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The A's

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For the Major League Baseball team, see Oakland Athletics.
The A's
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
GenresPop rock, power pop, new wave
Years active1978–1982
LabelsArista
Past membersRichard Bush
Rick DiFonzo
Rocco Notte
Terry Bortman
Michael Snyder

The A's were an American rock band consisting of Richard Bush (lead vocals), Rick DiFonzo (guitar), Rocco Notte (keyboards), Terry Bortman (bass), and Michael Snyder (drums). Formed in Philadelphia in 1978, the band released two albums on Arista Records: The A's (1979) and A Woman's Got the Power (1981).

History

After building a loyal following in the Philadelphia area as a result of their energetic live shows, the A's signed a contract with Arista Records. The band's self-titled debut album was produced by Rick Chertoff and released in 1979. Trouser Press likened the album to The Boomtown Rats' A Tonic for the Troops in terms of combining "wit, street savvy and relatively intricate hard-pop arrangements." Gary Hill of Allmusic similarly noted the band's fusion of punk "irreverence" with humor. Two singles - "After Last Night" and "Parasite" - were released, but neither they nor the album found commercial success. The A's released their second album, A Woman's Got the Power, in 1981. Also produced by Chertoff, the album entered the U.S. Billboard charts, while the title track peaked at number 18 on the Top Rock Tracks chart and number 26 in Canada. "A Woman's Got the Power" was covered by Clarence Clemons & the Red Bank Rockers on the 1983 album Rescue. In 2004, Philadelphia Weekly ranked the album on its list of the "100 Best Philly Albums of all Time".

The A's, despite adopting a more commercial sound on their second album, were dropped by Arista. The band self-released an extended play (EP), Four Dances, in 1982 before breaking up. In the subsequent years, singer Richard Bush continued to perform with other bands and eventually formed The Peace Creeps. Guitarist Rick DiFonzo became a session musician for such artists as Bob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper, Roger Waters, and Joan Osborne.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
The A's —
A Woman's Got the Power
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: Arista
  • Format: LP
 146
"—" denotes release that has not charted.

Extended plays

Title Extended play details
Four Dances
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: Strait A's
  • Format: EP

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
 US
Main. Rock
 CAN
"After Last Night" 1979 — — — The A's
"Parasite" — — —
"A Woman's Got the Power" 1981 106 18 26 A Woman's Got the Power
"—" denotes release that has not charted.

References

  1. ^ Deming, Mark. "The A's - Artist Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  2. Schulps, Dave; Robbins, Ira A. (1991). The Trouser Press Record Guide. New York: Collier Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-0020363613.
  3. Hill, Gary. "'The A's' Review". Allmusic. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  4. ^ "The A's Album & Song Chart History - The 'Billboard' 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  5. ^ "The A's Album & Song Chart History - 'Billboard' Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  6. ^ "Top Singles". RPM. 35 (8). September 19, 1981. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  7. Lustig, Jay (January 11, 2012). "Song of the Day: 'A Woman's Got the Power,' Clarence Clemons and the Red Bank Rockers". NJ.com. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  8. "100 Best Philly Albums of all Time". Philadelphia Weekly. September 22, 2004. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  9. "Bubbling Under the Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 31. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. August 8, 1981. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 27, 2016.

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