Short Sharp Shocked

Short Sharp Shocked is the second album by Michelle Shocked. Originally released in 1988, it was remastered and reissued in 2003 as a two-CD set by Shocked's own label, Mighty Sound. The title is a play on the phrase short, sharp shock. The record title and cover image is similar to that of the 1984 Chaos U.K. album Short Sharp Shock.

Short Sharp Shocked
Studio album by
Michelle Shocked
ReleasedAugust 15, 1988 (1988-08-15)
Recorded1988 (1988)
Studio
GenreRock
Length36:27
LabelMercury
ProducerPete Anderson
Michelle Shocked chronology
The Texas Campfire Tapes
(1986)		 Short Sharp Shocked
(1988)		 Captain Swing
(1989)
Singles from Short Sharp Shocked
  1. "Anchorage"
    Released: 1988
  2. "If Love Was a Train"
    Released: December 19, 1988
  3. "When I Grow Up"
    Released: 1989
2003 Reissue Cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Sun-Times[2]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Los Angeles Times[4]
Q[5]
Rolling Stone[6]
Spin Alternative Record Guide8/10[7]
The Village VoiceA−[8]

The photograph of Shocked that appears on the cover was taken by Chris Hardy of the San Francisco Examiner at a protest in San Francisco during the 1984 Democratic National Convention. The 2003 re-issue de-contextualized the original photograph by closely cropping it to Shocked's face.

Track listing

All songs written by Michelle Shocked except as noted. The final track is a remake of "Fogtown", originally from The Texas Campfire Tapes, with punk band MDC. It was not listed on the sleeve or disc as Shocked "wanted it to surprise people".[9]

  1. "When I Grow Up" – 3:34
  2. "Hello Hopeville" – 2:55
  3. "Memories of East Texas" – 3:35
  4. "(Making the Run to) Gladewater" – 3:05
  5. "Graffiti Limbo" – 3:39
  6. "If Love Was a Train" – 4:07
  7. "Anchorage" – 3:24
  8. "The L & N Don't Stop Here Anymore" (Jean Ritchie) – 4:10
  9. "V.F.D." – 2:49
  10. "Black Widow" – 2:44
  11. "Fogtown" – 2:25 ("hidden" track)

The 2003 re-issue included a second disc of radio sessions, live recordings and studio out-takes:

  1. "When I Grow Up" (demo)
  2. "Memories of East Texas" (live)
  3. "Yamboree Queen" (live)
  4. "Strawberry Jam" (live)
  5. "Graffiti Limbo" (demo)
  6. "If Love Was a Train" (alt)
  7. "Anchorage" (radio)
  8. "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore" (alt)
  9. "V.F.D." (live)
  10. "Black Widow" (alt)
  11. "Leaving Louisiana in Broad Daylight" (radio)
  12. "Disoriented" (UK single)
  13. "Lovely Rita" (UK compilation)
  14. "The Ballad of Penny Evans" (live)
  15. "Remodeling the Pentagon" (live)
  16. "Fred's Winter Song" (radio)
  17. "Prince of Darkness" (with The Mekons)
  18. "One Piece at a Time" (UK compilation)
  19. "5am in Amsterdam" (live)
  20. "Campus Crusade" (live)
  21. "Goodnight Irene" (live)

Personnel

Technical personnel

  • Pete Anderson – arrangements
  • Peter Doell – engineer (Capitol Studio B)
  • Leslie Anne Jones – additional Engineering
  • David Leonard – mixing engineer (Larribee Sound)
  • Andy Batwinds – second engineer
  • Bobby Lacivita – second engineer (Sound Castle)
  • Eddy Schreyer - mastering engineer (Capitol Studios)
  • Michael Dumds - production assistant

Reception

Q' magazine's Robert Sandall wrote: "Where this album hits hardest is in the playful unpredictability of [Pete] Anderson and Shocked's arrangements," observed . "'When I Grow Up' ... introduces a jazzy, acoustic bass shuffle, then starts bouncing miscellaneous sound inserts around beneath the vocal. From here, it's pretty much all stops to the thrash metal finale at the end of side two."[10] Including the album in its best-of-the-year round-up, Q wrote, "Her excellent band revels in every opportunity she gives to cut loose and take chances, which heightens the spontaneous feel of her raggedy vocals. Second albums can often be a disappointment, but this is a firecracker."[11]

Charts

Album
Year Chart Peak
Position
1988 The Billboard 200 73 [12]
1989 ARIA Charts 46[13]

Singles
Year Song Chart Peak
Position
1988 "Anchorage" Billboard Modern Rock Tracks 16 [14]
1988 "Anchorage" Billboard Hot 100 66 [14]
1988 "Anchorage" ARIA Charts 40[13]
1988 "If Love Was a Train" Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 33 [14]
1988 "If Love Was a Train" Billboard Modern Rock Tracks 20 [14]
1989 "When I Grow Up" UK Singles Chart 67[15]

References
  1. Woodstra, Chris. "Short Sharp Shocked – Michelle Shocked". AllMusic. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  2. McLeese, Don (August 29, 1988). "Michelle Shocked, 'Short Sharp Shocked' (Mercury)". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  3. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
  4. Willman, Chris (August 14, 1988). "Making a Place for Shocked". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  5. "Michelle Shocked: Short Sharp Shocked". Q (24). September 1988.
  6. Zupp, Adrian (September 23, 2003). "Michelle Shocked: Short Sharp Shocked". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  7. Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  8. Christgau, Robert (December 27, 1988). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  9. Q, May 1989
  10. Q, September 1988
  11. Q, January 1989
  12. "allmusic (((Short Sharp Shocked > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums)))". Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  13. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 273. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  14. "allmusic (((Short Sharp Shocked > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles)))". Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  15. "When I Grow Up", Chart Stats, retrieved 2011-12-30
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