How do I even begin a review of my favorite album of this century? I suppose I begin by saying it's my favorite album of this century! I can't quite believe that it has now been 20 years (actually 20 and a half!) since Tina and the Total Babes' She's So Tuff came out on Sympathy For The Record Industry. I remember seeing an ad for the album in Hit List and totally flipping out. At the time, Tina Lucchesi was fronting one of my favorite bands, The Bobbyteens, and running the illustrious Lipstick Records. Travis Ramin was fresh off producing a pair of modern classic singles by Candygirl. This was a musical match made in power pop heaven. Decades later, these two remain two of my favorite people in all of music. It was a joyous day when She's So Tuff became available in the Underground Medicine mail order catalog and an equally joyous day when the album showed up in my mailbox. I was a huge punk rock guy who also loved Holly and the Italians, Nikki and the Corvettes, and Josie Cotton. Tina and the Total Babes were the best of both worlds!
A 20th Anniversary reissue of She's So Tuff is such a spectacular event that it has required the involvement of three of the best record labels in existence. Rum Bar Records released the CD version today. Surfin' Ki Records will be releasing the vinyl edition. The legendary Wizzard in Vinyl is doing a CD release in Japan. It seems odd to be speaking about this album in an historical context when it still seems like yesterday that it first came out. But there's simply no doubting that it directly or indirectly influenced countless bands today that draw from the combined inspirations of punk rock, power pop, and '60s girl groups. And the connections to the modern-day Rum Bar Records family are numerous. Travis Ramin (drums, songwriting, production) and Miss Georgia Peach (backing vocals) are of course in The Short Fuses and Beebe Gallini. Johnny O'Halloran (bass) is in The Lemon Drop Gang and is one of Malibu Lou's dearest friends. Ramin co-wrote and produced Natalie Sweet's superb album Oh, By the Way. It was a no-brainer for She's So Tuff to receive the proper Rum Bar reissue treatment.
As I've spent time listening to this album in recent weeks, I've had two general impressions. One is that it still holds up, and the other is that I wish it were longer. And isn't that the highest praise you can give an album when you complain that it's too short? She's So Tuff is a perfect album and in my book an all-time top ten power pop LP. The original material is first-rate (it is my belief that any songwriter who can write a hook as golden as the chorus to "Christy" deserves to be living in a mansion). The covers are amazing as well. If I point out that the title track blows away The Demons' 1977 original, that's no slight to the original. Who can deny that Tina Lucchesi was born to sing this song? It's like her life story in two and a half minutes! Holly and the Italians' "Tell That Girl To Shut Up" is another slam-dunk choice that does not disappoint.
She's So Tuff, packed with tough & sticky-sweet songs about hot boys and heartbreak, is everything a power pop album should aspire to be. Original power pop hits like "Tongue Tied" and "Why Do I Like You" are perfectly complemented by homages to girl groups ("Tragedy"), bubblegum ("That's The Way I Want It", a reworking of The Messengers' "That's The Way A Woman Is"), and arena-sized glam rock ("It's Tina Time"). Whether you recall She's So Tuff fondly and want to own it again or are encountering Tina and the Total Babes for the very first time (you lucky dogs!), I cannot recommend this album enough. This is, as advertised, a benchmark album in the modern power pop revival. If you enjoy this album, do yourself a favor and check out Travis Ramin's Bandcamp page where you can find many more of his fabulous productions. And make sure to like Surfin' Ki Records on Facebook if you haven't already. When She's So Tuff comes out on vinyl, you know it's gonna sell out fast!
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