{"title":"Girls At Our Best!","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGirls At Our Best! was an English post-punk band formed in Leeds in 1979. They evolved from a previous band and disbanded in 1982. The core line-up consisted of Judy Evans on vocals, James Alan on guitar, and Gerard Swift on bass. Over the years, they had several drummers including Chris Oldroyd, Paul Simon (who only appeared on one single), Carl Harper (who was injured during recording), and Rod Johnson. Despite their relatively short career, Girls At Our Best! made a significant impact on the post-punk music scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith their unique sound and energetic performances, Girls At Our Best! quickly gained attention in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their music combined elements of punk rock with catchy melodies and socially conscious lyrics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe band released two albums during their active years: \"Pleasure\" in 1981 and \"Politics!\" in 1982. Both albums received critical acclaim for their innovative approach to post-punk music.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"getting-nowhere-fast","title":"Getting Nowhere Fast","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 1980 post punk pop indie band Girls at our Best! came out of nowhere (Well, Leeds actually) with \u003ci\u003eGetting Nowhere Fast\u003c\/i\u003e and was the NME’s Single Of The Week reaching the Top 10 of the indie chart. The band, fronted by Judy Evans, released four further singles plus the album \u003ci\u003ePleasure\u003c\/i\u003e which reached the UK album charts in 1981, before splitting up two years after this debut.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Optic Nerve","offers":[{"title":"Green | 7\"","offer_id":50465223344459,"sku":"1101981","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/c13dbf76-2aa7-44c1-b2ec-901a741c5db4_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727283316"},{"product_id":"pleasure-deluxe-edition","title":"Pleasure - Deluxe Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003eDeluxe re-issue of \u003cem\u003eGirls At Our Best!\u003c\/em\u003e's seminal Post Punk album \u003cem\u003ePleasure\u003c\/em\u003e. Including additional A and B sides of their singles, two unissued 1981 live concerts. Plus legendary 1981 BBC sessions for John Peel and Richard Skinner and a 1981 interview. And a previously unreleased 1978 demo 'Atribute' by James Alan and Judy Evans' band The Butterflies who metamorphosised into \u003cem\u003eGirls At Our Best!\u003c\/em\u003e plus 'Boys At Our Best', a demo from their final recording session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGirls At Our Best!\u003c\/strong\u003e were one of the greatest and most influential bands to emerge in the early 1980s as part of a new wave of independent acts. DJ John Peel championed them, playing their singles repeatedly and inviting them to record a session for his programme. Wry vocalist Judy Evans and brutal yet melodic guitarist James Alan who'd met at art college in Leeds fronted \u003cem\u003eGirls At Our Best!\u003c\/em\u003e, the proto-Indie band that formed from the ashes of Alan's 1977 punk band SOS!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDisc 1 contains the album \u003cem\u003ePleasure\u003c\/em\u003e that reached number two in the Indie Chart, plus all the \u003cem\u003eGirls At Our Best!\u003c\/em\u003e singles recordings and influential BBC sessions for Peel and Skinner. All four of their singles are here, including their classic self-financed debut, '\u003cem\u003eGetting Nowhere Fast\u003c\/em\u003e', released on their own Record Records label in April 1980 – a #9 Indie chart hit that was later covered by The Wedding Present. Its sardonic B-side 'Warm Girls' also features, along with 'Politics!', 'Go For Gold', 'Fast Boyfriends' and its flip side, a cover of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's 'This Train' that the band made their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDisc 2 includes a superb live concert recorded at Edinburgh University on 2\/11\/81 plus two demos and Disc 3 features a bootleg live recording of their New York Peppermint Lounge gig on 6\/11\/81 from the ill-fated US tour that led to the band splitting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJez Pritchatt AKA James Alan of \u003cem\u003eGirls At Our Best!\u003c\/em\u003e has been fully involved in the release and has given it his approval, while long term fan Steve Flanagan has written the notes; the booklet incorporates copies of original single sleeves, photographs and memorabilia.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cherry Red","offers":[{"title":"CD | x3","offer_id":50484319912267,"sku":"1148471","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/a586bdc3-8418-4759-98d7-0fb503b32584_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727588227"},{"product_id":"pleasure-3","title":"Pleasure.","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 1980 post punk pop indie band Girls at our Best came out of nowhere (Well, Leeds actually) with 'Getting Nowhere Fast' and was the NME's Single Of The Week reaching the Top 10 of the indie chart. The band, fronted by Judy Evans, released four further singles plus the album \u003ci\u003ePleasure\u003c\/i\u003e which reached the UK album charts in 1981, before splitting up two years after that first record. Girls at our best were one of the finest, most life-affirming of a new breed of independent bands who cropped up at the turn of the 80s - long-standing fan John Peel once referred to them as one of the few groups that made the period bearable. Formed in Leeds from the ashes of punk band SOS, the group were fronted by distinctive female vocalist Jude o' Evans, forming a songwriting team with guitarist James Alan and bass player Gerard Swift after they met at art college. All four of their singles for their own Record Records, Rough Trade and Happy Birthday Records are included here as bonus tracks on a 45rpm 12\"- including the wonderful 'Getting Nowhere Fast' (later covered by The Wedding Present), its coruscating b-side 'Warm Girls', 'Politics!', 'Go For Gold' and 'Fast Boyfriends'. Their influence can be seen on innumerable C86 \/ indie bands who came afterwards.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Optic Nerve","offers":[{"title":"LP | x2","offer_id":50530704589131,"sku":"381242","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Tape","offer_id":50530705015115,"sku":"2022566","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/222c818c-92eb-4201-ba22-08fa72ef4469_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728083163"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_cda78435_thumbnail_4096_1e0609fe-e013-49e6-955f-51b5650bbb2e.jpg?v=1727283297","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/girls-at-our-best.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}