Wikipedia

Have a Good Time but Get Out Alive!

Have a Good Time But Get Out Alive! is a studio album by the Iron City Houserockers. Although well-received critically, commercial success eluded the Iron City Houserockers outside of the rust belt. Among the strongest tracks are the title track, "Don't Let Them Push You Around", "We're Not Dead Yet", the two-part medley of "Old Man Bar" and Junior's Bar", and "Rock Ola" - Grushecky's first truly competent ballad.

Have a Good Time but Get Out Alive!
Studio album by
Iron City Houserockers
ReleasedJune 6, 1980
Recorded1980
StudioMediasound, New York City
GenreRock, Hard Rock, Heartland Rock
Length40:44
LabelMCA
ProducerThe Slimmer Twins (Steve Popovich and Marty Mooney), Mick Ronson, Steven Van Zandt (uncredited)
Iron City Houserockers chronology
Love's So Tough
(1979) 		Have a Good Time but Get Out Alive!
(1980) 		Blood on the Bricks
(1981)
Singles from Have a Good Time But Get Out Alive!
  1. "Hypnotized"
    Released: July 1980
  2. "Junior's Bar"
    Released: October 1980
  3. "We're Not Dead Yet"
    Released: 1980
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB−[2]
CreemVery favorable[3]
Rolling StoneVery favorable[4]
The Village VoiceVery favorable[5]

Background

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According to the liner notes present on the 1999 and 2020 reissues, E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt produced and arranged five songs ("Junior's Bar", "Angela", "Running Scared", "Blondie", and "Don't Let Them Push You Around"), assisted in re-writing "Blondie" from its original version, and played lead guitar on "Junior's Bar" before leaving due to creative differences with Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson. The version of "Junior's Bar" released as a single is an entirely different take than the album version.[6] This version was only available on the original 1980 vinyl single until it was reissued on CD on the 1992 compilation Pumping Iron & Sweating Steel: The Best Of Iron City Houserockers by Rhino Records.

The album was reissued on CD in remastered form for its 40th anniversary in 2020 by Cleveland International Records with a bonus CD of previously unreleased outtakes and demos.[7]

Track listing

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Side one

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  1. "Have a Good Time (But Get Out Alive)" (Joe Grushecky) – 3:49
  2. "Don't Let Them Push You Around" (Grushecky) – 2:23
  3. "Pumping Iron" (Grushecky) – 3:54
  4. "Hypnotized" (Grushecky, Gil Snyder) – 3:20
  5. "Price of Love" (Grushecky, Snyder) – 4:04
  6. "Angela" (Grushecky) – 3:17

Side two

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  1. "We're Not Dead Yet" (Dan Beck, Grushecky, Snyder) – 3:01
  2. "Blondie" (Grushecky) – 2:44
  3. "Old Man Bar" (Bob Boyer, Eddie Britt, Snyder) – 3:14
  4. "Junior's Bar" (Britt, Grushecky, Snyder) – 4:17
  5. "Runnin' Scared" (Grushecky, Art Nardini, Snyder) – 3:49
  6. "Rock Ola" (Grushecky) – 2:52

40th anniversary edition bonus tracks

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  1. "Have a Good Time (But Get Out Alive)" (Demo) (Grushecky) - 5:06
  2. "Don't Let Them Push You Around" (Demo) (Grushecky) – 6:20
  3. "Pumping Iron" (Demo) (Grushecky) – 4:11
  4. "Don't Stop the Music" (Demo) (Grushecky) - 3:47
  5. "Angela" (Demo) (Grushecky) – 3:18
  6. "Price of Love" (Demo) (Grushecky, Snyder) – 3:57
  7. "Hold Out" (Demo) (Grushecky) - 3:48
  8. "Rock Ola" (Demo) (Grushecky) – 3:13
  9. "Struggle & Die" (Demo) (Grushecky, Beck) - 5:03
  10. "Rock Ola" (Extended) (Grushecky) – 4:27
  11. "Charlena" (Grushecky) – 2:40
  12. "Runnin' Scared" (Demo) (Grushecky, Nardini, Snyder) – 2:44
  13. "Runnin' Scared" (Alternate) (Grushecky, Nardini, Snyder) – 3:54
  14. "Hypnotized" (A Work in Progress) (Grushecky, Snyder) – 7:48
  15. "Rooster Blues" (J.D. Miller) - 3:02
  16. "Doo Wah Diddy" (Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich) - 1:44

"Hypnotized" was produced by Ian Hunter. "Don't Let Them Push You Around", "Angela", "Blondie", "Junior's Bar" and "Runnin' Scared" were arranged by Steven Van Zandt.

Personnel

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Iron City Houserockers

with:

Chart performance

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Year Chart Peak
position
1980 Billboard Bubbling Under the Top LP's 204

References

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  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1980). "Consumer Guide Reviews". robertchristgau.com. Robert Christgau. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  3. ^ Hull, Robot (September 1980). "Iron City Houserockers: Have A Good Time (But Get Out Alive)". Creem. Birmingham, Michigan: Creem Magazine, Inc.
  4. ^ Carson, Tom (August 21, 1980). "New American Classic". Rolling Stone. New York, New York: Straight Arrow Publishers Inc.
  5. ^ Marcus, Greil (July 9, 1980). "Iron City Houserockers: Pure Steel". The Village Voice. New York, New York.
  6. ^ "Pumping Iron & Sweating Steel: The Best Of Iron City Houserockers" liner notes, 1992.
  7. ^ "Iron City Houserockers: Have A Good Time... But Get Out Alive". Store.clevelandinternational.com. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
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