May 1, 2018

20,000 Vinyl LPs 137: The Nails ~ Hotel For Women EP

The Nails ~ Hotel for Women - vinyl EP
front cover vintage photographs, 
photographers unknown 
photo of album cover by Styrous®


Sometime in the early eighties my friend, Glen, gave me what became my favorite EP. It was titled, Hotel For Women by the new wave band The Nails. One of my favorite songs ever, 88 Lines About 44 Women, was one of the cuts on it (link below). The only other song that comes anywhere close to my liking as much is the quirky Underwear from the 1999 album, 69 Love Songs, by The Magnetic Fields.   



The Nails ~ Hotel for Women - vinyl EP
back cover
photo of album by Styrous®

The Nails were originally a five-piece new wave band that formed in Boulder, Colorado in 1976. In Colorado, they were originally named The Ravers, and their roadie, Eric Boucher, later became known as Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys. The band members were Marc Campbell (lead vocals, guitar), Dave Kaufman (keyboards), Al Leis (drums), Artie Freeman (lead guitar), and Jon Cormany (bass).  



The Nails ~ Hotel for Women - vinyl EP
back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®



In 1977, the Ravers recorded an EP in Boulder with Screwball Records. The Ravers moved to New York in June 1977 and played the showcase clubs CBGB and Max's Kansas City. Shortly after arriving in NY, The Ravers changed their name to The Nails (there was a local band named Raver). A '45 with the band's original lineup was recorded in New York City in 1978. By mid-1978, Leis (now deceased), Cormany, and Freeman (now a medical school professor) had left the band.    


The Nails ~ Hotel for Women - vinyl EP
record sleeve
photo by Teri Bloom
photo of record sleeve by Styrous®


By the late 1970s, The Nails had established themselves on the club circuit and were now composed of vocalist Marc Campbell, bassist George Kaufman, saxophonist Douglas Guthrie, drummer Mike Ratti (Dennis McDermott on Mood Swing), keyboardist Dave Kaufman, and guitarist Steve O'Rourke. Hotel for Women, an EP recorded in 1981, contained an early version of 88 Lines About 44 Women, a song that caught the attention of RCA. The Nails were signed to RCA by Bruce Harris, also known for bringing The Clash to America. In 1984 88 Lines was re-recorded for RCA and included on The Nails' full-length debut LP, Mood Swing. The song received regular airplay despite a number of double entendres and lyrical references to masturbation and sadomasochism.      



The Nails ~ Hotel for Women - vinyl EP
record sleeve detail
photo by Teri Bloom
detail photo of record sleeve by Styrous®



Two years later they released Dangerous Dreams, also on RCA. Both Mood Swing and Dangerous Dreams made the Billboard top 200 album chart and were critically acclaimed. But after the release of Dangerous Dreams The Nails left RCA. RCA did not release either LP on compact disc.   

In 1988, the band reconvened (without Guthrie and Dave Kaufman) to record a third album, Corpus Christi, which was not released until 1993 and received little exposure. The Nails deny ever receiving any proceeds from this album, citing a rift with their former producer, claiming that he swindled them of their rights. They posted re-recordings of these songs on the late George Kaufman's site, along with the explanation of the dispute. They strongly discourage fans from purchasing the album, as they will never be compensated.

In 2007, the band licensed Mood Swing and Dangerous Dreams from RCA parent company Sony-BMG Entertainment and released these albums on compact disc for the first time.       

Former lead singer Marc Campbell has an album, Tantric Machine released in 2014. In March 2009, bassist George Kaufman died of complications following heart surgery. He was survived by his wife, Sharla, and his children, Isabel and Michael Kaufman.  



The Nails ~ Hotel for Women - vinyl EP
record sleeve detail
photo by Teri Bloom
detail photo of record sleeve by Styrous®





It is interesting to note that the side which has Hotel for Women is labeled "side A" whereas the side which contains Cutting Edge and 88 Lines About 44 Women is labeled, "side 1"; go figure. Also of interest is the label placement on "side 1".



The Nails ~ Hotel for Women 
vinyl EP, side A
photo by Styrous®



The Nails ~ Hotel for Women 
vinyl EP label, side A
photo by Styrous®



The Nails ~ Hotel for Women - vinyl EP,
Cutting Edge & 88 Lines About 44 Women
side 1
photo by Styrous®



The Nails ~ Hotel for Women -
vinyl EP label, side 1
Cutting Edge & 88 Lines About 44 Women 
photo by Styrous®

     
    
Tracklist:

Side A:

A - Hotel For Women - Engineer – Doug Epstein, Producers – Doug Epstein & Jim Reynolds (3), Vocals – Connie Garcia - 6:07

Side 1:

B1 - Cutting Edge - Engineer – Doug Epstein, Producers – Doug Epstein & Jim Reynolds (3) - 3:46

B2 - 88 Lines About 44 Women - Engineer – Peter Darmi, Producer – The Nails - 4:30


Companies, etc.

    Mastered At – Executive Recordings

Credits:

    Bass, Guitar, Trombone, Vocals – George Kaufman
    Drums – Tommy Cotogna
    Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals – David Kaufman
    Mastered By – Gene Sayet
    Saxophone – Douglas Guthrie
    Vocals, Guitar – Marc Campbell

Notes:

Labels and runoff grooves are labeled A side and side 1.

Contains the original version of "88 Lines About 44 Women".

The Nails ‎– Hotel For Women
Label: City Beat (2) ‎– CJN-111, Jimboco Records ‎– CJN-111
Format: Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave

      
          
          
Viewfinder links:        
         
Jello Biafra        
         
Net links:        
         
The Nails website         
Scarlet Dukes ~ Colorado New Wave        
Songfacts ~ Marc Campbell interview       
          
        
        
YouTube links:        
         
Hotel For Women             
Cutting Edge                       
88 Lines About 44 Women       
The Magnetic Fields ~ Underwear          
        
       
       
         

Good things come in small packages!
         
         
          
         
Styrous® ~ Monday, May 1, 2018        
        
         
         










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