They’re a great live band and this album also confirms that they a decent studio band – though you only get one side of that on ‘Tell Us The Truth’. Sham are often accused of being a good live. Pursey is a hero in the same way as Peter Storey was a hero or Ron Harris. He plays upon them in such a mundane, North Bank way that the crowd can’t fail to find it strangely heroic. Jimmy Pursey plays on people’s restricted emotions – and he’ll be the first to admit that. They simply appeal to the susceptible – and that could be you or me. Sham’s songs aren’t particularly deep, significant or dotted with politico palpitations. Extrovert Esso blues wiv boots and astronaut crops enjoying the hospitality of muvver Brown. No, they’re preoccupied with being performers themselves. Not that kids take too much notice of what’s being said. They’re a good time band with a neat line in social sophistry. Sham 69 fulfills a 16-year-old’s notion of gutter grit instability (ie) a Saturday night knees-up, a Saturday night piss-up, a Saturday night punch-up. And I thought punk was kaput, finito, a bubble in the Alka Seltzer – but maybe that’s because I’m a Londoner. Sham 69 “Tell Us The Truth” – A giggle in the night. “Tell Us The Truth” SHAM 69 – “Tell Us The Truth” LP (Polydor 2383491) February 1978
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