S$# 029 Prism | Young And Restless

Young And Restless is the title song from Prism's fourth studio album, released in the summer of 1980. (This would prove to be the last full album with Ron Tabak on vocals.) The Vancouver-based group were flying high after a string of successful albums and singles.

Written by guitarist Lindsey Mitchell & bassist Al Harlow, Y&R is an exuberant rocker with great guitar and synthesizer work, plus Ron's soaring vocal. It was recorded between February and June 1980 at Little Mountain Sound (Vancouver) and The Sound Factory (Los Angeles).

Here's how the liner notes of the Over 60 Minutes With Prism collection describe the creation of the song:

Writing on a 12-string guitar, Mitchell conceived the song as an "LA-Country" hybrid. In late '79, Mitchell took the tape to Harlow's studio for vocal overdubs - at which point Harlow also contributed the song's title. The final session was somewhat unusual. Mitchell began by recording all the guitars alone to a click-track. Only then did Rocket Norton and Harlow add the rhythm section, followed by John Hall's synth hooks and the riveting vocal by Ron Tabak.

No, the song is not about the similarly-named soap opera. The single, which reached #10 on the CHUM Chart, celebrates the joyful recklessness of youth:

Standing at attention, waiting for the bell to ring
After all the crap I've been through gonna make my break
Whatever it takes to let them know that I ain't foolin'

Young and Restless Runnin' out of control...
Young and Restless Headin' for an overload...

Going for reaction, good or bad I don't care
Doing something drastic to turn the adrenaline on
Then take a stand and say I didn't know what I was doing

Young and Restless Runnin' out of control...
Young and Restless Headin' for an overload...

Trying for attention, recognition for the pain
Flyin' solo, its a vision so lost and so alone
Then all at once, it's gonna hit you without warning

Young and Restless Runnin' out of control...
Young and Restless Headin' for an overload...

Y&R is available on the album of the same name and the collection Over 60 Minutes With Prism.