Anyone have any info on a group called Modern Rocketry?

[ol'skinflint]

All I know is that I saw at least one album by them on Megatone Records, released in 1983 (if I'm not mistaken). I foolishly didn't buy it because I had read a review that described it as "cold, unemotional disco trash" but I recently bought their 12" single remake of the Monkee's "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" and I like it. It's produced by 2 of Sylvester's producers and has an energetic synthy sound. Do they have more than one album? Any recordings available on CD? Even though Megatone Records was based in my area, they've long since gone out of business.

[Davicillo]

The 2 tracks that were big in the UK were 'Homosexuality' & 'Cuba Libre' ,both on separate Megatone singles. They only hit the gay clubs around 1985. As to the ID of the group, I don't have a clue. I wouldn't be surprised if Jolo is part of it but mainly studio based.

[neonlights]

Hey!

I believe they only had one album, but it is available on CD through Unidisc.. It was retitled "Get Ready," amazon.com should have it.. I'm not 100% sure, but Unidisc has a bunch of Megatone albums in print, so I'm guessing maybe they bought out the catalogue..

Here's some info on Modern Rocketry from Morey Goldstein's website http://www.moreyg.com/ModRock.html

[Energyguy]

The 2 tracks that were big in the UK were 'Homosexuality' & 'Cuba Libre' ,both on separate Megatone singles. They only hit the gay clubs around 1985. As to the ID of the group, I don't have a clue. I wouldn't be surprised if Jolo is part of it but mainly studio based.

I have both 12" singles but have no idea if they did anything else...

[remicks]

*****

Morey Goldstein was a good friend of mine. ( He basically was Modern Rocketry) . We worked side by side at a record store for years in San Francisco. He played saxophone and headed a big beat group called "Zazzu Pitts" ( sp?) that played the Bay Area. He appreciated all kinds of music.... while I was the one who typically played the disco /dance music . He gravitated more to the Journey/ E W & Fire / stuff. When "THRILLER " first arrived at the store and we popped a copy open and played it ..... we were both wide-eyed as we realized what a masterpiece it was .. it was obvious that first play .......not one bit of filler.... every cut carefully crafted ..... such a rarity..... we knew it would be huger than huge. Which seems a no-brainer now ..... but at the time it was very exciting because the music industry overall was somewhat in a slump and we were hungry for something this good .... .... Morey always focused on the production of albums anyway ... Van Halen , The Clash, Starship etc. ......

I remember he was piddlling quite a bit in the studio , The Record Plant ....over in Sausalito, with Ken Kessey ..working on Sylvester stuff I believe..... maybe his "BAND OF GOLD " ....and I foolishly didn't become more interested as he told me about his creating this " group" he was going to call "Modern Rocketry" . He even gave me some tracks to listen to and wanted lyrics ... I was busy with school ... :cry: and whatever and never gave it the proper attention. Major regret .....

Sure enough soon his music was released and breaking on Billboard.

Imagine my surprise when I went to a small record store while on vacation in Australia during this period .... and with no prompting from me .....what should be playing way down under ...... this modest hit ..... MODERN ROCKETRY's "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" a little tune being performed by my co-worker who was at that moment ( discounting the time difference) covering my shift at the store back in San Francisco. . That was one of those surreal moments in life .....

*****

[Andy Farley]

Deeper & Deeper & I Feel Love Coming were big in the gay clubs in the Uk in 1987 and are well worth tracking down

[Discomanic]

Other records of Modern Rocketry includes:
Right Stuff Megatone 123 1984
Thank God For Men Megatone 137 1985
Born To Be Wild Megatone 148 1987
Deeper-N-Deeper Megatone 149 1987
Spooky Megatone 153 1988
Reach For The Stars Megatone 156 1988

Modern Rocketry was Morey Goldstein and Ken Kesse.

[Davicillo]

The German ZYX copy of 'Homosexuality' has 'Thank god for men' on the b side.

[bobbyO]

Few months ago, I did a complete list of 12 inches. Here is it :

(I'm not your) steppin' stone 1983 05:28
Cuba libre 1985 7:07
Deeper n deeper 1987 (6:30)
Get ready 1988 (6:59)
Give it all you got 1988 (7:15)
Homosexuality 1985 (7:02)
I feel love coming 1987 5:08
Reach for the stars 1988 (8:47)
Space walkin 1986
Spooky 1987 (7:20)
Thank god for men 1985 (5:45)
The right stuff 1983 (4:13)

[remicks]

****

Sorry if my last post seemed a little all over the place. I was almost out the door to be somewhere when I posted so I thought I'd now add some more .

Our little record store folded sometime after those first releases and I went onto to other things including leaving the city . Morey and I lost touch but we still have mutual friends .

I went on about that "THRILLER " episode because when I started thinking about Morey .. that particular day really jumped out in my memories. We were like two excited school girls as we played that album over and over that day ..dissecting every cut and marveling at what a terrific accomplishment it was . I'm sure we've all had similar experiences ...where a certain new music really grabbed you and you played it over and over .It was really fun to be in that situation with someone else who was as equally enthralled and we were in a situation that allowed us to do so ..... .

There. I went on about it again !!! :D :roll:



..... What was interesting to me is that Morey was not really a clubber . I cannot remember him ever going to the Troc. (?) We never did any of that together even though I was doing it all the time . He'd come over and stay up late with my room mate watching MTV and music videos ( a big deal then ) and would much more likely come in tired from that ..... whereas I'd be dragging my ass from having been at the I-Beam or something .
So to this extent , it was sort of surprising that he went toward this form of music ... his group "Zazuu Pitts" played live , upbeat 40's- 60's stuff.

I bring this up because I think it explains a little about the negative review you mention , Ol'Skinflint. If there is this cold unemotional element to the music .... it might be because of this distant involvement with the club scene. I' m not sure Morey had a grip on the "soul" within a place like The Troc. I think he understood the mechanics of the music being played there ....

Also I'm not sure why the titles of songs like "HOMOSEXUALITY " and "THANK GOD FOR MEN " . Morey was very dedicated to his wonderful long time girlfriend . He was very cosmopolitan though and such stuff was old hat to him. It may have been because of his comfort zone that such topcs were easily approachable , it may have been clever awareness of who the audience was .....it may have been the input of Ken Kesse .....whom I know nothing of .....

Anyway the store closed somwhere soon after those intital releases and I lost interest in clubs and never even realized Morey /Modern Rocketry continued to put out so much follow up material.....................

Now I'm curious !

*****

[ol'skinflint]

****

Sorry if my last post seemed a little all over the place. I was almost out the door to be somewhere when I posted so I thought I'd now add some more .

Our little record store folded sometime after those first releases and I went onto to other things including leaving the city . Morey and I lost touch but we still have mutual friends .

I went on about that "THRILLER " episode because when I started thinking about Morey .. that particular day really jumped out in my memories. We were like two excited school girls as we played that album over and over that day ..dissecting every cut and marveling at what a terrific accomplishment it was . I'm sure we've all had similar experiences ...where a certain new music really grabbed you and you played it over and over .It was really fun to be in that situation with someone else who was as equally enthralled and we were in a situation that allowed us to do so ..... .

There. I went on about it again !!! :D :roll:



..... What was interesting to me is that Morey was not really a clubber . I cannot remember him ever going to the Troc. (?) We never did any of that together even though I was doing it all the time . He'd come over and stay up late with my room mate watching MTV and music videos ( a big deal then ) and would much more likely come in tired from that ..... whereas I'd be dragging my ass from having been at the I-Beam or something .
So to this extent , it was sort of surprising that he went toward this form of music ... his group "Zazuu Pitts" played live , upbeat 40's- 60's stuff.

I bring this up because I think it explains a little about the negative review you mention , Ol'Skinflint. If there is this cold unemotional element to the music .... it might be because of this distant involvement with the club scene. I' m not sure Morey had a grip on the "soul" within a place like The Troc. I think he understood the mechanics of the music being played there ....

Also I'm not sure why the titles of songs like "HOMOSEXUALITY " and "THANK GOD FOR MEN " . Morey was very dedicated to his wonderful long time girlfriend . He was very cosmopolitan though and such stuff was old hat to him. It may have been because of his comfort zone that such topcs were easily approachable , it may have been clever awareness of who the audience was .....it may have been the input of Ken Kesse .....whom I know nothing of .....

Anyway the store closed somwhere soon after those intital releases and I lost interest in clubs and never even realized Morey /Modern Rocketry continued to put out so much follow up material.....................

Now I'm curious !

*****

Remicks: I'll bet we've talked. It was a weekend ritual of mine to stop at the music stores (Aquarius on Castro, the 2 Streetlight stores, and the store on Polk street who's name I can't remember) and pick up the latest dance records prior to going out nightclubbing. I bought dozens if not hundreds of classic disco records at those stores for 50 cents and one dollar. Now, when I see the CD reissues of those same records, they cost $20.00 or more, and that's when you can find them at all.

[dvdjamm]

the store on Polk street who's name I can't remember

Gramaphone?

The Record Factory?

[slickscarlett]

Hi, this is on a vinyl that I have - Aerobic Beat Vol 2 on Megatone
All Hi NRG and disco including
Taking love into my own hands - Sylvester
Here there and everywhere - Billy Preston
Its a good un if a bit worn
Scarlett

[slickscarlett]

WOOPS - when I say "this" I mean the track - I feel love coming!
Scarlett

[Paulo]

HOMOSEXUALITY by Modern Rocketry was covered by THE PET SHOP BOYS live. Their version is found only in bootleg CDs.