In the mid-'70s, the punk sound sprang forth in the seedy downtown New York dives CBGB and Max's Kansas City, the fetid spawning ground of the cream of the crud, including the Ramones and Suicide and the Voidoids and Wayne (soon to be Jayne) County. Among their leather-jacketed, ripped-T-shirt number in that music scene were four fellows in dark mohair suits and crisp white collared shirts and skinny black ties, shaking their heads whilst crowding around one microphone to emit a high-pitch "woooooo" in unison. After all, what would be more punk at that time than being in the Poppees — a band that emulated the early Beatles, from their moptops to their Cuban heels?
The Poppees cropped up in the early '70s, begun by rhythm guitarist Bob (Bobby Dee) Waxman and bass player Pat Lorenzo. The Fab Four of the Bowery were rounded out by lead guitarist Arthur Alexander (not the singer/songwriter who recorded the originals of Beatles standards "Anna," "Soldier of Love" and "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues") and, later, drummer Jett Harris (not the original bassist for pre-Beatles British rock combo the Shadows). In 1975, Greg Shaw's Bomp label released the first of two Poppees singles. The A-side was a version of the Lennon-McCartney retread "Love of the Loved," which Scouse warbler Cilla Black brought to the U.K. hit parade in a brassy, adult version in 1963 and which the Poppees dragged back to its beat-group roots a dozen years later. However, the fake is more fully realized on the B-side, "If She Cries," a Waxman-Lorenzo original fittingly produced by label head Shaw in appropriate retrophonic sound. Lyrically, the song is a "swallow your pride or you'll lose that girl" advice song to a third party a la "She Loves You." Vocally, it nimbly employs all the Beatles' tricks from their harmony kit bag.
Three years later, the group's second single forced its way out: The topside, "Jealousy" (a favorite John Lennon topic) is a great single to play "spot-the-reference" to. Cleverly quoting several songs in the Beatles oeuvre, most notably their version of Smokey Robinson's "You Really Got a Hold on Me," this springy tune from the Waxman-Lorenzo songbook (as well as the flip, a Macca-esque "Long Tall Sally" take on Little Richard's "She's Got It") was produced by Cyril Jordan of the Flamin' Groovies, a band that could teach a master's seminar on faking Beatles.
Right after "Jealousy," the Poppees split into two: Songwriters Waxman and Lorenzo succumbed to their punky peers, figuring, "If you can't Beatle 'em, join, em!" They kept the Fake but ditched the Beatles with their new group, the Johnny Thunders/Heartbreakers-inspired Boyfriends, which released a couple of swell singles in '78 and '81, respectively. Meanwhile, Alexander and Harris kept their false Fab Four flag flying with their new quartet, the Sorrows. They put out two top-drawer LPs of skinny-tie power pop on a CBS Records imprint during the early '80s that went not so much Gold as Pewter on the charts. (This author recalls seeing the Sorrows in concert around 1980 and can attest that their encore rendition of "A Hard Day's Night" was note-perfect.)
A CD of released and unreleased Boyfriends sides issued by a Japanese label also include slightly different mixes of the two Poppees originals, along with a previously unissued song titled "I Love Her." While this lovely beat ballad is not identified as a Poppees track per se, its Fake Beatle-tude clearly marks it as F-A-B rather than "L.A.M.F."
Note: A special thanks to Bobby Dee of the Poppees/Boyfriends for checking in. Here you'll find a MySpace page for the two groups, with a full bio and several tunes.
A Bouquet of Poppees [all songs mp3]
I think the Poppees were a great band..... But then again I was in the band....
thanks for everything!!!! Bobby Dee.
Posted by: Bobby | September 23, 2008 at 09:48 PM
I remember these guys from my NYC days. I was more of a Sorrows fan than a Poppees fan, but it was cool seeing them get some traction in the biz nonetheless.
Posted by: Bob Zyeruncle | September 23, 2008 at 10:54 PM
I hung out at CB's Max's and everywhere the power pop underground sound was happening.
I loved the Poppees and the later Boyfriends, great vocals and hooks, Paddy Lorenzo so cute!!!!!!
Posted by: Marcy Henriquez | September 25, 2008 at 05:49 PM
In the biz for many years - some bands come & go - The Poppees were the real deal...
I for one would like to see them perform again.
Posted by: T.Gordon Burke | October 11, 2008 at 04:27 PM
I love to read all the nice things.... this is what makes life great..... Hope we can do a live show again soon!
Posted by: Bobby Dee | October 11, 2008 at 11:58 PM
Any chance that the Poppees will go to Japan? - love to see you here in Tokyo. I
enjoy your Lost Treasures CD. Can you arrange tour? Very popular here! xxoo
Posted by: Hiata Takumo | October 18, 2008 at 07:39 PM
Hey, checked you out at myspace page - If the band members are still playing - why no gigs?
I'd be there - you guys kick ass .....
Posted by: Rob Smythe | November 09, 2008 at 11:03 AM
I heard there will be a new solo CD release by Paddy of the Poppees.... Is this a fact,I wanna know.....
Posted by: Kris Moore | November 18, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Bobby Dee, some of my fondest memories.
Posted by: cray basmann | January 09, 2009 at 09:09 PM
time to bring back the Poppees Jealousy - any power pop festivals planned...............
Posted by: sharon gladstone | January 22, 2009 at 12:59 PM
All I can say is WOW!!
Posted by: Bobby Dee | January 29, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Yes, wow! Paddy is gigin' & rockin'. He is playing around town and looks as hot as ever! mmmm
Posted by: Angela Devine | February 18, 2009 at 05:32 PM
Where are the boyfriends playing? Someone told me at a gig in April????? All together again?
Posted by: Joe Rotogauve | April 07, 2009 at 02:19 PM
I heard the Poppees/Boyfriends do Living Room Tours. True? I'd have one this summer, if its so!
Posted by: Jesse Cromley | April 11, 2009 at 06:18 PM
Poppees/Boyfriends call me for a gig - Big Tessie at Ottos
Posted by: tessie brondell | July 04, 2009 at 07:47 PM
Living Room or Ottos emial us.... NYsitee@ail.com
Posted by: Bobby Dee | July 17, 2009 at 12:02 AM
Thanks Paddy!! for your e-mail, I would love for you to do
a Living room tour at my house, please let me know.
Posted by: Lisa Burns | July 29, 2009 at 04:23 PM
Come on Poppees BoyFriends! Love to see the original band blaze the stage. GTT
Posted by: Gary Tunes Turner | September 17, 2009 at 09:43 PM
The Poppees
Pop Goes The Anthology
Available On BOMP Records
and on Amazon.com
April 2010
"If you are a fan a power pop..This was a great lost band that is finally on CD and getting its due. Arthur Alexander re mastered the tunes. They were one of the first bands record on the legendry BOMP record label with Greg Shaw. You'll love it!"
Dave The BoogieMan
11L Radio New York International
www.JohnLightning.com/boogieman
Posted by: Dave The BoogieMan | April 24, 2010 at 08:03 PM
Wow this was great. For now I consider "If she cries" to be one of the best songs ever written. Too fucking bad they didn't continue. Found this band while surfing around among my favourites from 70's Blondie, Ramones and Flamin' Groovies.
Posted by: Green Apple | June 09, 2010 at 01:46 PM
Did you hear that the original Poppees/Boyfriends band, Bobby Dee & Paddy, the songwriters,are still performing!! Got their chops, man. Check out Ringo Starr's new tour. Awesome. The 70's era rocks!!!
Posted by: Gary Dutch | June 29, 2010 at 05:23 PM
I want to thank DAVE the BOOGIEMAN for a great night of live music on 11L Radio New York International, July 4 2010, Joey Kelly and I (Bobby Dee) Played live on air for an hour.... and loved it...
Thanks again Dave. and all that were there!!!!!
Don't forget the Coffee Ice Creem!
Posted by: Bobby Dee Waxman | July 05, 2010 at 10:51 PM
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