Released May 1983 Producer John Brand Release date May 1983 | Length 39:00 Artist The Go-Betweens Label Stunn | |
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Recorded I.C.C. Studios, Eastbourne, England Before Hollywood
(1983) Spring Hill Fair
(1984) Genres Rock music, Indie rock, Alternative rock, Rock and roll Similar The Go-Betweens albums, Rock music albums | ||
The go betweens a bad debt follows you
Before Hollywood was released in May 1983 in the UK on Rough Trade Records, an independent music label. It was The Go-Betweens' second album. The album reached No. 2 on the UK Independent Charts. "Cattle and Cane" reached No. 4. The original release consisted of ten tracks, including what is arguably the band's best-known song, "Cattle and Cane". In 2001 that song was voted as one of the 30 all-time best Australian songs in a poll of 100 music industry personalities conducted by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). In 2002 Circus Records released an expanded CD which included a second disc of eight bonus tracks and a music video for "Cattle and Cane"
Contents
Details
The LP was produced by John Brand and cost £5000 to make. It was recorded at I.C.C. (International Christian Communications) Studios in Eastbourne, England, a Christian studio. Robert Forster said, "They were doing gospel on Sunday, Go-Betweens Monday to Saturday."
Brand was the first producer to break down and reassemble songs in order to make the arrangements tighter for the band. Forster said, "John got the balance between live recording and a coating of overdubs just right. In the process he did a wonderful thing to our music - he rained colour through it."
The band had originally intended to record with Jim Dickinson, who they appreciated for his work with Ry Cooder. Label head Geoff Travis had also suggested recording with Chris Stamey in New York.
Critical reception
Reviewing in NME at the time of release, Mat Snow said "Lindy Morrison's drumming is crisp, subtle and dynamic, Grant's bass is a model of telling economy and Robert plays a song-writer's guitar - soaring and lyrical but always to the point." The influence of Bob Dylan, Tom Verlaine, and David Byrne is noted. The review concludes by describing the album as "a rare masterpiece."
Edwyn Collins, reviewing the album in Melody Maker, called it "A monumental record... very, very insidious. On repeated plays I find it very, very moving."
Ned Raglett states in Allmusic that "The Go-Betweens were already a good band well before they made Before Hollywood, but this second album is what proved for many listeners that they were great. For good reason -- both Robert Forster's and Grant McLennan's singing sounds much more honestly theirs, finding their own voices, while collectively the trio create a series of intricate, surprising melodies and songs which balance past and present beautifully."
Andrew Stafford, in his book Pig City: From the Saints to Savage Garden, states "Beyond Hollywoods impressionistic lyrics and sparkling blend of acoustic and electric textures recalled earlier folk influences - Simon & Garfunkel, the Byrds, and, especially Bob Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home. Even Before Hollywood's sleeve design nods towards the Dylan album, with the Go-Betweens framed by a collection of antiques."
In October 2010 Before Hollywood was listed in the book 100 Best Australian Albums at No. 87, with their 1988 album 16 Lovers Lane at No. 12. The authors writing that "On Before Hollywood, The Go-Betweens offer up an elusive, lo-fi take on classic mid '60s Bob Dylan and the New York downtown sound a decade later."
Track listing
All tracks written by G. McLennan, R. Forster except where noted..
Personnel
Production
Songs
1A Bad Debt Follows You2:26
2Two Steps Step Out3:29
3Before Hollywood3:46