The 1981 Listening Post - The Pinups - Hollywood Eyes

 Reviewed by MacArthur Antigua

Released: 1981 The Pinups Hollywood Eyes Genre: Studio Session Yeoman Pop Rating: 2 out of 5 Highlights: Baby Don't Run Out On Me The Pinups were Glynnis Campbell, Lisa London, Mary Senecal and Tegan Taylor, and signed to CBS Records to sing radio ready rock tracks. Based on the few youtube videos I could find from this album, I’d describe their performance as “Robert Palmer ‘Addicted to Love’ video, except no Robert Palmer.” “Just About A Dream” kicks off the album by starting with the chorus that sits right on top of power piano chords, and counter balanced with a cooing backup. The effort is earnest, while the lyrics are vapid: “I’m dreamin’ / you’re just about a dream / I’m dreamin’ / you’re just about a dream / Baby, I’m dreamin’ / must be a dream.” And that lyric ISN’T the chorus. The bass line skips along gamely, like all the session players knowing that if they deliver their shift a decent check awaits. “Stage Struck” has thumping tom toms and a frisky keyboard riff, as the guitar binds it together. I appreciated that the vocal has a point of view - it’s like witnessing someone’s cool cousin deliver tough love to a younger charge. With my 2023 ears, it’s hard not to wince at its cheesiness, but I want to believe they believed in it at the time. “It’s Only Love” leans into new wave with a wonky keyboard riff balanced against traditional piano chords, all driven by a peppy snare and bass. However, the wholesome delivery of the vocal and backup harmonies undermines any “cool” that the genre sample could provide. If I had a favorite track, it’s “Baby Don’t Run Out On Me,” an assertive piano driven track with a lovely hook and counter vocals. This could’ve been a throwaway on Bangles’ “Different Light” - which was the first cassette I ever bought. It ends with “Push Push” which is full on embracing synth sounds, and exudes some personality through exaggerated cooing vocals dropping lame double entendres. If I were to do a “What does 1981 sound like?” then this would be a fair offering - some pop, some rock, some new wave, a hint of r&b/gospel. The playbook is 60s “Girl Group” where the studio puts together the track, and hopes that attractive women with solid vocals will be enough to get it over the line. However, it lacks charisma - I don’t know who is singing on which track, why they’re singing, nor why I should care. About 12 years later, the Spice Girls may have been an obvious commercial ploy like the Pinups, but at least they had the audacity to have a mission statement, and brutally efficient branding.