Description
Shots in the Dark is a multi-artist compilation featuring six unsigned British alternative rock bands, independently released on Ghettout Records in 1981.
In 1981 Laurie Mellor, a member of Ishmael’s band Rev Counta & The Speedoze, embarked on an ambitious project to create a compilation album that highlighted some of the best Christian bands around but to aim them at the mainstream. A radical idea for the day! More than a quarter of a century later, it’s amazing how fresh a lot of this stuff still sounds. Mellor took five of the bands to the ICC studios in Eastbourne and recorded them there; listening now this sounds just like the music you’d have found in the charts in 1981. The fact that just about every band here dived back into obscurity doesn’t spoil the fact that there’s some great music here. Highlights include The Graphics’ «Don’t Stop» with its furious pace and choppy rhythms. Ska was popular in 1981 so The Stares’ «Pseudo Love» has the deadpan vocals and ska feel of the day. Crowd Control did a good job at creating an atmospheric indie sound which again is very 1981. The Magnetics’ «Passin’ Thru» was always a favourite for me, featuring a great horn riff and a vocal delivery so nasally that I’m convinced the singer was holding his nose at the mic. Infectious is the best way to describe it with some great guitar work as well! Infectious could also sum up The Mystery Guests’ song «Take A Look At Yourself» with its breezy production, hooky chorus and quick fire guitar break. Ironically the ropiest recordings here are from The Predators who didn’t make the trip to ICC but instead sent in recordings already completed in the north west including their live favourite «Plastic Surgeon». Consequently their new wave sounds a little muddy. I say it’s ironic because of all the artists captured here, it was The Predators who went on to record two albums for Pilgrim Records. There is plenty here which could easily have invaded the charts and all these years later, it’s fascinating to hear the songs again. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, September 2008]
The Shots in the Dark compilation was the brainchild of Laurie Mellor, who embarked on an ambitious project to create a compilation album that highlighted some of the best Christian bands around but to aim them at the mainstream. A radical idea for the day! Religious message aside (and some are quite overt) the record captures the incredible impact that 2-Tone ska, The Clash and The Police was having on bands all over the UK. As a result The Graphics’ «Just A Balloon» is notable for its punky reggae feel that recalls the very early sound of The Police while The Stares’ «Pseudo Love» has the feel of much second division UK ska that I love. Its a bit rough around the edges but lovable nonetheless. Infectious also sums up The Magnetics «Not My Home» which sounds like it could have been taken from either the first Madness or Bad Manners LP. If you are a fan of 2-Tone era ska or enjoy hearing bands who were active during those years but did not enjoy the recognition they may have deserved then I recommend giving the album a spin. [marcoonthebass.blogspot]
[Steve Taylor, CCM, March 1982]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. The Graphics – “Don’t Stop”
A2. The Stares – “Pseudo Love”
A3. Crowd Control – “There Are Houses”
A4. Mystery Guests – “Take A Look At Yourself”
A5. The Predators – “He Thinks He Knows Me”
A6. The Graphics – “Just A Balloon”
Side Two
B1. The Magnetics – “Passin’ Through”
B2. The Predators – “Plastic Surgeon”
B3. Crowd Control – “Treason”
B4. Mystery Guests – “So Misunderstood”
B5. The Magnetics – “Not My Home”
B6. The Stares – “Joe”
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