The Fevers – Don’t Tell Me It’s Wrong

SinglesGoingSteady#02: The Fevers – Don’t Tell Me It’s Wrong [Get Hip Recordings, 2005]

The Fevers churned out some really good power pop stuff between 1998 and 2006; two albums, two singles and one EP. Their material exhibits an incredibly high minimum level. Selected single for SinglesGoingSteady#02 is Don’t Tell Me It’s Wrong, included in the Love Always Wins sessions. This, their second album, was released by the reliable German label Alien Snatch! Records in 2004.

But the present single version of Don’t Tell Me It’s Wrong is the original one mixed by producer and Fevers drummer Travis Ramin, while the B-side is a previously unreleased track – a wonderfully scruffy cover of He’s in Town, cherry-picked from the vast Goffin-King catalog and first recorded by The Tokens in 1964. This single is The Fevers’ only release on Get Hip Recordings. Get Hip Recordings is an independent Pittsburgh-based record label and distributor founded in 1985 by Gregg Kostelich, Michael Kastelic, and Bill von Hagen – initially as a way to handle the record output of their band, The Cynics, on their own terms. Shortly afterwards, the scope was broadened to include other acts. Label motto: Get Hip or Get Lost!

Concerning Don’t Tell Me It’s Wrong, it blows you away right from the flying start for two minutes and leaves your ears ringing with an obvious flavor of the best bubblegum brand. Of course, Don’t Tell Me It’s Wrong stands for classic, energetic edgy power pop served up without apology.

In addition to Travis Ramin (drums and backing vocals), the band for this recording also consisted of two original members; Gavin May on lead vocals and bass, Brian “B-Man” Hermosillo on guitar and backing vocals. Don’t Tell Me It’s Wrong is a joint effort between them with all three members credited as songwriters.

Also, to step into the present: check out the perfectly cured and uplifting playlists of Travis Ramin’s spot Travo Ramo Fa Fa Fa on KFAI radio station in Twin City. You will not regret it.

Travis Ramin adding following to the story of this recording:

I got with Get Hip because I am from Pennsylvania, home of Get Hip, and love the label and my wife Miss Georgia Peach worked there as did Natalie Sweet who I’ve also produced an album with. The three of us had Ramo Records together. Gregg and Barbara of Get Hip we’re friends and mutual fans. It’s an official Get Hip 45, the juke box labels and white label promo label were just apart of Get Hips aesthetic at the time … but yes I wanted it to be different from the LP so it is a different mix.

Re: He’s In Town, the guys presented me with the song and I just changed the drum rhythm with something I borrowed from Clem Burke and the rolling Tom Tom beat. Also, we took our He’s In Town from The Rockin’ Berries.

Travis