Over the years I have found myself strangely attracted to LP's that I think the majority of the bands usual fans don’t seem to be overly fond of and the commercial fan base that any of these bands had disappears upon the mentioned LP's release. The LP I’m playing at this moment could easily fit that category as whenever I hear someone talking about Sham 69 it isn’t usually “The Game” that is mentioned favourably (although my good friend in California loves it as much as I do) You will hear even less people say that it is their fave Sham LP and yes, as I’m sure you have guessed it, is my absolute fave Sham LP.

I always enjoy hearing the natural progression of a band where their talent for song writing grows with each release but not in a way that they get to be too professional and lose their edge. The Game is really a fitting ending for the original heyday of this band that produced 4 fantastic lp’s each release getting progressively better and more musically adventurous without ruining the working class, raw sound that Sham had been known for.

The songs on The Game were just as much singalong anthems that any rebellious punk rocker could wave his fist and shout along too as anything Tell Us the Truth had to offer. The sound was just slightly more polished with I think more detail to the art of song writing. It really was a strange time for punk rock I would say as most of the general public and punks also had written of many of the original wave of bands as they had figured that this style of music had hit it’s peak in 77 (I know some here have that view) but in reality just because the Pistols were gone in the year of 1979 and 1980 we have bands such as The Clash, The Damned and Sham 69 making what I would say are their best LP's with London Calling, Machine Gun Etiquette (The Black LP also but that’s another post) and The Game.

There honestly isn’t one bad track on the Game and the title track that opens it is a great way to kick things off. Human Zoo is a great comment about being tied up in a daily routine which is “A Human Zoo” “Everybody’s on their own, The Animals are Me and You” A perfect social commentary which was as valid in 1980 as it is in 2008. A timeless statement and a very catchy song to boot. Lord of the Flies is one of my fave tunes on The Game. Some great (what sounds like children) background vocals which give this song a very unique sound. The next track “Give a Dog a Bone” sounds more like previous Sham with a stripped down sound that goes back to the Tell Us the Truth days. A damn catchy chorus to top it all off! Another track with a more stripped down sound with Pursey sounding great in his aggressive delivery and guess what?? Another insanely catchy chorus.

Every track here seems to highlight how much this band had grown musically and the songs are so memorable in that they will be going through your mind long after you have played the record. Tell the Children will be the Angry pick of the LP. My fave track on the LP and a single to top it off. The rest of the tracks continue the tradition of being just great singalong anthems and this LP never let’s up once. Spray it on the Wall, Dead or Alive, Simon (A slow but amazing track that fits in perfectly), Déjà vu, Poor Cow (another slow but great one!) and Run Wild Run Free are all tracks that should be regarded as some of the best tracks Sham ever released.

This record deserves to be spun often and is such a highlight of an already brilliant career. (Do yourself a favour when purchasing this on cd and get the Captain Oi version as it contains an amazing b-side called Unite and Win which is one of the best tracks Sham ever released) It’s always great when an LP can historically bookend a great original phase in a bands career.

The Game perfectly closed the first chapter (as “Now Then” did with SLF) in a brilliant bands original phase. It really is time to forget what you have read previously about this release and believe what Angry says is one the most accomplished and insanely catchy punk (pop) LP's ever made. What are you waiting for????????

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Now Don't You Feel Better Enjoy!