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Personal Effects, from Rochester, New York, played throughout the northeast between 1982 and 1985. They recorded four lps and two eps. Earring Records released a compilation CD (shown below) with 20 tracks chosen from the six original releases. The CD is $10 and includes shipping (Europe $30 including shipping). Personal Effects “A Collection” and Personal Effects Nothing Lasts Forever, A Collection Part 2″ is to stream at most streaming services. Some vinyl records are stillavailable by contacting the band through the “Contact” tab above.

“This band has a haunting, unique sound based on musical ability, not gimmicks.”
– Billboard Magazine
“There are hints of psychedelia—both the sixties American and eighties British brands—in both the Iyrics and the music, but there are enough hooks to satisfy radio programmers.”
– PMS New Music Report
“The real kick is the way they play choppy riffs and make them sound smooth.”
– Musician Magazine

PERSONAL EFFECTS – A COLLECTION
Earring Records (EAR13)

STREAM PERSONAL EFFECTS MUSIC HERE

Personal Effects CDS are ten bucks including postage!

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1. Lucia’s Supper Club (Fournier, Dodd) 03:00 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Keyboards, Sax; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals; Robin Mills – Bass, Vocals; Paul Dodd – Drums, Vocals. Produced by Personal Effects and Todd Schafer. ©1985 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “It’s Different Out There.”

2. Boom Boom Town / Violince 05:39 Written, performed and produced by Peggi Fournier, Paul Dodd, Bob Martin and Martin Edic with Kevin Vicalvi. ©1988 Earring Records. From Personal Effects’ Cassette “90 Days In The Planetarium.”

3. Low Riders (Fournier, Dodd) 03:50 Paul Dodd – Drums, Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Organ, Vocals, Bob Martin – Guitar, Martin Edic & Bernie Heveron – Bass, Mike Holm – Rhythm Guitar, Dave Frensel – Percussion. Produced by Dwight Glodell. © 1982 Personal Effects. From Personal Effects’ First EP.

4. So Hard (Stim, Bingham, Fournier, Dodd) 03:23 Paul Dodd – Drums, Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Organ, Vocals, Bob Martin – Guitar, Bernie Heveron – Bass. Produced by Eric Dufaure Co-produced by Dwight Glodell. © 1982 Personal Effects. From Personal Effects’ First EP.

5. Love Never Thinks (Fournier) 05:07 Paul Dodd – Drums, Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Organ, Vocals, Bob Martin – Guitar, Bernie Heveron – Bass, Duane Sherwood – Synthesizer. Produced by Dwight Glodell, Mixed by Dwight Glodell and Iolo Carew.© 1982 Personal Effects. From Personal Effects’ First EP.

6. Day Is Coming (Fournier, Dodd, Martin) 03:50 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Keyboards; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals; Paul Dodd – Drums; Kevin Vicalvi – Bass. Engineered by Bill Thomas, Produced by Personal Effects. ©1987 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “Manafiesta.”

7. Don’t Wake Me (Fournier, Dodd) 03:43 Paul Dodd – Drums, Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Organ, Vocals, Bob Martin – Guitar, Martin Edic – Bass. Produced by Dwight Glodell.© 1982 Personal Effects. From Personal Effects’ First EP.

8. Big Man (Dodd, Fournier) 03:36 Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals; Bernie Heveron – Bass, Vocals; Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Keyboards; Paul Dodd – Drums. Produced and Engineered by Dwight Glodell. © 1985 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ EP “Bring Out The Jazz.”

9. Bring Out The Jazz (Dodd, Fournier, Heveron, Martin) 04:40 Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals; Chuck Carter – Bass, Vocals; Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Keyboards; Paul Dodd – Drums. Produced and Engineered by Dwight Glodell. © 1985 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ EP “Bring Out The Jazz.”

10. When You Open The Door 03:41 Written, performed and produced by Peggi Fournier, Paul Dodd, Bob Martin and Martin Edic with Kevin Vicalvi. ©1988 Earring Records. From Personal Effects’ Cassette “90 Days In The Planetarium.”

11. X Melody (Fournier) 03:03 Paul Dodd – Drums, Vocals; Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Organ; Bernie Heveron – Bass, Vocals; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals. Produced by Personal Effects. ©1984 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “This Is It.”

12. Temptation (Fournier) 03:58 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Keyboards; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals; Paul Dodd – Drums; Kevin Vicalvi – Bass. Engineered by Bill Thomas, Produced by Personal Effects. ©1987 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “Mana Fiesta.”

13. The Verdict (Martin) 02:29 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Keyboards, Sax; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals; Robin Mills – Bass, Vocals; Paul Dodd – Drums, Vocals. Produced by Personal Effects and Todd Schafer. ©1985 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “It’s Different Out There.”

14. Darlin (Fournier) 03:36 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Keyboards; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals; Paul Dodd – Drums; Kevin Vicalvi – Bass. Engineered by Bill Thomas, Produced by Personal Effects. ©1987 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “Mana Fiesta.”

15. It (Fournier) 01:55 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Keyboards, Sax; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals; Robin Mills – Bass, Vocals; Paul Dodd – Drums, Vocals. Produced by Personal Effects and Todd Schafer. ©1985 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “It’s Different Out There.” 

16. Baby Baby (Fournier, Dodd, Mills, Martin) 03:48 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Keyboards, Sax; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals; Robin Mills – Bass, Vocals; Paul Dodd – Drums, Vocals. Produced by Personal Effects and Todd Schafer. ©1985 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “It’s Different Out There.” 

17. Mesa (Fournier) 04:43 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Keyboards, Sax; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals; Robin Mills – Bass, Vocals; Paul Dodd – Drums, Vocals. Produced by Personal Effects and Todd Schafer. ©1985 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “It’s Different Out There.” 

18. Heroes (Fournier, Dodd, Martin, Mills) 05:34 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Keyboards; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals; Paul Dodd – Drums; Kevin Vicalvi – Bass. Engineered by Bill Thomas, Produced by Personal Effects. ©1987 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “Mana Fiesta.” 

19. This Is It (Dodd, Fournier, Heveron, Martin) 03:09 Paul Dodd – Drums, Vocals; Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Organ; Bernie Heveron – Bass, Vocals; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals. Produced by Personal Effects. ©1984 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “This Is It.”

(P) and ©1988 Earring Records. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation applicable law.

1. Nothing Lasts Forever (Dodd, Fournier) 3:47 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Keyboards; Bob Martin – Guitar; Robin Mills – Bass; Paul Dodd – Drums. Produced by Personal Effects and Todd Schafer. ©1985 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “It’s Different Out There.” 

2. Fascinating Game (Edic, Fournier) 4:16 Paul Dodd – Drums; Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Organ; Bernie Heveron – Bass; Bob Martin – Guitar. Produced by Personal Effects. ©1984 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “This Is It.”

3. Walk (Fournier) 2:29 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Keyboards; Bob Martin – Guitar; Robin Mills – Bass; Paul Dodd – Drums. Produced by Personal Effects and Todd Schafer. ©1985 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “It’s Different Out There.” 

4. Same As A Kiss (Fournier) 2:54 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Percussion; Bob Martin – Guitar; Paul Dodd – Drums; Kevin Vicalvi – Bass. Engineered by Bill Thomas, Produced by Personal Effects. ©1987 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “Mana Fiesta.”
Originally available on the Restless Records cassette release only.

5. Single Minded (Fournier) 4:44 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Keyboards; Bob Martin – Guitar; Paul Dodd – Drums; Kevin Vicalvi – Bass. Engineered by Bill Thomas, Produced by Personal Effects. ©1987 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “Mana Fiesta.”
Originally available on the Restless Records cassette release only.

6. Drifting Apart (Dodd, Fournier) 4:25 Paul Dodd – Drums; Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Organ; Bernie Heveron – Bass; Bob Martin – Guitar. Produced by Personal Effects. ©1984 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “This Is It.”

7. End Of The World (Dee, Kent) 3:14 Paul Dodd – Drums; Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Organ; Bernie Heveron – Bass; Bob Martin – Guitar. Produced by Personal Effects. Summit Music Corp. From Personal Effects’ Album “This Is It.”

8. What’s The Attraction (Heveron) 5:13 Paul Dodd – Drums; Peggi Fournier – Sax; Bernie Heveron – Vocals, Bass, Vocals; Bob Martin – Guitar. Produced by Personal Effects. ©1984 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “This Is It.”

9. Incidental Music (Fournier) 0:33 Performed and produced by Peggi Fournier, Paul Dodd, Bob Martin and Martin Edic with Kevin Vicalvi. ©1988 Earring Records. From Personal Effects’ Cassette “90 Days In The Planetarium.”

10. Melting Pot (Dodd, Fournier) 2:46 Performed and produced by Peggi Fournier, Paul Dodd, Bob Martin and Martin Edic with Kevin Vicalvi. ©1988 Earring Records. From Personal Effects’ Cassette “90 Days In The Planetarium.”

11. Bring Out The Jazz (Dodd, Fournier, Heveron, Martin) 3:24 Paul Dodd – Drums, Vocals; Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax; Bernie Heveron – Bass, Vocals; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals. Produced by Personal Effects. ©1984 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “This Is It.”

12. My Desire (Dodd, Fournier) 2:59 Paul Dodd – Drums; Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Organ; Bernie Heveron – Bass; Bob Martin – Guitar. Produced by Personal Effects. ©1984 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “This Is It.”

13. Porch (Dodd, Edic, Fournier, Holm) 2:53 Paul Dodd – Drums; Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Tamborine; Bernie Heveron – Bass; Bob Martin – Guitar. Produced by Personal Effects. ©1984 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “This Is It.”

14. I Had Everything (Dodd, Fournier) 3:08 Paul Dodd – Drums; Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Organ; Bernie Heveron – Bass; Bob Martin – Guitar. Produced by Personal Effects. ©1984 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “This Is It.” ©1984 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “This Is It.”

15. Main Trail (Heveron) 3:43 Paul Dodd – Drums, Vocals; Peggi Fournier – Vocals, keyboards; Bernie Heveron – Bass, Vocals; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals. Produced by Personal Effects. ©1984 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “This Is It.”

16. The Verdict (Martin) 2:31 Peggi Fournier – Keyboards; Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals; Robin Mills – Bass; Paul Dodd – Drums. Produced by Personal Effects and Todd Schafer. ©1985 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “It’s Different Out There.” 

17. Zeke’s Baby Girl (Fournier, Dodd) 3:13 Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Keyboards, Sax; Bob Martin – Guitar; Robin Mills – Bass; Paul Dodd – Drums. Produced by Personal Effects and Todd Schafer. ©1985 Lint Music (BMI). From Personal Effects’ Album “It’s Different Out There.” 

18. Let’s Fly (Fournier) 5:05 Performed and produced by Peggi Fournier, Paul Dodd, Bob Martin and Martin Edic with Kevin Vicalvi. ©1988 Earring Records. From Personal Effects’ Cassette “90 Days In The Planetarium.”

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Peggi Fournier and Paul Dodd are currently members of MARGARET EXPLOSION along with Ken Frank and Phil Marshall, both formerly with the great Colorblind James Experience. They perform regularly at the Little Theatre Cafe and other locales. Before Personal Effects, Peggi Fournier and Paul Dodd were members of HI-TECHS. Personal Effects played a Scorgie’s Reunion in 2008.

“Accessible without selling out…great hooks and interesting guitar work, neo-psychedelic Iyrics…Highly recommended.”
– Boston Rock
” PERSONAL EFFECTS combines classical rock with some crashing sax and synth and a female vocalist.”
– Milwaukee Express
“This group’s curious blend of jazz, new wave and pulsating rhythms is ultimately infectious.”
– On Campus Magazine
“This four piece group combines garage rock and art rock to arrive at some rather tasty results. If you want to see music with guts that excites and incites dancing, see Personal Effects live.”
– Buffalo Evening News
“Personal Effects mine the quirky rock field exemplified by bands like the B-52’s and the Bongos. But they spice it with nods to Blondie and tips of their collective hat to older sources like Jefferson Airplane and Ritchie Valens.”
– Music and Sound Output Magazine
“The twist this quartet adds is a mixture of brooding atmospherics and funky counterpoint. This is a band that plays out their ideas, not just their music.”
– Knickerbocker News—Albany, NY
“Danceable, serious-side-of-pop… captures the nouveau pose perfectly.”
– Op Magazine
“Personal Effects new album,”It’s Different Out There,” is a masterpiece.”
– Rochester Times-Union
“At a time when we all seem to be looking for good, new American bands, we recommend you check out Personal Effects.”
– Rockpool

PERSONAL EFFECTS SELF TITLED 12 inch EP (Vinyl and Cassette)
(Cachalot Records, 1983)

Iolo Carew, a dj at Danceteria in New York, had the Hi-Techs’ “Screamin’ You Head” 7 inch on his playlist for quite a while and it attracted the attention of Eric DuFaure from Cachalot Records. At that same time Bob Martin joined the band and we changed our name to Personal Effects. Eric came to Rochester to hear us live and he offered us a deal. We recorded a five song ep at PCI studios with Dwight Glodell engineering and producing. We did some additional recording and mixing at Sorcerer Sound in NYC.

1. So Hard (Stim, Bingham, Fournier, Dodd) 3:23
2. Magic (I’ve Been Waiting) (Fournier, Dodd) 3:37
3. Low Riders (Fournier, Dodd) 3:53
4. Love Never Thinks (Fournier) 5:07
5. Don’t Wake Me (Fournier, Dodd) 3:43

Paul Dodd – Drums
Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Organ
Bernie Heveron – Bass, Vocals
Bob Martin – Guitar

Martin Edic – Bass on Magic and Don’t Wake Me
Mike Holm – Rhythm Guitar, Dave Frensel – Percussion on Low Riders
Duane Sherwood – Synthesizer on Love Never Thinks

So Hard produced by Eric Dufaure Co-produced by Dwight Glodell
Low Riders, Magic (I’ve Been Waiting), Love Never Thinks and Don’t Wake Me produced by Dwight Glodell
Love Never Thinks Mixed by Dwight Glodell and Iolo Carew
Magic mixed by Eric Dufaure and Dave Avidor
Album engineered by Dwight Glodell

Cover painting by Paul Dodd 
Special thanks to Iolo Carew and Roger McCall

All Songs © 1983 Lint Music/Blubber Music BMI
(P) Cachalot Records
© 1983 Personal Effects/Cachalot Records

All rights reserved Lyrics printed by permission. Unauthorized duplication is a violation applicable law.

PERSONAL EFFECTS – “THIS IS IT” 12 inch LP (Vinyl)
Earring Records (EAR1) 1984

1. I Had Everything (Dodd, Fournier) 3:08
2. No One Can Get To You (Heveron) 3:53
3. Bring Out The Jazz (Dodd, Fournier, Heveron, Martin) 3:24
4. X-Melody (Fournier) 3:02
5. Fascinating Game (Edic, Fournier) 4:16
6. End Of The World* (Dee, Kent) 3:14
7. Drifting Apart (Dodd, Fournier) 4:25
8. What’s The Attraction (Heveron) 5:13
9. Security (Fournier) 2:19
10. A Mess (Dodd, Fournier) 4:41
11. Porch (Dodd, Edic, Fournier, Holm) 2:53
12. This Is It (Dodd, Fournier, Heveron, Martin) 3:11

“What we’ve heard is so disturbing
It takes time to settle in
Our destination doesn’t matter
This is it… life hereafter”

Personal Effects are:
Paul Dodd – Drums, Vocals
Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Organ
Bernie Heveron – Bass, Vocals
Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals

Outtakes from “This Is It” sessions include:
1. Main Trail (Heveron) 3:43
2. Mojave (Dodd, Fournier) 6:18
3. My Desire (Dodd, Fournier) 2:59
4. Simple Things (Dodd, Fournier, Heveron, Martin) 4:22

This record was recorded and mixed at home on borrowed equipment by Personal Effects with help from Duane Sherwood.

Special thanks to Duane Sherwood, Dwight Glodell, Kevin Vicalvi, Eric Dufaure, Bob Morasse, PCI, Stan, Whirlwind Audio, Dwight’s car, Shawn Irons, Scorgie, Chris Grener, Chris Schepp, Sheryl and Carol.

Front cover photo by Gary Brandt. Design by Paul Dodd

All Songs © 1984 Lint Music (BMI) except* Summit Music Corp. (ASCAP) 
(P) Earring Records, A Division of Lint Music © 1984 Personal Effects

All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable law.

Review: PERSONAL EFFECTS “THIS IS IT” BY PAT THOMAS, Notebook APRIL 1984

“Personal Effects new album “This Is It” is a pop masterpiece in its own right. Recorded by the band themselves at home, the production is basic, yet smooth and flowing. The songwriting and musicianship is first rate, the lyrics and music complementing each other throughout the album.

A catchy guitar riff with a haunting organ background starts off “I Had Everything,” the opening song and one of the album’s more memorable melodic songs. (And one that I would strongly recommend for airplay.)

The alienation concepts of “No One Can Get To You” are lyrically, reminiscent of Jack Kerouac’s “The Dharma Bums,” “sit in the woods for three days.

One of Personal Effects’ more popular songs follows, “Bring Out The Jazz,” a happy upbeat tune celebrating the joys of life with Paul’s vocal perfectly projecting the mood of the song. “Bring Out The Jazz” sums up what Personal Effects are all about. A fun, creative band without pretensions or falsehoods that make good, danceable, intellectually and physically stimulating and satisfying, pop music.

Other highlights include “Drifting Apart” – easily the best song on the album with its psychedelic feel, low-volume guitar providing just the right touch – a great mix and production that captures the spirit of the band and their live performances.

Another surprise follows, “What’s The Attraction.” Bernie’s lethargic vocal and intelligent lyrics tell an increasingly intense story of a religious-cult gathering or concert. The vocal line builds and builds as Bernie works himself into a nervous frenzy that is fantastic and genius.

In rock music’s existence, musicans and bands have influenced each other time and time again, sometimes to the point that everything begins to jell into one, evident thru MTV and FM-Top 40 radio stations. The best thing about Personal Effects and “This Is It” is summed up in one word; “UNIQUE.”

PERSONAL EFFECTS – BRING OUT THE JAZZ 12 inch EP (Vinyl)
Earring Records (PEEP1) 1985

1. Bring Out The Jazz (Dodd, Fournier, Heveron, Martin) 4:40
2. My Desire (Dodd, Fournier) 2:54 
3. Watching You (Fournier) 4:02
4. All Over Me (Fournier) 4:16
5. Big Man (Dodd, Fournier) 3:55
6. An Idea (Dodd, Fournier, Heveron, Martin) 5:02

Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals
Robin Goldblatt – Bass, Vocals
Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Keyboards
Paul Dodd – Drums

Produced and Engineered by Dwight Glodell 

Bernie Heveron plays bass on “An Idea” and “Big Man”. Chuck Carter plays bass on “Bring Out The Jazz” and “All Over Me”.

Special thanks to Duane Sherwood, Kevin Vicalvi and Shawn Irons.
Photography by Linnae Fisher. Steam art on back cover by Chris Schepp.

All songs © 1985 Lint Music (BMI) (P) Earring Records, a division of Lint Music. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation applicable law.

PERSONAL EFFECTS – “IT’S DIFFERENT OUT THERE” 12 inch LP (Vinyl)
Earring Records (EAR3) 1985

1. Zeke’s Baby Girl (Fournier, Dodd) 3:13 
2. Nothing Lasts Forever (Fournier, Dodd) 3:47
3. The Verdict (Martin) 2:31
4. Baby Baby (Fournier) 3:52 
5. Walk (Fournier) 2:29 
6. It (Fournier) 1:55
7. Lucia’s Supper Club (Fournier, Dodd) 3:02
8. Looking For Love (Fournier, Dodd, Mills, Martin) 4:08 
9. No Second Chance (Fournier, Dodd) 3:07 
10. Mesa (Fournier) 4:54 
11. Would You (Fournier, Dodd) 3:16 
12. They’re Out To Get Me (Martin) 2:54 
13. Instant Karma* (Lennon) 2:56

Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Keyboards, Sax 
Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals
Robin Mills – Bass, Vocals
Paul Dodd – Drums, Vocals

Produced by Personal Effects and Todd Schafer
Engineered by Todd Schafer
Recorded at PCI Studios
Special Thanks to Duane Sherwood, Kevin Vicalvi, Don Scorgie
Photography by Chris Maggio
Cover Artwork by Paul Dodd

All songs ©1985 Lint Music (BMI) except* Maclen Music 
(P) Earring records, A Division of Lint Music. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation applicable law.

PERSONAL EFFECTS – “MANA FIESTA” 12 inch LP (Vinyl and Cassette)
US: Enigma Records (2189-1) 1987
Europe: Virgin Records (VG50276) 1987

US: Enigma Records (2189-1) 1987
Europe: Virgin Records (VG50276) 1987

1. Mana Fiesta (Fournier, Dodd) 4:37 
2. Darlin (Fournier) 3:30
3. Shower Of Roses (Fournier, Dodd) 3:40
4. Love Potion (Fournier, Dodd) 4:02 
5. In This World (Fournier) 3:47
6. Single Minded* (Fournier) 4:44
7. Testify (Fournier, Dodd) 3:27
8. Temptation (Fournier) 3:55
9. Same As A Kiss* (Fournier) 2:54
10. Let’s Take A Ride (Fournier, Dodd, Martin, Mills) 2:41 
11. Heroes (Fournier, Dodd, Martin, Mills) 6:05
12. Day Is Coming (Fournier, Dodd, Martin) 3:48

* Originally available on the Restless Records cassette release only.

Peggi Fournier – Vocals, Sax, Keyboards
Bob Martin – Guitar, Vocals
Paul Dodd – Drums
Kevin Vicalvi – Bass

Produced by Personal Effects
Engineered by Bill Thomas 
Recorded and Mixed at Avatar Studios, Rochester, NY 
Cover Artwork by Paul, Photo by Bob 
Thanks to Kevin, Duane, Steve Riccardo and ART

All songs (P) Lint Music (BMI) 
©1987 Earring Records
All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation applicable law.

PERSONAL EFFECTS – 90 DAYS IN THE PLANETARIUM
Earring Records (EAR6) 1987

Original soundtrack from the Personal Effects Laser Light Show, a multimedia event that was performed at the Strasenburgh Planetarium in Rochester, New York for three months in 1987. Released on cassette only.

1. While You Were Out
2. I Will Never Understand
3. Wild Drive
4. There Goes Sam
5. Cirrus
6. Boom Boom Town
7. Violince
8. Una Flor Roja
9. Martin Get Up
10. Joe Henderson
11. Melting Pot
12. When You Open The Door
13. Silver Fingernails
14. Let’s Fly

All songs written, performed and produced by Peggi Fournier, Paul Dodd, Bob Martin and Martin Edic with Kevin Vicalvi. Visuals by Duane Sherwood. Photography by Ken Fleischer. Thanks to Don Hall, Elmer Bataitas, Joe Ricci and Jim Sawicki.

(P) and ©1988 Earring Records. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation applicable law.

PERSONAL EFFECTS – PORCH/A MESS 45 RPM (Vinyl)
Earring Records (EAR145) 1987

PERSONAL EFFECTS – HEARTBEAT Recorded Live at Danceteria 1985

BEFORE THERE WAS MARGARET EXPLOSION, THERE WAS PERSONAL EFFECTS

CITY NEWS, December 20, 2020 by Frank De Blase
One of Rochester’s gutsier and more exploratory outfits on the scene today is Margaret Explosion, a delicate free-form jazz group that takes its listeners on an almost narcotic journey. The music is dreamy and tactile; you can take a hit and hold it. Because the sound is created in the moment, no one song is ever given the same treatment twice. It’s beautiful and mesmerizing. 

But to fully appreciate the trippy transcendence of Margaret Explosion, you have to pause and give a listen to Personal Effects, the band’s predecessor. The similarities are there, but they’re fleeting. Whereas Margaret Explosion is rather unconventional, Personal Effects was a more straight-ahead outfit operating in an emergent, danceable era of music that embraced pop and new wave. You can hear these aesthetics in Personal Effects’ album “Bring Out the Jazz,” with its likeness to the music of Talking Heads and Television.

Personal Effects consisted of drummer Paul Dodd, saxophonist, keyboardist and vocalist Peggi Fournier, guitarist Bob Martin, Bernie Heveron and later Robin Mills, as well as Kevin Vicalvi on bass. From 1983 to 1987, the band was an extremely prolific — releasing its self-titled, 12-inch EP on Cachalot Records in 1983 before unleashing three LPs, an additional EP, one cassette, and a 45-inch record called “Porch/A Mess” in the span of four years. During that time, the video for “Drifting Apart” from the 1984 album “This Is It,” got airplay on MTV.

At a time in which the Rochester music scene was already stacked with talented groups such as New Math (of which Dodd was an original member), Paper Faces, The Chesterfield Kings, The Raunchettes, The Fugitives, and Colorblind James Experience, the fact that Personal Effects stood out in the crowd is a feat in itself. “We did not try to sound like anyone else,” Paul Dodd says. “We had a saxophone as a lead instrument along with guitar, and we stayed in minor keys.”

Fournier’s saxophone is what caught the ear of Tom Kohn, now co-owner of Bop Shop Records and a discerning scenester at the time. “They were very groove-oriented,” he says of Personal Effects. “They were the fabric of the scene.”

The band packed audiences in at joints du jour such as Scorgie’s, Red Creek, Calabash, Casablanca, Schatzee’s, Penny Arcade, Triangle Theatre (now the Harro East Ballroom), Snake Sisters Cafe (now Lux Lounge), Heaven, Mirage, and Jazzberry’s (both Monroe Avenue and East Avenue locations). 

Of all these clubs, Dodd says they dug the vibe at Scorgies the most. So did Kohn.

“I remember going there a lot,” Kohn says. “But I don’t remember leaving.”

In order to accommodate its multimedia attack, which included atmospheric lighting and liquid projections, Personal Effects also played some more unusual spots, including Pyramid Arts Center (now Rochester Contemporary Art Center) and The Strasenburgh Planetarium — where the band holed up for a three-month residency and performed its Laser Light Show, resulting in the cassette-only release “90 days in the Planetarium” in 1987. More recently, Personal Effects released a 20-song career retrospective, “A Collection,” on its own label Earring Records in 2008.

In the ’80s, it seemed that the bigger the show and the bigger the venue, the bigger the band sounded. Dodd remembers a few particular shows as highlights: Personal Effects’ record release show for its Cachalot Records debut at Midtown Top of the Plaza, which drew more than 1,000 people; a true multimedia stage show with projections and liquid lights at The Community Playhouse (known simply as The Playhouse/Swillburger now);

It manifested itself through the keyboards and lone sax. The rhythm section swung mightily and dreamy along with the ethereal guitar. It was if they were playing to the walls and threatening the roof.

But Personal Effects was more than a Rochester band; it had resonance in the broader upstate New York region, as well as various East Coast cities.

“We played Buffalo at least once a month for years, and played with 10,000 Maniacs five or six times,” Dodd says. “In the early days, we shared drum kits and opened for them in Buffalo and vice versa in Rochester, Cleveland, Boston, Albany many times, Syracuse.”

Personal Effects also played on bills with Grandmaster Flash in Ithaca Ithaca with Grandmaster Flash, and a young R.E.M. in Toronto. Locally, the Rochester band shared the stage with such artists as John Cale, The Ventures, Willie Alexander, and Mutabarake.

Today, Paul Dodd and Peggy Fournier play together in Margaret Explosion, along with Ken Frank on bass and Phil Marshall on guitar. Bob Martin lives in Chicago. But sometimes at night when the moon is bright, you can hear the phantom call of Personal Effects’ eerie drone, cutting through the fog.

PAT THOMAS REVIEW OF PERSONAL EFFECTS LP “THIS IS IT”
– from April 1984 issue of The Notebook

Personal Effects” new album, “This Is It” is a pop masterpiece in its own right. Recorded by the band themselves at home, the production is basic, yet smooth and flowing. The songwriting and musclanship is first rate, the lyrics and music complementing each other throughout the album.

A catchy guitar riff with a haunting organ background starts off “I Had Everything” the opening song

and one of the album’s more memorable melodic songs. (And one that I would strongly recommend for airplay.)

The alienation concepts of “One Can Get To You” are lyrically reminiscent of Jack Kerouac’s “The Dharma Bums”: “sit in the woods for three days. “

One of Personal Effects’ more popular songs follows, “Bring Out The Jazz In Me”, a happy, upbeat tune celebrating the joys of life with Paul’s vocals perfectly projecting the mood of the song. “Bring Out The Jazz In Me” sums up what Personal Effects are all about. A fun, creative band without pretensions or falsehoods that make good, danceable, intellectually and physically stimulating and satisfying, pop music.

Other highlights include “Drifting Apart” – easily the best song on the album, with it’s psychedelic feel, great bass line and the background low-volume guitar providing just the right touch. A great mix and production that captures the spirit of the band and their live performances.

Another surprise follows, “What’s The Attraction”, Bernie’s lethargic vocal and intelligent lyrics tell an increasingly intense story of a religious-cult gathering or concert. The vocal line builds and builds as Bernie works himself into a nervous frenzy that is fantastic and genius.

In rock music’s existence, musicans and bands have influenced each other time and time again, sometimes to the point that everything begins to jell into one, evident thru MTV and FM-Top 40 radio stations. The best thing about Personal Effects and “This Is It” is summed up in one word; “UNIQUE.”

REX HAVOC REVIEW OF PERSONAL EFFECTS

The Rochester scene was exciting in 1985. The club scene featured Scorgie’s on Andrews St., Shatzee’s on Richmond St. (now called Richmond’s, cleverly enough), Shnozz’s in the Village Gate Square, Snake Sister’s at 666 South Ave. (now Lux) and most importantly for the band, Jazzberry’s on Monroe Avenue.

At the top of the band scene was Personal Effects (whose members are currently found playing in the morphine haze film-noir soundtrack ensemble Margaret Explosion). Personal Effects routinely packed Scorgie’s offering their fans sophisticated and moody stage lighting and tight, danceable sets. They looked and sounded very current with throbbing rhythm from drummer Paul Dodd and bassist Robin Mills and metal crunch from guitarist Bob Martin. The most unique element of the band, however, was the sheer presence, mysterious voice and ethereal saxophone of Peggi Fournier. To this day, Peggi’s haunting saxophone is one of my favorite sounds in music. I strongly suggest a visit to them at margaretexplosion.com and never mind that I’m featured on their first CD “Happy Hour”.

Personal Effects helped Colorblind James Experience immensely. First off, Paul and Chuck had known each other since childhood, both families living on the same street in Webster. Secondly, before Robin, Bernie Heveron was PE’s bassist. For about a year, Robin was my housemate over on Hamilton St in the South Wedge. There was a time when the bands were very tight and familial. One Saturday night, in fact, Colorblind James was playing at Jazzberry’s and PE was playing at Scorgie’s. We decided without hesitation to be each other’s opening bands! The shows started at 10:30 and right around 11:30 or so both bands raced across town to headline their own gig!

There is a tape floating around that Susan Plunkett of Jazzberry’s financed called Live at Jazzberry’s which features Personal Effects on one side and the Colorblind James Experience on the other.

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Performances (The ones we can remember)

Gigs with posters have links to posters.

VENUE	WITH	DAY/DATE
Scorgies	Wallpaper, Triangle	Th 8/13/81
Scorgies		Sa 8/29/81
Scorgies	Paper Faces	Sa 9/12/81
Goodbar (Buffalo)	The Stains	Sa 9/19/81
Scorgies	The Media, Quadrant 7	Fr 10/2/81
Casablanca	Snakefinger	Fr 10/10/81
Casablanca		We 10/21/81
Scorgies	Bulletproof Claudia	Fr 11/2781
Scorgies	Wallpaper	Sa 11/28/81
Scorgies	Chesterfield Kings	Fr 12/19/81
Bob Martin joins band
Scorgies		Sa 1/23/82
Housebreaker Party	Fairmont Street	Sa 2/6/82
Scorgies		Sa 2/27/82
Scorgies	Paper Faces	Sa 3/13/82
Scorgies		Th 4/8/82
Continental (Buffalo)		Sa 4/17/82
Casablanca		Th 4/22/82
Red Creek		Th 5/6/82
Scorgies		Fr 5/14/82
Red Creek		Th 6/10/82
Scorgies		Sa 6/19/82
Scorgies		Sa 7/17/82
Triangle Theater	Cold Crush, Soul Sonic Force	Sa 8/7/82
Scorgies		Sa 8/14/82
Scorgies	Delta Rays	Fr 9/10/82
Schatzees		Su 9/19/82
Scorgies		Fr 10/22/82
Schatzees	Halloween	Sa 10/30/82
Scorgies	Paper Faces	Sa 11/13/82
Scorgies	Barry Beam (SF)	Fr 11/19/82
Top of the Plaza	Cachalot Release Party	Sa 1/15/83
Scorgies	The Shock Band	Sa 1/29/83
Red Creek	Indirect Object	Sa 2/5/83
Bogart’s (Albany)		Sa 2/12/83
Scorgies	Fear of Strangers	Sa 2/26/83
Tralfamadore (Buffalo)		Su 3/6/83
Rooftops (Buffalo) WUWU Live Broadcast		Fr 3/25/83
Scorgies		Sa 3/26/83
Loft Party, Platt Street		Su 3/27/83
Calabash	10,000 Maniacs, Rick Baker	Mo 4/4/83
Peppermint Lounge (NYC)	Polyrock	Sa 4/23/83
Red Creek	Cousin Al &The Relatives	Su 4/24/83
Agora (Cleveland) WMMS Live Broadcast		Tu 4/26/83
Scorgies	Indirect Object	Fr 4/29/83
Storyville (Boston)		Sa 5/7/83
Scorgies	Mutabaruka	Tu 5/24/83
Scorgies	The Antoinettes	Sa 5/28/83
The Ritz (NYC)	Pylon	Su 5/29/83
Danceteria (NYC)	James White & The Blacks	Fr 6/10/83
Scorgies	Passion B	Fr 6/24/83
Casablanca		Th 7/7/83
Larry’s Hideaway (Toronto)	REM	Sa 7/9/83
Scorgies	The Neats	Fr 7/22/83
Community Playhouse	This Is It Show	Sa 8/27/83
Scorgies	Passion B	Fr 9/9/83
Continental	Hydronauts	Sa 9/24/83
Upper Lip (Toronto)		Sa 10/1/83
Scorgies	M-Squad	Fr 10/14/83
Schatzees		Sa 10/29/83
Chateau (Albany)		Sa 11/5/83
Scorgies		Fr 11/25/83
Scorgies		Sa 12/17/83
Scorgies	Hummer & The Machine	Sa 1/7/84
Red Creek		Su 2/6/84
Scorgies	New Math	Fr 2/10/84
Scorgies	New Math	Sa 2/11/84
Top of the Plaza	This Is It Release Party	3/3/84
Red Creek		Fr 3/23/84
Scorgies	Paper Faces	Fr 3/30/84
Club Soda (Buffalo)		Th 4/26/84
Scorgies		Sa 5/12/84
Pyramid Arts Center	Flat Toy, Absolute Grey	Fr 6/15/84
Scorgies	Metzger, Landers, Seaman	Tu 7/3/84
Scorgies	Masters of Reality	Sa 7/28/84
Schatzees		Fr 8/10/84
Scorgies	RVR	Fr 8/24/84
Robin Mills joins band
Scorgies	Invisible Party	Fr 9/21/84
CU Cafeteria RIT	Absolute Grey	Sa 10/6/84
Scorgies	Virgin Headset	Sa 10/20/84
814 Foreign Car (Buffalo)	10,000 Maniacs	Sa 10/27/84
Scorgies	John Cale	Tu 11/6/84
Scorgies	La Muralla	We 11/21/84
Scorgies	acoustic & electric sets	Sa 12/8/84
Top of the Plaza	Bring Out The Jazz Release	Sa 1/19/85
Scorgies		Sa 1/26/85
Scorgies	The Raunchettes	Fr 2/15/85
Red Creek		We 2/20/85
Pasttime Lounge (Buffalo)	Mirror Mirror	Sa 3/2/85
Scorgies	Colorblind James Exp.	Fr 3/8/85
Nietzche’s	Contraband	Fr 3/15/85
Brockport College	Seymour Ballroom	Sa 4/6/85
288 Lark Street (Albany)		Th 4/11/85
Peppermint Lounge (NYC)	Sing Sing	Fr 4/12/85
Scorgies	Blue Hand	Sa 4/20/85
Scorgies	10 Commandments	Fr 5/17/85
Harley High School		Sa 5/18/85
Pyramid Arts Center		We 5/22/85
Jazzberry’s	Colorblind James Exp.	Fr 5/31/85
Warehouse		Sa 6/8/85
Scorgies	5 Star Buffalo	Sa 6/15/85
Danceteria (NYC)		Fr 6/28/85
Duck Soup (Albany)		Sa 6/29/85
Scorgies		Sa 7/6/85
Idols		Su 7/7/85
Scorgies		Fr 8/16/85
Scorgies	Colorblind James Exp.	Sa 8/31/85
Jazzberry’s	Colorblind James Exp.	Sa 8/31/85
Scorgies	(Last night at Scorgies)	Fr 8/27/85
Jazzberry’s	Colorblind James Exp.	Sa 9/28/85
Jazzberry’s		Sa 10/12/85
Duck Soup (Albany)		Sa 10/19/85
Boo Party 4	180 Saint Paul	Sa 10/26/85
Warehouse	It’s Different Out Release	Sa 11/16/85
Warehouse		Sa 12/14/85
Snakesisters		Tu 12/31/85
Warehouse	Rumbles	Fr 1/24/86
Tralfamadore (Buffalo)	Miche Anglos, Made Austria	Su 2/16/86
Warehouse	Blue Hand	Fr 2/28/86
Warehouse	Robyn Fear Band	Sa 3/22/86
Warehouse	Farewell Performance	Fr 3/30/86
Mirage		Sa 4/5/86
Snakesisters		Sa 4/19/86
Warehouse		Tu 5/6/86
Mirage	video from this show	Sa 5/10/86
Warehouse		Fr 5/30/86
Rumours	Performed as Boat	Fr 10/31/86
Pyramid Art Center	Eleven Pond	Sa 3/28/87
Schnozz’s	Colorblind James	Su 3/29/87
Rumours		Fr 5/8/87
Renaissance	10,000 Maniacs	Sa 6/20/87
Strasenburgh Planetarium	Every Fri. Sat. 9/11 – 11/28	1987
Pyramid Arts Center		We 8/10/88
Live Aids Benefit		Su 9/18/88
Jazzberry’s	Reunion Concert	Fr 6/15/90
Jazzberry’s	Reunion Concert	Sa 4/27/91
German House	Scorgies Reunion	Fr 11/21/08

Among the missing dates: Washington DC with REM, Richmond Virginia with Raw Creation, Scorgies with Mission of Burma, Peppermint Lounge with Polyrock, The Haunt in Ithaca with Grandmaster Flash.

personal effects pages
MUSIC | VIDEOS | PHOTOS | POSTERS | POLAROIDS