A later single, 'All Day Long' in 1985, was allegedly Morrissey's favourite single of that year, and the band had secured a respectable fanbase through fanzine and magazine exposure. 'Safety Net', released the following year was an Independent chart number one single, and saw the band sign to Chrysalis Records soon after. They also contributed a track to the much talked about C86 compilation released by the NME around this time.
Their one and only album was released in 1986, and entered the UK album chart for a brief time, but changes in the period that followed effectively finished the band.
Vocalist Alex Taylor left to form Motorcycle Boy, and other members left for jobs outside the music industry (Keegan became a skiing instructor!). A reformed Shop Assistants (without Taylor) released new material in 1990, with single 'The Big E' referring to a guitar chord, rather than the increasingly fashionable drug of the time.
They continued to function for a short time, although their reputation within the indie scene was by now diminished, and they were effectively silenced when founder member and guitarist Keegan became permanently committed to his other band, the Pastels.
IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE THE SHOP ASSISTANTS: Talulah Gosh, The Soup Dragons, Jesus & Mary Chain, Fuzzbox, Darling Buds, The Primitives, The Wedding Present, The Pastels.