The mighty Shakin Street captured in a pulsating live performance at the Old Waldorf, San Francisco in 1979.
Fronted by the glorious and distinctive force of nature Fabienne Shine, it was looking good for French rockers Shakin Street towards the end of the 1970s. A middling debut album (Vampire Rock) went down well and they decided to move from France to America in search of the big break.
That came when Shine asked Sandy Pearlman – Blue Oyster Cult’s producer – if he’d produce Shakin Steet’s next album.
He agreed and their 1980 released self-titled follow up to Vampire Rock is a stunning album of no mucking about powerful hard and heavy rock. It remains one of my most played albums to this day.
Leading up to the album’s release, Shaking Street were going down very well with American crowds. Now the raw power and energy of their live performances is evidenced here.
Thirteen tracks of in your face captivating rock with the distinctive vocal of Shine, Ross “the Boss” Friedman chucking out riffs for fun and a thudding rhythm section make it quite something to listen to.
The set list drawn mainly from stuff from the then soon to be released second album shows a band confident in their ability.
The thumping Solid as a Rock steam rolls in opening the set. Irresistible. Soul Dealer takes no prisoners. Generation X has the kind of punky edge some of Shakin Street’s songs had back then with Shine delivering the lyric in breath-taking aggressiveness.
Suzie Wong has a jingle-jangle riff and monster catchy hook coming over sort of half power-pop as does No Time to Lose. I Want to Box You is a killer song. Arguably their best. A relentless, pulsing, driving riff driving things along and a brooding Shine vocal. Have a listen:
We also have a powerful, throbbing cover of the Stooges’ I Want to be Your Dog.
Despite their second album being a monster and a big name support slot touring with Blue Oyster Cult and Black Sabbath, Ross “The Boss” soon cleared off to form Manowar and Shakin Street disappeared.
A brief reunion resulted in the 21st Century Love album in 2008 and their last studio album was the excellent Psychic in 2014.
With this being a forty-five year old live recording it is as it was when recorded on the night. Hard, fast, raw, powerful. Shakin Street must have been remarkable live if this is anything to go by.
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