As dysfunctional as the record business is nowadays, it’s never been an easy nut to crack. Here’s proof that the industry was no bonus twenty years ago, either — the belated release of Arrogance’s 5’11”, a superb album that no record label in the free world wanted to put out in 1982-83.
Arrogance first emerged from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 1969, centered around the tandem of Don Dixon and Robert Kirkland. The band’s live reputation in North Carolina was legendary, but none of its five albums broke through. By the early ’80s, Arrogance was between labels and trying to get another record deal with this set of songs (named for the average height of the band’s members). Alas, it was their misfortune to be a straight-ahead pop-rock band at a time when cheesy keyboards and hexagonal-shaped drums were all the rage.
Funny thing, though: The ’80s’ loss is the naughties’ gain. Where few records from 1982 don’t sound at least a little ridiculous now, Arrogance’s classicism serves 5’11” well. It doesn’t sound just non-musty, it sounds downright contemporary. “Where Are You?” could be Fastball’s follow-up single to its 1998 smash “The Way”. “Nothing To Fear” is a terrific anthem just waiting to ring out in an arena somewhere. And “Praying Mantis”, later a modest hit for Dixon in a solo version, is still a perfect sing-along song (no wonder Dixon calls it “my own private ‘Louie, Louie'”).
Filling out the original dozen 5’11” songs are another ten from the vaults, going as far back as 1976, many just flat irresistible — the goofy knockoff “Velvet Elvis”, the cutting power-popper “Remember”, Dixon’s blue-eyed soul sneer “(You’re A) Big Girl Now”. How can you not love any record that rhymes “girlish pout” with “blue jeans shout”?
A swell consolation prize.