SHOECD001

The artists on this compilation are: Speedboat (Glaswegian guitar pop - track 1 produced by Norman Blake); BMX Bandits (Scottish indie pop perennials - some tracks co-produced by LA legend Kim Fowley); Radio Sweethearts (Glaswegian 'alt.country' - again some tracks produced by Fowley); Frank Blake (Norman from Teenage Fanclub & Francis from BMX Bandits); Alex Chilton (exclusive live tracks from the Memphis maestro); Astro Chimp (Gerry & Raymond from Teenage Fanclub, Eugene Kelly (Vaselines, Eugenius) & Francis from BMX Bandits) .

*You will need the latest version of Real Player to listen to the soundclips which can be downloaded here.

..."Shoeshine Chartbusters" - Some Reviews...

"ON THE UP...Partial to Beach Boys harmonies? Lovingly strummed guitars? SHOESHINE RECORDS' "Shoeshine Chartbusters" compilation LP features the delights of Big Star ALEX CHILTON, THE BMX BANDITS, FRANK BLAKE (aka Norman 'Fanclub' Blake and Francis 'BMX Bandit' Macdonald), and all the usual Glasgow suspects..."
-NME

"Enjoyable odd and sodds compilation featuring singles, covers and rarities from the likes of BMX Bandits, Alex Chilton and Radio Sweethearts...well worth checking out."
-JAMES MCNAIR, MOJO

"A veritable who's who of Scottish indie starlets litter Shoeshine's first tentative venture into the world of the long player. The pleasantly melodic shadow of Teenage Fanclub hangs over much of the album - indeed, messrs Norman Blake, Gerry Love and ex-drummer Francis Macdonald are scattered across the twenty blockbustin' tunes here. Some are previously unheard, others are plucked from some of Shoeshine's groovy 45s; most feel like the Byrds in their various incarnations. The Radio Sweethearts make you forget that half of country is a rude word. Speedboat are the Fanclub in short trousers, though the lads might kill for a song like "Satellite Girl". Astro Chimp, who are led by Eugene Kelly (Vaselines/Captain America/Eugenius), chop from low-slung garbage rock to the rollover beat hoover (!) of Stereolab. The BMX Bandits (with the immensely talented Sushil K. Dade, alia Future Pilot AKA) juggle with the Lovin' Spoonful, the Pastels and Jonathan Richman. And Alex Chilton sings Little Milton, Ray Charles and Chet Baker in the club style. Nice pink and grey sleeve, too, which matches the Shoeshine singles."
-JOHN REED, RECORD COLLECTOR

"For a modest little label started by BMX Bandit Francis Macdonald just a year ago, Shoeshine have a lot to crow about, and this handy sampler includes the a-sides and b-sides of their first six singles plus eight unreleased tracks. The cast list comprises various permutations of Teenage Fanclub, Eugenius and BMX Bandits members plus Radio Sweethearts, all turning in tunes of varying degrees of loveliness, and, the jewel in Shoeshine's boot, five bluesy tracks performed by Alex Chilton at the 13th Note..."****(4 stars out of 5)
-ALASTAIR MABBOT, THE LIST

"Shoeshine's first 6 singles plus 8 unreleased tracks and a very fine collection it is indeed. If candy pop for adults is your bag, then you should definitely check this out. Ranging from the Fanniesesque meanderings of Speedboat to Alex Chilton's bluesy workouts (live from the 13th Note) to the perfect pop of the BMX Bandits, the bans on this CD have absolutely nothing in common with each other. Well, apart from all having the same drummer, that is; Francis Macdonald, who also happens to be - ah, you've heard this one - head of Shoeshine Records. Best of all is the Gram Parsons-esque Radio Sweethearts, whose sound is that of grown men in inappropriate western garb weeping into warm pints of eighty bob. And bloody marvellous it is too. **** (4 stars out of 5)"
-NEW BIGWIG

"ALBUM OF THE WEEK...A bitchin' summary of Glasgow's most tunesome label. Dig Speedboat's punchy power-pop! Taste surf and lap sun with the BMX Bandits! Sob manfully with country deities the Radio Sweethearts! Cop Frank Blake's melodic groove! Worship the downhome country-blues of Alex Chilton! Wig out with space-rock pioneers Astro Chimp! Chartbusters? Sadly not. Heartstoppers 'n' toe-tappers? Oh, yeah!"
-DAVID BELCHER, THE HERALD NEWSPAPER

"A collection of summery sunshine tunes and heartwarming tearjerkers featuring collaborations between local luminaries from Teenage Fanclub, Eugene Kelly, and [Fancis] Macdonald himself, surf sounds from the BMX Bandits and authentic Nashville ballads from the Radio Sweethearts. It's more of a star-studded tribute to Bellshill than a showcase for new talent - apart from the mysterious Speedboat - but perfect driving music all the same". *****(5 out of 5)
-KATRINA DIXON, THE SCOTSMAN

"Styled no doubt on the Beserkley Chartbuster compilation that brought us the likes of Jonathan Richman and The Rubinoos, 'Shoeshine' features 20 tracks from its roster of six artists...Speedboat, BMX Bandits, Frank Blake and Astro Chimp all inhabit a similar guitar pop vein. Spunky electric guitars, corking melodies and harmonies...Radio Sweethearts have more than a couple of Gram Parsons records in their collections...Alex Chilton has become something of a bar-room blues crooner...8/10."
-BLASTER

"...a galaxy of the Glasgow Big Star Mafia and a real treat to boot. There's some top notch cover versions, Roger McGuinn's Draggin', the Brian Wilson penned surf classic She's My Summer Girl, Frank Zappa's Anyway the Wind Blows sung by Norman Blake and Alex Chilton treats us to some of his soul/jazz/blues influences. The best song on the album has to be Frank Blake's Don't Let Love Pass You By. An absolute classic pop song with chiming guitars, soaring harmonies and handclaps."
-ESP

"A 20 track compilation featuring six bands that have released ltd edition 7" records on Shoeshine. It sounds very appetising and although most of the bands are unfamiliar their members certainly aren't. An ex-Pastel here a teenage fanclubber there and the under-rated talents of Eugene (Vaselines, Eugenius) Kelly. Gorgeous strum-along melancholia is on offer in the form of Frank Blake (one-off collaboration featuring Norman Blake) supplemented by some twangy country rock from the Radio Sweethearts. Honorable mention goes to Astro Chimp but the SfB plaudits are reserved for Speedboat who donate 3 polished, glistening songs of out and out pop alchemy."
-SKOTCH FOR BREAKFAST

"Straight out of Glasgow and ready to put a smile on your face...what makes this album cool is that it seems as if it's just one continuous family affair from song to song..."
-POP CULTURE DETOX (USA)

"...a 20 song collection of what amounts to the best of today's Scottish pop...pop this in and be transported...**** (4/5)"
-POPSIDED (USA)

"This is a compilation of all the super sunny singles from Shoeshine records, the label started by Frances BMX Bandit, and well all the bands might have the same ideas but that doesn't stop it from being maybe the breeziest release of the year. Included in the collection of "supergroops" are members of Teenage Fanclub, BMX Bandits, Eugenius and of course Alex Chilton. Most of the tunes, save the three from country enthusiasts Radio Sweethearts, are Big Staresque jangly inflected pop anthems. The best are the contributions from the 'Bandits and Frank Blake. Even the old codger Mr. Chilton harkens back to days of yore and sounds like he is having fun again with his 5 songs which were recorded live in Glasgow. It is a remarkably consistent collection, in both sound and quality, and more fun than not."
-KEITH MCLACHLAN, TWEE KITTEN (USA)

Various Artists "Shoeshine Chartbusters" (CD001)

..."Shoeshine Chartbusters" - Some Reviews...