Customer Reviews

That's Life

5 star:		(3)
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I was a 15 year old kid (who was born a metalhead but was just getting into hardcore punk and Oi/street punk) and had read about this supposedly classic punk group that nearly solely started the Oi! movement (unintentionally) called SHAM 69. So off to the a record store I went and bought the only SHAM 69 album they had in stock: "That's Life" from 1978. Since that day (nearly 15 years ago now) this record (and SHAM 69 in general) has existed in my mind within this near-god-like world of unsung rock (yes, SHAM 69 were just as much a band of hooligan pub-rockers as they were mohawk adorned UK punkers, if you don't believe me listen to SHAM 69's "That's Life" and EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS-"Life On The Line" back to back, and keep in mind that "Life On The Line" was from 1977 and "That's Life" from 1978) bands. THE WHO's "Tommy" is constantly adored by the rock press as this amazing "rock opera" and as a veritable untouchable plateau of creative brilliance. While the WHO do deserve credit for attempting an ambitious theme driven "opera"-like album, "Tommy" has some real flaws and is often given far too much love from the rock press. After all it only took a little over 10 years for a band called SHAM 69 and their LP "That's Life" to make "Tommy" sound like an over-long, disorganized mess with half a story. SHAM 69 managed to create a coherent story, with continuity, while using half as much vinyl as "Tommy"! SHAM 69's "That's Life" is the TRUE punk/rock (slash intended) "opera"! The album brilliantly follows a day or two in the life of a typical working class British lad and subsequently reflects the life of every 18-20 year kid discovering the cold realities of mundane adult life. From his parents bitching, to his boss firing him for being late (for the hundreth time), to fun at the pub and winning at the track, to loose chicks and breaking the law, this is the life of ANY WORKING CLASS LAD!!! But on a simple album level, the factor that really pushes "That's Life" into that realm occupied by only the select few, is the fact that the SONGS ARE SO DAMN COMPELLING!!! These tunes just make you wanna get up, quit your job, call your friends, go to the bars, get buzzed, raise hell, and most importantly, be 19 again. Quite simply: TO LIVE and not just from 9 to 5! There have literally (and I can't believe I'm going to admit this in print) been times these songs have brought me to tears...They are just so authentic and it's the life story every punk, outcast, or just ordinary bloke (with a decent brain), has lived and can identify with. So you can certainly buy "That's Life" because you want to hear the greatest working class "punk opera" ever OR you can pick it up because you wanna hear the greatest collection of street punk/pub-rock/drinking tunes ever produced. Either way, you're picking up a damn rockin' album with an emotional impact that will never lose its appeal and never be surpassed...Jimmy you ruled. And if you DO end up buying "That's Life" and falling in love with it (which is a guaranteed side-effect of "That's Life" syndrome), go buy the other classic SHAM 69 albums ("Tell Us The Truth", "Adventures of Hersham Boys", and "The Game") as well as totally killer trio of EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS albums: "Teenage Depression", "Life On The Line", and "Thriller". Hell, while your at at it, be sure to grab up CHELSEA's "Chelsea", "Alternative Hits", and "Evacuate" albums as well! This especially makes sense now that all the SHAM 69, EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS, and CHELSEA albums are affordably available in awesome sounding remastered CD form with much care taken by labels who understand the need to preserve the integrity of vinyl's audio warmth when mastering to CD, with massive liner notes and pictures, and great layouts! Man were the late-70's British rock and punk scenes great!!!!! Give me SHAM 69, EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS, and CHELSEA and I'm set for a my deserted island......That's life!

I first heard this 25 years ago and have listened to it countless times since then. A great story about a loser and the song when he wins at the track (Win or Lose) is terrific. Jimmy Pursey pretty much has a crappy voice and it works perfectly with this band, especially on this CD. A polished voice just wouldn't work with this story. His lyrics are wonderful and he pours everthing into each song, but it sounds genuine, not like that pretentious emo garbage of today. I love the line "... running for the bus in my flash blue suit..." as he describes his trip to work just before he gets sacked. This is probably the first punk rock "opera", 27 years ahead of Green Day's solid "American Idiot". This has buzzsaw guitars, simplistic, catchy riffs, everything you'd want from an opera about the British lower middle class. This is an underrated gem.

This is a little gem,of a skinhead opera.Jimmy Percy,the force behind sham 69 rates high on this one.Each song fits together to tell a great little working class story.Nagging mums,best mates,picking up birds,pub punch ups are all incoperated in this skin opera.[But is all just a bad dream]Sham was always the thinking skins Oi,and this album shows why,a true working class master piece,and would do well as a sound track to a great film or play.A must for any all true skins and working class hero's sit back and enjoy...........