"Misspent Youth" - Tales From The Rock n Roll Side - Part 4
In 1989 Shy signed a new deal with M.C.A.
In 1988 Shy were looking for a new record deal , and the band were determined to carry on. Many bands would have split up after such an excellent record as "Excess All Areas" had not broken commercially though. Yes it was a hit album, but RCA had decided that they couldn't plough any more money into the band. Strange bacause things were looking up for the band , and sales were increasing. However this is the music business, and these things are par for the course.
Shy did a lot of showcase gigs and by Christmas 1988 they secured a deal with M.C.A. The deal wasn't the only one on the table. I believe A & M records were interseted, but Shy felt M.C.A. were more in tune with the direction they wanted to go in, which was a harder rock edge sound, nearer to Motley Crue than Journey. I was at The Marquee when a jubilant Tony Mills announced the signing to M.C.A. and then dragged the M.C.A. record company guy(who got them signed!) onto the stage
Shy went about recording the album, flying out Los Angeles. Where they hooked up with Roy Thomas Baker, producer of The Cars, Ozzy Osbourne, and Queen. Shy had originally wanted Neil Kernon again but this didn't fit in with M.C.A's schedule.
The album was recorded in the States and the band lived the L.A. lifestyle.
The album was recorded and mixed by Roy Thomas Baker. With him at the helm, Producer of The Cars, Queen and Ozzy Osbourne, things looked promising. The album recording didn't run smootly and the band weren't very happy with the way the album was progressing. They had heard Roy Thomas Baker was a hard task master, but he seemed very casual about the whole album. The band came to the conclusion that they wanted to work with someone else, but M.CA. would have none of this. Too much money had been put in, and the album needed to be finished forthwith. Shy didn't have much choice. The band got on with the album to their credit, and still hoped that Roy Thomas Baker would work wonders in the mix. While production can be a personal thing i.e. different production styles/techniques may be right for different bands there is no excuse for the, in the words of Derek Oliver (Kerrang review 1989) :
" ..Somewhat slapdash production...The only saving grace for both the producer and the band is the quality of the songs...."
The band wanted to redo parts, but Shy's management advised that they shouldn't rock the boat. The band hoped everything would come good in the mix. After all Roy Thomas Baker had a good reputation, and so they carried on, there really wasn't much choice and it was the proffessional thing to do I nthe circumstances. When the album was released it got god review, 4k's in Kerrang, only losing top marks for it's "Slapdash production" in the words of Derek Oliver. Shy promoted the album by touring with Sleez Beez and Enuff Z Nuff in the USA and Hunter/Ronson in the U.K leg of the Misppent Youth Tour.
The band toured in the U.K. as the headline act, including a couple of dates at The Astoria in London. Ironically enough the last time I saw Shy play before they set off on the American leg of the Misspent Youth Tour, was Friday the 13th. In fact this was the last time I saw Tony Mills as the front man for Shy. There was no indication to me that he was going to leave, however if you check out the songwriting credits for this album you won't find his name on the song writing credits.
The band toured the U.S.A with Sleez Beez and Enuff Z Nuff. Things went pretty well, apart from a tour bus with no air conditioning , and at least a couple of band members falling off the stage at various venues. But that's Rock n Roll for you!
Three singles were released off the album : Give It All You've Got - which got to roughly number 80 or so , in October 89, then Money in December 89, which got 90 something and finally the best single bar far Broken Heart, in January 90, which went in somewhere just outside the Top 100. Well worth purchasing if you can find them. Especially the limited editions of Broken Heart and Money.
M.C.A. was aware of the production issues on this album and made a big thing of the fact that the singles had been remixed. A single page advert appeared in Kerrang for Give It All You've Got, with a telephone number to hear a small part of the song. Along with the music , was a voice over explaining that Shy were back with a bang. In the U.K. Hunter/Ronson headlined tour, with Shy as support, was advertised with a half page advert in Kerrang, listing Money and Give It All You've Got. Broken Heart got the full glossy treatment, with an impressive back page advert on the back of Metal Hammer. Unfortunately this song needed airplay. The advertising had impact. I remember seeing posters in Hammersmith High Street. I wish I'd managed to get a poster ...nevermind.
Promotion of Singles and more
3 Singles were lifted off the album, Give It All You've Got which got some limited airplay and a cracking video on the top of a sky scraper, Money a single which I think was a mistake to release. This song was heavily criticised in Kerrang and other popular press. The song itself had a big drum beat and not much else. At least this was the criticism levelled at the song/band. This song is so much better live.
The other criticism I read (Possibly in Sounds Music Magazine?) was that not only was this song the worst kind of heavy metal (unfair) had nothing to do with the song. Have a look at the inlay cover of the band gambling with cards and smoking cigarettes. The photos are fine but a little too posed (only my opinion)..but the criticism was that none of the cigarettes were lit! Big deal - however as someone who was worked with various bands - I would have got them to light them. This kind of criticism had nothing to do with the band-...oh well .
The third single should have been a hit all the way. Broken Heart was a Bon Jovi 'ish single and should have been released 1st or 2nd. Probably 2nd . Give It All You've got had broken into the top 90 Singles and Broken Heart was so catchy and well produced . Give it All You've Got into the top 80 singles, Money into the top 90, and Broken Heart which was just outside the top 100. A full page advert ran in Kerrang advertising Give It All You've Got with a telephone number you could ring to hear a glimpse of the single.
I first heard Give It AllYou've Got in Our Price in Kinsgton, Surrey, U.K. I thought it sounded like Motley Crue. The MCA record rep was in the store seeing how many he could pass on to the shop.
Give It All You've Got
He had an easy sale as I helped him out by buying two limited edition gatefold editions.
Money 12" Ltd edition
Money was released in a brilliant Silver Dollar edition and if you have a copy you'll know that it can also double up as a mirror if you need one!
Broken Heart came in a 12 " Holgram edition - The Shy logo changing colour, and the artwork is very clever. It portrays white and red roses in barbed wire on a blue background. If you look closer at the white roses you can see faces in them, definate lips and eyes. I can vaguely see faces in the red roses, but only just. Take a look - or am I just imagining this? I don't think so.
The back cover of Metal Hammer had a full page colur advert for Broken Heart, and received a very favourable review in Metal Hammer.
This single was promoted via posters all over London, I remember seeing it in Hammersmith in London.
Shy were then dropped by M.CA., although Tony Mills was offered a solo deal. But that's another story.
Singles
Give It All You've Got
Money
Broken Heart
Album Releases
Misspent Youth - Shy 1989 (U.K.)
Misspent Youth - Shy England 1990 (U.S.A)
Tour
Hunter/Ronson (U.K.)
Sleez Beez & Enuff Z Enuff (U.S.A)
Singles
Give It All You've Got
Money
Broken Heart
In the USA the band had the album release under the name of Shy England. Another band had taken the name Shy as soon as they heard MCA had signed Shy. The album was mainly targeted at the USA market, and the U.S. cover was as below:
After Shy returned from touring the States, including a not to be repeated experience of travelling in a bus with no air conditioning, Tony Mills left the band. He felt it was time for a change, and went on to form the much harder edged Siam, similar in sound to Queensryche (also produced by Neil Kernon) orientated band. Meanwhile Shy had no vocalist, and as they didn't have any plans to be an instrumental group they started looking for a replacement. Tony Mills would be a hard act to follow, but it had to be done.
After holding many auditions they found their man. However that's another story...Next Stop "Welcome To The Madhouse"
