UK, 1981, GEMS 45

"Don't let them shoot you down"

Above: Keep on Running (Til you burn), 1981, UK release, front & back cover.
Click on images to enlarge.

Cat. No: GEMS 45
Label: GEM Records
Recorded: 1981
Released: 3 April 1981

A-Side: Keep On Running (Til You Burn) (Gibbs, Harper) 2.33
Run-out groove: BILBO TA1PE GEMS - 45 - A2

B-Side: Perfect Girl (Harper, Garratt) 1.59
Run-out groove: GEMS 45 B1

Line Up

Vocals: Charlie Harper
Guitar: Nicky Garratt
Bass: Alvin Gibbs
Drums: Steve Roberts

The seventh and final single release for Gem saw the band apparently flirting with a New Romantic style, with Gem paying for the clothes in an attempt to change the bands image! Produced by Peter Collins the a-side featured a Police style riff in the chorus written by Nicky Garratt but credited to Alvin Gibbs who took the rap for it. This release also saw a change of distribution from RCA to CBS (with the design of the labels changing too). RCA's withdrawal of finance was one of several nails in GEM's coffin, with the label folding on the 1st of June 1981.

The single entered the UK charts on the 18th of April 1981 reaching number 41 and hanging around for five weeks Source: (Guinness British Hit Singles 11th edition). Gem sneaked out a hastily thrown together EP version in an attempt to boost sales which promptly flopped. Keep On Running did enough to warrant one last Top Of The Pops appearance with the band in their new clothes, and it also spawned a video shot in the style of the film Scanners with a cameo appearance from Sindy (Joanne Slack).

On the cover shot Alvin Gibbs is holding something out of the picture - which you can see the end of in the bottom left-hand corner.

Click on images to enlarge
A-Side B-Side