Ladies And Gentlemen… The Bangles! compiles the earliest recordings of the Bangles, back when they were part of Los Angeles’ Paisley Underground and before they became top-40 MTV darlings. Susanna Hoffs, Vicki Peterson, Debbi Peterson and then-bassist Annette Zilinskas started off as the Bangs (represented here by 1981 single “Getting Out Of Hand”/“Call On Me” and the surf instrumental “Bitchen Summer/Speedway”) before changing their name to the Bangles.
They cribbed their harmonies from the Mamas & the Papas and their melodies from other ’60s bands such as the Turtles, Love and Paul Revere & The Raiders (all three covered here). This compilation, first released digitally in 2014 on the band’s own label, includes the Bangles’ first EP plus a handful of demos and a couple radio-promo songs, all from 1981-82, plus two 1984 live tracks, by which time Michael Steele had replaced Zilinskas and the band’s debut album, All Over The Place, was imminent. The garage-rock edges here would soon be airbrushed away.
—Steve Klinge
