The Tubes were a theatrical art-rock troupe that built a cult following in San Francisco before scoring a major-label contract with A&M Records (you can thank Rick Wakeman for that). Their elaborate stageshow carried over onto their records, which featured high-production numbers such as “What Do You Want From Life?,” “Mondo Bondage,” “White Punks On…
The Tubes’ first is the best thing they’ve ever done: outrageous, ambitious and contagious good fun.
A very different version than what appeared on their first album, with an actual guitar solo and without the funny ending.
The arrangements are less ambitious this time around, but the band’s bizarre sense of humor and showmanship remain intact.
Girls rule on the single from The Tubes’ second album.
The Tubes sack their producer and mutinous chaos ensues. Captain Beefheart appears briefly.
Everything you could want from a Tubes live album, if you wanted one in the first place.
The Tubes recorded this radio-friendly concept album with producer Todd Rundgren during his “commercial” phase.
[Kronomyth 5.1] Fee-Re run.
Taking their inspiration from a sales training record, this became their biggest seller to date.
There was no going back now, as The Tubes continued their winning ways with another David Foster-produced smash.
The band pairs up with The Motels’ Martha Davis for a re-styled version of “The Monkey Time.”
Fee attempts to cash in on The Tubes’ success, but comes up a day late and a dollar short.
Their last album for a decade, at least they went out with a Bang On The Drum All Day production.
Kronomyth 9.3: COMPLETELY OUTSIDE THE BEST OF THE TUBES. If I had to make a career choice between working as a musical archivist for Capitol’s Special Markets division or scraping caked-on vomit from the walls of Hell’s torture chambers with a rusty fork, the decision would probably come down to the quality of the dental…