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The Shirts — Live
(Bandcamp Think Like a Key TLAK, 1981/2025, CD / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2026-01-04

Live Cover art

The Shirts was a post punk band in New York City in the late 70s to very early 80s. They performed at CBGBs, and in 1981 they recorded their final album live at Moogy Klingman's studio in the heart of Manhattan in front of an intimate audience, but it has never released until now. The fourteen songs never appeared on any of their studio albums. In 1981, freed from their Capitol contract and burning with purpose, The Shirts ripped through Hi-Five Studios like a downtown hurricane. Lead singer Annie Golden commanded the mic with fierce joy while the band fused melodic finesse with Bowery grit — every song a mission statement. Now 44 years later, Prof. Stoned has loving restored and mixed the music from the original reel-to-reel tapes. These tapes sat in a vault gathering dust as Annie went to perform on Broadway and ultimately acting on TV and movies, including Orange Is the New Black, Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Baby Boom (1987), Longtime Companion (1989), Strictly Business (1991), Prelude to a Kiss (1992), 12 Monkeys (1995), The American Astronaut (2001), It Runs in the Family (2003), Adventures of Power (2008), and I Love You Phillip Morris (2009). The music on Live is strong, aggressive, melodic, and hard hitting, drawing comparisons to Television and Blondie. I do detect some Pete Townsend influence on “Boys Will Be Boys.” Every song rocks and The Shirts gave one helluva performance! Thanks to Think Like a Key, this excellent show is now rescued from obscurity.

Filed under: New releases, 2025 releases, 1981 recordings

Related artist(s): The Shirts

More info
http://the-shirts.bandcamp.com/album/live-feat-annie-golden

 

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