Here is a 7” from 1982 that’s ostensibly a one-woman vanity project by a Richmond, VA based girl named Julie Jumper. I think the best way to describe it is “outsider electro”. On the A side, Rhythm Radar, she sings in a super-poppy 60s girl-group style over gurgling, pulsating, screeching, and beeping electronics. It’s endearingly amateur, and also quite subversive in its earworm-like catchiness, especially as she exclaims “no-one wants to vegetate so GYRATE! GYRATE!”. If you’ve ever wanted to hear, I don’t know... Liaisons Dangereuses fronted by Cyndi Lauper, this is probably the closest you’re ever going to get.
The B side, Male Rites, is a decidedly feminist argument for stronger male roles in sex and reproductive responsibility. If I heard this on the radio or on a podcast, I would just assume it was a Le Tigre or Chicks on Speed song from about 10 years ago. The song is certainly a bit snotty (in a punk sort of way) and quite clever in its adamant political stance. It alternates between noodling electronics and full-on synthpop when the intermittent rhythm machine kicks in. My copy has a weird “haze” sort of defect on it that causes crackling on the B side. I cleaned it up a bit, but it’s still present, mainly at the beginning.
After she released this 7”, Julie went on to form a similar group called O.Boy with two other girls (two rhythm boxes, a synth, and vocals), who are still quite legendary in the local Richmond scene. While they recorded some tracks together, I don’t know if they ever actually released anything. I'd be interested if anyone has any info or songs from them, though.
Julie Jumper: Rhythm Radar 7”
1982, Restless Records
A: Rhythm Radar
B: Male Rites
Click here to listen!
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5 comments:
This is great, thanks for the listen.
do you know where i can find any o-boy recordings? thanks so much! i'm so into this julie jumper 7."
Hi! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your post; this posting has evoked the most response.
I saw a clip of O-Boy performing Va Va Voom while watching Night Flight on USA Network as a kid. There was some commentary about the group.(The program host was Joan Lunden.)I have been trying to find a recording ever since.
I saw O.boy many times in Norfolk, Va. They were my favorite local band and Julie was fantastic. They had a girl named Zowie but I forget the other names I have an autograph copy of this record and sleeve and it is a treasured relic of my youth, God bless Julie wherever you are Dean Fetty
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