Savage Garden (album)
Encyclopedia
Savage Garden is the eponymous debut album from Australian pop duo Savage Garden
. It was released on March 4, 1997. The album sold more than 18 million copies worldwide. The album's track listing varied according to territory of release: the international version has the track "Mine" removed due to concerns held by the record company over the line "crosses and crucifixes"; the song "All Around Me" only appears on the Australian version; and the song "Promises" only appears on the international one. In support of the group's Asian tour in 1998, a special double-CD package was released by Sony in the region. The first disc is the same as that of the American version of the album. According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, the album "revealed the influence of 1980s UK pop on Hayes and Jones' songwriting. Tears for Fears melodies blended seamlessly with Eurythmics-like arrangements, while Cure-styled guitar provided the icing on the cake".
released their debut single "I Want You
" under Roadshow Music
/Warner Music
ahead of their debut album, Savage Garden. The band had formed in June 1994, by multi-instrumentalist and producer, Daniel Jones
and vocalist, Darren Hayes
. In 1995, they entered the studio to work on their debut album with producer, Charles Fisher
(Air Supply
, Moving Pictures
, 1927
).
"I Want You" peaked at No. 4 on the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) Singles Chart
and on the 1996 End of Year Singles Chart was highest placed by an Australian artist. On 30 September, they received their first ARIA Award
nomination, in the category 'Breakthrough Artist – Single', for "I Want You". Their success garnered interest from international labels and they signed to Columbia Records
. In November, "To the Moon and Back
", was issued which reached No. 1 in January 1997.
"I Want You" was released in North America in February, where it peaked at No. 4 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and by April had achieved gold status according to Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA). It peaked at No. 1 on the Canadian Singles Chart
. "Truly Madly Deeply
", the band's third Australian single, was released in March and reached No. 1 there and soon became their signature song
. In March, the duo's debut album, Savage Garden, entered the Australian charts at No. 1 and peaked there for a total of 19 weeks. According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, "[It] revealed the influence of 1980s UK pop on Hayes and Jones' songwriting. Tears for Fears melodies blended seamlessly with Eurythmics-like arrangements, while Cure-styled guitar provided the icing on the cake". The album was released internationally two weeks later. "I Want You" was released across Europe in April and reached No. 11 on the United Kingdom Singles Chart
. At the end of May, "To the Moon and Back" was the most played song on US radio.
In June, a fourth single, "Break Me Shake Me
" was released in Australia as the album reached No. 3 on the US Billboard 200
and was certified gold by RIAA. In September, Savage Garden won a record ten ARIA Awards
from 13 nominations for the album and associated singles. They followed with their fifth Australian single, "Universe
" in November. "Truly Madly Deeply" became their third US release and replaced Elton John
's "Candle in the Wind 1997
", after its 14-week run, at No. 1.
In January 1998, "All Around Me", was released as a radio only single in Australia, although about 3000 physical copies were given away at their second concert in Brisbane. By the end of the year, "Truly Madly Deeply" was the most-played song on US radio and the only one-sided single to spend a full year in the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100. In November, "Santa Monica", the final single from the album, was released exclusively in Japan, accompanied by a video of a live performance at the Hard Rock Cafe.
As of 2005, Savage Garden had been certified 12× platinum in Australia, 7× platinum in the US, 3× platinum in Canada, 2× platinum in New Zealand, Singapore, and in the UK.
.
Savage Garden
Savage Garden were an Australian pop rock performance and songwriting duo. Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones formed the group in Brisbane, Queensland in 1994...
. It was released on March 4, 1997. The album sold more than 18 million copies worldwide. The album's track listing varied according to territory of release: the international version has the track "Mine" removed due to concerns held by the record company over the line "crosses and crucifixes"; the song "All Around Me" only appears on the Australian version; and the song "Promises" only appears on the international one. In support of the group's Asian tour in 1998, a special double-CD package was released by Sony in the region. The first disc is the same as that of the American version of the album. According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, the album "revealed the influence of 1980s UK pop on Hayes and Jones' songwriting. Tears for Fears melodies blended seamlessly with Eurythmics-like arrangements, while Cure-styled guitar provided the icing on the cake".
Background
In July 1996, Savage GardenSavage Garden
Savage Garden were an Australian pop rock performance and songwriting duo. Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones formed the group in Brisbane, Queensland in 1994...
released their debut single "I Want You
I Want You (Savage Garden song)
"I Want You" is the first single released by Australian pop group Savage Garden, released in Australia in 1996 and Europe and America in 1997. It later appeared on their eponymous debut album, Savage Garden. The single hit number one in Canada, and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the ARIA...
" under Roadshow Music
Village Roadshow Limited
Village Roadshow Limited is an Australian media company with interests in cinema, theme parks, film production and distribution. The company is a publicly listed entity on the Australian Securities Exchange...
/Warner Music
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
ahead of their debut album, Savage Garden. The band had formed in June 1994, by multi-instrumentalist and producer, Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones (musician)
Daniel Jones is a musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his part in the hugely popular Australian pop duo Savage Garden, whose international hit singles included the songs "I Want You", "To the Moon and Back", "Truly Madly Deeply", "I Knew I Loved You", and "Crash and Burn"...
and vocalist, Darren Hayes
Darren Hayes
Darren Stanley Hayes is a UK-based Australian singer-songwriter. Hayes was the front man and singer of the pop duo Savage Garden, whose 1997 album Savage Garden peaked at No. 1 in Australia, No. 2 in United Kingdom and No. 3 in United States...
. In 1995, they entered the studio to work on their debut album with producer, Charles Fisher
Charles Fisher
Charles Fisher was a politician and jurist of New Brunswick, Canada. Fisher was a leading Reformer of his day who headed the first responsible government in New Brunswick from 1854 to 1861....
(Air Supply
Air Supply
Air Supply is an Australian soft rock duo, consisting of Graham Russell as guitarist and singer-songwriter and Russell Hitchcock as lead vocalist. They had a succession of hits worldwide, including eight Top Ten hits in the United States, in the early 1980s...
, Moving Pictures
Moving Pictures (band)
Moving Pictures was a rock music band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1980. They are best known for their hit single, "What About Me" and multi-platinum album Days of Innocence, both of which topped the charts in Australia.-Biography:...
, 1927
1927 (band)
1927 are an Australian pop/rock band formed in Melbourne in 1987 with James Barton on drums, Bill Frost on bass guitar, his brother Garry Frost on guitar and keyboards, and Erik Weideman on vocals, guitar and keyboards...
).
"I Want You" peaked at No. 4 on the Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
(ARIA) Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
and on the 1996 End of Year Singles Chart was highest placed by an Australian artist. On 30 September, they received their first ARIA Award
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
nomination, in the category 'Breakthrough Artist – Single', for "I Want You". Their success garnered interest from international labels and they signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. In November, "To the Moon and Back
To the Moon and Back
"To the Moon and Back" is a single by Savage Garden from their debut album Savage Garden. One of the band's most popular songs, it deals with feelings of alienation from the modern world and the desire to find romantic love during adolescence...
", was issued which reached No. 1 in January 1997.
"I Want You" was released in North America in February, where it peaked at No. 4 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and by April had achieved gold status according to Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(RIAA). It peaked at No. 1 on the Canadian Singles Chart
Canadian Singles Chart
The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays....
. "Truly Madly Deeply
Truly Madly Deeply
"Truly Madly Deeply" is a song by Australian pop band Savage Garden, released as a single in March 1997. Written by band-mates Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones, the song is a reworking of a song called "Magical Kisses" that the pair wrote together long before recording began on their debut album....
", the band's third Australian single, was released in March and reached No. 1 there and soon became their signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
. In March, the duo's debut album, Savage Garden, entered the Australian charts at No. 1 and peaked there for a total of 19 weeks. According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, "[It] revealed the influence of 1980s UK pop on Hayes and Jones' songwriting. Tears for Fears melodies blended seamlessly with Eurythmics-like arrangements, while Cure-styled guitar provided the icing on the cake". The album was released internationally two weeks later. "I Want You" was released across Europe in April and reached No. 11 on the United Kingdom Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. At the end of May, "To the Moon and Back" was the most played song on US radio.
In June, a fourth single, "Break Me Shake Me
Break Me Shake Me
"Break Me Shake Me" is the fourth single released by Savage Garden from their eponymous debut album Savage Garden. The single was released exclusively in Europe and Australia in 1997, and made available in Japan during the summer of 1998. The single was never released in the United Kingdom...
" was released in Australia as the album reached No. 3 on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and was certified gold by RIAA. In September, Savage Garden won a record ten ARIA Awards
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
from 13 nominations for the album and associated singles. They followed with their fifth Australian single, "Universe
Universe (Savage Garden song)
"Universe" is the fifth single taken from Australian pop duo Savage Garden's self-titled debut album. It was released in October 1997 in Australia only, with the re-release of "To the Moon and Back" taking its place in the rest of the world. It was the final single to be released from the album in...
" in November. "Truly Madly Deeply" became their third US release and replaced Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's "Candle in the Wind 1997
Candle in the Wind
"Candle in the Wind" is a song with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier....
", after its 14-week run, at No. 1.
In January 1998, "All Around Me", was released as a radio only single in Australia, although about 3000 physical copies were given away at their second concert in Brisbane. By the end of the year, "Truly Madly Deeply" was the most-played song on US radio and the only one-sided single to spend a full year in the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100. In November, "Santa Monica", the final single from the album, was released exclusively in Japan, accompanied by a video of a live performance at the Hard Rock Cafe.
As of 2005, Savage Garden had been certified 12× platinum in Australia, 7× platinum in the US, 3× platinum in Canada, 2× platinum in New Zealand, Singapore, and in the UK.
Track listing
- Australian edition
- "To the Moon and BackTo the Moon and Back"To the Moon and Back" is a single by Savage Garden from their debut album Savage Garden. One of the band's most popular songs, it deals with feelings of alienation from the modern world and the desire to find romantic love during adolescence...
" – 5:41 - "Carry on Dancing" – 3:45
- "Tears of PearlsTears of Pearls"Tears of Pearls" is a song by Savage Garden, released in Europe as the seventh and final single taken from their eponymous debut album Savage Garden. The single was released in January 1999. The music video for "Tears of Pearls" features tour footage from the group's Future of Earthly Delites...
" – 3:46 - "I Want YouI Want You (Savage Garden song)"I Want You" is the first single released by Australian pop group Savage Garden, released in Australia in 1996 and Europe and America in 1997. It later appeared on their eponymous debut album, Savage Garden. The single hit number one in Canada, and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the ARIA...
" – 3:52 - "Truly Madly DeeplyTruly Madly Deeply"Truly Madly Deeply" is a song by Australian pop band Savage Garden, released as a single in March 1997. Written by band-mates Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones, the song is a reworking of a song called "Magical Kisses" that the pair wrote together long before recording began on their debut album....
" (Australian version) – 4:37 - "Violet" – 4:04
- "All Around Me" – 4:11
- "UniverseUniverse (Savage Garden song)"Universe" is the fifth single taken from Australian pop duo Savage Garden's self-titled debut album. It was released in October 1997 in Australia only, with the re-release of "To the Moon and Back" taking its place in the rest of the world. It was the final single to be released from the album in...
" – 4:20 - "A Thousand Words" – 4:00
- "Break Me Shake MeBreak Me Shake Me"Break Me Shake Me" is the fourth single released by Savage Garden from their eponymous debut album Savage Garden. The single was released exclusively in Europe and Australia in 1997, and made available in Japan during the summer of 1998. The single was never released in the United Kingdom...
" – 3:23 - "Mine" – 4:30
- "Santa MonicaSanta Monica (Savage Garden song)"Santa Monica" is a song by Australian pop duo Savage Garden, released exclusively as a single in Japan, and taken from their self-titled debut album. It was released towards the end of 1998, becoming the sixth overall single from the album. As an ode to the city of the same name in California,...
" – 3:37
- European and American edition
- "To the Moon and Back" – 5:41
- "I Want You" – 3:52
- "Truly Madly Deeply" – 4:38
- "Tears of Pearls" – 3:47
- "Universe" – 4:20
- "Carry on Dancing" – 3:45
- "Violet" – 4:04
- "Break Me Shake Me" – 3:23
- "A Thousand Words" – 4:00
- "Promises" – 3:31
- "Santa Monica" – 3:34
- Asian Tour Edition bonus disc
- "Mine" – 4:30
- "Love Can Move You" – 4:47
- "All Around Me" – 4:11
- "I'll Bet He Was Cool" – 3:58
- "I Want You" (Xenomania Punxy Mix)
- "To The Moon and Back" (Hani's Num Radio Edit)
- "Truly Madly Deeply" (Australian version)
- "Break Me, Shake Me" (Remix)
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart | 1 |
| Austrian Albums Chart | 10 |
| Canadian Albums Chart | 2 |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 41 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 1 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 1 |
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
| Finnish Albums Chart | 2 |
| French Albums Chart | 7 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 4 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 8 |
| UK Albums Chart | 2 |
| US Billboard 200 | 3 |
Certifications
| Country | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|
| Australia | 12× Platinum |
| UK | 2× Platinum |
| US | 7× Platinum |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart | 1 |
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
| Australian Albums Chart | 60 |
Personnel
- Darren Hayes – lead and background vocals
- Daniel Jones – keyboards, sequencing, additional guitars and vocals
- Terapai Richmond – drums, percussion
- Alex Hewitson – bass
- Rex Goh – guitars
- Jackie Orzaczky – strings orchestration and conducting
- Written by Darren HayesDarren HayesDarren Stanley Hayes is a UK-based Australian singer-songwriter. Hayes was the front man and singer of the pop duo Savage Garden, whose 1997 album Savage Garden peaked at No. 1 in Australia, No. 2 in United Kingdom and No. 3 in United States...
and Daniel JonesDaniel JonesDaniel Jones is the name of:* Daniel Jones , phonetician, author of The Pronunciation of English* Daniel Jones , chancellor of the University of Mississippi* Daniel Jones , Welsh composer...
. - Produced by Charles Fisher except "Santa Monica", which is produced by Savage Garden.
- Vocals arranged by Darren Hayes, Charles Fisher and Jim Bonnefond.
- Strings arranged by Daniel Jones.
- Mixed by Chris Lord-Alge except "Truly Madly Deeply", "Tears of Pearls" and "Universe", which were mixed by Mike Pela and "Santa Monica" which was mixed by Oliver Jones.
- Mastered by Vlado Meller.
- Album cover and inside photography of The Garden of Earthly DelightsThe Garden of Earthly DelightsThe Garden of Earthly Delights is a triptych painted by the early Netherlandish master Hieronymus Bosch , housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid since 1939. Dating from between 1490 and 1510, when Bosch was about 40 or 50 years old, it is his best-known and most ambitious work...
by Yelena YemchukYelena YemchukYelena Yemchuk is a professional photographer, painter and film director, best known for her work with The Smashing Pumpkins. Born in Kiev , Ukraine, her family moved to Brooklyn, New York when Yelena was in her early teens....
. - Design by Aimee Macauley.
Awards
This album fetched the duo a record of 8 awards at the ARIA Awards 1997, grabbing the Best Album, Best Single, Best Group, Song of the Year, Best Debut Album, Best Independent Release, Best Pop Release and Highest Selling Single award—the most awards ever won by a single act in one year. The following year at the ARIA Awards 1998, the album won two more awards—Highest Selling Album award and Outstanding Achievement Award. In October 2010, Savage Garden was listed in the top 40 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...
.