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.
After recording a demo for Warner Brothers, which was turned down, they were offered a contract with Capitol but the band turned that down by disbanding in 1976. Dean Chamberlain was soon heard again in his band Code Blue and signed to Warner Brothers Records. Richard d'Andrea joined The Pits and later enjoyed almost three years with The Know. Robert Newman is a successful art director and designer. Chuck Wada still writes and performs and is a financial advisor.
Second, most successful incarnation
In March 1978, Martha Davis was approached by lead guitarist Jeff Jourard to form a new Motels. Extensive auditions resulted in a new lineup consisting of Jourard's brother Marty Jourad who played both saxophone and keyboards, Michael Goodroe on bass, and Brian Glascock on drums.
Short on funds, they shared rehearsal space with The Go-Go's at L.A.'s notorious punk basement, The Masque. Playing in Chinatown at Madame Wong's restaurant/nightclub so many times they were nearly the house band, they began to draw a faithful crowd around the L.A. music scene. By Mother's Day 1979, The Motels had signed with Capitol Records and released their first album in September of that same year. Their first single, "Closets and Bullets," made no impact on the charts, but their second single, "Total Control," found its way to the Top 20 in France and the Top 10 in Australia.
In 1980 Jeff Jourard was replaced with Martha's boyfriend Tim McGovern as lead guitarist. The band went back into the studio to record their second album, entitled "Careful." Released in June of 1980, the album made it to the #45 spot on the US album charts. In Europe and the UK, the songs "Days Are OK" and "Whose Problem?" were Top 50 hits, and the latter was also a top hit in Australia. "Danger" was a Top 20 hit in France.
The band hired record producer Val Garay for their next album. The album, "Apocalypso." was scheduled to be released in November 1981, but after hearing the final product Capitol Records rejected it. Frustrated, the band attempted to go back and rerecord the entire album. In the process, Davis and McGovern's relationship had gone sour. By December of 1981 McGovern was no longer in the band. The rest of the members forged on and finished recorded the new album with Val Garay producing. Using studio musicians to fill in for the vacant guitar spot, the band was able to finish the album by March of 1982. Having auditioned several guitarists to take McGovern's place, Guy Perry finally was given the job. The album, now titled "All Four One," was released in March of 1982.
Before any singles were released, the song "Mission of Mercy" had made enough airplay to land the #33 on the Billboard Rock Album Cuts chart. Their first single from the album, "Only the Lonely," found its way into the Top 10 in the U.S. by June. Other hits included "Take the L" and "Forever Mine." Their first successful U.S. album coincided with the emergence of MTV, which led to music videos for both "Only the Lonely" and "Take the L." Martha Davis won a "Best Performance in a Music Video" award in 1982 for her performance in the "Only the Lonely" video. By now, the band had added a sixth member, Scott Thurston.
The Motels returned in 1983 with the album "Little Robbers." Garay by now not only was producing their albums, but their videos as well; and, he became the band's manager. The first single from the album, "Suddenly Last Summer," made its way to the Top 10 in the U.S. The album went gold in the U.S., Canada, and several other countries. Despite their success, the band cancelled their tour and fired Garay as manager for personal reasons.
With new management, the band forged on in 1984. They appeared on Saturday Night Live in January. They recorded songs for two movie soundtracks: "Long Day" was recorded for Moscow on the Hudson and "In the Jungle" was recorded for the movie Teachers.
In 1985 the band released their sixth album "Shock." The first single "Shame" became a Top 30 hit on the pop charts and a Top 20 on the dance charts. Two other singles were released, "Shock," and "Icy Red."
On February 13, 1987, Davis decided to dissolve the band and go solo.She reformed a version of the band called Martha Davis & The Motels, in 1998; as of 2006 she continues to appear under that name with various lineups.
Three members of the 1978 version of the band reunited with Davis in 2004 for an appearance on Bands Reunited; rejoining Davis were Michael Goodroe, Marty Jourard, and Brian Glasscock. Also appearing in that group was Adrian Peritori (aka "Guy Perry.") The Motels also appeared on the U.S. version of Hit Me Baby One More Time in 2006, and on the Nick at Nite reality program "Class Reunion" in 2007.
Albums
Motels (1979) #175 US
Careful (1980) #45 US
Apocalypso (1981) never released
All Four One (1982) #16 US
Little Robbers (1983) #22 US
Shock (1985) #36 US
Policy (1987) #127 US
Edit description
Anthologyland (2001)
So the Story Goes (2004)
There are also other The Motels:
2) The Motels are an alternative/indie rock band consisted of four 15-year-old members formed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2006. The Motels have composed five songs, however, only one ("Under Street Lights") has been professionally recorded, and "Knapsack" is still in progress. Their music has influences from bands such as The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Bloc Party, The Libertines, The Velvet Underground, Moptop, Legião Urbana, and Franz Ferdinand.
The band, who has debuted their single Under Street Lights in two New York radios, is made up of Pedro Paulo Ferraz (vocals), Lucas Feith (lead guitar), Antonio Pedro Ferraz (bass guitar), Carlos Eduardo (Kauai) Moliterno (rhythm guitar), and Beto Damazio (drums).
Two versions of Under Street Lights and the demo of Knapsack can be previewed in their website, www.myspace.com/themotelsrio.
(3)The Motels were formed by rock/jazz guitarist Cliff Hanley in 1976, based in Glasgow, Scotland. They mixed funk with punk and added reggae to the mix, with even some bebop creeping in. An extended fill-in by Ronnie Teape for Al Kerr on keyboards also added a bit of prog-rock,too. An early incarnation of the band included Danny Thomson on piano and Louie Rose (of Georgie Fame's Blue Flames) on congas. A lead guitarist, Tam Kerrigan, typical of Glasgow's fine tradition in rock, joined the front line for some months. Several bass players joined, notably the Pastorious-influenced Billy Lang, and Gordon Blank, from another Glasgow band, The Khyber Trifles.There was darkness as well as humour in their music, and they influenced other Scottish bands of the 70s. They eventually split up in London (1981) and the members joined other bands or moved on to session work, Hanley and frontman Craig Lockhart forming a production company.
One Album: Lo-Fi (2008) UK - to hear and download tracks by this band, look for 'Lo-Fi' in Albums.
tag: punkfunk, male vocals, new wave
Danger
The Motels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your love is like a stranger
So close, and yet so far away
Daily
I make you my only
By giving you everything
That I have
Late at night
When I want you
I just close my eyes and I pray
Late at night when I need you
I just stop
To me I say ...
Danger
Your love is like a stranger
So close, and yet so far away
Nightly
I dream how it might be
If I gave you everything
That I have
Late at night
When I want you
I just close my eyes and I pray
Late at night when I need you
I just stop
To me I say ...
Danger
Late at night
When I want you
I just close my eyes and I pray
Late at night
When I need you
I just stop
To me I say ...
Danger
Your love is like a stranger
So close, so close, so far
away
The Motels' song "Danger" features lyrics that communicate the singer's longing and desire for someone who seems to be very close, but also very distant. The metaphor of love as a stranger is used throughout the song, with the idea that the object of the singer's affection is both familiar and unknown. The repetition of "late at night" creates a sense of restlessness and urgency, as the singer thinks about the person they want but cannot have.
The chorus of "Danger" repeats the same three lines, emphasizing the feeling of being trapped by this unattainable love. The use of the second person pronoun "you" gives a sense of direct address, as if the singer is pleading with the person they desire.
The verses provide some contrast to the chorus, offering a glimpse of the singer's mindset and actions. They are making this person "my only" and giving "everything that I have" in order to try and bridge the distance between them. It is in the night, when they are alone and vulnerable, that they turn to prayer for solace and maybe even a miracle.
Overall, "Danger" is a song that captures the often-frustrating experience of wanting someone who is unavailable, mysterious, or just incompatible. The use of vivid imagery and repetition creates a memorable and emotional experience for the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Danger
The love being discussed is dangerous.
Your love is like a stranger
The love being discussed is unfamiliar and unpredictable.
So close, and yet so far away
The love being discussed is near, but still out of reach.
Daily
Every day,
I make you my only
I prioritize you above all else.
By giving you everything
That I have
By giving you all of my time, attention, and resources.
Late at night
During the nighttime hours,
When I want you
When I desire the love being discussed,
I just close my eyes and I pray
I seek comfort and hope through prayer.
Late at night when I need you
I just stop
To me I say ...
I remind myself that I need the love being discussed.
Nightly
Every night,
I dream how it might be
I imagine possibilities for the love being discussed.
If I gave you everything
That I have
If I completely gave myself to the love being discussed.
Late at night
When I want you
I just close my eyes and I pray
I continue to find comfort and hope through prayer.
Late at night
When I need you
I just stop
To me I say ...
I remind myself once again that I need the love being discussed.
Danger
The love being discussed is dangerous.
Your love is like a stranger
The love being discussed is unfamiliar and unpredictable.
So close, so close, so far
Once again, the love being discussed is nearby, but still unattainable.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: MARTHA DAVIS, TIM MCGOVERN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stogiedude
Why The Motels weren’t bigger is a complete mystery. Martha had the most incredible voice. The band was tight as they get. Catchy songs.😅
@StilettoCutsQuick.
I agree.,
@homebrewglobalmedia
As a musician you take your moments and success is doing it. They did well, yes, deserved to do much more but so many others never got as far as they did xo
@stephaniearnold9185
Power woman! Martha you are one of the originals. Thank you for leading the force Mama! So beautiful!!
@tammystoa3946
She's Wonder Woman!
@rolandorodriguez7952
Martha's voice is excellent. One of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. Pura vida!
@jasonbevelander6322
Every morning I wake up with some classic song playing in my head. This morning it was this one...
@sanciac8842
Martha Davis was the best singer songwriter and musican of the '80.
@dondacosta6712
There's something so hypnotic about her voice and their sound. It can make you feel nostalgic and emotional.
@deewoo2776
Martha absolutely werked it‼