Punk Business Manager

BANDS-WHOSE-NAMES-BEGIN-WITH-THE-LETTER “V” SERIES: PART 5


VAMPS “FORMULA X / I USED TO BE COOL” 7″
(SAN ANTONIO, TX- BEEHIVE, 1979)






Here is the first, somewhat elusive 7″ (at least to me) from San Antonio’s Vamps.  The singer of the Vamps was Frank Pugliese, whose distinctive singing style I really dig.  He could be singing about tying his shoes or going to the grocery store but as long as he does it in his own cool way then I’m all over it.

Frank later went on to the mostly-great Mystery Dates in the early 80’s, then the Sons of Hercules who started in the early 90’s and are still around. When I posted the 2nd Mystery Dates EP about 3 1/2 years ago I went into detail about related musical history, including how The Vamps opened for the Sex Pistols in January of 1978, so re-read that posting for more info.

The Vamps released three records while they were around, all on their Beehive label, with their most well-known (and punkest) song being “Carving Knife” which was from their last record, a 4-song double EP.  That tune was on a few different comps in the late 90’s/early 2000’s when the Vamps were rediscovered (which, incidentally, was after the post-Vamps band The Mystery Dates were rediscovered in the mid 90’s when EV released that wild, barnstorming EP with all unreleased tunes).  Most of the Vamps tunes are pretty catchy, with a sort of 60’s garage influence to the but without a frothing-mad, over the top KBD style so if you’re looking for that sort of stuff then you probably want to go elsewhere.

I’d have to say that my favorite Vamps songs are Carving Knife, and then the two songs from this 7″.  “Formula X” is a catchy, mid-paced tune that I find myself humming.  I am usually not into the “Ahhh ahhh ahhh” background singing but it totally works here, as does the subtle organ playing.  And of course great vocals and great lyrics like “You’re like a viper just waiting to strike, but you ain’t got nothing on me”.  The flipside, “Used To Be Cool”, is played at a slower pace but is more wild.  When the loud guitar kicks in right at the start, and Frank does this long blood-curdling scream just afterwards, then you know you’re in for a good time.  Awesome vocals and singer Frank is very Frank throughout the whole tune.  A prominent component of the song is some organ (Frank’s brother Joe was the full-time keyboard player) but it fits well into the song and is not overwhelming or wanky.  I just wonder what specific person inspired this tune- who was this gentleman they sing about that used to be cool, was the hottest thing going and had all of the women?

/files/98398-90993/02_Used_To_Be_Cool.mp3″>I Used To Be Cool.mp3

Big thanks to blog commenter Brad C. for providing the rips!

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BONUS TRACKS!!
For the sake of completion, here are the other two Vamps records, both from 1980.

VAMPS 2nd 7″ (BEEHIVE 102, 1980)
/files/98398-90993/02_What_About_Me.mp3″>What About Me.mp3

*Like the first 7″, this one was released without a picture sleeve and I possess no scans of the labels- do you?


VAMPS DOUBLE 7″EP (BEEHIVE 103/104, 1980)
DISC 1
What’s Your Excuse
I Need Somebody

DISC 2
Carving Knife
Too Late