the one I played the most frequently well into today’s writing. It almost reminds me of Alice Cooper (circa Ballad Of Dwight Frye) with an inference to being let out of the loony bin and then his hesitant peek and foray into freedom that within a short time ultimately puts him back into another stretch of Lithium heaven.

Yesterday at eight, they let me out
The door slammed with a clang.
They gave a new pair of shoes, a shirt and pants,
But I don’t they fit me quite right.
Well I think the scarf’s too tight.

Last night I walked again in the open.
Well I think it’s been about 10 years.
I don’t mind, I’ve been doing all kinds of thinking!

I got my wish last night
I got my wish last night
I got my wish last night

Side note: I use this track as one of the cool down songs after a workout. Weird writing it down, but, there it is.

Let Me Go
Anyone that reads this blog is well aware of my propensity for not highlighting a track that was popular on the radio, but for all of those not familiar with The Rings, this is the one that was played on the radio that broke them out, and I feel a disservice for not including it.

Well I been checking on you,
You been checking on me.
I been checking all over town girl,
Ill tell you what I see.

I see all the strange faces.
I hear all the strange names.
You say yes, I say no,
All my life yea!

Oh no, let me go.
Well I don’t need your suspicion, oh no!
Oh no let me go.
Oh why you being so vicious?

Does power pop, or just plain power rock, get better than this? As a composition that has you either fast pacing toward the dance arena or playing the air guitar, it won’t dissuade me from the opinion that it doesn't get much better than this.

And, thanks for your patience Mike.

The Rings: Third Generation
The Rings: Got My Wish
The Rings: Let Me Go
From: The Rings [1981]

Addendum: Special thanks to Zack and Andy who helped me listen to some of the lyrics over and over until they sounded correct (we think)!

Anyone have a line to Duke and The Drivers "What You Got"?