Length 33:35 Label Big Time Records | Mars Needs Guitars!(1985) Blow Your Cool!(1987) Release date May 1985 | |
![]() | ||
Released May 1985 1985 7 July 1987 22 February 2005 Similar Hoodoo Gurus albums, Rock music albums |
Mars Needs Guitars! is Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus' second album, released in 1985. The title is a reference to the 1967 science fiction film, Mars Needs Women. Singles from the album were "Bittersweet" (1985) (reached #10 on Melbourne record charts), "Like Wow – Wipeout" (1985, #28), "Death Defying" (1986) and "Poison Pen" (1986). Mars Needs Guitars! reached No. 140 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart in 1986.
Contents
- Hoodoo gurus bittersweet
- Original release
- 2005 re release
- Personnel
- Hoodoo Gurus
- Technical
- Songs
- References
The title track, "Mars Needs Guitars" (also the B-side of "Bittersweet" single), was written by all five Gurus and lead vocals were by Brad Shepherd. All other tracks were written and featured lead vocals by Dave Faulkner. Hayride to Hell (1995) is a short film written and directed by former Gurus member Kimble Rendall.
"When we commenced the sessions for Mars Needs Guitars! we had a brand new drummer, Mark Kingsmill who altered our lives forever with his distinctive explosive style." - Dave Faulkner.
The song "Bittersweet" was used in the video game MVP Baseball 2004.
The album was re-released by EMI on the 22 February 2005 with five bonus tracks, a fold out poster and liner tracks by Wally Kempton (Even/The Meanies). Three of the bonus tracks (13 to 15) were recorded live at Selina's, Sydney, in 1986. In October 2010, it was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums, with their previous album, Stoneage Romeos at No. 28.
Hoodoo gurus bittersweet
Original release
All written tracks by Dave Faulkner unless otherwise indicated.
- "Bittersweet" – 3:44
- "Poison Pen" – 4:09
- "In the Wild" – 3:07
- "Death Defying" – 3:21
- "Like Wow – Wipeout" – 3:09
- "Hayride to Hell" – 3:15
- "Show Some Emotion" – 2:56
- "Other Side of Paradise" – 3:31
- "Mars Needs Guitars" (James Baker, Clyde Bramley, Faulkner, Mark Kingsmill, Brad Shepherd) – 2:52
- "She" – 3:28
2005 re-release
Songwriters same as above, with additional tracks by Faulkner unless indicated.
- "Bittersweet" – 3:44
- "Poison Pen" – 4:09
- "In the Wild" – 3:07
- "Death Defying" – 3:21
- "Like Wow – Wipeout" – 3:09
- "Hayride to Hell" – 3:15
- "Show Some Emotion" – 2:56
- "Other Side of Paradise" – 3:31
- "Mars Needs Guitars" – 2:52
- "She" – 3:28
- "Bring the Hoodoo Down" – 2:54
- "Turkey Dinner" – 4:14
- "Death Ship" (live) (Faulkner, Roddy Radalj, Alan Sharples) – 2:42
- "In the Wild" (live) – 3:29
- "Teenage Head" (live) (Cyril Jordan, Roy Loney) – 3:02
Personnel
Credited to:
Hoodoo Gurus
Technical
Songs
1Bittersweet3:48
2Poison Pen4:12
3In the Wild3:09