ALBUMS: The Deep End (1981): The Swimming Pool Q’s (1984); Blue Tomorrow (1986); World War 2.5 (1989). Single Little Misfit/Stingray (1981)
MVC Rating: The Deep End 3.0/$$$$; self entitled 4.5/$$$$$; Blue Tomorrow 4.0/$$$; World War 2.5/$$$; Little Misfit/Stingray 3.5/$$$
These little misfits started in the deep end and could never figure out exactly what sound worked best for them. They came out of Atlanta and obviously were exposed to a lot of Athens, Ga. music at the turn of the 1980’s. Songs like Big Fat Tractor, Stingray and Little Misfit. These songs fit right into the sound of songs like ‘Rock Lobster and ‘Private Idaho’ by the B-52’s.’
In a small theater hall on the University of Georgia campus I saw the B-52’s and have to admit didn’t know what to think of them. The Swimming Pool Q’s were the opening act.
The Q’s on their major label debut showed off an array of guitar driven songs tempered by the awesome voice of Ann Richmond Boston. Their two A&M albums were the best. You had several radio friendly songs in Celestion, Now I’m Talking ‘Bout Now,’ Blue Tomorrow, Some New Highway, and She’s Bringing Down the Poison and the Bells Ring. They were good musicians — Bob Elsey was and is an understated underrated guitarist extraordinaire hear it on ‘She’s Looking Good When She’s Looking.’ Jeff Calder was also a fine guitarist and believe he played keyboard as well.
Calder and Boston tempered each other or should I say Boston tempered Calder. Without the female voice of Boston, Calder’s voice came down like a sledgehammer and so did his songwriting. World War 2.5 had some good guitar but also a big swing into hard punk that made it hard to keep on the turntable.
Still, as a group they are one of my all-time underappreciated groups from that era. Their experience shows the fragility of success and the thin line between being multimillionaire rock stars — B-52s and R.E.M. (to name a couple of Athens, Ga. bands) and a group with some equally great songs that never caught on.
It’s not fair but neither is life.