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The Motels

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Berkeley, San Francisco CA, United States (1971 – 1976, 1978 – 1987)

There are three bands called The Motels.

1) An 80s new wave band from Los Angeles, California.

2) An alternative/indie band from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

3) A punk/funk band from Glasgow, Scotland

1) The Motels are a New Wave music band from the Los Angeles area best known for Only the Lonely and Suddenly, Last Summer, both of which peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982 and 1983, respectively.*

First incarnation

Formed in 1971 in Berkeley, California, the band (then called The Warfield Foxes) moved to Los Angeles by 1973 seeking a record deal. The band consisted of Martha Davis on vocals and guitar, Dean Chamberlain on lead guitar, Chuck Wada on 2nd lead guitar and others. While in L.A., the band changed its name to “The Motels” and the line-up consisted of Martha Davis, Dean Chamberlain, Chuck Wada, Robert Newman on drums and Richard d’Andrea on bass. Both Martha Davis and Chuck Wada contributed original songs to the repertoire.

The Motels and two other local bands, The Pop and The Dogs, kicked off the local band scene with a hallmark concert at a self-produced show, ‘Radio Free Hollywood’ held at the venerable old theatre, Troupers Hall. (Prior to this show, few if any unsigned bands played local high profile clubs like the Whisky and The Roxy.) The band guested on Rodney Bingenheimer’s popular radio show.

Tagged as:

new wave, 80s, female vocalists, pop, rock
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Atomic Cafe
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New
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Top Tracks

1	Total Control full track	218
2	Only the Lonely	170
3	Danger full track	129
4	Suddenly Last Summer	117
5	Shame	92
6	Kix full track	87
7	Counting	75
8	Only The Lonely (acoustic) full track	50
9	Take the L	41
10	Celia full track	37
11	Remember the Nights	21
12	Only The Lonely (2001 Digital Remaster) full track	15
13	Where Oh Where full track	14
13	Mission of Mercy	14
15	Love Don't Help	13

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YControl755 wrote:
November 2009

Why is that strange photo showing up on my page when I play the Motels. I don't know what or who it is, but it's not the Martha Davis Motels I know and love.

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catfight1980 wrote:
September 2009

Whaat...i'm a top listener :)

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Gochir wrote:
August 2009

New Pics: http://www.lastfm.es/music/The+Motels/+images?sort=date

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shoegazer1 wrote:
July 2009

i remember lake havasu,playing this 24/7 it was a great day..

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epi_gee wrote:
July 2009

Tragic Surf and Art Fails need to be at the top of the list.. fantastic band !

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PlanetWaves66 wrote:
June 2009

what a voice!!!!!!

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Chrisbeth wrote:
May 2009

Super Band, der Sound erinnert an 70 ziger und 80 ziger. Sehr gut gemacht!

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guardian1983au wrote:
April 2009

Oooh yeah I love this band.

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walkerpark wrote:
December 2008

Great music stands the test of time, too.

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misterbruno wrote:
October 2008

Martha Davis has such a great voice! I'm not usually one for a lot of woodwinds but I love the combination of her voice and sax. Great sound, all around! I've been dying to see the the new band live but I haven't had the chance.

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Muzikology wrote:
September 2008

listen to the motels!

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xxbrooke16xx wrote:
August 2008

Total Control, Suddenly Last Summer,Take The L Out of Lover, and Shock are the best.

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wowugotit wrote:
June 2008

I love their brand of moody pop/rock.

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guardian1983au wrote:
May 2008

Fun stuff.

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bigsofty wrote:
April 2008

first heard of this group from STORYTELLING... :):):)

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YControl755 wrote:
March 2008

I am looking for the recent unreleased EPs/albums...can anyone help?

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Fauxfoe wrote:
February 2008

Really? I thought it was about the Tennessee Williams play Suddenly Last Summer

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frustratedpilot wrote:
November 2007

For the record (no pun intended), my mother's book Building Passion was the basis for the music video for Suddenly Last Summer.

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massimo35 wrote:
November 2007

nostalgia of my teenage....

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PThomasAnderson wrote:
September 2007

De donde era esta banda?

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