Yesterday marked 40 years to the day of the release of SLF's third studio album, 'Go For It'. It was an album that I first became familiar with via an airing on someone's Walkman whilst on a school field study trip in 1983... two years after its release. I was aware of the associated singles that had appeared on the never bettered 'All The Best' compilation, but there was so much more to the album.
At the time of its release in April 1981, the band had relocated from Belfast and had been residing in London for a couple of years. Whereas the first two albums had relied heavily, under co-conspirator Gordon Ogilvie's influence, on the band's experiences of growing up during 'The Troubles', 'Go For It' represented a considered move away from the world of barbed wire, armalites and suspect devices towards the more regular experiences of young people living in London. To do so lessened the risk of the band being forever associated and defined by the terrible Irish situation.
The Belfast related songs that do appear on the album are very different in tone to any that had come before. If anything, the 'Belfast tunes' that cropped up on 'Go For It' yearned for Belfast, rather than turning a spotlight upon the day to day violence in the region that was still very much a part of life in 1981. Perhaps this was a natural reaction from four young men uprooted from a dangerous, yet familiar, place to a dangerous, albeit less so, unfamiliar metropolis. Henry's 'Gate 49' concerns the reassurance that comes with a return flight to Belfast (Gate 49 being the regular departure gate for the Heathrow to Belfast flight). Less light hearted is the song, based on a real incident, that describes how a friend of the band, or at least one of the band, was seriously assaulted and stabbed in London's West End, an attack that prompted the victim to return to Belfast in preference to taking his chances on the streets of London. The song, 'Piccadilly Circus' is for me the high point of a near perfect album.
The title track 'Go For It' is an instrumental classic that has for many years been the clarion call to the audience immediately prior to the band taking to the stage. Elsewhere on the album, less violent themes, although equally vexing, of relationship issues ('Just Fade Away') and wasted opportunities in the face of pressures to conform ('Safe As Houses') take the band in a new direction. Both of these topics would surface again in future singles and the band's last (pre-reformation) album.
As was the case with so many punk/new wave albums the album was brilliantly presented with artwork by the wonderfully talented John 'Teflon' Sims, at the time the house graphic designer with the Chrysalis label. Teflon was also responsible along with General Dammers for the iconic promotional and sleeve artwork that went with releases on 2 Tone Records.
This is a really great achievement from a band that has matured from a ‘punk’ band to a rock band. The transition was even more radical with the next album but that one also stood the test of time. I love them both. Still not sure about the front cover of Go For It. Reaching out or falling down…. Krisinblack
ReplyDeleteI was diagnosed of HERPES Virus and I have tried all I can to get cured but all to no avail, until i saw a post in a health forum about a herbalist man who prepare herbal medication to cure all kind of diseases including HERPES virus, at first i doubted if it was real but decided to give it a try , when i contact this herbalist via his email and he prepared a HERPES herbal cure and sent it to me via UPS delivery company service, when i received this herbal cure, he gave me step by directions on how to apply it, when i applied it as instructed, i was totally cured of this deadly disease within 14days of usage, I am now free from the deadly disease called herpes, all thanks to Dr.akhanene you can rich this great herbal doctor via his email: (drakhanenespellhome@gmail.com)call or whatsapp him on his mobile number +2348168714427
ReplyDeleteI was cured of HERPES with the use of natural herbs. I love herbs so much. Most times, injections and drugs are just a waste of time. I was cured 8months ago, i suffered from Herpes for 2 years but with the help of Priest Babaka herbal medicine, I was cured within a few weeks of drinking the herbs He sent to me through courier delivery service. This same Priest also cured my Aunt from INFERTILITY, as soon as I heard she Been finding it difficult to CONCEIVE, i referred her to the Priest and she was cured after drinking his herbs. I have referred more than 15 persons and they were all cured from their various illness. Have you taken herbs before?. You have spent so much money on drugs, injections, surgeries etc and yet you have no good result to show for it. Priest Babaka is a Herbalist and a Spiritualist , I assure you of a cure if you drink his natural herbs and follow his Guidance. He has herbs that cures HIV, Herpes, Diabetics, Asthma, Hepatitis, etc. Contact Priest Babaka on email: babaka.wolf@gmail.com or Facebook at priest.babaka
ReplyDelete