The Shirts
Encyclopedia
The Shirts are a New York
-based American
power pop
band
, which was formed in 1975. The band’s early existence (1975 to 1981) was closely linked with CBGB
, a music club in the Bowery
, but it reformed with many of the early members in 2003 and is currently active.
, where Robert Racioppo and Artie Lamonica had been playing together on and off as early as 1970. Members of the band were gradually added (including lead singer Annie Golden
) in the next three years. The band got its name when Racioppo, having just broken up his existing band, asserted his desire to form a new one, and his indifference as to its name: "call it anything ... shirts ... pants ... shoes ... The Shirts!" The newly-named band, eventually including nine musicians, played covers at small venues in New York until, in 1975, they went to a show at CBGB featuring Patti Smith
and were inspired to play there using only their original material.
The Shirts auditioned for CBGB owner Hilly Kristal
which resulted in the band being hired, first to open for other bands (including Television
and The Talking Heads
), then to play as the headliner band. As the band honed their skills and developed new songs, they played at such other local venues as Max's Kansas City
. Like many of the bands championed by Kristal, their sound was actually more pop and dance-oriented than the "art bands" that became famous in association with CBGB.
Although little interest was initially shown in the band by American record labels, The Shirts were featured on a double compilation album featuring the major bands of the CBGB scene in the mid-70s, Live at CBGB. However, Nick Mobbs at EMI
(who had signed the Sex Pistols
to the label) signed the band to EMI's Harvest
label in the fall of 1977, and assigned Mike Thorne (who had also worked on Sex Pistols albums) to produce their first album. Largely for corporate purposes, the band was signed by EMI in conjunction with its US subsidiary label, Capitol Records
, which had initially passed on signing the band. This formality would eventually have a significant impact on the band’s early history.
The first album, The Shirts, was recorded in London (while lead singer Golden commuted back to the US to shoot Milos Forman
’s screen version
of Hair
) and released in 1978, and became very popular in Europe, the single Tell Me Your Plans charting in the top five in the Netherlands for example. The band went on to tour Europe opening for Peter Gabriel
, at his request.
Thorne chose to record the band’s second album, Streetlight Shine (1979), at Mediasound Studio in New York City. The resulting sound was much more eclectic than their debut album, and the album was again a financial and critical success in Europe, the single Laugh and Walk Away again charting high in the Netherlands. However, breakthrough in the US market continued to elude the band.
For the third album, Capitol Records made a deal with EMI in which the band would be signed solely to Capitol. Now under Capitol’s management rather than Thorne’s, recording went poorly and the resulting album, Inner Sleeve (1980), was not properly supported by the label, only 10,000 copies being pressed. It was a signal failure for the band, and although they continued playing for another two years, the large band (nine members at its height) had been reduced to four players, and essentially broke up in 1981.
In 2006, The Shirts recorded and released their first album in over 25 years at the studio Thorne had opened. It was titled, Only the Dead Know Brooklyn.
Street Light Shine (1979)
Inner Sleeve (1980)
Only the Dead Know Brooklyn (2006)
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, which was formed in 1975. The band’s early existence (1975 to 1981) was closely linked with CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
, a music club in the Bowery
Bowery
Bowery may refer to:Streets:* The Bowery, a thoroughfare in Manhattan, New York City* Bowery Street is a street on Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y.In popular culture:* Bowery Amphitheatre, a building on the Bowery in New York City...
, but it reformed with many of the early members in 2003 and is currently active.
The CBGB years, 1975-1981
The Shirts had their roots in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, where Robert Racioppo and Artie Lamonica had been playing together on and off as early as 1970. Members of the band were gradually added (including lead singer Annie Golden
Annie Golden
-Career:Born in Brooklyn, New York, Golden began her career as the lead singer of The Shirts . During the early 1990s she performed as part of the duo Golden Carillo with Frank Carillo. They released three albums,Fire in Newtown, Toxic Emotion, and Back for More. She then returned to The Shirts...
) in the next three years. The band got its name when Racioppo, having just broken up his existing band, asserted his desire to form a new one, and his indifference as to its name: "call it anything ... shirts ... pants ... shoes ... The Shirts!" The newly-named band, eventually including nine musicians, played covers at small venues in New York until, in 1975, they went to a show at CBGB featuring Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
and were inspired to play there using only their original material.
The Shirts auditioned for CBGB owner Hilly Kristal
Hilly Kristal
Hilly Kristal was an American club owner and musician who was the owner of the iconic New York City club, CBGB, which opened in 1973 and closed in 2006 over a rent dispute. -Early years:...
which resulted in the band being hired, first to open for other bands (including Television
Television (band)
Television was an American rock band, formed in New York City in 1973. They are best known for the album Marquee Moon and widely regarded as one of the founders of "punk" and New Wave music. Television was part of the early 1970s New York underground rock scene, along with bands like the Patti...
and The Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
), then to play as the headliner band. As the band honed their skills and developed new songs, they played at such other local venues as Max's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City was a nightclub and restaurant at 213 Park Avenue South, in New York City, which was a gathering spot for musicians, poets, artists and politicians in the 1960s and 1970s.-Origin of name:...
. Like many of the bands championed by Kristal, their sound was actually more pop and dance-oriented than the "art bands" that became famous in association with CBGB.
Although little interest was initially shown in the band by American record labels, The Shirts were featured on a double compilation album featuring the major bands of the CBGB scene in the mid-70s, Live at CBGB. However, Nick Mobbs at EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
(who had signed the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
to the label) signed the band to EMI's Harvest
Harvest Records
-References:* Harvest Records collectors guide ISBN 978-5-9622-0021-7...
label in the fall of 1977, and assigned Mike Thorne (who had also worked on Sex Pistols albums) to produce their first album. Largely for corporate purposes, the band was signed by EMI in conjunction with its US subsidiary label, Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, which had initially passed on signing the band. This formality would eventually have a significant impact on the band’s early history.
The first album, The Shirts, was recorded in London (while lead singer Golden commuted back to the US to shoot Milos Forman
Miloš Forman
Jan Tomáš Forman , better known as Miloš Forman , is a Czech-American director, screenwriter, professor, and an emigrant from Czechoslovakia. Two of his films, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus, are among the most celebrated in the history of film, both gaining him the Academy Award for...
’s screen version
Hair (film)
Hair is a 1979 American film adaptation of the 1968 Broadway musical of the same name about a Vietnam war draftee who meets and befriends a tribe of long-haired hippies on his way to the army induction center...
of Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
) and released in 1978, and became very popular in Europe, the single Tell Me Your Plans charting in the top five in the Netherlands for example. The band went on to tour Europe opening for Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, at his request.
Thorne chose to record the band’s second album, Streetlight Shine (1979), at Mediasound Studio in New York City. The resulting sound was much more eclectic than their debut album, and the album was again a financial and critical success in Europe, the single Laugh and Walk Away again charting high in the Netherlands. However, breakthrough in the US market continued to elude the band.
For the third album, Capitol Records made a deal with EMI in which the band would be signed solely to Capitol. Now under Capitol’s management rather than Thorne’s, recording went poorly and the resulting album, Inner Sleeve (1980), was not properly supported by the label, only 10,000 copies being pressed. It was a signal failure for the band, and although they continued playing for another two years, the large band (nine members at its height) had been reduced to four players, and essentially broke up in 1981.
Reunions and reformation, 1994 to present
The band members, some of whom had stayed in the music business, reunited twice in the 1990s to play benefits for CBGB, which periodically suffered tax issues. Efforts were made to reform the band, which included early auditions with Golden, who had established a career in film and on stage, and two other female singers, Caren Messing and Kathy McCloskey, who had worked with Racioppo in another band. Golden ultimately decided not to join the reformed band, and Messing and McCloskey together took the female lead. The reformed band first played for the public at CBGB in May 2003, and continue to perform periodically.In 2006, The Shirts recorded and released their first album in over 25 years at the studio Thorne had opened. It was titled, Only the Dead Know Brooklyn.
Discography
The Shirts (1978)- A1 "Reduced to a Whisper"
- A2 "Tell Me Your Plans"
- A3 "Empty Ever After"
- A4 "Teenage Crutch"
- A5 "10th Floor Clown"
- B1 "The Story Goes"
- B2 "Lonely Android"
- B3 "Running Through the Night"
- B4 "They Say the Sun Shines"
- B5 "Poe"
Street Light Shine (1979)
- A1 "Laugh and Walk Away" 2:48
- A2 "Love Is a Fiction" 2:37
- A3 "Don't You Hesitate" 3:52
- A4 "Milton at the Savoy" 2:53
- A5 "Ground Zero" 2:43
- A6 "Triangulum" 5:35
- B1 "Out on the Ropes" 3:52
- B2 "Starts With a Handshake" 3:06
- B3 "Can't Cry Anymore" 2:43
- B4 "I Feel So Nervous" 3:29
- B5 "Outside the Cathedral Door" 5:30
- B6 "Kensington Gardens" 3:38
Inner Sleeve (1980)
- A1 "I'm Not One of Those" 3:20
- A2 "One Last Chance" 3:04
- A3 "Can't Get it Through My Head" 3:54
- A4 "I've Had It" 3:19
- A5 "I Don't Wanna Know" 4:30
- B1 "Pleasure is the Pain" 3:30
- B2 "As Long as the Laughter Lasts" 3:24
- B3 "Too Much Trouble" 3:02
- B4 "Hanging Around" 3:41
- B5 "Small Talk" 2:35
- B6 "Time (Has Seen Me Lonely)" 2:48
Only the Dead Know Brooklyn (2006)
- 1 "Spanish Steps" 3:45
- 2 "Love in Chains" 3:27
- 3 "Emptier" 4:10
- 4 "Take Hold of My Heart" 3:45
- 5 "Hell or High Water" 3:53
- 6 "Chimes of Love" 3:59
- 7 "Walk On The Wire" 3:31
- 8 "I Declare War" 2:59
- 9 "Tears Dancing Rings" 3:54
- 10 "Bourbon Street" 5:55
- 11 "Goin' To The Boat" 3:40
- 12 "Only The Dead Know Brooklyn" 4:00
- 13 "Everything Is Everything" 4:04