Serious Fun gigs (partial list)

04/23/1983 Chet's Last Call with Richard Nolan
05/09/1983 Jumpin' Jack Flash
05/24/83 The Rat
05/25/83 Bunratty's
05/19/83 Chet's Last Call
7/13/83 Jumpin' Jack Flash
07/20/83 Jumbos
07/26/83 The Rat
08/13/83 Bunratty's with Del Fuegos, Gary Shane, etc.
08/31/83 Jumpin' Jack Flash
09/15/83 Bunratty's
10/1/83 Jumbos w/Reflectors
10/04/83 Inn Square Mens Bar
01/18/84 Jumpin' Jack Flash w/ Cheapskates
04/02/84 Paradise with Dwight Twilley
04/03/84 Storyville w/ New Deal
04/04/84 The Rat w/X-Dreams

The Beat (WBCN) #19 January 1985 - by Carter Alan

The Count has been busy, as usual, running his VAR International label and his latest project is the Boston Rock and Roll Anthology Volume 4

...highlights include the band Serious Fun which has the elusive talent of writing catchy pop without allowing terminal blandness to set in. "Pasted On Pout" and "Arrest My Heart" are easily the best on the LP and were engineered by local production maestro Andy Mendelssohn

The Boston Globe, Wednesday, January 23, 1985 - by Brett Milano, special to the Globe

Boston rockeers launch new album 

Loud guitars and hummable tunes prevail on "Anthology Volume 4," released this week. ... The standout bands - notably Serious Fun and Body Politics - serve up commercial rock with hooks and humor.

The Boston Globe - Friday, January 13, 1984 - Weekend by Ernie Santosuosso

...The fans of Serious Fun take their fun seriously. The group whose single is due for imminent release will perform Wednesday at Jumpin' Jack Flash, 88 Queensbury St., Back Bay....

Sweet Potato - Vol. 7, Issue 7 - Boston Rock 'N' Roll Anthology, Volume 4

The first side of Volume Four is more successful. It starts off with a good cut from Serious Fun, "Pasted On Pout" (they also have a song on side two, "Arrest My Heart," which pales in comparison).

This trio goes for a zippy beat and an understated instrumental approach, but the thing that makes it click is the octave-wide vocal blend from Doug Osborne and Stephen Wild, kind oflike a more mournful Difford and Tillbrook blend. By holding back a little, the band captures your attention more effectively.

The Boston Globe, Tuesday, April 3, 1984 - by Brett Milano, special to the Globe

Twilley reveals his tougher side

...Serious Fun's songwriting...and ambitious pop occasionally lives up to their name.

Boston Phoenix - Hotline to the Underground - Ms. Janis Reed - 1983

This writer was treated to a private performance at the very private party thrown at the home of the band Serious Fun. It was one of the more serious parties I've been to in quite some time - everyone was so solemn including people from the Phantoms and The Workers. What is this, the new Lou Rude look - instead of laughing and joking everyone sits in a circle and says "groovy, man."  Anyway, even though the party was slow, the first band cooked. The Method are a very, very powerful band.

Serious Fun are Doug Osborne's new ensemble. Doug has always been a first rate composer and singer and yes, he's still doing his classic songs Jeanette and Cambridge Nights. I've only got the band's demo tape, but hopefully they are stil playing his big WBCN hit from a couple of years back You Can Cry. Liz DeSessa plays the drums and Steve Wyld is on the bass.

Serious Fun EP Credits

Original tracks recorded in Watertown, MA, in 1983. Engineered by Andy Mendelson (Andy Pratt, etc.).

Overdubs recorded in Los Angeles, CA, over the years by Doug Osborne.

Serious Fun - The Band:

Doug Osborne - Vocals, Guitars
Steven Wild - Bass, Vocals
Liz Desessa - Drums

Where were you in eighty two?

Serious Fun EP

Passionate Pop


Extreme Energy Rock


Seven Sweet Songs


coming soon

Coming Soon: Serious Fun EP

Cambridge Nights
Love Trap
Jeanette
You Can Cry
Silence
Arrest My Heart
Pasted on Pout