Released 8 December 1986 Producer Leszek Karski Artist Spy vs Spy Label Warner Music Group | Length 43:39 A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.1986 Xenophobia (Why?)1988 Release date 8 December 1986 Genre Rock music | |
 | ||
Recorded August/September 1986Alberts Studios, Sydney Harry's Reasons1986 A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.1986 People also search for Spy File, Xenophobia (Why?) | ||
A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. is the second studio album by Australian rock band Spy vs Spy, produced by Leszek Karski (Boys Next Door, Midnight Oil, Nauts) and released through WEA on 8 December 1986.
Contents
The title is an abbreviation of 'Adults Only Modified Television Version' which used to appear at the bottom of late night movies in Australia at the time. The album peaked at #12 on the Kent Music Report and went gold. For this album Spy vs Spy recorded as v. Spy v. Spy, and the line-up was the original trio Craig Bloxom on bass guitar/lead vocals, Cliff Grigg on drums/percussion and Mike Weiley on lead guitar/vocals.
The album provided three singles – "Don't Tear it Down" inspired by the Department of Main Roads seeking to demolish the band's Darling Street squat, "Sallie-Anne'" about murdered prostitute/whistleblower Sallie-Anne Huckstepp and "Credit Cards" a commentary on spiralling debt and consumerism. "Don't Tear It Down" was the band's most successful single, peaking at #31 on the Kent Music Report of the Australian singles charts in February 1987, it stayed in the charts for 20 weeks and went platinum.
Background
Spy vs Spy had formed in 1981 in Sydney as a ska/pub rock band. Their line-up was the trio Craig Bloxom on bass guitar/lead vocals, Cliff Grigg on drums/percussion and Mike Weiley on lead guitar/vocals. They became known for tackling political issues including racism, homelessness and contemporary drug culture. By 1984 they were using the name v. Spy v. Spy to avoid legal problems with Mad magazine. They were signed to Midnight Oil's label Powderworks and managed by Oils manager, Gary Morris. Their first full-length album Harry's Reasons was released in March 1986 and produced by Leszek Karski.
Spy vs Spy switched labels to WEA and had their highest charting success in February 1987 with their single "Don't Tear it Down" on the Australian singles chart and the associated album A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. which peaked at #12 on the Australian albums chart. The title is an abbreviation of 'Adults Only Modified Television Version' which used to appear at the bottom of late night movies in Australia at the time. This album, produced by Karski again, provided three singles – "Don't Tear It Down" inspired by the Department of Main Roads seeking to demolish the band's Darling Street squat, "Sallie-Anne'" about murdered prostitute/whistleblower Sallie-Anne Huckstepp and "Credit Cards" a commentary on spiralling debt and consumerism. Aside from managing, Morris (as G Vasicek) was also co-writer for many of their tracks. Follow-up album, Xenophobia (Why?), was written and recorded in just six weeks, released in March 1988 it was produced by Karski and Guy Gray.
Track listing
All tracks written by Craig Bloxom, Michael Weiley, Cliff Grigg and G Vasicek (aka Gary Morris).
Personnel
v. Spy v. Spy members
Recording details
Songs
1Don't Tear It Down4:05
2Credit Cards4:36
3Mission Man4:06