Making the Case for Peter Case
Listeners who had been following the work of Peter Case may have been confused – frustrated, even – upon first hearing his self-titled 1986 debut album. The work he had done up to that point was highly appealing, sure-footed power pop and/or indie rock (though the latter term wasn’t in use back then). As one-third of late 70s new wave group the Nerves, Case crafted edgy, uptempo rockers that were informed by (among others) the Byrds, but that often rocked much harder. After that group split, he formed Los Angeles based group the Plimsouls, who scored a minor hit with “A Million Miles Away” an anthemic rocker that was the perfect synthesis of Case’s influences. Or so it seemed at the time.
So it was a surprise when – after the Plimsouls ended – Case’s acoustic-flavored solo record was released. In retrospect, Peter Case can be seen as a very early example of what’s now known as Americana: across the record’s 12 tracks, Case explores his country and folk roots, yet delivers them with a rock ‘n’ roll sensibility. (The album has been reissued in 2016 by Omnivore Recordings, appended with seven bonus tracks).
In the years following Peter Case, the singer-guitarist would continue on a path of exploring the musical and lyrical themes of his debut album; his most recent album, 2015’s HWY 62 sounds and feels like a logical follow-up to the album he made nearly three decades earlier. The rock sensibility is never far from the surface, but Case’s acoustic folk arrangements add a level of nuance not always found in more rocking material. Plus, the less-noisy approach serves to put the focus on the man’s lyrics.
On completing the sessions for Peter Case, producer T-Bone Burnett declared, “If this record doesn’t sell a million copies, I quit the business.” It didn’t sell in mass quantities, despite its quality arrangements and songwriting (and Burnett didn’t quit). Even Case’s choice of outside material (“Pair of Brown Eyes” by the Pogues‘ Shane MacGowan) made sense in the record’s musical context. Case’s current tour celebrates the 30th anniversary of Peter Case, and should deliver those songs in a warm and inviting light.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.