Fabienne Shine was born in Tunisia but grew up in France, becoming a kind of Renaissance woman: fashion model, actor (appearing in 1968's Barbarella), musician. By the early '70s, Shine had fallen in with Led Zeppelin, becoming romantically involved with Jimmy Page. Page and Robert Plant encouraged her to put together a band of her own. In 1975, alongside guitarist Eric Lévi, she formed a group in Paris that eventually became known as Shakin' Street. After releasing the debut album Vampire Rock on CBS Records in 1978, Shakin' Street relocated to San Francisco to cut a follow-up LP. Shine asked Sandy Pearlman to produce, impressed by the hard, metallic sound he routinely captured for Blue Öyster Cult. He agreed and sessions commenced at the Automatt in San Francisco. By this point, the band's original lead guitarist was gone. In his place came Ross The Boss Friedman a founding member of the Dictators, and later, Manowar. In 1980, Shakin' Street embarked on The Black and Blue Tour as openers for the Ronnie James Dio lineup of Black Sabbath, alongside Blue Öyster Cult. Scarlet: The Old Waldorf, 1979 was recorded during the same period as the Automatt sessions for 1980's Shakin' Street LP. The group was opening for the Jim Carroll Band and the show was captured by KALX radio deejay and producer Terry Hammer. This concert now makes its debut on CD and limited ruby red vinyl. Due to time limitations, the vinyl features nine tracks while the CD includes thirteen. Liner notes are by Bill Kopp, author of Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave.
