The Honeymoon Is Over
Encyclopedia
The Honeymoon Is Over is the third studio album by Australian indie rock
band The Cruel Sea
, which was released in May 1993. The album was produced by the band, Tony Cohen
and Mick Harvey
for Red Eye Records. It peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart
and has sold over 140,000 copies. Its lead single, "Black Stick" was released ahead of the album in December 1992 and peaked at No. 25 on the related Singles Chart. The title song, "The Honeymoon Is Over", was released in July 1993 as a single and reached the Top 50. It was followed by a cover of Tony Joe White
's 1969 song, "Woman with Soul", in October which did not chart. The final single from the album, "Seems Twice", was issued in February 1994.
In 1994, the band won ARIA Awards
for 'Single of the Year' and 'Song of the Year' for "The Honeymoon Is Over", 'Album of the Year' and 'Best Group' for The Honeymoon Is Over.
, also a member of Beasts of Bourbon
, to join them on-stage. The group signed with Red Eye Records and released their debut album, Down Below, in December. Their second album, This Is Not the Way Home was issued in December 1991.
In December 1992 they released, "Black Stick" as a single, which peaked at No. 25 on the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) Singles Chart
. It was issued ahead of their third album, The Honeymoon Is Over which was produced by the band, Tony Cohen
(The Birthday Party
, Beasts of Bourbon) and Mick Harvey
(Robert Forster
, Anita Lane
) of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
. Released in May 1993, it peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart, and sold over 140,000 copies. The title song, "The Honeymoon Is Over" reached the Top 50 in August. It was followed by a cover of White's 1969 song, "Woman with Soul", which did not chart. The final single from the album, "Seems Twice", was issued in February 1994.
Late in 1994, the group toured Europe, again supporting Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. They followed with a headlining tour across Europe and to Canada. On the Triple J Hottest 100, 1993
, three tracks from The Honeymoon Is Over appeared, "The Honeymoon Is Over" at No. 9, "Black Stick" (No. 21) and "Delivery Man" (No. 95).
, The Cruel Sea won 'Single of the Year' and 'Song of the Year' for "The Honeymoon Is Over", 'Album of the Year' and 'Best Group' for The Honeymoon Is Over and received three further nominations including 'Best Cover Art' by Kristyna Higgins and Jan Manby. At an after-party, a drunken guest attacked Higgins, a professional photographer, and a fracas ensued with Perkins defending his partner. Also that night, two of their ARIA trophies were stolen.
In October 2010, The Honeymoon Is Over was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums
.
Additional musicians
Production details
Art work
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band The Cruel Sea
The Cruel Sea (band)
The Cruel Sea are an Australian indie rock band from Sydney formed in late 1987. Originally an instrumental-only band, they became more popular when fronted by vocalist Tex Perkins in addition to Jim Elliott on drums, Ken Gormly on bass guitar, Dan Rumour on guitar and James Cruickshank on guitar...
, which was released in May 1993. The album was produced by the band, Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen is an acclaimed Australian record producer and sound engineer based in Melbourne, best known for his work with The Birthday Party and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in the 1980s...
and Mick Harvey
Mick Harvey
Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
for Red Eye Records. It peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums 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 has sold over 140,000 copies. Its lead single, "Black Stick" was released ahead of the album in December 1992 and peaked at No. 25 on the related Singles Chart. The title song, "The Honeymoon Is Over", was released in July 1993 as a single and reached the Top 50. It was followed by a cover of Tony Joe White
Tony Joe White
Tony Joe White is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his 1969 hit "Polk Salad Annie"; "Rainy Night in Georgia", which he wrote but was first made popular by Brook Benton in 1970; and "Steamy Windows", a hit for Tina Turner in 1989...
's 1969 song, "Woman with Soul", in October which did not chart. The final single from the album, "Seems Twice", was issued in February 1994.
In 1994, the band won 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...
for 'Single of the Year' and 'Song of the Year' for "The Honeymoon Is Over", 'Album of the Year' and 'Best Group' for The Honeymoon Is Over.
Background
The Cruel Sea was formed in late 1987 in Sydney by Jim Elliot on drums and Dan Rumour (aka Daniel Atkins) on guitar. By late 1988, Ken Gormly had joined on bass guitar and James Cruickshank on keyboards and guitars. In 1989, the band invited vocalist Tex PerkinsTex Perkins
Tex Perkins is an Australian singer-songwriter, who is widely known for fronting the popular Australian rock-band The Cruel Sea, but has also performed with the Beasts of Bourbon, Thug, James Baker Experience, The Butcher Shop, Salamander Jim, and Tex, Don and Charlie. He has also released many...
, also a member of Beasts of Bourbon
Beasts of Bourbon
Beasts of Bourbon was an Australian alternative rock band formed in 1983, with a line-up that has changed as the band splintered and reformed several times - Beginnings :...
, to join them on-stage. The group signed with Red Eye Records and released their debut album, Down Below, in December. Their second album, This Is Not the Way Home was issued in December 1991.
In December 1992 they released, "Black Stick" as a single, which peaked at No. 25 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...
. It was issued ahead of their third album, The Honeymoon Is Over which was produced by the band, Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen is an acclaimed Australian record producer and sound engineer based in Melbourne, best known for his work with The Birthday Party and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in the 1980s...
(The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party (band)
The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career...
, Beasts of Bourbon) and Mick Harvey
Mick Harvey
Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
(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...
, Anita Lane
Anita Lane
Anita Lane is an Australian singer and songwriter who directly influenced the early 1980s European post-punk landscape.-Birthday Party:Lane was born in Melbourne, Australia in the late 1950s. Lane began singing and writing songs at age 16. She was a classmate with Rowland S. Howard who would...
) of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
. Released in May 1993, it peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart, and sold over 140,000 copies. The title song, "The Honeymoon Is Over" reached the Top 50 in August. It was followed by a cover of White's 1969 song, "Woman with Soul", which did not chart. The final single from the album, "Seems Twice", was issued in February 1994.
Late in 1994, the group toured Europe, again supporting Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. They followed with a headlining tour across Europe and to Canada. On the Triple J Hottest 100, 1993
Triple J Hottest 100, 1993
The 1993 Triple J Hottest 100, counted down in January 1994, was the first countdown of the most popular songs of the year, according to listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J...
, three tracks from The Honeymoon Is Over appeared, "The Honeymoon Is Over" at No. 9, "Black Stick" (No. 21) and "Delivery Man" (No. 95).
Professional reviews
Allmusic's Tom Demalon said the album "blends organic, rootsy instrumentation with clever, well-written lyrics to produce an album that is a joy from start to finish". Randy Krbechek of Metronews was impressed, "[It] is a treat. From the instrumental tracks (such as the North African-influenced "Orleans Stomp" and the pop-rock, "Seems Twice") to rock cuts like "Better Than Love" and "Black Stick", The Cruel Sea delivers the goods".Accolades
At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994ARIA Music Awards of 1994
The Eighth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 30 March 1994 at the State Theatre in Sydney...
, The Cruel Sea won 'Single of the Year' and 'Song of the Year' for "The Honeymoon Is Over", 'Album of the Year' and 'Best Group' for The Honeymoon Is Over and received three further nominations including 'Best Cover Art' by Kristyna Higgins and Jan Manby. At an after-party, a drunken guest attacked Higgins, a professional photographer, and a fracas ensued with Perkins defending his partner. Also that night, two of their ARIA trophies were stolen.
In October 2010, The Honeymoon Is Over 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...
.
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Australian ARIA 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... Albums Chart |
4 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart | 33 | |
Track listing
- "Orleans Stomp" (Daniel Atkins) – 2:47
- "The Honeymoon Is Over" (Atkins, Gregory Perkins (see Tex PerkinsTex PerkinsTex Perkins is an Australian singer-songwriter, who is widely known for fronting the popular Australian rock-band The Cruel Sea, but has also performed with the Beasts of Bourbon, Thug, James Baker Experience, The Butcher Shop, Salamander Jim, and Tex, Don and Charlie. He has also released many...
), James Watson) – 3:06 - "Delivery Man" (Atkins, Perkins, Watson) – 5:08
- "The Right Time" (Atkins) – 2:43
- "Black Stick" (Atkins, Perkins) – 4:58
- "Sly Din" (Atkins (aka Dan Rumour)) – 3:07
- "Naked Flame" (Atkins, Perkins, Watson) – 4:11
- "Woman with Soul" (Tony Joe WhiteTony Joe WhiteTony Joe White is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his 1969 hit "Polk Salad Annie"; "Rainy Night in Georgia", which he wrote but was first made popular by Brook Benton in 1970; and "Steamy Windows", a hit for Tina Turner in 1989...
) – 3:51 - "Seems Twice" (Atkins) – 2:46
- "Better than Love" (Atkins, Perkins, Watson) – 4:24
- "X-N-Pop" (Watson) – 2:40
- "Let's Lay Down Here and Make Love" (Atkins, Perkins, Watson) – 3:36
- "Blame It on the Moon" (Gene Thomas) – 3:38
Personnel
The Cruel Sea members- Jim Elliott – drums, percussion
- Dan Rumour – guitars, percussion
- James Cruickshank – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals, percussion
- Ken Gormly – bass guitar, percussion
- Tex PerkinsTex PerkinsTex Perkins is an Australian singer-songwriter, who is widely known for fronting the popular Australian rock-band The Cruel Sea, but has also performed with the Beasts of Bourbon, Thug, James Baker Experience, The Butcher Shop, Salamander Jim, and Tex, Don and Charlie. He has also released many...
– vocals, harmonica, guitar
Additional musicians
- Geoff Hales – percussion
- Ross HannafordRoss HannafordRoss Andrew Hannaford is an Australian musician. He is often referred to by his nickname "Hanna". Widely regarded as one of the country's finest rock guitarists, he is best known for his long collaboration with singer-songwriter Ross Wilson, which began as teenagers, and with whom he formed the...
– guitar - Mick Harvey – tambourine, xylophone
Production details
- Producer – The Cruel Sea, Tony CohenTony CohenTony Cohen is an acclaimed Australian record producer and sound engineer based in Melbourne, best known for his work with The Birthday Party and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in the 1980s...
, Mick HarveyMick HarveyMichael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave... - Mastering – Don Bartley
- Engineer – Tony Cohen
- Editing, sequencing – David Macquarie
- Studio – Metropolis and Atlantis (Melbourne)
- Planet (PerthPerth, Western AustraliaPerth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
) – "Black Stick"
- Planet (Perth
Art work
- Cover art – Kristyna Higgins, Jan Manby
- Cover photo – Kristyna Higgins
- Concept – Tex Perkins
- Photography – Tex Perkins, Kristyna Higgins
External links
- The Honeymoon Is Over at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...