If Love Should Go

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning the soulful track "If Love Should Go" by Streets from their debut album 1st, much to the delight of their devoted Zoo Freaks. This song, a standout from the 1983 release, carries a bittersweet vibe, blending jazzy rock with heartfelt lyrics about love's fleeting nature. In a rare 1984 interview with Billboard, lead singer Steve Walsh described the track as a personal reflection on a relationship that slipped away, noting, "It's about the ache of what could have been, wrapped in a melody that feels like a late-night drive." The song's lush production, featuring intricate keyboard work and Walsh's emotive vocals, was praised in a 1983 Rolling Stone review for its "polished yet raw emotional core."

Digging into the trivia, "If Love Should Go" was recorded in a whirlwind session at Axis Studios in Atlanta, where the band reportedly stayed up for 48 hours straight, fueled by coffee and creative fervor. A 2018 post on the Streets Official Facebook page shared a throwback photo from those sessions, captioned, "Sleep was optional, but nailing that bridge was mandatory!" Fans on the Streets Fan Club Facebook Group often cite the song's extended instrumental outro as a highlight, with one member recalling a 1984 concert where the band stretched it into a 10-minute jam, leaving the crowd in a frenzy. On Streets' Instagram, a 2020 story mentioned how the song's chord progression was inspired by a chance encounter with a street busker's guitar riff in New York City.

Streets, formed in 1982 in Kansas City, was the brainchild of Steve Walsh, a rock veteran previously with the prog-rock band Kansas. After leaving Kansas in 1981, Walsh craved a fresh sound that blended rock, jazz, and pop. According to a bio on Streets' official website, he recruited guitarist Mike Slamer, bassist Billy Greer, and drummer Tim Gehrt, all local talents with a shared passion for pushing musical boundaries. Their early days were spent jamming in a cramped basement, honing what would become the signature sound of their debut album 1st. A 1983 profile on StreetsFanBase.com notes that Walsh's charisma and relentless drive landed them a deal with Atlantic Records after just six months of gigging.

The band's rise wasn't without struggle. A 2019 X post from the band reflected on their early years, saying, "We played dives, slept in vans, but every note was worth it for the fans." Walsh's experience with Kansas gave him the know-how to navigate the industry, but he leaned on his new bandmates' raw energy to craft something distinct. The Streets Fan Club Facebook Group, with over 5,000 members, remains a hub for diehards sharing bootlegs and memories, while StreetsFanBase.com offers a detailed discography and rare photos. For the latest updates, Zoo Freaks can follow Streets' official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X to keep the vibe alive.