tracks on LP: Gotta Gettaway | Wait And See | Fly The Flag | At The Edge | Nobody’s Hero | Bloody Dub | Doesn’t Make It All Right | I Don’t Like You | No Change | Tin Soldiers
Record label: Chrysalis CHR 1270
Released: November March 1980
Borrowed: 1981 (Stephen Winter)
Stiff Little Fingers | Nobody’s Heroes | (Chrysalis) 1980 | “Not produced by Nick Lowe” is the album’s most memorable sleeve note and, by gum, I’m ready to believe that. Subtle, SLF are not, Jake Burns‘ vocal chords sounding like they receive a thorough sandpapering, every hour on the hour.
Rougher than Strummer at his rawest, Burns’ voice is the most distinguishing feature of this album, which, like its predecessor, has arrived a good two years too late to have its fullest impact.
Judging by the credits, the Fingers are still very much the puppet of Daily Express journalist Gordon Ogilvie, whose philosophy about giving all the lyrics a political slant left the way open for the Undertones to become Northern Ireland’s freshest talent.
To be fair, this time round, politics take more of a subsidiary role, though “Fly The Flag” is hardly an exercise in patriotism, even if it is to be praised for its restrain. “Wait And See” is a rowdy two fingers at the band’s early sceptics which many young groups are likely to be able to identify with, while the single, “At The Edge”, is more universal still.
But the unbridled abuse of “I Don’t Like You” is nothing but a poor man’s version John Cooper Clarke’s “Twat”, and as for covering The Specials’ “It Doesn’t Make It All Right”, I do a better cover myself – ask John Shearlaw.
Even cornier is “Tin Soldiers”, doubtlessly based on CSN&Y’s “Ohio”, except anti-war songs weren’t even the last decade’s thing.
Musically, there’s nothing particularly ambitious, and if there still is a market for the three-chord thrash, I’m sure it’s more likely to be in the dance hall rather than the sitting room. At times, there’s some OK rock ‘n’ roll, but, I ask myself, is that what the world really needs at this point in time? An unholy pastiche of the Upstarts, Sham and early Clash? If you ain’t got the picture, you obviously do need it. I don’t. +++ (Record Mirror, 01/03/80)
Stiff Little Fingers | Nobody’s Heroes | (Chrysalis) 1980
Anyone waiting to write off Stiff Little Fingers simply because of their move away from Belfast is in for a big disappointment. Though sometimes a bit strained – eg their attempts at white reggae – or merely average, when they’ve got something like the utterly superb “Tin Soldiers” (as good as anything they’ve ever done) to focus their passion, concentrated energy and skills then there’s few to touch them.
A great, honest little band – more power to them. (8 out of 10) (Smash Hits, March 1980)
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