Description
If You Can’t Shout Saved! You’ll Have to Face the Penalty is the sole album by the British new wave combo Ishmael United, released in the UK on Dove Records in 1979. Also released in the US the following year on StarSong Records. The band was fronted by Ian Smale (a.k.a Ishmael) formerly of the British folk rock duo Ishmael & Andy (Andy Piercy, later of After The Fire) which released an album entitled Ready Salted on Word Records in 1973. Ishmael United features Ian “Ishamel” Smale on lead vocals and guitar, Dave Evans on lead guitar and keyboards, Laurie Mellor on bass, and Pete Wills on drums.
Ishmael United was a short lived unity and Ishmael soon established a new band called Rev Counta & the Speedose which self-released an album entitled Life Begins At Thirty in 1980, with a mix of styles including new wave and 2-tone/Madness-style ska.
Wacho new wave LP and a natural progression for the ever loveable and loony Ishmael and his band of like-minded visionaries. Probably the first album of it’s kind to hit US shores (thanks to distribution from StarSong Records) and give a much needed jolt to the stagnating conservative mellow pop trend. Punk rock purist beware – this is a very goofy album with a very British sound, but approach it with a sense of humour and you’re certain to become enlightened. Not really a heavy record by any means and there’s surprisingly little electric guitar on here. (though it can be found driving the neurotic beat of «Song Of The Last Generation» and «Jesus Trip»). Instead the songs are frequently just drums, bass, and quirky pogo-punk organ («Crowd Trouble» and the title track which compares one’s spiritual life to a soccer gamer), with some periodic sax, sound effects, and whatnot tossed in. «Don’t Rock De Boat» employs a Caribbean rhythm as it tells of Jesus calming the storm, assuring his disciples that “I’m in de boat and it won’t go down”. «The Glories» closes out the weirdness with the “kid wave” sound Ishmael carried on into his subsequent children’s releases. I know many people that count this as one of their all-time favorites. Hilarious cover. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]
Well, you have to hand it to the people at Star Song – they’ve got courage. From the home of the Resurrection Band, Petra, Jim Gill and the likes comes Ishmael United – probably the first “new wave” Christian record to be released nationally in the U.S. (This is an English import.)
Ishmael United is actually Ian Smale, who co-wrote most of the songs with group member Dave Evans. Titles such as «Christian Schizophrenic», «Star On Sunday», «Jesus Trip», and «If You Can’t Shout Saved…» deliver an undiluted message to smug Christians (you’ll need to read the lyrics sheet to understand some of words, however). All this set to the raw guitar/bass/drum/piano sound that is characteristic of new wave music (not much sweetening here). If this sounds like your cup of tea (remember, their English), prepare to smile as you listen, and don’t say we didn’t warn ya! [CCM, May 1980]
Kingsway Music 1995 CD Re-issue of Ishmael United + Rev Counta And The Speedoze
A welcome re-release that nails together in CD format the Ishmael United album ‘If You Can’t Shout Saved’ LP and the Rev Counta And The Speedoze ‘Life Begins At Thirty‘ LP from the early 80s. Pleased to report that these veteran tracks are still in good shape, as always illustrating the elusive skill of writing and performing simple songs which are strong on communication and defiant memorability. This was the punk rock era of course, fast and furious and highly enjoyable. Recording quality was a bit rough (they reckon it was deliberate!) and funnily enough some of Ishmael’s vocals of those days make me think of how Peter Sellers might have attempted a micky-take. Strange comment I know, but that’s what I have to report. Flaws galore, but good old stuff, reminiscent of a time and a valid slice of UK CCM nostalgia. Shame about the truly appalling packaging. [Tony May, Cross Rhythms, August 1995]
The Reverence Ian Smale to the stage name Ishmael when he began his music ministry in the early 70’s. Initially he was one half of the acoustic folk/rock duo Ishmael and Andy with Andy Piercy of After the Fire fame. After two albums together the two went their different ways though remaining friends and songwriting partners.
Piercy would join the progressive rock After the Fire and help morph into a 1980’s new wave rock band, most known for their smash hit «Der Kommissar». Smale would produce an album called ‘Charge of the Light Brigade‘ under the name Ishmael. the album was much more rock than the Ishmael and Andy projects and would serve as a precursor to Ishmael United.
In 1979 Ishmael would put together a band called Ishmael United and would produce not only the best work of his career, but one of the most important, influential and original albums in CCM history. Punk, ska, rock and soul and combine to create something utterly unique and powerful.
The album starts with a phone ringing and an operator directing a call to “Ishmael United.” This immediately kicks into «Song of the Last Generation», a punk song with a great sense of pop. It possesses a touch of Andy McCarroll with lyrics pointing out how, in the mind of the writer, the world doesn’t seem to notice that this is the world’s last generation. A Noahic call for repentance is lamented as the world appears to be heading to hell in a handbasket and “nobody cares.”
«Star on Sunday» starts with a staccato synthesizer for the first verse before a rock drum beat and ska styled guitar are slowly added. The song, driven by Smales strained and faulty vocals, takes a look at Christian artists that have outgrown their humble beginnings and have lost sight of their initial ministry desires. The lure of money and fame tears down the subject to the point where he believes “they don’t want Jesus, they just want me.”
One of Smales’ great traditions, even to this day, is to make musical expressions detailing popular Bible stories and ideas. His later children’s products would bear this out. «Bartimaeus» tells the story of the blind man healed by Jesus. The story is passionately performed by Smale here as, again, his struggling vocals give the listener a peak at the pain and desire of the man craving to be healed. The incredible sax work here drives the song.
The title track is the most second ska sounding of the entire album. Bass and keyboard driven and utterly unforgettable. Smale uses the metaphor of a soccer (uh, futbol) match to express the idea of how works cannot save anyone. The songs remains on the edge of being corny, but is saved by Smales’ full commitment to the musical expression and ends up being more “fun” than silly. The albums closer is a different story.
«Jesus Trip» is a ska punk song that I so wish a band like Five Iron Frenzy would have covered. Fun, energetic and irrepressibly singable.
«Don’t Rock De Boat» returns to a more second wave, world music/ska sound with a call and response type chorus. One must wonder if this song was Randy Stonehill’s inspiration for «Shut De Do», or even Steve Taylor’s «Lifeboat». In the hands of any other artist this song (as well as a few others) could have been a crash and burn, but they simply find a way to work beautifully.
One of the real highlights of the album is «Crowd Trouble», which also served as a limited edition 12 inch vinyl single. Again the metaphor of a soccer match is used as the sport is known for it’s unruly crowds. But here we discover the crowd in question are actually those attending the trial of Jesus with Pilate. The “rowdies” provoke the crowd to shout “crucify.”
«Christian Schizophrenic» continues the musical expression of borderline children’s sound. The lyrics deal with hypocrisy and two-faced Christianity. But near the end the song changes direction into a nearly Daniel Amos type fun punk rock song with a driving piano leading the way.
The 50’s malt shop influenced «Now It’s All Gone Wrong», is just fun and has a great backing vocal driven chorus. «Coraline Robinson» is the most unique song on the album with it’s piano and drum accompanied ballad form. The story of a woman at the end of her rope serves as a backdrop to present the Gospel message to those in need. This may have worked real well on radio at the time if not for the references to sex, drugs and suicide. I love the backing vocals as the song closes.
«Jesus is Making a Comeback» is a great album closer. OK, it doesn’t actually close the album but the final song is still too much of a children’s song for me to include as part of the record. In fact, if this was released during the time of the CD the album closer would be a hidden track! But here the fun, energetic and zany Smale takes center stage and the only problem is the song should have lasted another two minutes!
Ah, «the Glories». How do you deal with this song in a serious review. It is a clearly a children’s song that would later be heard on one of the countless children’s album that Smale spent the next three decades recording. A precursor to Psalty, the song tells the story of the “Glories” who live in “Charismatic Woods” and are always cheerful and obviously love God (their constant refrains of Al al le luia prove this). They were opposed by the “Miseries” (I’m guessing Methodists or Anglicans) who tried to sew up their lips but failed. [bargainvinyl1, June 2015]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/ishmael-double-edition-ishmael-united-life-begins-at/1201341036)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Song Of The Last Generation” – 3:26
A2. “Star On Sunday” – 2:14
A3. “Bartimaeus” – 3:31
A4. “If You Can’t Shout Saved, You’ll Have To Face The Penalty” – 3:13
A5. “Don’t Rock De Boat” – 3:23
A6. “Crowd Trouble” – 3:52
Side Two
B1. “Christian Schizophrenic” – 2:43
B2. “Now It’s All Gone Wrong” – 3:13
B3. “Caroline Robbins” – 2:51
B4. “Jesus Is Making A Comeback” – 2:42
B5. “The Glories” – 4:21
Note: The pressing plant made a mistake in the manufacturing and the vinyl turned out grey, but the band thought they looked cool and sold them anyway. Re-issued by Kingsway in 1995 as a part of the CD Ishmael Double Edition: If You Can’t Shout Saved/Life Begins At 30.
Ishmael United, Reunion at The Big Church Day Out, 2016.
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