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Superficially categorizable among the many dance-pop groups of the eighties, Missing Persons was also and above all a gathering of musicians with serious chops, not for nothing coming largely from the band of the late Zappa. It was Uncle Frank himself who advised them to go commercial by exploiting the extravagant talents, both artistic and aesthetic, of his backup singer Dale Consalvi, who had recently married colleague drummer Terry Bozzio. This new musical/family partnership was reinforced by other defectors Warren Cuccurullo on guitars and Patrick O'Hearn on bass, and completed by keyboardist Chuck Wild, the only one not to have come into contact with the mustachioed genius from Baltimore.
Bozzio, O'Hearn, and even Cuccurullo are high-profile musicians: the drummer is like a Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson) but more powerful and versatile, the bassist possesses one of the most lethal grooves I know, as well as quite a lot of creative execution; Cuccurullo, finally, is the creator of a sound all his own, very mid-range and thick, but he was also capable of moving it with exquisite creativity within the funky scores of the virtuous rhythm section of Missing Persons.
The quintet burst onto the scene with their explosive debut album in 1982 "Spring Session M" (an anagram of their moniker): three or four danceable yet quite melodic singles, skillfully pushed at the video level by the colorful and at the time very à la page new wave verve of Dale, allowed them to rival various acts like Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Depeche Mode, and company. But the artsy, experimental, and adventurous nature of the musicians, forged in the school of a true master of spontaneity, courage, and open-mindedness like Zappa, led them toward a second album, this one, more oblique and avant-garde, dry and not too aestheticizing.
The commercial feedback was significantly weaker than the explosive debut: the group was instantly shelved by the more distracted and superficial portion of fans. The record label at least gave the group a third chance, financing the release of the third work "Color In Your Life", once again aligned with the more linear and pop style of the first. At that point, however, the marriage between singer and drummer hit a crisis, and the Missing Persons machine shut down.
Needless to say, I find this second album from 1984 to be the most interesting of their career: I am particularly fond of the second, highly dynamic track "Give", an urban high-class funky where the rhythmic whirlwind of the energetic instrumentalists is barely scratched by the singing, admittedly very weak and disharmonic yet very original, of the colorful Dale. Strong too is "Surrender Your Heart", more melodically draped and pop, and very powerful are "Right Now" and the engaging "Walking in L.A.".
The group has recently reorganized, after a long oblivion, around the indispensable figures of the talented frontwoman and the gifted guitarist, who finally got tired of being the third wheel to the tepid Duran Duran. The drummer, Dale's ex-spouse, did not intend to participate, being busy with a thousand collaborations and other reunions, the latest involving UK along with his former companions John Wetton and Eddie Jobson. Patrick O'Hearn, on the other hand, has for a lifetime been busy with entirely different matters and continues relentlessly to produce alternating ambient music records (indeed!) and soundtracks, neglecting his great talent on the four strings.Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Give (04:54)
When's the last time you really touched someone
How did it feel
Did it surprise you when you found yourself unselfish
Did it seem unreal
The pressure's everywhere - everywhere around you
Beckon you to turn the other way
But I say the results are superficial
There's only one way to play
Give-when you have anything at all to give
You have everything to live for
(Give all you've got to give)
After you've given all you can
Give again, give again, give again
Give - when you have anything at all to give
You have everything to live for
(Give all you've got to give)
After you've given all you can
Give again, give again, give again
Put your head where your feet are going
'Cause the good outweighs the bad
It's you that should be - you should be knowing
It's for what you give not what you have
When it seems you - you can't give enough
Realize it's the good you do it for
So when the going gets a little bit tough
You've got to give a little bit more
Give-when you have anything at all to give
You have everything to live for
(Give all you've got to give)
After you've given all you can
Give again, give again, give again
Give-when you have anything at all to give
You have everything to live for
(Give all you've got to give)
After you've given all you can
Give again, give again, give again
When you're looking for an answer
Nothing seems to fit
Don't give up
You've got to let your heart become the
Mirror of your mind
Give in
Don't wait for something to cause you reason
Set your goal let your mind follow through
When you feel something to believe in
You'll make all your dreams, all your dreams come true
Give-when you have anything at all to give
You have everything to live for
(Give all you've got to give)
After you've given all you can
Give again, give again, give again
Give-when you have anything at all to give
You have everything to live for
(Give all you've got to give)
After you've given all you can
Give again, give again, give again
Give-when you have anything at all to give
You have everything to live for
(Give all you've got to give)
After you've given all you can
Give again, give again, give again
Give-when you have anything at all to give
You have everything to live for
(Give all you've got to give)
After you've given all you can
Give again, give again, give again
(Give all you've got to give)
You've got to give,
you've got to give,
you've got to give
(Give all you've got to give)
You've got to give,
you've got to give,
you've got to give
(Give all you've got to give)
(Give all you've got to give)
You've got to give,
you've got to give,
you've got to give
(Give all you've got to give)
You've got to give,
you've got to give,
you've got to give
[fade]
13 Windows (04:59)
Something feels so strange tonight
it's not wrong but it's just not right
some hidden complications, fill me with hesiatation
and it gets so dark in here
I can't see through doubts and fears
walled in by expectation, I need a deviation
change in perspective, alternateive view
to help me see clearly, observe something new
All I want is a window to look through
All I need is a window to look through
It's the only thing that I really wanna do anyway
All I want is a window to look through
All I need is a window to look through
It's the only thing that I really wanna do anyway
outside the world's so dangerous
It's hard to find someone to trust
fills me with reservation deives me into hibernation
I watch whats going on
but I don't want to belong
leave me in my introspection
safely behind protection
All I want is a window to look through
All I need is a window to look through
It's the only thing that I really wanna do anyway
All I want is a window to look through
All I need is a window to look through
It's the only thing that I really wanna do anyway
looking through windows at the world
looking through windows at the world
safe behind windows from the world
safe behind windows from the world
watching my window world go by
just watching my window world go by
without my window who am I
without my window who am I
All I want is a window to look through
All I need is a window to look through
It's the only thing that I really wanna do anyway
All I want is a window to look through
All I need is a window to look through
It's the only thing that I really wanna do anyway
All I want
All I want is a window to look through
All I want
All I need is a window to look through
All I need
It's the only thing that I really wanna do anyway
All I want is a window to look through
All I need is a window to look through
It's the only thing that I really wanna do anyway
16 Walking in L.A. (04:03)
Look ahead as we pass, try and focus on it
I won't be fooled by a cheap cinematic trick
It must have been just a cardboard cut out of a man
Top-forty cast off from a record stand
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
I don't know could've been a lame jogger maybe
Or someone just about to do the freeway strangler baby
Shopping cart pusher or maybe someone groovie
One thing's for sure, he isn't starring in the movies.
'Cause he's walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., only a nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
You won't see a cop walkin' on the beat
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
You only see 'em drivin' cars out on the street
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
You won't see a kid walkin' home from school
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Their mothers pick 'em up in a car pool
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Could it be that the smog's playing tricks on my eyes
or is it a rollerskater in some kind of headphone disguise
Maybe somebody who just ran out of gas,
Making his way back to the pumps the best way he can.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., only a nobody walks in L.A.
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody walks in L.A
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