Bonnie Hayes was a pop singer out of San Francisco, who appeared in the early 1980's with a few bouncy albums. The first of which was originally on the coveted Slash label with her band, The Wild Combo. This album has been... more » regarded as one of the best girl new wave albums of its genre, and is making its worldwide CD debut with this release.« less
Bonnie Hayes was a pop singer out of San Francisco, who appeared in the early 1980's with a few bouncy albums. The first of which was originally on the coveted Slash label with her band, The Wild Combo. This album has been regarded as one of the best girl new wave albums of its genre, and is making its worldwide CD debut with this release.
"Yes, finally here it is...I personally never thought this would ever get a CD release-god bless Wounded Bird records. This is a new wave classic from start to finish, "Girls Like Me" & "Shelly's Boyfriend" are the one's most people remember, but "Coverage", "Loverboy", & "Inside Doubt" are also terrific pop anthems. Well that's my 2 cents."
One of the all-time best albums from the 80's!!!
J. McDonald | 09/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Finally! One of the very best "lost albums" of the early 80's arrives on CD!!!!!
Many of you will recognize the tracks "Girls Like Me" and "Shelly's Boyfriend" from the movie Valley Girl. But there's MUCH more to this CD than those two tracks, and not a single dud to be found!
This is an amazing album that should have had HUGE SUCCESS when it was originally released in 1982. Unfortunately, because it was released on the upstart "Slash" label, it didn't have the same backing as other similar efforts by artists on major/mainstream labels. Fans of the Go-Go's, Josie Cotton and 80's "New Wave" will LOVE this CD! "Good Clean Fun" perfectly captures the magic and fun of the early 80's new wave era. In fact, I would choose it as one of the top 5 albums of 1982 and one of the VERY BEST ALBUMS of the 80's, period!
Bonnie Hayes is a sister of Chris Hayes (lead guitarist - Huey Lewis and The News).
The follow-up release to "Good Clean Fun" was "Brave New Girl" (a six song EP in 1984). While it contained a couple of decent tracks, it lacked the magic of her debut. Bonnie went solo in 1987 with a very ordinary and over-produced effort. She has continued to record and has always managed to deliver a few great tracks on each album. Good Clean Fun still remains her best effort and is an amazing tribute to a wonderful time and place, known as the "early 80's" :)
My only complaint about this release; they could have perhaps included the six tracks from 1984's "Brave New Girl" as an extra.
Get this CD... you'll absolutely LOVE IT! Guaranteed!
JM"
Pogo To This
Bradley Jacobson | 06/25/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"One of the more overlooked gems of the early 80's new wave movement, Bonnie Hayes still makes albums every now and then but they aren't of the same type of music as this. Opening with the one two bang of "Girls Like Me" and "Shelly's Boyfriend" which though neither hit on any chart I'm aware of, became synonymous with the film Valley Girl which featured them, particularly "Girls Like Me" which not only opened the film but was also the girls anthem at their slumber party (though if you look at the record on the turntable you'll see it isn't Bonnie Hayes - oh those crazy film people.)
Besides the ultimate thrill of those two cuts, the rest of the album continues a similar vein, due I'm sure to the fact that every song is written or co-written by Bonnie Hayes. The female empowerment of the opening tracks is also found on other little gems and the fast paced hiccupy delivery of Bonnie Hayes keeps all of Good Clean Fun rallying through a genre that brings back so many memories. After one listen I have to go back and play it again, then listen to Josie Cotton and finally end up watching Valley Girl, it's a very tiring process.
"
A classic
Paul Kienitz | Oakland, CA | 05/06/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ms. Hayes captured lightning in a paper cup on this one, and never quite managed it again... I'm so grateful they finally managed to reissue this."