Play The dB's Radio
The dB's
173,515 plays (16,049 listeners)
Winston-Salem NC, United States (1978 – present)
Along with Let’s Active, the dB’s defined the Southern power pop/jangle pop movement of the early to mid-’80s. The band’s music was a quirky blend of smart pop and psychedelia crossed with the more experimental side of new wave. Though they never received widespread recognition outside of critical acclaim, they provided a key link between Big Star and ’80s alternative guitar acts such as R.E.M.
Formed in 1978 in Winston-Salem, NC, the original lineup of the band featured Chris Stamey (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Gene Holder (bass), and Will Rigby (drums). All three members had spent time in Stamey’s legendary group, Sneakers. After relocating to New York, the dB’s released their debut single, “(I Thought) You Wanted to Know,” b/w “If and When” for Stamey’s Car label. Guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist Peter Holsapple, who had worked with Stamey in the band Rittenhouse Square in the early ’70s, joined the band by the end of 1978. Holsapple and Stamey shared the songwriting chores during the band’s early years.
The dB’s were unable to secure a U.S. recording contract, so they signed to the British Albion label. They released two albums on Albion: Stands for Decibels (1981) and Repercussion (1982). Both records received rave reviews but little sales. Stamey left in 1983 to resume a solo career. Rick Wagner was added on bass but was replaced shortly by Jeff Beninato. With Holsapple fronting the group, they signed to Bearsville in 1984 and released Like This, a more conventional jangle pop album with strong country leanings.
Formed in 1978 in Winston-Salem, NC, the original lineup of the band featured Chris Stamey (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Gene Holder (bass), and Will Rigby (drums). All three members had spent time in Stamey’s legendary group, Sneakers. After relocating to New York, the dB’s released their debut single, “(I Thought) You Wanted to Know,” b/w “If and When” for Stamey’s Car label. Guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist Peter Holsapple, who had worked with Stamey in the band Rittenhouse Square in the early ’70s, joined the band by the end of 1978. Holsapple and Stamey shared the songwriting chores during the band’s early years.
The dB’s were unable to secure a U.S. recording contract, so they signed to the British Albion label. They released two albums on Albion: Stands for Decibels (1981) and Repercussion (1982). Both records received rave reviews but little sales. Stamey left in 1983 to resume a solo career. Rick Wagner was added on bass but was replaced shortly by Jeff Beninato. With Holsapple fronting the group, they signed to Bearsville in 1984 and released Like This, a more conventional jangle pop album with strong country leanings.
Top Albums
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Stands for Decibels
The dB's
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- Amazon $99.29
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Repercussion
The dB's Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.99
- 7digital $6.99
- iTunes $8.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $49.98
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Ride the Wild TomTom
The dB's Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital Search
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $15.00
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Like This
The dB's Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
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Top Tracks
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Black and White
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| 2 |
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Amplifier
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| 3 |
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Big Brown Eyes
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| 4 |
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She's Not Worried
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| 5 |
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Bad Reputation
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| 6 |
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Dynamite
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| 7 |
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The Fight
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| 8 |
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Tearjerkin'
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| 9 |
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Espionage
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| 10 |
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I'm in Love
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| 11 |
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Moving in Your Sleep
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Judy
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Cycles Per Second
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Christmas Time
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Neverland
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Shoutbox
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leshwatt wrote:
athens
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AntonFjordson wrote:
Neverland is such a fucking tune
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foxyluva wrote:
Anyone have the Paris Avenue album? I can't find it anywhere.
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Lord_Krichian wrote:
forgotten band
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YControl755 wrote:
I am so thrilled by the prospect of a new album being imminent
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Mr_Whirly wrote:
Wonderul band. 'Stands for Decibels' is unbelievably good
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TMaltheus wrote:
THE most underrated band in the universe
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flashbleu wrote:
they ripped off miley cyrus
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GiveMeBackMySon wrote:
they ripped off my chemical romance
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YControl755 wrote:
What you mean Amplifier isn't good? Not their best song at all but still amazing! :)
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Bocaburgler wrote:
amplifier is the most listened track at 50? haha. wtf. that song isn't even good. This band blows me away though. I love them. JANGLE JANGLE JANGLE!
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brodytheawesome wrote:
critically acclaimed doesn't necessarily mean popular
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DanAbnrml9 wrote:
the fact that their albums have been only scarcely available (out of print for long periods of time--some of them still are) is a good sign they're unheard and underappreciated...
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tonevendor wrote:
why does everyone think that the dB's are so underrated and unheard? They were critically acclaimed like crazy, they got lots of press, they were on national British television, toured Europe, and every band you know and love name-drops them. No secret!
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then_bcn wrote:
Definitely... we'll never know...
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toouuyy wrote:
definitely the most underrated and underheard band i can think of. how can this not have been huge?
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themartialarts wrote:
Vote for their correct name, The dB's - even if you hate the misuse of the apostrophe (see also The La's).
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HendrixFan42 wrote:
underrated as fuck
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PappaWheelie wrote:
Someone should tell you and it won't be me 'Cause I'm just a spy in the house of love
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HaloModeD wrote:
Love, love.
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Recent Activity
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added The dB's to their libraries. 18 hours ago
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mr_orange_ringo connected The dB's to the group SXSW Music. Wednesday morning
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AbedG, quackorthefowl, goldghosts and 8 other people added The dB's to their libraries. Wednesday morning
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tk63 tagged The dB's with ‘kcou columbia’. last week
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eyanyo, Ralphtherogue, dnheard and 19 other people added The dB's to their libraries. last week
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Nickandroff tagged The dB's with new wave, 80s, post-punk and 3 other tags. last month
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Indiie-Man, DeziDiamond, Angelicc and 4 other people added The dB's to their libraries. last month
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maninthetrees tagged The dB's with ‘power pop’. last month
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tsotsiabsurd, ThaLondonUndagr, jenna12381 and 3 other people added The dB's to their libraries. last month
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SixShooterSam tagged The dB's with jangle pop and power pop. last month
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powerpowerpop
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New Wave
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