By Donzig
I can still remember when and where I bought The Dream Syndicate's legendary debut LP, The Days of Wine and Roses nearly 40 years ago. Having read a review of the album in The Washington Post, of all places, I was able to find it at a record store near The Bayou in Georgetown, just after seeing a show in late 1982. That same record is in my collection to this day.
The Dream Syndicate (named after a pre-Velvet Underground project involving John Cale) quickly became the spearhead of the early-80's Paisley Underground scene in LA, which featured neo-psychedelic and roots rock sounds. Often compared sonically to The Velvet Underground with lyrics sometimes likened to Dylan's, the album achieved instant acclaim. Other bands from this movement include The Three O'Clock, Green on Red, The Long Ryders, The Rain Parade, and The Bangles. I learned about all these bands early on and bought all the releases I could find. This was one musical trend I was in on from the very beginning.
I was fortunate enough to see The Dream Syndicate live just after the album came out. Leader/singer/songwriter/rhythm guitarist Steve Wynn, lead guitarist Karl Precoda, and drummer Dennis Duck put on an AMAZING show. (Original bassist Kendra Smith had been replaced at this point; she would later form Opal with Dave Roback of The Rain Parade, who would go on to achieve mainstream success with Mazzy Star.) I stood right at the front and was able to read the set-list taped to the floor of the stage. After nearly 40 years, the sight and sound of Precoda working his voodoo on the mezmerizing feedback of "When You Smile", "Until Lately", and the title track are still fresh in my memory. (The 1994 release The Day Before Wine and Roses captures a live performance of the band just before their debut album was released and is highly recommended.)
The Dream Syndicate signed to a major label and released their sophomore effort Medicine Show in 1984. It would have been very difficult for Steve Wynn and company to top The Days of Wine and Roses, so they just went in a different direction. The more polished production and use of keyboards surprised many fans, myself included. It's a tale often told: a band wants to grow and move onward, while the fans expect more of what they've already heard. By the time I was able to see them a second time, in late 1984, lead guitarist Karl Precoda had left (he later became part of the experimental group The Last Days of May).
The heyday of the Paisely Underground was around 1984-86, with many of the groups involved releasing their best work. Two "Super Group" albums came out in this period with members of different bands from the scene working together: 1984's psychedelic-flavored Rainy Day and the rootsy Danny and Dusty album Lost Weekend from 1985. Dream Syndicate members figure prominently in both projects, especially the latter.
The Dream Syndicate's third studio LP, Out of the Grey from 1986, was the first to feature the new lineup. The album saw a return of the band's original stripped-down sound, though without the psychedlic overtones of the debut. The Dream Syndicate would put out one more studio album, 1988's Ghost Stories, before disbanding. The Paisely Underground scene was breaking up at this point, with only Green on Red still playing and recording together after 1989.
Steve Wynn enjoyed a long solo career before forming a new Dream Syndicate. Their 2017 album How Did I Find Myself Here? was the band's most energetic since the debut 35 years earlier. Subsequent releases These Times and The Universe Inside came out in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
What Can I Say? No Regrets... Out of the grey + Live, Demos & Outtakes, out now via Fire Records, is a generous reissue package of 51 tracks on 3 CD's, also available as a download, documenting The Dream Syndicate during their period of transition from 1985-86, culminating in the release of Out of the Grey.
Disc One consists of the original 1986 album plus the 1987 EP 50 in a 25 Zone as well as notable covers of Eric Clapton's "Let It Rain" and Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl". Highlights include the raw "50 in a 25 Zone", "Boston", "Blood Money" (a line from this song provides the title of the new compilation), the moody "Now I Ride Alone" and "Drinking Problem".
Disc Two captures the band's new lineup live in 1985, their first full year together. Standout performances include the title track and "That's What You Always Say" from The Days of Wine and Roses, "Still Holding Onto You" from Medcine Show and non-album track "It Hits You Again".
Disc Three sees the band solidifying its new sound on demos of half the album's ten songs, as well as covers and non-album originals. Some of the interesting takes are "Slide Away" from Out of the Grey, a cover of The Temptations classic "Papa Was a Rolling Stone", and the non-album tracks "Papa Jam", "I Ain't Got Nobody", and "It Hits You Again".
This voluminous reissue documents part of the growth of a band that made history with its debut album and helped bring the scene called the Paisley Underground to the attention of both critics and the listening public.
What Can I Say? No regrets... Out of the grey + Live, Demos & Outtakes is out now on Fire Records.
[Photo: Fire Records]