Before Hollywood
Encyclopedia
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 recorded at I.C.C. Studios in Eastbourne
, England
. The original release consisted of ten tracks, including what is arguably the band's best-known song, "Cattle and Cane
".The album reached #2 on the UK Independent Charts, with "Cattle and Cane" reaching #4. 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". In October 2010, Before Hollywood (1983) was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums
with their 1988 album, 16 Lovers Lane
at No. 12.
All songs written by Grant McLennan
and Robert Forster
. Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10 lyrics by McLennan; tracks 3, 5, 7, and 9 lyrics by Forster; track 8 lyrics by Forster and McLennan.
Bonus Tracks on 2002 CD Reissue Disc 2:
All songs written by McLennan and Forster. All lyrics by McLennan except Track 5, lyrics by Forster.
with
Bernard Clarke - organ
, piano
Additional personnel on bonus tracks "Man o'Sand to Girl o'Sea" and "This Girl, Black Girl":
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, an independent music label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. It was The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens were an indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Australia in 1977 by singer-songwriters and guitarists, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan. They were later joined by Lindy Morrison on drums, Robert Vickers on bass guitar and Amanda Brown on violin, oboe, guitar, and backing vocals,...
' second album. The LP was produced by John Brand and recorded at I.C.C. Studios in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The original release consisted of ten tracks, including what is arguably the band's best-known song, "Cattle and Cane
Cattle and Cane
"Cattle and Cane" is a song by the Australian alternative rock band The Go-Betweens, released as the first single from their second album Before Hollywood. It was released as a single in the United Kingdom by Rough Trade Records in February 1983 and reached #4 on the UK Independent Chart. The...
".The album reached #2 on the UK Independent Charts, with "Cattle and Cane" reaching #4. 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
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
(APRA). In 2002, Circus Records released an expanded CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
which included a second disc of eight bonus tracks and a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Cattle and Cane". In October 2010, Before Hollywood (1983) was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums
100 Best Australian Albums
100 Best Australian Albums is a compendium of rock and pop albums of the past 50 years as compiled by music journalists Toby Creswell, Craig Mathieson and John O'Donnell. The book was published on 25 October 2010 by Hardie Grant Books...
with their 1988 album, 16 Lovers Lane
16 Lovers Lane
16 Lovers Lane was the sixth album by Australian indie pop group The Go-Betweens, released in 1988 by Beggars Banquet Records. Prior to the recording of the album, longtime bassist Robert Vickers left the band when the other group members decided to return to Australia after having spent several...
at No. 12.
Track listing
- "A Bad Debt Follows You" – 2:24
- "Two Steps Step Out" – 3:28
- "Before Hollywood" – 3:44
- "Dusty in Here" – 4:09
- "Ask" – 5:14
- "Cattle and CaneCattle and Cane"Cattle and Cane" is a song by the Australian alternative rock band The Go-Betweens, released as the first single from their second album Before Hollywood. It was released as a single in the United Kingdom by Rough Trade Records in February 1983 and reached #4 on the UK Independent Chart. The...
" – 4:20 - "By Chance" – 2:20
- "As Long As That" – 5:25
- "On My Block" – 3:49
- "That Way" – 4:07
All songs written by Grant McLennan
Grant McLennan
Grant William McLennan was an Australian singer-songwriter with the alternative rock band The Go-Betweens, which he co-founded with Robert Forster in Brisbane, Australia in 1977...
and Robert Forster
Robert Forster (musician)
Robert Forster is an Australian singer-songwriter, best known for his work with songwriting partner Grant McLennan, with whom he co-founded The Go-Betweens.Forster grew up in Brisbane, Australia attending Brisbane Grammar School...
. Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10 lyrics by McLennan; tracks 3, 5, 7, and 9 lyrics by Forster; track 8 lyrics by Forster and McLennan.
Bonus Tracks on 2002 CD Reissue Disc 2:
- "Hammer the Hammer" – 2:49
- "Heaven Says" – 4:06
- "Just a King in Mirrors" – 2:57
- "A Peaceful Wreck" – 2:31
- "Man O'Sand to Girl O'Sea" – 3:24
- "Near the Chimney" – 3:39
- "This Girl, Black Girl" – 3:32
- "The Exception of Deception" – 1:49
- "Cattle and Cane" (Video)
All songs written by McLennan and Forster. All lyrics by McLennan except Track 5, lyrics by Forster.
Personnel
The Go-Betweens consisted of:- Robert ForsterRobert Forster (musician)Robert Forster is an Australian singer-songwriter, best known for his work with songwriting partner Grant McLennan, with whom he co-founded The Go-Betweens.Forster grew up in Brisbane, Australia attending Brisbane Grammar School...
- vocals, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together... - Grant McLennanGrant McLennanGrant William McLennan was an Australian singer-songwriter with the alternative rock band The Go-Betweens, which he co-founded with Robert Forster in Brisbane, Australia in 1977...
- vocals, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitars - Lindy MorrisonLindy MorrisonBelinda "Lindy" Morrison is an Australian musician originally from Queensland. She was the drummer in indie rock group The Go-Betweens from 1980 to 1989, appearing on all the band's releases from their first LP in 1981 until the band's first break up on 26 December 1989...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, backing vocals
with
Bernard Clarke - organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
Additional personnel on bonus tracks "Man o'Sand to Girl o'Sea" and "This Girl, Black Girl":
- Robert Vickers - bass guitar