- Scott Matthews -- drums, guitar (1979)

- Ron Nagle -- vocals, keyboards (1979)

- The Mystery Trend (Ron Nagle)

- Ron Nagle (solo effort)

- The Profits (Scott Matthews and Ron Nagle)

Genre: rock

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Durocs

Company: Capitol

Catalog: ST-11981

Year: 1979

Country/State: San Francisco, California

Grade (cover/record): NM/NM

Comments: sealed; cut out hole top right hand corner

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 918

Price: $20.00

C'mon ... how can you not at least listen to a band that named themselves after a breed of pig known for it's large ears, genitals and ability to procreate  ...   

Drummer/guitar player Scott Matthews and singer/keyboard player Ron Nagle - now here's a pair of true American eccentrics.  Nagle had been a mamber of The Mystery Trend and released an interesting early-1970s solo entry, but as partners these guys enjoyed their initial successes as songwriters, writing material for various soundtracks ("The Exorcist") and placing songs with a host of acts including Michelle Phillips, The Tubes and Barbara Streisand.  By the mid-1970s they'd found a mentor in the form of the late Jack Nitzsche.  Signed by Capitol as a producer, Nitzsche quickly recommended Matthews and Nagle be brought aboard as producers.  Capitol executives agreed, but on the condition that the pair record an album

Co-produced by Matthews, Nagel and Elliot Mazer, 1979's "Durocs" is one of those sets that should have been a massive hit, but had the misfortune of being released at the wrong time.  The fact they were signed to a company that didn't have a clue what to do with them, coupled with the fact they wouldn't tour to support the LP certainly didn't help their commercial aspirations. Those facts aside, with Matthews and Nagel penning nine of the ten tracks, the album offered up an appealing mixture of new wave jitters ('No Fool No Fun' and 'Seeker (You Be Sucker)'), top-40 pop fodder ('Lie To Me' and 'It Hurts To Be In Love') and Beach Boys-styled pop ('We Go Good Together').  Nagel had one of those voices that just cried out for radio airplay, while the pair demonstrated an uncanny knack for crafting commercial melodies ('Don't Let The Dream Die' and 'True Love'). One hundred times better than wannabes like The Knack, in a just world the album should've been a major success.  Capitol also tapped the album for two instantly obscure singles from the LP:

- 1979's 'It Hurts To Be In Love' b/w 'No Fool, No Fun' (Capitol catalog number 4765)

- 1979's 'Saving It All Up For Larry' b/w 'Saving It Up For Larry (mono)' (Capitol catalog number 4787)

"Durocs" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Hog Wild   (Ron Nagle - Scott Matthews)
2.) Lie To Me   (Ron Nagle - Scott Matthews)
3.) Don't Let The Dream Die   (Ron Nagle - Scott Matthews)
4.) We Go Good Together   (Ron Nagle - Scott Matthews)
5.) No Fool No Fun   (Ron Nagle - Scott Matthews)

(side 2)

1.) It Hurts To Be In Love   (Greenfield - Miller) - 
2.) Seeker (You Be Sucker)   (Ron Nagle - Scott Matthews)
3.) True Love   (Ron Nagle - Scott Matthews)
4.) One Day At A Time   (Ron Nagle)
5.) Saving It All Up For Larry   (Ron Nagle - Scott Matthews)

Capitol declined a follow-up LP (at least one executive suggesting they explore a jazz path).  The pair continued to work together, releasing a single as The Profits before striking out on their own.  Both enjoyed considerable success as producers with Nagel becoming a recognized expert in ceramic arts (he used to be on the faculty at Mills University).

Thanks to YouTube you can check out a couple of their old videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l866uxwwDQs

"It Hurts To Be In Love'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKJiPnAc-LQ

'Savin' It All Up for Larry'