Before Hollywood

Before Hollywood
Studio album by The Go-Betweens
Released May 1983
(See Release history)
Recorded I.C.C. Studios, Eastbourne, England
Genre Rock, alternative rock, indie rock
Length 39:00
Label Rough Trade Records
Producer John Brand
The Go-Betweens chronology
Send Me a Lullaby
(1982)		 Before Hollywood
(1983)		 Spring Hill Fair
(1984)
Singles from Before Hollywood
  1. "Cattle and Cane"
    Released: February 1983
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB+[2]

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 LP was produced by John Brand and cost £5000 to make.[3] It was recorded at I.C.C. (International Christian Communications) Studios in Eastbourne, England, a Christian studio. Guitarist Robert Forster said, "They were doing gospel on Sunday, Go-Betweens Monday to Saturday."[4] The original release consisted of ten tracks, including what is arguably the band's best-known song, "Cattle and Cane".[5]

The album reached No. 2 on the UK Independent Charts,[6] with "Cattle and Cane" reaching No. 4.[6] 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).[7] 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".

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."[8]

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."

Clinton Walker, writing in The Age newspaper, however felt "the album as a whole was disappointing, disjointed and uneven."[9]

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."[10]

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.[11] 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."[11]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "A Bad Debt Follows You"  G. McLennan 2:24
2. "Two Steps Step Out"  G. McLennan 3:28
3. "Before Hollywood"  R. Forster 3:44
4. "Dusty in Here"  G. McLennan 4:09
5. "Ask"  R. Forster 5:14
6. "Cattle and Cane"  G. McLennan[12] 4:20
7. "By Chance"  R. Forster 2:20
8. "As Long As That"  G. McLennan, R. Forster 5:25
9. "On My Block"  R. Forster 3:49
10. "That Way"  G. McLennan 4:07
Total length:
 39:00

All songs written and composed by G. McLennan, R. Forster[12] except where noted.. 

Release history

Date Region Label Format Catalogue
May 1983 UK Rough Trade LP ROUGH 54
AUS Stunn STUN 508
1984 Rough Trade RTRANZ 008
1990 UK CD ROUGH LCD 54
US ROUGH US 91
AUS Red Eye Cassette RED MC 16
LP RED LP 16
March 1996 UK Beggars Banquet CD BBL 2002 CD
AUS Silk Sheen SILK 003
JP Rough Trade TKCB-70897
2002 UK Circus FYL010
US Jetset TWA47CD
AUS EMI Australia 0946 3 69608 2 1

Credits

Personnel

The Go-Betweens
Additional musicians

Production

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert (24 January 1984). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice (New York). Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  3. ↑ Tracee Hutchison (1992). Your Name's on the Door. Sydney: ABC Enterprises. p. 64. ISBN 0-7333-0115-0.
  4. ↑ Gavin Sawford (12 April 1996). "Gazing On A Sunny Afternoon". Rave (Stones Corner, QLD: Rave Magazine Pty Ltd): 7–8.
  5. ↑ Wolk, Douglas. "After Hollywood". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved 8 May 2006.
  6. 1 2 Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980–1989. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-9517206-9-4.
  7. ↑ "Australia's Ultimate Songs". Digital Viewers Daily dvd.net.au. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 8 May 2006.
  8. ↑ Snow, Mat (26 March 1983). "Absolutely Sweet Betweens". NME (London, England).
  9. ↑ Walker, Clinton (14 March 1986). "The band most likely gets a shot at the title". The Age. p. 32.
  10. ↑ Stafford, Andrew (2004). Pig City: From the Saints to Savage Garden. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-7022-3561-0.
  11. 1 2 O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). 100 Best Australian Albums. Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. p. 226. ISBN 978-1-74066-955-9.
  12. 1 2 ""Cattle and Cane" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 22 July 2015.
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