AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The dB's

Artist:The dB's

Song:Big Brown Eyes

Album:Best of the I.R.S. Years

The dB's was a early 80s band that was a cross between power pop and what would become new wave. Though they were critically acclaimed, The dB's never had the commercial success they probably deserved. I guess they are similar to Big Star but even more obscure. The dB's were from Winston Salem, NC. Peter Holsapple and Chris Stanley played guitar, sang lead and wrote all the songs. Gene Holder played bass and Will Rigby played drums. Stanley moved to New York and in 1977 he played with Alex Chilton of Big Star and Richard Lloyd of Television. The other three moved to New York and The dB's were formed. After releasing a couple of singles, they signed with the British label Albion Records and released the 1981 album Stands for Decibels in 1981. It was released in the US by Miles Copeland's I.R.S. Records. The album was produced by Alan Betrock. He was a music critic who started his own label Shake Records and The dB's was his first signing. Holsapple and Stanley wrote all the songs. They didn't usually write together and the lead singer was whoever wrote the song. Holsapple wrote Big Brown Eyes and sang lead. The album was critically acclaimed with reviews comparing The dB's favorably with early Beatles and Big Star. But the album didn't sell. If I had to guess, I would say that the band needed to be on a larger label willing to spend money to promote them. That's the same reason Big Star was never commercially successful. The dB's released two albums on Albion and then Stanley left to go solo. He released an album on A&M in 1987. Meanwhile The dB's released albums on Bearsville and I.R.S. that went nowhere. This comp is available as a digital download. The dB's split up in 1987 and Holsapple worked as a backup musician first for R.E.M. and then Hootie and the Blowfish. I think he still works for them. At least he's getting paid. Stanley has recorded several solo albums mostly for the indie label Yep Roc. The dB's have reunited occasionally including for the 2012 album Falling Off the Sky. Here's The dB's performing Big Brown Eyes in London 1981.