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The Cretones

THE CRETONES

 
The Cretones  were a United States, Los Angeles-based new wave rock and power pop group in the early 1980’s.  Led by singer/guitarist and former Eddie Boy Band member Mark Goldenberg (who also wrote the bulk of The Cretones’ material), the group had a strong sense of melody and a lyrical wit that placed them a cut above most of their new wave peers.  Other members were Peter Bernstein (bass, vocals), Steve Beers (percussion) and Steve Leonard (keyboards, vocals).  Both their albums were released on Richard Perry’s Planet Records label.  They are perhaps best known as the group that provided three of the songs on Linda Ronstadt’s platinum-selling 1980 new wave rock album, Mad Love.   (More from Wikipedia)
 
 
But for sheer “what-were-they-thinking” wonderment, it is hard to top the name the Cretones; who knows how much more success they could have had with a less cringe-worthy name.  Mark Goldenberg (guitar), Peter Bernstein (bass) and Steve Beers (drums) were the core of the backing band for past UARA Wendy Waldman on what for my money is her strongest album, Strange Company (1978).  The Cretones were born after the three added Steve Leonard (keyboards).  They shortly got a recording contract with Planet Records and released a very good debut album, Thin Red Line in 1980.  Linda Ronstadt was so impressed with the album that she covered three of their songs:  the title cut “Mad Love” for her 1980 new wave album, Mad Love plus “Justine” and “Cost of Love”.  Mark Goldenberg was the guitarist on several songs on the album as well.  He later served as the lead guitarist for Jackson Browne for more than a decade. 
 
(July 2012)
 
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