Primitive Man (album)
Encyclopedia
Primitive Man is an album
by the Australian synthpop
band Icehouse
, released in September 1982. In January 1982, Icehouse founder Iva Davies
started recording Primitive Man essentially as a solo project, it was co-produced with Keith Forsey
who later worked with Simple Minds
. Forsey supplied additional percussion; Davies supplied vocals, lead guitar
, keyboards
(Sequential Circuits Prophet-5), bass guitar
and programmed the Linn drum machine
. Released as an Icehouse album, Primitive Man reached #3 on the National album charts and provided their international breakthrough single, "Hey Little Girl
" which peaked at #7 in Australia, #2 in Switzerland, #5 in Germany, Top 20 in UK, Sweden and Netherlands, and #31 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Another single "Great Southern Land
" made the Australian Top 5, it was later featured in the 1988 Yahoo Serious
film
Young Einstein
, and remains their most popular song according to listeners of Triple M
in 2007. To promote Primitive Man on tour, Davies re-assembled Icehouse with Michael Hoste (keyboards) and John Lloyd (drums), and new members: Bob Kretschmer (guitar, backing vocals), Guy Pratt (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Andy Qunta (keyboards, backing vocals).
After the United Kingdom
Top 20 chart success of "Hey Little Girl
" the album was re-released as Love In Motion in 1983 and contained the same tracks in different order except "Break These Chains" being replaced by "Love in Motion"; the alternate cover work was a still from the Russell Mulcahy
directed video for "Hey Little Girl" (see infobox below right). In 1996, Icehouse released a compilation album
called Love in Motion
on dIVA / Massive Records, which contains "Love in Motion" but does not have any material from the original Australian release of Primitive Man.
Primitive Man represented a slight departure from earlier material and a move from the more rock based style of their first album to the synth based, more atmospheric albums such as Sidewalk
and Measure for Measure
. This style is exemplified in "Hey Little Girl", a very relaxed, introspective song which reflects the overall tone of the album punctuated by the heavier "Glam" and the more dance based "Mysterious Thing". The final track "Goodnight Mr. Matthews" was Iva Davies
by his own account directly referencing John Lennon
's songwriting and singing style for the first and only time.
The album was re-issued on CD (CD 38443) in 1983 with the following bonus tracks:
The 2002 remastered CD (0927489822) contained the following alternative bonus tracks:
Icehouse members
Additional musicians
Recording details
Art work
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by the Australian synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band Icehouse
Icehouse (band)
Icehouse is an Australian rock band, formed as Flowers in 1977 in Sydney. Initially known in Australia for their pub rock style, they later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synthpop style music and attained Top Ten singles chart success in both Europe and the U.S...
, released in September 1982. In January 1982, Icehouse founder Iva Davies
Iva Davies
Iva Davies , is the frontman for Australian electro/new wave/rock band Icehouse.-Biography:...
started recording Primitive Man essentially as a solo project, it was co-produced with Keith Forsey
Keith Forsey
Keith Forsey is an English soundtrack composer, drummer, songwriter and record producer.-Biography:Forsey's first recordings were as the younger member of the group The Spectrum, better known for the end title theme for Gerry Anderson's Captain Scarlet, but hit makers across Europe in their own...
who later worked with Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
. Forsey supplied additional percussion; Davies supplied vocals, lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(Sequential Circuits Prophet-5), bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and programmed the Linn drum machine
Linn LM-1
The LM-1 Drum Computer, manufactured by Linn Electronics Inc., was the first drum machine to use digital samples of acoustic drums. Conceived and designed by Roger Linn, it was also one of the first programmable drum machines...
. Released as an Icehouse album, Primitive Man reached #3 on the National album charts and provided their international breakthrough single, "Hey Little Girl
Hey Little Girl
"Hey Little Girl" is a single released by Australian band Icehouse, the second single from the band's 1982 album, Primitive Man. It was released in October, 1982, on Regular Records in 7" Vinyl Single and 12" Vinyl Single formats. UK and Europe releases by Chrysalis Records were also on 7" and 12"...
" which peaked at #7 in Australia, #2 in Switzerland, #5 in Germany, Top 20 in UK, Sweden and Netherlands, and #31 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Another single "Great Southern Land
Great Southern Land
"Great Southern Land" is a single released by Australian rock band Icehouse. It was released in August 1982, before the album Primitive Man. Peaking at number five on the Australian Singles Chart, it was later featured in the 1988 Yahoo Serious film Young Einstein, and remains their most popular...
" made the Australian Top 5, it was later featured in the 1988 Yahoo Serious
Yahoo Serious
Yahoo Serious , born Greg Pead , is an Australian film actor, director and score composer. He is best known for his 1988 comedy Young Einstein. He also created Reckless Kelly in 1993 and Mr. Accident in 2000...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Young Einstein
Young Einstein
Young Einstein is an Australian comedy film directed by and starring Yahoo Serious, released in 1988.-Plot:Albert Einstein, the son of an apple farmer in Tasmania in the early 1900s, splits a beer atom with a chisel in order to add bubbles to beer, discovers the theory of relativity and travels to...
, and remains their most popular song according to listeners of Triple M
Triple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
in 2007. To promote Primitive Man on tour, Davies re-assembled Icehouse with Michael Hoste (keyboards) and John Lloyd (drums), and new members: Bob Kretschmer (guitar, backing vocals), Guy Pratt (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Andy Qunta (keyboards, backing vocals).
After the United Kingdom
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...
Top 20 chart success of "Hey Little Girl
Hey Little Girl
"Hey Little Girl" is a single released by Australian band Icehouse, the second single from the band's 1982 album, Primitive Man. It was released in October, 1982, on Regular Records in 7" Vinyl Single and 12" Vinyl Single formats. UK and Europe releases by Chrysalis Records were also on 7" and 12"...
" the album was re-released as Love In Motion in 1983 and contained the same tracks in different order except "Break These Chains" being replaced by "Love in Motion"; the alternate cover work was a still from the Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy is an Australian film director. His work is easily recognized by his use of fast cuts, tracking shots and use of glowing lights.- Music videos :...
directed video for "Hey Little Girl" (see infobox below right). In 1996, Icehouse released a compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
called Love in Motion
Love in Motion (Icehouse album)
Love in Motion is a compilation album released in September 1996 by Australian rock synthpop band Icehouse in The Netherlands on dIVA / Massive Records. It is not to be confused with the band's 1983 UK release of Love in Motion which was a re-release of 1982's Primitive Man.-Track listing:# "Mr...
on dIVA / Massive Records, which contains "Love in Motion" but does not have any material from the original Australian release of Primitive Man.
Primitive Man represented a slight departure from earlier material and a move from the more rock based style of their first album to the synth based, more atmospheric albums such as Sidewalk
Sidewalk (album)
Sidewalk is the third album by Australian rock synthpop band Icehouse. It was released in June 1984 on Regular Records / Chrysalis Records and reached #8 on the National albums chart with singles "Taking the Town" , "Don't Believe Anymore" and "Dusty Pages"...
and Measure for Measure
Measure for Measure (album)
Measure for Measure is the April 1986 studio album by Australian rock synthpop band Icehouse and was the third album in the world to be recorded entirely digitally. The album, which peaked at #8 on the National albums charts, features the singles "No Promises", "Baby, You're So Strange", "Mr. Big",...
. This style is exemplified in "Hey Little Girl", a very relaxed, introspective song which reflects the overall tone of the album punctuated by the heavier "Glam" and the more dance based "Mysterious Thing". The final track "Goodnight Mr. Matthews" was Iva Davies
Iva Davies
Iva Davies , is the frontman for Australian electro/new wave/rock band Icehouse.-Biography:...
by his own account directly referencing John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's songwriting and singing style for the first and only time.
1982 Australian release
- "Great Southern LandGreat Southern Land"Great Southern Land" is a single released by Australian rock band Icehouse. It was released in August 1982, before the album Primitive Man. Peaking at number five on the Australian Singles Chart, it was later featured in the 1988 Yahoo Serious film Young Einstein, and remains their most popular...
" - 5:22 - "Uniform" - 5:19
- "Hey Little GirlHey Little Girl"Hey Little Girl" is a single released by Australian band Icehouse, the second single from the band's 1982 album, Primitive Man. It was released in October, 1982, on Regular Records in 7" Vinyl Single and 12" Vinyl Single formats. UK and Europe releases by Chrysalis Records were also on 7" and 12"...
" - 4:25 - "Street Cafe" - 4:13
- "Glam" (Instrumental) - 4:13
- "Trojan Blue" - 5:03
- "One By One" - 4:25
- "Break These Chains"
- "Mysterious Thing" - 3:43
- "Goodnight Mr. Matthews" - 4:00 (This is a re-recording of the B-side to the 1981 single "Love in Motion".)
The album was re-issued on CD (CD 38443) in 1983 with the following bonus tracks:
- "Over The Line" (B-side to "Street Cafe" single) - 2:46
- "Uniform" (German Version) (B-side to "Great Southern Land" single) - 4:06
- "Glam" (12" Version) (Instrumental) (B-side to "Hey Little Girl" 12" single)- 6:34
- "Hey Little Girl" (12" Version) - 6:59
The 2002 remastered CD (0927489822) contained the following alternative bonus tracks:
- "Over The Line" (B-side to "Street Cafe" single) - 2:46
- "Glam" (12" Version) (B-side to "Hey Little Girl" 12" single) - 6:34
- "Uniform" (12" German version) - 6:08
- "Street Cafe" (Single Mix) - 4:14
- "Love in Motion" (USA Recording) - 3:37
- "Can't Help Myself" (Live) - 5:39
- "We Can Get Together" (Live) - 3:55
1983 US / UK release
The US (1982) release was titled Primitive Man but in the UK (1983) was re-titled Love in Motion and had the alternate cover.- "Uniform" - 5:19
- "Street Cafe" - 4:13
- "Hey, Little Girl" - 4:25
- "Glam" (Instrumental) - 4:13
- "Great Southern Land" - 5:22
- "Trojan Blue" - 5:03
- "Love In Motion" - 4:02
- "Mysterious Thing" - 3:43
- "One By One" - 4:25
- "Goodnight Mr. Matthews" - 4:00
Singles
- "Love In Motion" c/w "Goodnight Mr. Matthews" (#10 Aus)
- "Great Southern LandGreat Southern Land"Great Southern Land" is a single released by Australian rock band Icehouse. It was released in August 1982, before the album Primitive Man. Peaking at number five on the Australian Singles Chart, it was later featured in the 1988 Yahoo Serious film Young Einstein, and remains their most popular...
" c/w "Uniform" (German version) (#5 Aus, #83 UK) - "Hey Little GirlHey Little Girl"Hey Little Girl" is a single released by Australian band Icehouse, the second single from the band's 1982 album, Primitive Man. It was released in October, 1982, on Regular Records in 7" Vinyl Single and 12" Vinyl Single formats. UK and Europe releases by Chrysalis Records were also on 7" and 12"...
" c/w "Glam" (Extended Dance Mix) (#6 Aus, #5 Germany, #17 UK, #31 U.S.) - "Street Cafe" c/w "Over The Line" (#57 Aus, #28 Germany)
- "Uniform" c/w "Mysterious Thing" (#83 UK) US / European release only
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australian Chart | 3 |
| 1982 | New Zealand Album Chart | 1 |
| 1982 | Billboard Top Pop Albums | 129 |
| 1983 | United Kingdom Charts | 64 |
Personnel
Credited to:Icehouse members
- Iva DaviesIva DaviesIva Davies , is the frontman for Australian electro/new wave/rock band Icehouse.-Biography:...
— vocals, guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Linn drum machineLinn LM-1The LM-1 Drum Computer, manufactured by Linn Electronics Inc., was the first drum machine to use digital samples of acoustic drums. Conceived and designed by Roger Linn, it was also one of the first programmable drum machines... - Michael Hoste — keyboards (bonus tracks)
- Bob Kretschmer — guitar (bonus tracks)
- John Lloyd — drums (bonus tracks)
- Guy PrattGuy PrattGuy Pratt is a session bassist and also a songwriter, actor and comedian. He is the son of actor Mike Pratt. In Kensington and Chelsea, London, in 1996, Pratt married Gala Wright, the daughter of Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright...
— bass guitar (bonus tracks)
Additional musicians
- Keith ForseyKeith ForseyKeith Forsey is an English soundtrack composer, drummer, songwriter and record producer.-Biography:Forsey's first recordings were as the younger member of the group The Spectrum, better known for the end title theme for Gerry Anderson's Captain Scarlet, but hit makers across Europe in their own...
— additional percussion - Abraham Laboriel — bass guitar (bonus tracks)
Recording details
- Mixing — Cameron Allan, Bob Clearmountain, Iva Davies, Keith Forsey
- Engineer — Dave Jerden, Brian Reeves, David Price, Rick Butz
- Produced — Iva Davies, Keith ForseyKeith ForseyKeith Forsey is an English soundtrack composer, drummer, songwriter and record producer.-Biography:Forsey's first recordings were as the younger member of the group The Spectrum, better known for the end title theme for Gerry Anderson's Captain Scarlet, but hit makers across Europe in their own...
- Digital remastering (2002) — Iva Davies, Ryan Scott
Art work
- Front Cover — Bill Tom
- Sleeve & Back Cover Photography — Craig Dietz
- Cover Concept — Janet Levinson, Iva Davies
- Cover design (Love in Motion) — David Storey