Go For It, Stiff Little Fingers

Mint - Promo - Vintage

Stiff Little Fingers – Go For It

Artist: Stiff Little Fingers

Title: Go For It

Album Type: Third Studio Album

Original Release Date: April 17, 1981

Label: Chrysalis Records

Genre: Punk Rock / Power Pop / Northern Irish Punk

Background & Production Go For It represents a pivotal moment in the career of Belfast’s Stiff Little Fingers. Following the raw, political intensity of Inflammable Material and Nobody’s Heroes, this 1981 release saw the band maturing both musically and lyrically. Moving away from the direct "troubles-centric" themes that defined their early work, the band began to incorporate more personal lyrics and diverse musical influences. It was recorded at the legendary Townhouse Studios in London and produced by Doug Bennett. The album reached #14 on the UK Albums Chart, solidifying their status as one of the few punk bands to successfully transition into the post-punk era while maintaining their core audience.

Musical Composition Musically, Go For It is more polished than its predecessors but retains the high-energy "sawtooth" guitar sound of Jake Burns. The album is notable for its exploration of different genres:

• "Go For It" (Title Track): A rare instrumental track that became a massive anthem, later adopted by Northern Irish football fans and various sports teams.

• Power Pop Influence: Tracks like "Just Fade Away" and "Silver Lining" showcase a stronger sense of melody and harmony, leaning toward the power pop sensibilities of the early 80s.

• Political Continuity: While the sound was cleaner, tracks like "Roots, Radicals, Rockers and Reggae" (a Bunny Wailer cover) highlighted the band's continued commitment to anti-racism and their affinity for the UK's burgeoning ska and reggae influences.

Lyrical Themes The lyrics on Go For It shift toward themes of personal growth, the music industry, and social frustration. Jake Burns’ vocals remain gritty and passionate, but there is a noticeable move toward more introspective songwriting. The album title itself was a call to action—encouraging their fans to move forward and take control of their lives despite the bleak socio-economic climate of the early 1980s.

• Keywords: Stiff Little Fingers, SLF, Go For It, Jake Burns, Belfast Punk, UK Punk, Chrysalis Records, 80s Punk, Vinyl Records, Northern Irish Rock.

• Collection Ideas: Classic UK Punk, Post-Punk Essentials, 1981 Arrivals, Politically Charged Rock.

• Related Artists: The Clash, The Ruts, Buzzcocks, The Undertones, The Jam.

MINT - sealed

NM - likely never played - almost perfect

VG+ - light scuffs, light scratches wont effect play

VG -  signs of wear, light scratches you can feel

GOOD -  surface noise, visible groove wear

POOR / FAIR- some damage, causing issues like skipping & distorted audio

OIS - original inner sleeve