They should have been contenders. The Lloyds had everything — except for a major recording contract. Now, Liberation Hall is set to correct this historical injustice with the release of Attitude Check, a new compilation which gathers what amounts to the band’s never released debut album (nine studio tracks) alongside an additional 11 pristine live cuts captured on the band’s home turf in 1980.

Attitude Check presents for the first time on CD the full tracklist for last year’s Let’s Go, Lloyds! vinyl compilation released by Projectile Platters. Liberation Hall also expands the running time with seven previously unreleased soundboard recordings captured live by KALX deejay Terry Hammer at the Old Waldorf in 1980 and newly remixed by Mick Conley. Attitude Check is presented as part of Liberation Hall’s “Sounds from the San Francisco Underground” series.

1. And That’s Why (I Don’t Like You)
2. Curiosity
3. Nothing in Return (When the Party’s Over)
4. Boys **
5. All Alone #
6. Up on the Wire #
7. Rock and Roll Made Me What I Am Today
8. Tell Him (Bert Berns)
9. Rouge and Lipstick **
10. Attitude Check #
11. Lovesick
12. Boy’s Life #
13. I’m Still in Love with You
14. Attitude Check *
15. Boys *
16. Kill Me *
17. We Blew ‘Em All Away *
18. The Tallahassee Vacuum Cleaner Massacre *
19. And That’s Why (I Don’t Like You) *
20. Tell Him (Bert Berns) *

* Recorded live March 30, 1980, at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco, CA
** Recorded live at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, CA, 1980
# Originally appeared on the ‘Attitude Check’ vinyl EP released by Trotter Records in 1984

This brilliant flashback to a much better musical time than we have had in the past couple of decades or so, opens on the exuberant, drum-led hand clapper And That’s Why (I Don’t Like You) and the bass-driven Curiosity and they are followed by the free wheeling pop of Nothing in Return (When the Party’s Over), the gently rambunctious live cut Boys, the the Go-Go’s-esque All Alone, and then we get brought forth the feisty Up on the Wire, the alt-bar rock of Rock and Roll Made Me What I Am Today, a sped-up rendition of Tell Him (Bert Berns), the rhythmically manic live cut Rouge and Lipstick, and the comes the funky, propulsive title track Attitude Check.

Along next is a mosh pit bopper Lovesick and the Bow Wow Wow-imbibed Boy’s Life and they are in turn backed by the guitar-driven rock ballad I’m Still in Love with You, a live version of the brilliant Attitude Check, a different live cut of Boys, with the last tracks all captured live at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco, CA: the Ronnie Jay sung Kill Me, the languishing one minute, rocket fueled the next rocker We Blew ‘Em All Away, the harmonica-fuled, alt-punk, the Jay sung The Tallahassee Vacuum Cleaner Massacre, the recording rounding out on the vibrant And That’s Why (I Don’t Like You) and the het-up Tell Him (Bert Berns).

From 1979-1984, the Lloyds filled venues in San Francisco and beyond. Fronted by vivacious redhead Lulu Lewis — a powerful vocalist in the tradition of Debbie Harry and Gwen Stefani —this power pop quintet was regionally famous for their energetic live shows and radio-friendly songs.

In addition to Lewis, the band members that appear on Attitude Check are David Martin (lead guitar, piano, synthesizer), Ronnie Jay (guitar, harmonica), Alan Thiele (drums), Peter M. Heimlich (original bassist), and Dan DeShara (later bassist).

One of the Lloyds’ originals, “Rock and Roll What Me What I Am Today,” written by Heimlich, was later covered by Lita Ford and appears on her 1983 album, Out for Blood. The Lloyds’ version appears here in its original form.

“Their sound is a penetrating, exciting mix of ‘60s girl-group passion and ‘80s new wave attitudes, with Lulu delivering a string of superlative original tunes with a voice that would stand up in a hurricane,” Jack McDonough wrote in a 1981 Billboard live review.

All of the songs, except for a cover of the Exciters’ 1962 hit “Tell Him,” were written by the Lloyds.

And That’s Why (I Don’t Like You) by The Lloyds [Official Music Video]

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