{"product_id":"upstairs-its-hard-to-get-in-the-showbiz-the-outer-edge","title":"Upstairs - It's Hard To Get In The Showbiz LP [The Outer Edge]","description":"\u003ciframe style=\"border: 0; width: 400px; height: 406px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/album=3941254380\/size=large\/bgcol=ffffff\/linkcol=0687f5\/artwork=small\/transparent=true\/\" seamless\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/theouteredge.bandcamp.com\/album\/its-hard-to-get-in-the-showbiz\"\u003eIt's Hard To Get In The Showbiz by Upstairs\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e LP in printed sleeve.\u003cbr\u003eCAT: TAC-010\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUpstairs, a band from Frankfurt, Germany, was active between 1977 and 1983. Although they primarily considered themselves a rock group, they incorporated elements of funk, jazz rock, and disco into their music. On their rare and self-released 1980 debut album It’s Hard To Get In The Showbiz, they achieved what could be considered Germany's definitive answer to AOR, but with an unmistakable, unique, and avant-garde krautrock touch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album opens with Wontcha Try, a track where main songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist Helmer Sauer recounts the story of his dismissal: “They tried to tell me in a fucking gentle way, that the time had come to kick me…”. Sauer offers more personal and raw lyrics throughout the album. In Happy Hooker, for example, he addresses the life of a sex worker in the red-light district: “The job is as hard that you really can never imagine, she serves for the money, degradin’ herself in a way - if you’d know how she’s feelin’ you wouldn’t laugh at all”. An empathetic perspective on prostitution, rare for the time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut beyond the profound lyrics and solid songwriting, the album also shines in its more rhythmic aspect. With sticky bass lines, rhythmic guitars, Fender Rhodes, Moog synthesizer, Clavinet, and precise and vibrant drumming, It’s Hard To Get In The Showbiz is one of the best examples of 70s-flavored funk rock made in Germany. In addition to the aforementioned Wontcha Try, another essential track for DJs is Make Your Steps On Better Lines, which stands out for its impeccable synthesizer line and its disco-funk groove. We also find the elegant and melodic Latin vibes of Get On A Plane, as well as the already classic You’re Just Yourself, the most soulful track on the LP. As followers of our label well know, You’re Just Yourself was part of the compilation Boogie On The Mainline – A Collection Of Rare Disco, Funk And Boogie From Germany 1980-1987, released in 2018.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe band primarily performed in their local scene and never had grand aspirations of signing with a larger label. It’s a shame that Upstairs only released this one album, as the highly sought-after original pressing is almost impossible to find today. For this reason, we are proud to make this record available to the public again after 40 years, at a fair and accessible price. Only 300 copies of this carefully remastered reissue have been produced, which includes a lyric sheet identical to the original.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis release marks the tenth reference from our label, and we want to thank you for your support. Stay tuned for more hidden gems rescued by The Artless Cuckoo!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tenampa Record Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45664156909731,"sku":"","price":480.0,"currency_code":"MXN","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0583\/1239\/2867\/files\/image_60e1e452-a5e4-45a4-b673-eae3817a366a.jpg?v=1741214789","url":"https:\/\/tenampa.mx\/en\/products\/upstairs-its-hard-to-get-in-the-showbiz-the-outer-edge","provider":"Tenampa","version":"1.0","type":"link"}