SHY ENGLAND – Misspent Youth [U.S. Mix 1990 + Demos] *Exclusive*

320_1 /// 320_2 ///

As requested, here’s British AOR / Melodic Hard Rock greats SHY album 1989’s ”Misspent Youth” in its American edition, released in 1990 under the SHY ENGLAND moniker (there was an American band with the name Shy at the time), with different artwork too.
But the interesting thing is that the album was completely remixed for this American release. The European & Japanese original 1989 edition (both use the same masters) sound quality is horrible, lifeless – it has to be said the album production wasn’t the best – but this ”Misspent Youth [U.S. Mix 1990]” sounds million times better. The difference is infinite.
”Misspent Youth” was not a well received album back in 1989, but the main reason was its poor production & mix. The songs are very good, Tony Mills shines for the most part, and Steve Harris (RIP) guitar work rocks.
”Misspent Youth [U.S. Mix 1990]” also features a different track listing, and works better in our opinion. As 0dayrox extra, we added demo versions of 4 tracks from the album quite dissimilar to the final takes, and most of them, even better, with very good sound quality too.

”Misspent Youth [U.S. Mix 1990]” opens with “Give It All You Got”, a hook filled uptempo rocker, a prime example of the type of song you’d expect to find on a late 80s melodic hard rock album. It gets you fired up from the get-go and you couldn’t wait to hear what else the band had to offer.
The songs were written by Steve Harris and drummer Alan Kelly. And Harris sure could shred on the guitar! The songs “Burnin’ Up” and “Money” are prime examples of how fleet fingered he could be on the fretboard.
The band’s ability for crafting adept power ballads is put on display with “After The Love Is Gone”, to showcase Mills’ pipes. “Never Trust A Stranger” is a flat out rocking track you could really get into and find yourself singing along to as well.

The pacing of the rousing “Broken Heart” gives you another dose of high energy rock and roll and the instantly grabbing chorus ensures that the song completely gels together as a whole. “Shake The Nations” goes for the fist shaking anthem territory, and there’s a fine midtempo in the melodic rocker “When You Need Someone”.
“Love On The Line” takes you to the ‘Excess All Areas’ era, while closing song “Make My Day” captures that SHY stadium-ready feel and finished the release with an in your face rocker that left you a bit spent and rung out.

It’s a shame ‘Misspent Youth’ suffered production troubles – Roy Thomas Baker left the room in the midst of the recording as the band wasn’t happy with his work – hence the final product resulted sonically poor and condemned the album.
Fortunately this ”Misspent Youth [U.S. Mix 1990]” solve many of the issues, to enjoy this very good album now out of print and not available on any format.
Highly Recommended

Misspent Youth [U.S. Mix 1990]:
01 – Give It All You Got
02 – Burnin’ Up
03 – Pub
04 – Money
05 – After The Love Is Gone
06 – Never Trust A Stranger
07 – Broken Heart
08 – Shake The Nations
09 – When You Need Someone
10 – Love On The Line
11 – Make My Day
12 – Encore

0dayrox extra / Misspent Youth demos:
13 – Love On The Line (Demo)
14 – Give It All You’ve Got (Demo)
15 – Burnin’ Up (Demo)
16 – Money (Demo)

Tony Mills – lead vocals
Steve Harris – lead guitar
Roy Davis – bass guitar
Alan Kelly – drums
Paddy McKenna – keyboards

out of print:
amazon.com/Misspent-Youth-Shy-England/dp/B000008KOP