Two minutes and six seconds of trash pop ebullience, this import 45 was one of my favorite singles of 1979, and one of my brightest discoveries scouring the import seven inch bins in those days when England was pumping out dozens of great little records every year. The Revillos were led by Fay Fife and Eugene Reynolds, who had been in the Rezillos prior. That band had released Can’t Stand the Rezillos, one of my brightest discoveries scouring the cut-out bins in those days when so many great new records were released but didn’t sell because it turned out radio wasn’t actually be excited by rock’n’roll filled with energy, passion, and hooks.
Fife wrote “Where’s the Boy For Me,” though I don’t know if she came up with that insistent sing song Farfisa-sounding keyboard riff that propels it from the beginning. Certainly the drummer at the time – this band changed members behind the two singers with seemingly every record – came up with that brilliant thump on the toms that kicks it into high gear, and the guitarist created the snarling guitar solo based on the melody. Fife sings of her strong desire for a perfect boyfriend, but with a sense of humor – “Babs got a boy so how can it be / All the uggs always go for me.” She “want boy who’s very handsome / hope he has blond hair.” And, the song is as catchy as anything released in that era of extreme pop /rock melodies. The Revillos released several other singles, none of which were as strong as this, but which had plenty to offer, and I’m still jealous of friends who actually drove up to Chicago to see them in 1980.