
Garage Sale Vinyl: Missing Persons
Spring Session M / Capitol Records / October 1982
by Christopher Long
It’s kinda wacky now, downright shameful, actually. But for decades, I waved the ’80s arena rock flag higher than anybody. I wanna rock, dude! Like a fearless, mighty warrior, I carried that spandex banner proudly as I marched through the trenches of ever-changing times, endless cultural trends, and humiliating ridicule — defending MY music, MY bands. However, these days, the only thing I wave proudly (publicly or privately) is my McDonald’s senior’s discount card. Hey, free small fries is free small fries! Can I get an amen from my AARP brethren?
With age (hopefully) comes wisdom. And I now see with 20/20 clarity just how dopey that Aqua Net-sprayed soundtrack really was, at least for the most part. Conversely, that “crappy” ’90s rock has endured more gracefully, at least for the most part. I know what you’re thinking. “What about Limp Bizkit?” Well, to quote Poison, those infamous, fun-loving philosophers from the ’80s, “Every rose has its thorn.”
But, in its defense, I will concede that the dubious decade of decadence did birth an array of amazing alternative artists whose music barely shows even the slightest signs of unsightly stretch marks: Kate Bush, Talking Heads, and 10,000 Maniacs, to name just a few. And for folks like me who still crave the crunch of rock-injected, song-based power-pop, you can never go wrong with those early Duran Duran, INXS, and Gene Loves Jezebel records. And in my world, THE “Prom Queen” of that first wave of MTV-hyped new wave was Missing Persons. So, I was particularly pumped when I recently scored a near-mint-condition vinyl copy of the band’s 1982 debut full-length album, Spring Session M at a Florida thrift joint, for just six bucks. Matching sash and tiara sold separately.

For starters, I need to address that “elephant” in the room. Yes, frontchick Dale Bozzio was the finest specimen to ever draw a breath. I know it, you know it — everybody knows it. With her visionary, leave-nothing-to-the-imagination fashion-forward sensibility, the doe-eyed blond siren was “gaga” WAY before there was a Gaga. Not for nothin’, but all five members were freaking beautiful, really.
However, it was Dale Bozzio’s intoxicating, quirky vocal style and captivating songwriting collabs that made her such an ace team member. In fact, by the time Missing Persons dropped their self-titled debut EP in 1980, the 25-year-old former Playboy Bunny already had become known for her vocal work with Frank Zappa. Hi. It’s me, the girl from the bus. Remember, the last tour? You know, leather?
While it’s true that one fetching (albeit talented) babe does not a bad-ass band make, Missing Persons was indeed a straight-up bad-ass band. Guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, drummer Terry Bozzio, and bassist Patrick O’Hearn also were alumni of the prestigious “Zappa Institute.” As a result, Cuccurullo’s innovative guitar work was fresh and exciting, O’Hearn’s synth and bass bits were always smarter than the average bear’s, and the contributions from keyboardist Chuck Wild made for an extra sweet icing dollop on an already very tasty bakery treat. But, for many enthusiasts, particularly drummers, it was the animated and oft-maniacal approach of powerhouse Terry Bozzio that made Missing Persons AND Spring Session M uniquely chub-worthy.
Produced by Ken Scott (David Bowie, The Tubes, Devo), Spring Session M cracked the Billboard Top 20 and surpassed “gold” status. A magically delicious, song-based confection, the record’s four singles, “Words,” “Windows,” “Destination Unknown,” and “Walking in L.A.,” each reached the Billboard Hot 100. Actually, it could be argued that all 12 songs are SO strong, Spring Session M is essentially a self-contained “Greatest Hits” collection.
There’s a saying that most aspiring scribblers hear on the first day of creative writing class; “Show. Don’t tell.” To that, I encourage like-minded jurors who’ve not yet been “shown,” to seek out a case-closing visual — the YouTube video of Missing Persons performing at the 1983 US Festival, shot live during the Spring Session M tour. Cue it up, sit back, and take it in. If, after the 55-minute running time, you’re not going completely gaga, I’ll be happy to pop by your place, pronto, and help search for your lost soul.
In sum, Missing Persons continues to be an important, inspirational band — the reigning “Prom Queen” after more than 40 years. Bursting with timeless, precision-crafted songs, Spring Session M also remains beautifully stretch mark-free.

(5/5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spring Session M Track List
SIDE A
Noticeable One (D. Bozzio, T. Bozzio, W. Cuccurullo) – 3:22
Windows (D. Bozzio, T. Bozio) – 4:59
It Ain’t None of Your Business (T. Bozzio, W. Cuccurullo) – 2:55
Destination Unknown (D. Bozzio, T. Bozzio, W. Cuccurullo) 3:34
Walking in L.A. (T. Bozzio) – 3:59
U.S. Drag (T. Bozzio, W. Cuccurullo) – 3:36
SIDE B
Tears (D. Bozzio, T. Bozzio) – 4:22
Here and Now (D. Bozzio, T. Bozzio, W. Cuccurullo) – 3:26
Words (T. Bozzio, W. Cuccurullo) 4:25
Bad Streets (T. Bozzio) – 3:41
Rock and Roll Suspension (D. Bozzio, T. Bozzio, W. Cuccurullo) 2:34
No Way Out (T. Bozzio, W. Cuccurullo) – 2:45