Released December 1992 Genre Rock | Format CD Single Length 4:58 | |
B-side "High Sheriff Of Calhoun Parish" (Tony Joe White)
"Momma Killed a Chicken" (John Lee Hooker)
"Crab Stick" Recorded Planet Studios, Perth, Mid-1992 | ||
"Black Stick" was a 1992 song from Australian rock band The Cruel Sea, and appeared on the album The Honeymoon Is Over. It was released as a single months before the album, reaching number 25 in the Australian charts.
Contents
Details
The Cruel Sea had recently completed a tour of Europe supporting Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The song was produced the band and Tony Cohen. Cohen said, "I was mixing the same song for three days, perfecting it, and it worked. It was a hit. They [later] said, 'Sorry, now we understand what you were trying to do.' I was just trying to make it so radio friendly, they had to play it, and it worked. The apologies were gracefully accepted."
One song on the B-side, "Crab Stick", is an instrumental version of the A-side. "High Sheriff of Calhoun Parish" is a cover of a Tony Joe White song that spent 18 weeks in the Australian charts in 1970. "Momma Killed a Chicken" was written by John Lee Hooker, and most commonly known by the title "Bottle Up and Go". Both covers were produced by The Cruel Sea and Brett Stanton, who was the assistant engineer on the main song.
Reception
Reviewed in Australian rock magazine Juke at the time of release, it was claimed that, "Adding a syncopated rhythm groove to their already stunning, subtle, string-driven post-spaghetti-western soundscape, this unique musical entity continue their evolution into excellence." The Age called it, "a rap-surf gem."
"Black Stick" was the first single by the band to chart. Although released in December 1992, the song did not reach the top 50 until March 1993 and did not peak until May. It remained in the charts for 16 weeks. It also reached number 21 in the 1993 Hottest 100, the second highest placing by an Australian act after their own song, "The Honeymoon is Over".
"Black Stick" was nominated for Best Song at the ARIA Music Awards of 1994, but was again pipped by "The Honeymoon is Over".