Pal Shazar is probably not a member of an Alaskan secessionist party
Slow Children — President Am I (single mix)
(RCA Records 45, 1981)
For reasons that I’ve never entirely understood, “President Am I” appeared — in bascially the same extended mix — on both of Slow Children’s albums, the self-titled debut and Mad About Town, which if I’m not mistaken were even both released the same year. Dunno what’s up there. I actually listened to both of them to decide which to include here, but then I decided to go with the shorter single version, simply because it gets across all of the song’s immense nervy, new wavey charms without excess filler. Slow Children were a duo of keyboardist Andrew Chinich and singer Pal Shazar, who was married to their producer, Jules Shear. She went on to a solo career and some work as a songwriter. She co-wrote some songs on Matthew Sweet’s first album, and I swear I thought she was at least tangentially involved with the Golden Palominos around the same time, but I find no evidence of that, so I don’t know what I was thinking of. But my god, I love this song.
–Stewart Mason
KK said,
September 3, 2008 @ 12:21 am
I love this song! Thank you.
DJ El Toro said,
September 3, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
Pal is still around and making great solo records. I interviewed her for Seattle Weekly several years ago, and she was a delight.
mzamar said,
September 4, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
I remember the video so well, have this full length. Cool to hear this single mix. Thanks for posting!!
Don said,
November 9, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
Syd Straw was with the Golden Palominos, but I can understand your confusion.
Jess said,
November 23, 2008 @ 1:07 am
I have song on one of Rhino’s “New Wave Hits of the 80s” series. Great song!
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