I don’t really know what made me think of it, but the other night I decided to read what Epinions reviewers had to say about Tonio K., but to my shock and dismay, the only review was for Life in the Foodchain, one of the too-many Tonio K. efforts with which I am sadly unfamiliar. But the fleeting memory I had about the late 80’s pop not-quite-icon became a minor obsession this morning as his album, Romeo Unchained, became lodged in my mind like a poppy seed under your dentures--it just begged to be attended to. Frustratingly, after a thorough search of our CD cases and a more cursory look in the garage, I can’t find my favorite Tonio K. album anywhere. So in an attempt to keep from scaring the dog by singing about how “Romeo Loves Jane” and dancing around the living room by myself, I put on the follow-up album, Notes from the lost civilization and listened to that instead. And while it isn’t as good an album as Romeo, it ain’t half bad either.

*****
About the Artist
Tonio K. got his professional start in music playing with The Crickets in their post Buddy Holly days. Back then he was know as Steve Krikorian and he played on two of their albums, Remnants (1973) and A Long Way From Lubbock (1974--a UK only release). Later that same decade, he became Tonio K. and started his solo career with several albums falling squarely into the emerging punk/new wave sound. But by the late 80’s, Tonio’s music had morphed again, giving way to a newfound spirituality which was apparent in his 1986 release Romeo Unchained, simultaneously marketed by both A&M’s What? label, and the Christian music label Word. That was the album I discovered him on—an album I loved from my first listen and which I could probably still sing entirely by memory. And so, when a second CCM album came along in 1988, I snapped it up without hesitation. Unfortunately, Notes from the lost civilization didn’t quite live up to its predecessor.

About the Album
If someone were to ask me what Tonio K. is like, I would have to say that he’s a little like Springsteen—but not quite, a little like Dylan—but not really, and a little like Steve Taylor—but totally different. He described his own sound on this recording as “urban surf music” which I guess is as apt a description as any (so I guess I’d have to say he’s a little like the Beach Boys too—but not, it you get my meaning).

The songs on this album are characterized by straightforward drum rhythms, simple electric guitar fills, slow walking bass riffs, some basic piano underpinnings, and something that sounds like a Hammond B3 organ in the background. Oddly, the album notes are limited to a song list (no lyrics) and minimal information about production and recording—no writing/recording credits are given for the various tracks, so I can’t be sure if I’m hearing everything that’s here. And while I wouldn’t exactly call the music ‘minimal’, it isn’t exactly dense either—there are no solo instruments popping out during musical breaks, few backing vocals, no electronica. In short, it sounds like something a typical garage band could put together pretty easily—I think that’s part of why it appealed to me. It was a stark contrast to much of the music of the 80’s that sounded so pre-packaged and phony.

About the Writing
The best part of Tonio K.’s music, though, is the lyric writing. His songs talk about relationships and disappointment, disillusionment and hope. The closest thing to a real love song on this album is Stay—but even this song about romance and making an emotional connection starts out on a pessimistic note before committing to something a little more hopeful.

STAY (Tonio K. /John Keller)
these aren't the greatest days for love
it's such a fallen world
it's such a dangerous place
it's so hard to find someone to trust
so easy to get hurt
so hard to get a break
so many broken hearts
so many broken homes
don't wanna even try sometimes
it's safer to be alone

stay, darlin', stay
i know you wanna run
i know you're so afraid...
(c)1987 Unicity Music/N.Y.M.


My favorite song of the set is easily the first cut though. The lyrics of Without Love are clever, and point to truth, without needing to hit you over the head with on overly obvious message. It’s just good writing. I wish I could write lyrics like this.

WITHOUT LOVE (Tonio K./John Keller)
these days it's a crime not to be beautiful
it's a crime not to be young
it's a crime to be different from everyone else
it's a crime not to always have fun

well, that's OK
except of course that none of it is true
the real crime
is how they have divided me from you
(c)1987 Bibo Music Publishers/N.Y.M./Warner Tamerlane Publishing Corporation/Safespace Music


About CCM
Sadly, because this album was a double release for both the ‘secular’ and ‘Christian’ markets, the albums being sold in Christian bookstores had one track removed in order to appease Word records. The song What Women Want had lyrics that were found to be unacceptable for that market. The opening line of the song says, “I know what these women want / they want sex,” which seems to have misogynistic overtones. But when reading the song as a whole, I think the real message comes through loud and clear.

WHAT WOMEN WANT (Tonio K.)
i know what these women want
they want sex
yeah, that's true, but
i know what these women want
they want money
yeah, that too, but
i know what these women want
i know what these women really want

i know what these women want
they want champagne and jewelry
and german cars
i know what these women want
they want roses by the dozen
wanna break your heart, but
i know what these women want
i know what these women really want

they want love
it's been a problem for a couple thousand years
can't seem to find it 'cause it always disappears
they want love
don't need no forgery, don't need no substitute
they need somebody honest, not just somebody that's cute
they want some affection
and some protection
that's what they want

i know what these women want
they wanna fight
we've got 'em pretty mad, boys
i know what these women want
they wanna lay down and die sometimes
'cause it hurts
i know what these women want
i know what these women really want

they want love
they want a lover, they don't want no little boy
don't wanna wind up bein' someone's broken toy
they want love
they want somebody they can maybe even trust
they've got a feeling
they're not asking all that much
some affection
and just a little protection
that's what they want

i think that's all they want
(c)1986 Bibo Music Publishers/N.Y.M.


It’s a shame that the song was omitted for (probably) a single word when the overall message is so real that nobody with an ounce of objectivity could possibly be offended by it. I happen to have the version of this album with the missing song, but I’m tempted to spend the money to get the complete copy if for no other reason than to support freedom of speech in the arts.


Wrapping Up
In retrospect, I don't really see this as a Christian record any more than U2's Joshua Tree is, but it appeals to that same innate sense of spirituality. I like this album quite a bit. And while it’s not my favorite 80’s pop--it’s not even my favorite Tonio K.--but it is easy to listen to and nostalgic. And sometimes that's all you really want. After almost forgetting I even had this disc, now that I’ve listened to it again, I plan on keeping this one on my regular play list for a while.

*****

For more information and music samples go to the unofficial Tonio K. homepage—
home.earthlink.net/~mrmando/tonio_k/

*****

“Notes from the lost civilization” by Tonio K.
Original Release: What? Records — 1988
Re-release: Gadfly Records — 1996

Produced by David Miller & Tonio K.
Executive Producer: T Bone Burnett
39 min. (missing song version)

Tracks: Without Love / Children’s Crusade / Stay / City Life / You Were There / The Executioner’s Song / I Can’t Stand It / [What Women Want] / I Can’t Stop / Where Is That Place?


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving