- Label: 'Think Like A Key Music'
- Genre: 'Eighties'
- Release Date: '26.9.25.'- Catalogue No: 'TLAK 1216'
Our Rating:
This is a previously un-released show by CBGB's legends The Shirts recorded at Moody Klingman's High Five Studios in New York in 1981 in front of a select audience, to whom they were introducing a set of then new songs. The Shirts were Arthur Lamonica, Annie Golden, Robert Raccioppo, John Piccolo, Ron Ardito and John Criscione. The original tapes have been mastered by Prof. Stoned.<
The album blasts out of the gates with A Little Bit Of Action go on help them have a great night out getting up to all sorts, this may not have been the song I was expecting, but it's another cool song on the subject and the guitars really make clear how much fun they are looking to have.
Nancy is the girl they are chasing, oh she'll make their lives complete and the organ will convince her to leave ole Ronnie and run off with them, they really hope she just says yes, because they just can't live without her.
Lost In A Rhyme is introduced by Annie Golden whose rich vocals help capture her feelings of confusion, that only you can relieve, this slowly builds with the anticipation of your eventual return into her arms once more, the organ and guitars hope to ease her pains.
Don't Say Forever just say yes for a little while, the longing and desire shine through passionate guitars and angelic backing vocals. I Wanna Be A Rocker is good and frantic with twin vocals making clear just how hard they wanna rock, the guitars rave it up, this is perfect to get a huge crown fist pumping along with them.
Tears Comin' Down is a bruised heartbroken song describing the aftermath of another messy break-up, what went wrong and why you were incompatible, none of it makes it any easier and those tears won't stop, no matter how much you want Annie to be your Pat Benatar.
Boys Will Be Boys has some very early 80's synth sounds before this becomes more of a sweet pop song for all the things you like and admire in that boy. Laura's In The Lions Den and can't escape her love, that rogue who left her behind, no matter how many times she gives in and goes back, he always dumps her again, one of those relationships that is doomed, unlike the upbeat guitars and super steady beat, this sounds more and more like a Lone Justice song from about 4 years later.
One Of The Masses is for someone who feels like he's just a worker ant, this slowly evolves with harmony vocals describing the blue-collar pain of never having enough to get by, being ignored, just another drudge, being worried that he'll lose his job to a computer chip, this could easily be updated to an AI bot.
Love Don't Arrive no it sneaks up and infiltrates your being when you least expect it, so they had better go back out on tour and play loads of shows instead, encouraging everyone to shout the title back at them. Whoever Thought is keyboard led song of amazement that your still in love with that person, who knew your love would endure, the keyboard line sounds like they have copped it from Steve Nieve.
Boomerang is introduced by Annie as being a torch song for the 1980's, if only they knew how badly things went, while she hopes you'll be her Boomerang lover. Hangin' On A String ought to be a funk monster rather than this brilliantly concise song of lust and love for that person who is just teasing you, this leaves no loose ends when the guitars rip through the latter part of the song.
They close the show with Like A Satellite one last urgent plea for the relief they seek from playing great fast poppy punk, you can be there Satellite always in your orbit leaving listeners wondering how on earth The Shirts never became huge stars.
Find out more at https://www.thinklikeakey.com/format/1758857-live-feat-annie-golden https://www.facebook.com/groups/48930251887 https://the-shirts.bandcamp.com/album/live-feat-annie-golden
