The Birthday Party discography

The Birthday Party discography
The Birthday Party (Clockwise from top left: Mick Harvey, Nick Cave, Rowland S Howard and Tracy Pew)
Studio albums	4
Live albums	2
Compilation albums	5
Video albums	1
Music videos	2
EPs	6
Singles	9
Box sets	1
Other appearances	16

The discography of The Birthday Party, an Australian post-punk band, consists of four studio albums, two live albums, six compilation albums, six extended plays and nine singles. The group began under various names in Melbourne in 1973; formed by vocalist Nick Cave, guitarist Mick Harvey, drummer Phill Calvert, guitarist John Cocivera, bassist Brett Purcell, and saxophonist Chris Coyne —all of whom were students at Caulfield Grammar School.^[1] By 1978, following several membership changes, the band consisted of Cave, Harvey and Calvert with bassist Tracy Pew and guitarist Rowland S Howard.^[2] Under the name The Boys Next Door, the band released several singles and two studio albums, Door, Door in 1979 on Mushroom Records and The Birthday Party in 1980 on Missing Link Records.

Despite moderate success in Australia, The Boys Next Door relocated to London, England in 1980 and changed their name to The Birthday Party. In London, the band experienced underground critical success with a series of singles and two further studio albums, Prayers on Fire (1981) and Junkyard (1982);^[2] Junkyard was also a minor commercial success, peaking at number 72 on the UK Albums Chart upon its release.^[3] In 1982, the band relocated to West Berlin, Germany and Calvert departed. The band, now featuring Harvey on dual guitar and drumming duties, released as two EPs, The Bad Seed and Mutiny!, in 1983 on 4AD and Mute Records. Featuring Einstürzende Neubauten member Blixa Bargeld as a guest musician, they were the band's final recordings prior to their disbandment in late 1983.^[1]

Cave, Harvey, Barry Adamson and Bargeld formed Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in December 1983 and Howard joined Crime and the City Solution, as well as forming These Immortal Souls in the wake of The Birthday Party's break-up.^[1][2] The band's back catalogue has been reissued several times, usually in the form of compilation albums such as Mutiny/The Bad Seed (1989) and Hits (1992), and several unreleased recordings and video albums have been released since their disbandment. Though the band did not experience commercial success during their career, they have been recognised as having a major impact on the gothic rock genre and influencing several subsequent bands,^[4] including My Bloody Valentine,^[5] Gogol Bordello^[6] and LCD Soundsystem.^[7]

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		UK [3]	UK Indie [8]
Door, Door	Released: 1979 (AUS)[note 1] Labels: Mushroom (36931) Formats: LP, CD	—	—
The Birthday Party	Released: November 1980 (AUS)[note 2] Labels: Missing Link (7) Formats: LP	—	—
Prayers on Fire	Released: 6 April 1981 (UK)[11] Labels: Missing Link (14), 4AD (104) Formats: LP, CD	—	4
Junkyard	Released: 10 May 1982 (UK)[11] Labels: Missing Link (21), 4AD (207) Formats: LP, CD	72	1
"—" denotes a release that did not chart

Live albums

List of live albums, with chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		UK Indie [8]
It's Still Living	Released: May 1985 (AUS)[12] Labels: Missing Link (009), Virgin (2048) Formats: LP, CD	19
Live 1981–82	Released: 10 August 1999 (UK)[13] Labels: 4AD (9005) Formats: 2×LP, CD	—
"—" denotes a release that did not chart

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums

Title	Album details
A Collection…	Released: 1985 (AUS)[14] Labels: Missing Link (22), Suite Beat (2017) Formats: LP, CD
Hee-Haw	Released: 1988 (UK)[15] Labels: 4AD (307), Virgin (2037) Formats: LP, CD
Mutiny/The Bad Seed	Released: 1989 (UK)[16] Labels: 4AD (301)
Hits	Released: 12 October 1992 (UK)[11] Labels: 4AD (2016), Warner Bros (9 45087) Formats: 2×LP, CD, CS
The John Peel Sessions	Released: 28 May 2001 (UK)[17] Labels: Strange Fruit (098) Formats: 2×LP, CD

Box sets

List of box sets

Title	Album details
Definitive Missing Link Recordings 1979–1982	Released: 1994 (AUS)[18] Labels: Missing Link (30) Formats: 5×CD box set

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		UK Indie [8]
Hee-Haw	Released: December 1979 (AUS)[note 3] Labels: Missing Link (3) Formats: 12"	—
Drunk on the Pope's Blood/The Agony Is the Ecstacy (The Birthday Party/Lydia Lunch)	Released: 18 February 1982 (UK)[20] Labels: 4AD (202), Missing Link (006) Formats: 12", CS	2
Mutiny!	Released: February 1983 (UK)[20] Labels: Mute (12 29) Formats: 12"	3
The Bad Seed	Released: November 1983 (UK)[20] Labels: 4AD (301) Formats: 12"	3
The Peel Sessions	Released: January 1987 (UK)[20] Labels: Strange Fruit (020) Formats: 12", CD	7
The Peel Sessions II	Released: November 1988 (UK)[20] Labels: Strange Fruit (058) Formats: 12", CD	11
"—" denotes a release that did not chart

Singles

Retail singles

List of retail singles, with chart positions

Single	Year	Peak chart positions	Album	Notes
		UK Indie [8]
"These Boots Are Made for Walking"	1978	—	Non-LP single	Released under The Boys Next Door
"Shivers"	1979	—	Door, Door
"Happy Birthday"	1980	—	The Birthday Party
"The Friend Catcher"		21		N/A
"Mr. Clarinet"		18
"Nick the Stripper"	1981	—	Prayers on Fire
"Release the Bats"		3	Non-LP single
"Dead Joe"	1982	—	Junkyard
"—" denotes a release that did not chart

Split singles

List of split singles, with other artist

Single	Year	Other artist	Notes
"Scatterbrain"/"Early Morning Brain"	1979	Models	Released under The Boys Next Door

Music videos

List of music videos, with directors

Title	Year	Director	Ref
"Nick the Stripper"	1981	Paul Goldman	[21]
"Deep in the Woods"	1983	Glenn Auchinachie

Video albums

List of video albums

Title	Album details
Pleasure Heads Must Burn	Released: 1984 (UK)[22] Labels: Ikon (7), Cherry Red (20) Formats: VHS, DVD

Other appearances

List of appearances on various artist compilation albums

Song	Year	Album	Notes	Ref
"Figure of Fun" (Demo) "Yard"	1980	Fast Forward No 2	Released exclusively and issued free with Fast Forward magazine	[23]
"Mr. Clarinet"	1981	Natures Mortes – Still Lives	Originally released on The Birthday Party	[24]
"Release the Bats"	1992	Indie Scene 1981: The Story of British Independent Music	Originally released on Junkyard	[25]
	1996	Lost Property: An Alternative History 1979–1992		[26]
"Nick the Stripper"	1998	CMJ: The Year in Music 1982	Originally released on Junkyard	[27]
	1999	Rage: The Songs Most Chosen by Rage Guest Programmers		[28]
"Mr. Clarinet"	2001	Rough Trade Shops: 25 Years	Originally released on The Birthday Party	[29]
"Release the Bats"		Chopper: Original Soundtrack	Originally released on Junkyard	[30]
"Big Jesus Thrash Can"	2002	Rough Trade Shops: Rock and Roll		[31]
"Happy Birthday"	2003	Tales from the Australian Underground: Singles 1976-1989	Originally released on The Birthday Party	[32]
"Sex Crimes" "Release the Bats"	2005	Inner City Sound	1978 demo, exclusively released on this compilation, plus track released on Junkyard	[33]
"Release the Bats"	2006	The Trip: Curated by Jarvis Cocker and Steve Mackey	Originally released on Junkyard	[34]
"Dive Position" "Blast Off"		Tales from the Australian Underground, Vol 2: 1977-1990	Originally released on Door, Door and Junkyard	[35]
"Release the Bats"		Sleep with 4AD	Originally released on Junkyard	[36]
"Mutiny in Heaven"		Life Less Lived: The Gothic Box	Originally released on Mutiny!	[37]
"Release the Bats"		John Peel: Right Time, Wrong Speed 1977–1987	Originally released on Junkyard	[38]
		Inner City Sound: Australian Punk & Post-Punk		[39]
"Big Jesus Thrash Can"	2010	Songs from the 100 Best Australian Albums		[40]

Notes

1. Door, Door was released under The Boys Next Door. Some reissues do not alter the band's name on the release; others, including the 2011 Mushroom LP repressing, omit it from the album's sleeve.^[9]
2. The Birthday Party was originally released under The Boys Next Door. The only repressing of the album from 1982 changed the band's name to The Birthday Party.^[10]
3. Hee-Haw was originally released under The Boys Next Door. The only repressing of the EP from 1983 changed the band's name to The Birthday Party.^[19]

References

1. "Artists | The Birthday Party". 4AD. Beggars Group. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Birthday Party | Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
3. "The Birthday Party | Artist". Official Charts Company. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
4. Steele, Valerie; Park, Jennifer (2008). Gothic: Dark Glamour. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 141–43. ISBN 978-0-3001-3694-4.
5. DiPerna, Alan (1993). "Dinosaur Jr's J Mascis and My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields". Guitar World (Harris Publications) (April 1993).
6. Proefrock, Stacia. "Gogol Bordello | Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
7. Pulver, Sarah (2005). "LCD Soundsystem". Thrasher (High Speed Productions) 298 (September 2005).
8. Lazell, Barry. "Indie Hits: "B"". Cherry Red. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
9. Door, Door (Sleeve notes). The Boys Next Door. Mushroom Records. 2011. L 36931.
10. The Birthday Party (Sleeve notes). The Birthday Party. Missing Link Records. 1982. LINK 7.
11. "Artists | The Birthday Party – Releases". 4AD. Beggars Group. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
12. Valdivida, Victor W. "It's Still Living – The Birthday Party | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
13. Raggett, Ned. "Live 1981–82 – The Birthday Party | Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
14. "A Collection… Best and Rarest". Nick Cave. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
15. Raggett, Ned. "Hee-Haw – The Birthday Party | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
16. Raggett, Ned. "Mutiny!/The Bad Seed – The Birthday Party | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
17. Raggett, Ned. "John Peel Sessions – The Birthday Party | Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
18. "Definitive Missing Link Recordings, 1979–1982 – The Birthday Party | Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
19. Hee-Haw (Sleeve notes). The Birthday Party. Missing Link Records. 1982. ING 008.
20. "Discography". The Birthday Party. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
21. Pleasure Heads Must Burn (Liner notes). The Birthday Party. Cherry Red Films. 2003. CRDVD20.
22. Neate, Wilson. "Pleasure Heads Must Burn – The Birthday Party | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
23. Fast Forward No 2 (Cassette notes). Various artists. Fast Forward. 1980. FF02.
24. Kellman, Andy. "Natures Mortes – Still Lives – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
25. Kellman, Andy. "The Indie Scene 1981: The Story of British Independent Music – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
26. Phares, Heather. "Lost Property – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
27. Ankeny, Jason. "CMJ: The Year in Music 1982 – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
28. "Rage the Album – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
29. Kellman, Andy. "Rough Trade Shops: 25 Years – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
30. "Chopper – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
31. Deming, Mark. "Rough Trade Shops: Rock and Roll – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
32. "Tales from the Australian Underground, Vol 1: Singles 1976–1989 – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
33. http://www.innercitysound.com.au/ICStracklist.html
34. "The Trip: Curated by Jarvis Cocker & Steve Mackey – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
35. Deming, Mark. "Tales from the Australian Underground, Vol 2: 1977–1990 – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
36. "Sleep with 4AD – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
37. Jurek, Thom. "Life Less Lived: The Gothic Box – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
38. "John Peel: Right Time, Wrong Speed – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
39. "Inner City Sound: Australian Punk & Post-Punk – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
40. "Songs from the 100 Best Australian Albums – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.

External links

• The Birthday Party discography at Discogs
• The Boys Next Door discography at Discogs