The Pandoras | It Just Ain’t True | Voxx | 1984

From the LP ‘It’s About Time’ (Voxx Records VXS 200.021) 1984

The Pandoras | It Just Ain’t True | Voxx | 1984 | So you’re standing in your local record shop searching for the perfect album to spend your allowance on. Look no further, friend, this new record by the Pandoras is IT!

Why, you ask? Well, look at the cover. When’s the last time you saw a group that looked as cute under black light? Stare at the colours. They’re so bright you might feel the urge to wear sunglasses.

And if that’s not enough, the cover itself is exactly twelve and five-sixteenths inches wide. This brilliant feat of technological design prevents the record from falling out on your toes and making you scream in agony.

Speaking of the record, this one is probably the second most exciting thing you can do with your record player. Just listen to those voices… Fabulous! And the instruments… Wow! The songs you ask? I was just about to say how catchy and wonderful they are. In fact, you might wake up in the middle of the night singing them loudly, causing your neighbours to bang on the walls and your parents to yell at you. What more could you ask for?

Fun birds

Now some fax on the Pandoras themselves. These four fun birds got together a little more than a year ago to play sixties-style garage pop like their heroes the Standells, the Five Americans, the Byrds and the Swamprats (to name just four). Their singing, playing and dayglo fishnets caused such near-riot hysteria that they decided to try it next in front of a live audience.

While playing the teen clubs, dances and hops of the Los Angeles area, the Pandoras were discovered by big shot record producer guy, Greg Shaw, who did somersaults and proclaimed them “the next big thing.”

Next stop was a recording studio where they emerged with the album you’re holding in your sweaty palms at this very moment. All you have to do now is take it home and dance wildly around the room, knocking over all the furniture. But don’t forget to put the record on first or people might wonder. (Cousin Dickie KVOX Radio)

The Pandoras | It Just Ain’t True | Voxx | 1984

Paula Pierce is the lead vocalist and plays a mean Vox guitar and harmonica as well. She’s also responsible for writing the Pandoras great original songs. Paula’s leisure time is spent listening to obscure garage records and hunting down vintage sixties mini dresses in thrift stores. Her fave movie is, of course, “Riot On Sunset Strip.”

Gwynne Kelly, organ and back-up vocals, is the group’s girl-on-the-go. Turning up where the action is at all the exciting night spots gives her the title of socialite Pandora. When standing still, Gwynne might be found going to the zoo or watching exploitation movies, one of her favorite pastimes.

Casey is the band’s quiet and mysterious drummer. Though she’s toally dedicated to keeping the Pandoras’ swinging beat, Casey checks out the competition in her off hours. You might realize from hearing her play that she’s a big surf music fan and rates the Ventures as her top faves.

Bambi Conway is the foursome’s bass player and backup vocalist. She’s known to make heads turn wherever she goes with her wild jet black hair and handmade bone necklaces. Bambi names Paul Samwell-Smith as her four string inspiration and she loves “raving up” onstage. She also enjoys traveling and digs Australia especially.