Girlschool Running Wild & Live In London CD/DVD edition Review by Gary Hill
This set features a live performance from 1984. Girlschool delivers a great performance of their brand of hard rock leaning heavy metal. To me Girlschool at the time were somewhat in the same vein as Motörhead, but leaned much closer to the NWOBHM movement. This set includes a CD of the show along with a DVD. It’s the first time this show has had an official release on CD. The video and audio quality on that disc are both great for the era. It was obviously a pro-shot video. This is a set well worth having.
This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025 Volume 3. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.
Track by Track Review
C'mon Let's Go
They waste no time, pounding in with this trademark Girlschool take on NWOBHM. This has some punky choruses and plenty of meaty metal in the mix.
Nowhere To Run
Pretty much coming straight out the last one, I love the driving metal vibes on this tune.
You Got Me
A bit punky and rawer, there is a drop back section mid-track with just bass. This brings some variety, but it still manages to focus the hard rocking angles with style.
Play Dirty
Much more of a raw rocking tune, this has some fierce metal jamming in place.
Love Is A Lie
The hooks are strong with this one. It is still meaty metal, but in some ways it’s one the most accessible things here.
Hit And Run
Not a big change, this is more meaty metal jamming that’s trademark Girlschool.
Future Flash
This is especially fierce and hard rocking. It’s another winner.
Rock Me Shock Me
Drums start things here. This is another solid stomper that drives forward with a lot of energy.
Running for Cover
This has almost a Sex Pistols thing on the introduction. It launches to more mainstream hard rocking sounds with metal edges from there. This is one of the more accessible tracks.
Can't You See
With punk and metal angles combining, this is a killer rocker.
Running Wild
I love the hook laden hard rocking near NWOBHM sound on this track. This has always been a Girlschool classic, and this live version works really well.
I Like It Like That
A little punky and driving, this has a catchy chorus. There is a short singalong type section built into this thing.
Are You Ready?
Driving NWOBHM with hints of punk is the idea here. This is another powerhouse that’s particularly effective.
Emergency
Another of the band’s best known tunes, I’ve always loved this high energy hard rocker. It’s probably better known because Motörhead did a version of it, but this is the band that wrote it.
