Shirkers
I can’t remember specifically when I came across Killed By Death #9 (1997, 1998?), but it was a revelation if only to discover The Shirkers and the original version of “Drunk & Disorderly”. Up until that point I had assumed it was an original by house favorite Black Market Baby. This, the band’s sole recorded output, was originally released in 1978 on DC’s Limp label. From the Hyped To Death liner notes:
The Shirkers “Drunk & Disorderly” is a trash-punk masterpiece, but the sound, well, it’s either wall-of-mud (H2D has no particular problem with that) or a cleaner but almost guitar-free remix on the Best of Limp comp. They only played one gig, and broke up shortly after the 45. (There are 500 copies each of two sleeves, both released at the same time.) Tom Kane (Slickee Boy Kim’s bro) did time in the Dark and the Velvet Monkeys [Homework #4 & 5], Jeff Zang played in Kim Kane’s Date Bait, and Libby Hatch went on to Tru Fax & the Insaniacs [H2D #12, 21]: she died in an accident in 1997 or ‘98. R.I.P.
“Drunk” is a choice piece of raw, sloppy punk. The flip eluded me for years, but was worth the wait - “Suicide” is darker, driving, with a wonderful blown out guitar sound. Not as great as “Drunk & Disorderly”, but definitely up there. For comparison sake I’ve included Black Market Baby’s cover from 1986 or so. A great tune that sounds positively slick by comparison. Compare and contrast:
The Shirkers - Drunk & Disorderly.mp3
The Shirkers - Suicide.mp3
Black Market Baby - Drunk & Disorderly.mp3
Notes:
>:30 Under DC has a fantastic page dedicated to Limp Records. Check it out (and the rest of :30 Under DC and Dementlieu Punk Archive while your at it) for tons of info.
> The band pic cover is from Punk Rock Picture sleeves, the bottle cover from the :30 Under DC above
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I think it was killed by death #9 that introduced me to Ex Blank Ex… though I’ve never found anything else by them ever. great comp.
Generally if I like a song and hear a cover I prefer the first one I hear. With these two I had heard the Black Market Baby version and liked it, but this original Shirkers is the business.
shirkers’ version is excellent…has anything of theirs been released in cd format?
shirkers= best DC punk band ever. sadly this is their only record. members of the shirkers played in other pre dickschord band(s) like the reined dears. (skip, you rule…)
Great track–I scored this single for a buck at a record swap in Maryland many many years ago and sold it on eBay a few years ago cuz I was more interested in food than records. Have always dug the tune–so much so that a few years ago I was in a local group that covered Drunk and Disorderly (the Shirkers version complete with female backups “go back in and get some more!”) although I have to admit I wasn’t sure on all of the lyrics. Here’s the best I can make out, help me flesh out the missing lines if you can decipher them!
Drunk and Disorderly
——————–
Goin down to the neighborhood bar
Behind the school in an old parked car
Outside the liquor store
Go back in and get some more
Got a bottle in a paper bag
?? ?? ?? and I am glad
?? ?? to the neighborhood park
Here we are drinking in the dark
Drunk and Disorderly
Tryin’ to stand up
Drunk and Disorderly
Wearing Handcuffs
Drunk and Disorderly
You got nothing to lose
Drunk and Disorderly
Drinking that booze
See the lights and hear the noise
I’m just here drinking with the boys
No there ain’t nuthin wrong with me
I’m just here holding up this tree
They take me down to the police station
Ask me for some identification
Put me in a little cell
Telling me to go to hell
CHORUS
?? ?? ?? ?? in trouble
I’m goin to jail and I’m seein double
Could it be that a little wine
Led me to this life of crime
repeat 1st verse
Go back in and get some more!
CHORUS
Sheana, our bass player, hated having to scream that last line but I pretty much made her cuz I thought it made the song!
Scott / Matar Muerte
killedbydeath.com
Rare Relics From Punk Rock’s Decrepid Past
Corrected Lyrics:
Drunk and Disorderly
——————–
Goin’ down to the neighborhood bar
Behind the school in an old parked car
Outside the liquor store
Go back in and get some more
Got a bottle in a paper bag
Evenings here and I am glad
Goin’ down to the little park
Here we are drinking in the dark
Drunk and Disorderly
Tryin’ to stand up
Drunk and Disorderly
Wearing Handcuffs
Drunk and Disorderly
Got nothing to lose
Drunk and Disorderly
Drinking that booze
See the lights and hear the noise
(was also sometimes “hear the lights and see the noise.”)
I’m just out drinking with the boys
No there ain’t nuthin wrong with me
I’m just here holding up this tree
Take me down to the police station
Ask me for identification
Put me in a little cell
Telling me I can go to hell
CHORUS
Mama mia what’s the trouble
I’m goin to jail and I’m seein’ double
Could it be that a little wine
Led me to this life of crime?
repeat 1st verse
Go back in and get some more!
The Black Market Baby version of Drunk-n-disorderly was intended as a tribute and a nod of respect to the Shirkers…We all liked Libby Hatch (she co-wrote the song) very much and did many shows together when she was with Tru-Fax and the Insaniacs..I told her we were going to cover it and she gave us her blessing and even seemed excited by it..The last time I saw Libby before she died was when we did one of the last shows at the old 9:30 club …Libby was there with one hand clenched in a fist and a beer in the other hand yelling at us to play drunk-n-disorderly and dancing along with us as we played it..That’s how I’ll always remember her and I feel now that the BMB version is great tribute to the band, Libby and her memory…Both versions are great, but it’s like comparing apples and oranges…
-Boyd Farrell (Black Market Baby)
I knew Libby very well from the mid ’70s till her untimely death in ‘98. oddly enough, we “met” as pen pals in a Lou Reed fan club. I was drummer in the GO, a NYC band. we released one EP that has gone on to become a power-pop collectable. same thing happened with the Shirkers record. obviously, we both got a kick out of that! 25 years later, we have a CD out in Japan.
she was a great person who is dearly missed.
Woah! Man, I was searching everywhere to get the mp3-file - thank you so much! The only way I could listen to The Shirkers was on an old tape I made from an 80’s John Peels Radio Show. Now I’m so happy - in fact I’ll have a drink for myself right now - thaks to YOU!
Hi Everyone,
I’m amazed that so many of you know about our single! We only did the one 45 and our single gig was on June 10, 1978. The Urban Verbs were headlining the show, which I belive was a benefit for the WPA (after 29 years I’m a little hazy as to how this came about). The Slickee Boys (this was when Martha Hull was lead singer)also played the gig. I also remember a group called the Blinders whom were very good but I don’t think they did much after that.
We broke up not to long after that. Libby went on to play with Tru Fax and the Insainiacs and Thomas went on to a group called White Bycicle, which was great and very underappricated. I switched to bass and had group called the Painkillers in the early ’80’s.
The Shirkers were great fun to be in and it’s nice to know so many people like our record.
Thanks,
Jeff Zang
jeffz1186@gmail.com