East (album)
Encyclopedia
East was the third studio album by Australian pub rock
band Cold Chisel
, released in June 1980. The album peaked at No. 2 and spent 63 weeks on the national chart. It was the biggest-selling Australian album release of the year. It was the only Cold Chisel album to chart in America, reaching 171 on the Billboard 200.
. The photo of Barnes was taken at Philip Mortlock's apartment in Elizabeth Bay, where the video for Cheap Wine
was later shot. Barnes had purchased the headband in Japan, and years later discovered he had worn it upside-down.
The album was preceded by the release of the single "Choirgirl" that was actually recorded in October 1979 and released in November, the band's first recording with Mark Opitz who would then work on all subsequent Cold Chisel albums. The songs "Cheap Wine" and "My Baby
" were also released as singles. East was the first Cold Chisel album to feature tracks written by all members of the band.
"East" was a deliberate attempt by Cold Chisel to make a more commercial album. Walker said at the time, "I go to bed with a tape recorder under my pillow. The tape loop says, 'hit single, hit single, hit single.'" Allmusic descibes the album as, "their most widely accepted and artfully constructed album." Producer Opitz said of the pressure for commercial success, "My brief to myself was: “I don’t want to sacrifice the credibility of the band, but I still need hits.” Of course, the band at that stage were letting me have my total way with them. Because they weren’t a successful recording band."
Some of the songs were topical at the time of release. "Ita" referred to journalist and television presenter Ita Buttrose
. "Star Hotel" is written about the riot that took place there
,"Choirgirl
" about abortion, and "Four Walls" referenced the riots at Bathurst Gaol
. Barnes later said, "At the time we'd been doing a hell of a lot of gigs in jails and Don had been really into it. He'd been talking to Jack Mundey
and all those people, and I don't think he knew why, but he was sort of obsessed with the penal system."
The first 10,000 pressings of the album came with a bonus single, featuring a live cover of "Knocking on Heaven's Door" on the A-side, and a studio recording of "Party's Over" on the B-side.
with their 1982 album Circus Animals
at No. 4.
In a 2011 Triple J
poll, East was voted as the 21st best Australian album by industry pundits, and 42nd by station listeners.
A review at Allmusic described the album as Cold Chisel's, "slickest to date," and, "More commercial without compromising on the rawness of their roots." Reviewer Adrian Zupp noted the individual performances on the album, commenting, "As always, the rhythm section gymnastics of drummer Steven Prestwich and bassist Phil Small provide an alternately swift and delicate undercurrent for Ian Moss' guitar heroics, Don Walker's exuberant piano playing, and Barnes' banshee wails." Zupp gave the album a rating of four and a half stars from a possible five, and summarised, "With East, Cold Chisel signaled that they had moved on up without selling out."
, except as noted
Pub rock (Australia)
Pub rock is a style of Australian rock and roll popular throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and still influencing contemporary Australian music today....
band Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
, released in June 1980. The album peaked at No. 2 and spent 63 weeks on the national chart. It was the biggest-selling Australian album release of the year. It was the only Cold Chisel album to chart in America, reaching 171 on the Billboard 200.
History
The cover art was inspired by the 1793 painting The Death of MaratThe Death of Marat
The Death of Marat is a 1793 painting in the Neoclassical style by Jacques-Louis David, and is one of the most famous images of the French Revolution. This work depicts the radical journalist Jean-Paul Marat lying dead in his bath on 13 July 1793 after his murder by Charlotte Corday...
. The photo of Barnes was taken at Philip Mortlock's apartment in Elizabeth Bay, where the video for Cheap Wine
Cheap Wine
Cheap Wine is an Italian rock band from Pesaro. The name is borrowed from the Green on Red same-titled song appeared on Gravity Talks album. They take inspiration from songwriters rock like as well as Paisley Underground scene with veins of southern rock.- Biography :The band published its own...
was later shot. Barnes had purchased the headband in Japan, and years later discovered he had worn it upside-down.
The album was preceded by the release of the single "Choirgirl" that was actually recorded in October 1979 and released in November, the band's first recording with Mark Opitz who would then work on all subsequent Cold Chisel albums. The songs "Cheap Wine" and "My Baby
My Baby (Cold Chisel song)
"My Baby" was a 1980 single from Australian rock band Cold Chisel, the third released from the album East and the first of the band's singles not to be written by organist Don Walker...
" were also released as singles. East was the first Cold Chisel album to feature tracks written by all members of the band.
"East" was a deliberate attempt by Cold Chisel to make a more commercial album. Walker said at the time, "I go to bed with a tape recorder under my pillow. The tape loop says, 'hit single, hit single, hit single.'" Allmusic descibes the album as, "their most widely accepted and artfully constructed album." Producer Opitz said of the pressure for commercial success, "My brief to myself was: “I don’t want to sacrifice the credibility of the band, but I still need hits.” Of course, the band at that stage were letting me have my total way with them. Because they weren’t a successful recording band."
Some of the songs were topical at the time of release. "Ita" referred to journalist and television presenter Ita Buttrose
Ita Buttrose
Ita Clare Buttrose, AO, OBE is an Australian journalist and businesswoman. She was the founding editor of Cleo, a high-circulation magazine aimed at women aged 20 to 40 that was ground-breakingly frank about sexuality , and later as the editor of the more sedate Australian Women's Weekly...
. "Star Hotel" is written about the riot that took place there
Star Hotel riot
The Star Hotel riot, occasioned by the closing down of a popular pub, was one of the largest riots in Australian history. An estimated 4,000 people fought with police on the streets of Newcastle, New South Wales on the night of 19 September 1979....
,"Choirgirl
Choirgirl (song)
"Choirgirl" was a 1979 single from Australian rock band Cold Chisel. A ballad with an R&B influenced melody,the single was released months before the album East that it featured on. It was the first time the band had recorded with producer Mark Opitz....
" about abortion, and "Four Walls" referenced the riots at Bathurst Gaol
Bathurst Correctional Complex
Bathurst Correctional Complex is an Australian prison located 3 kilometres west of Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. The current structure incorporates buildings constructed in 1888. The Complex serves as a reception prison for western NSW...
. Barnes later said, "At the time we'd been doing a hell of a lot of gigs in jails and Don had been really into it. He'd been talking to Jack Mundey
Jack Mundey
Jack Mundey is a distinguished Australian union and environmental activist. He came to prominence during the 1970s for leading the New South Wales Builders' Labourers Federation in the famous Green Bans, whereby the BLF led a successful campaign to protect the built and natural environment of...
and all those people, and I don't think he knew why, but he was sort of obsessed with the penal system."
The first 10,000 pressings of the album came with a bonus single, featuring a live cover of "Knocking on Heaven's Door" on the A-side, and a studio recording of "Party's Over" on the B-side.
Reception
At the 1980 TV Week/Countdown Music Awards, East won a number of awards, including Best Australian Album, Best Australian Record Cover Design and Most Popular Record. In October 2010, East, was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums100 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 1982 album Circus Animals
Circus Animals
Circus Animals was a studio album released by Australian band Cold Chisel in 1982. It was recorded and mixed at Paradise Studios and EMI Studio 301, Sydney . It reached number one on the Australian charts, remaining in the charts for 40 weeks...
at No. 4.
In a 2011 Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
poll, East was voted as the 21st best Australian album by industry pundits, and 42nd by station listeners.
A review at Allmusic described the album as Cold Chisel's, "slickest to date," and, "More commercial without compromising on the rawness of their roots." Reviewer Adrian Zupp noted the individual performances on the album, commenting, "As always, the rhythm section gymnastics of drummer Steven Prestwich and bassist Phil Small provide an alternately swift and delicate undercurrent for Ian Moss' guitar heroics, Don Walker's exuberant piano playing, and Barnes' banshee wails." Zupp gave the album a rating of four and a half stars from a possible five, and summarised, "With East, Cold Chisel signaled that they had moved on up without selling out."
Track listing
All songs by Don WalkerDon Walker (musician)
Don Walker is an Australian musician and songwriter known for writing many of the hits for Australian pub rock band Cold Chisel. He played piano and keyboard with the band from 1973 to 1983, when they disbanded. He has since continued to record and tour, both solo and with Tex, Don and Charlie,...
, except as noted
- "Standing on the Outside"
- "Never Before" (Ian MossIan MossIan Moss is an Australian rock musician, best known as the guitarist and occasional singer of Cold Chisel. In that group's initial ten year career, Moss recorded eight albums, three of which were No. 1 national hits. His solo career began with a No. 1 album and single and five ARIA Awards...
) - "ChoirgirlChoirgirl (song)"Choirgirl" was a 1979 single from Australian rock band Cold Chisel. A ballad with an R&B influenced melody,the single was released months before the album East that it featured on. It was the first time the band had recorded with producer Mark Opitz....
" - "Rising Sun" (Jimmy BarnesJimmy BarnesJames Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
) - "My BabyMy Baby (Cold Chisel song)"My Baby" was a 1980 single from Australian rock band Cold Chisel, the third released from the album East and the first of the band's singles not to be written by organist Don Walker...
" (Phil SmallPhil SmallPhillip "Phil" James Small is an Australian bassist from pub rock band Cold Chisel. He has written songs for Cold Chisel including, "My Baby" for the 1980 album East, "Notion For You" off the Teenage Love album and "The Game"....
) - "Tomorrow"
- "Cheap Wine"
- "Best Kept Lies" (Steve PrestwichSteve Prestwich-External links:* *...
) - "Ita"
- "Star Hotel"
- "Four Walls"
- "My Turn to Cry" (Jimmy BarnesJimmy BarnesJames Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
)
Personnel
- Jimmy BarnesJimmy BarnesJames Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Don Walker – organOrgan (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...
, pianoPianoThe 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... - Ian MossIan MossIan Moss is an Australian rock musician, best known as the guitarist and occasional singer of Cold Chisel. In that group's initial ten year career, Moss recorded eight albums, three of which were No. 1 national hits. His solo career began with a No. 1 album and single and five ARIA Awards...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, lead vocals (tracks 2, 5 and 8) - Phil Small – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Steve Prestwich – 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 ....
- Joe CamilleriJoe CamilleriJoseph Vincent "Joe" Camilleri, aka Jo Jo Zep or Joey Vincent, is an Australian vocalist, songwriter and saxophonist. Camilleri has recorded as a solo artist and as a member of Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows...
– saxophone (track 5)