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GIRLSCHOOL Screaming Blue Murder
Sanctuary CMRCD958
Play Dirty Sanctuary CMRCD959
Castle continue their sterling job on the already much reissued Girlschool
back catalogue. With the first two albums done earlier this year that may be
considered classic, these two are actually better sets.
Coming out of the NWoBHM scene, the south London girls had already flirted
with success and the chart, most noteably with the collaboration with
Motorhead. But while the early work had a punk energy, the third and fourth
albums would be far more polished, professional and consistent while
retaining the high energy metal edge.
Screaming Blue Murder (*****) kicks off with the storming title track and
follows neatly with a cover of the Rolling Stones’ 'Live With Me'.
'Wildlife' features a quirky catchy off beat, and 'It Turns Your Head
Around' is just a metal classic too. The highlight is the strong 'Don’t
Call It Love' which, as part of the Wildlife EP, should have done so much
better in the singles chart. The album is complemented by some decent sleevenotes, a non album b-side
and 10 live tracks from London, June 1982.
1983 and Play Dirty (*****) produced a whole new sound - almost Def Leppardish
in places. A glam edge too - a cover of '20th Century Boy' and production by
Slade’s Jim Lea and Noddy Holder. But it’s a great set and much underrated.
A new direction the band pull off well without losing their roots
completely. The occasional keyboards fit in great, and the cover of ‘Burning
In The Heat’’ is a real master piece.
Again the release is complemented by sleevenotes and a plethora of bonus
tracks (including the dreadful '1-2-3-4 Rock’n’Roll' which the band now
distance themselves from).
Despite all the reissues - these are pretty much the definitive versions and
well worth searching out.
Review by Joe Geesin
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