Album review: GIRLSCHOOL – The School Report 1976-2008

Cherry Red/HNE [Release date: 27.01.23]

Girlschool experienced their share of heartache… label let downs, revolving door membership issues, conflicting views on musical direction and the struggles to sustain their ambitions in the face of all of the above.

But they soldiered on regardless, having to endure some critical bashings by the music press, but enjoying brief peaks of fame nonetheless.

This sumptious Girlschool 5 CD package is walled inside an A5 hardback book.

In essence, the book, authored by NWOBHM expert and essayist John Tucker, vividly recalls the storied career of this talented all women band. And includes many pages of rare photos and much sought after memorabilia.

It’s clearly destined to become a collector’s piece.

The CDs:
CD1: Demolition Girls
CD2: Playing Dirty
CD3: Still Not That Innocent
CD4: Singles, B-sides and Demos
CD5: The Pre-School Years – Painted Lady Live

It’s in our favour that a considerable amount of poetic license is taken with CD1. In fact Demolition Girls (1980) turns out to be a “best of…” the band’s first 3 albums, running to over 20 tracks, including key cuts like ‘You Got Me”, ‘Don’t Call It Love’ and ‘Take It From Me’ from Hit And Run (1981), and Screaming Blue Murder (1982).

Same story with CD2, Playing Dirty. 1983 was to be a crucial year for the band. It was to be the time of transition, from Metallised Biker Punk, to polished American Pop/Metal. Success beckoned.

This School Report version adds many notable tracks to CD2, taken from the band’s fifth album, Running Wild and their sixth release, Nightmare At Maple Cross. This latter album had been an attempt to arrest the gradual slide in the their fortunes over their last half a dozen releases. It signalled a slight return to the DIY Garage Rock excitement that first launched the band into their post Painted Ladies chapter.

Talking of which, CD 5, The Pre-School Years, Painted Ladies Live, is a blast from start to finish, an introduction to the raw and raucous, rough edged rock that carried the band over from the Punk era to the time of NWOBHM.

CD 4 is where the real treasure is for hardcore fans. From 1983 versions of ‘Tush’ and ‘Don’t Call It Love’ to 1978 demos of ‘Let’s Spend the Night Together’ and ‘I Just Don’t Care’. From 1985 demos of ‘Love Is A Lie’ and ‘Not For Sale’ to 2002 demos of ‘I Told You So’ and ‘London’, this collection captures the evolution of Girlschool sound.

It makes you realise for all the break ups and personnel changes over the years, these girls had been in each other’s company for so long that ultimately, they had clearly developed the kind of musical telepathy that sees you through. ***1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)