Sha La La's, The
Always The Heartache
If Mod is a broad church, then The Sha La Las have just blown the roof off! This 45 has got the lot. The opening fuzz guitar riff of A side Always The Heartache sets the tone nicely, taking us on a journey that seems to begin on the west coast of America in a 58 Corvette but somehow finally leads you down the Kings Road in a Mini Cooper! The B side opens with Carpenter of love. Played with all the attitude and style weve come to expect of The Sha La Las. Darron Robinsons heartfelt lyric sung with purpose and power, guided by that soulful Hammond organ and capturing the very essence of Londons go to Mod n Soul outfit. Straighten Up is a 1:30-minute instrumental that sounds like the Small Faces gate-crashing Booker T and the MGs in Muscle Shoals, John Pax Piccirillos driving rhythm and Vere Osbornes thumping bass complementing John lees skilfully woven and dynamic Hammond organ tones. Its a high speed affair this record, all over to soon, only one thing for it.. get back in that Mini, turn up the volume and blow that bloody roof off...