Description

Still sealed 2004 reissue in digipak with two bonus tracks

‘Scarred For Life’ was Rose Tattoo’s third release and formed the third part of the classic trilogy of albums they released between 1978 and 1982 – all produced by Harry Vanda and George Young – the team behind AC/DC’s rise to greatness. This album was probably The Tatt’s most innovative work, but paradoxically, also stayed closest to the bands roots of the early Stones, Kinks and Chuck Berry. It’s got the huge wall of sound with clever hooks and searing vocals laid over the top by Angry Anderson but its probably a bit brighter and flashier than the preceding works – but no less brutal in delivery. The title track lays the foundations first up with an opening axe attack that floors you. We Can’t Be Beaten is truly anthemic and of the remaining tracks, Branded and the thuggish Who’s Got The Cash are the standouts. In short, the album kicks arse and in true Australian style does not bother with any of the niceties – it just rips, tears and lacerates or as we put it in Oz: it’s got mongrel. This was the last album before Rose Tattoo’s classic line-up fell apart (even though Mick Cocks had already left by this stage) and represented the last of the classic Rose Tattoo sound as all other subsequent releases were commercially compromised (even though there are some good songs still to be found on these later albums). Rose Tattoo should have been as huge as AC/DC but bad luck and internal troubles dogged the band just when they were breaking in the UK in 1981. Ironically, their lack of success makes their early albums all the more treasurable.

Track list:
1. Scarred For Life
2. We Cant Be Beaten
3. Juice On The Loose
4. Whos Got The Cash
5. Branded
6. Texas
7. Its Gonna Work Itself Out
8. Sydney Girls
9. Dead Set
10. Revenge
11. Fighting Sons
12. All Hell Broke Loose