We Can Get Together
Encyclopedia
"We Can Get Together" is the second single released by Australian rock band
Flowers, later known as Icehouse
. It was released in October 1980, on independent label Regular Records from their debut album
Icehouse
, two weeks before the album itself was released. It peaked at #16 on the Australian Kent Music Report
Singles Charts.
Following their signing with Chrysalis Records
in early 1981 for the European, Japanese, UK and US releases Flowers had to change their name due to legal restrictions preventing confusion with a Scottish group The Flowers. "We Can Get Together" was released in the UK on Chrysalis in 1981 under the band name Icehouse as both a 7" and 10" vinyl single and later in the US as a 7" single. A remix version by sonicanimation
was released on the Icehouse album Meltdown
in 2002.
(vocals, guitar
, bass guitar
, keyboards
, oboe
), a classically trained musician, and their main creative force; with bass
player Keith Welsh. Davies was working as a part-time cleaner at a squash court managed by Welsh's mother, they lived nearby and were both interested in forming a band. Additional musicians used by Flowers in 1978 were Anthony Smith, who was some times called Adam Hall, on keyboards and Don Brown on drums
. The band built up a strong following as a live act around the pub circuit
, providing distinctive cover version
s of songs by Roxy Music
, David Bowie
, Lou Reed
, T-Rex, Ultravox
and Brian Eno
.
By mid-1979 John Lloyd (ex-Paul Kelly and the Dots
) replaced Brown on drums and Michael Hoste replaced Smith on keyboards. After signing to the independent Regular Records label, distributed by Festival
, Flowers released their debut single in May 1980, "Can't Help Myself
", written by Davies, which hit the Australian Top 10 in June 1980. This was followed by their debut album Icehouse
, which reached #4 on the National albums chart and became one of the year's biggest selling albums in Australia. Further singles "We Can Get Together" (October, 1980) and "Walls
" (January, 1981) from Icehouse also hit the Top 20.
Following their signing with Chrysalis Records
in early 1981 for the European, Japanese, UK and US releases Flowers had to change their name due to legal restrictions preventing confusion with a Scottish group The Flowers. Therefore when this single was released on the international markets by Chrysalis, it was released under the band's new name, Icehouse.
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Flowers, later known as 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...
. It was released in October 1980, on independent label Regular Records from their debut album
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...
Icehouse
Icehouse (album)
Icehouse was the debut album released by Australian rock Synthpop band Flowers, later known as Icehouse, on the independent label Regular Records in October 1980. The title and the artist are sometimes incorrectly swapped, because the band changed their name from Flowers into Icehouse after this...
, two weeks before the album itself was released. It peaked at #16 on the Australian Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
Singles Charts.
Following their signing with Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
in early 1981 for the European, Japanese, UK and US releases Flowers had to change their name due to legal restrictions preventing confusion with a Scottish group The Flowers. "We Can Get Together" was released in the UK on Chrysalis in 1981 under the band name Icehouse as both a 7" and 10" vinyl single and later in the US as a 7" single. A remix version by sonicanimation
Sonic Animation
Sonic Animation are an Australian dance/techno musical group. They came to popular attention in 1999 with the release of their track "Theophilus Thistler"...
was released on the Icehouse album Meltdown
Meltdown (Icehouse album)
Meltdown is a remix album by Australian rock synthpop band, Icehouse with tracks remixed by Australian electronic musicians and bands including Infusion, sonicanimation and beXta. It was released in October 2002 within Australia by dIVA Records under Warner Music Australia. The single "Lay Your...
in 2002.
Background
Flowers were formed in Sydney in 1977 by Iva DaviesIva Davies
Iva Davies , is the frontman for Australian electro/new wave/rock band Icehouse.-Biography:...
(vocals, guitar
Guitar
The 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...
, bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, 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...
, oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
), a classically trained musician, and their main creative force; with bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player Keith Welsh. Davies was working as a part-time cleaner at a squash court managed by Welsh's mother, they lived nearby and were both interested in forming a band. Additional musicians used by Flowers in 1978 were Anthony Smith, who was some times called Adam Hall, on keyboards and Don Brown on drums
Drum kit
A 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 ....
. The band built up a strong following as a live act around the pub circuit
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....
, providing distinctive cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of songs by Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, T-Rex, Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
and Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
.
By mid-1979 John Lloyd (ex-Paul Kelly and the Dots
Paul Kelly (musician)
Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
) replaced Brown on drums and Michael Hoste replaced Smith on keyboards. After signing to the independent Regular Records label, distributed by Festival
Festival Records (Australia)
Festival Records was an Australian music recording and publishing company which was founded in Sydney in 1952 and operated until 2005....
, Flowers released their debut single in May 1980, "Can't Help Myself
Can't Help Myself
"Can't Help Myself" is the debut single released by Australian synthpop / rock band Flowers, later known as Icehouse. It was released in May 1980 as a 7" vinyl single on independent label, Regular Records, five months ahead of debut album Icehouse...
", written by Davies, which hit the Australian Top 10 in June 1980. This was followed by their debut album Icehouse
Icehouse (album)
Icehouse was the debut album released by Australian rock Synthpop band Flowers, later known as Icehouse, on the independent label Regular Records in October 1980. The title and the artist are sometimes incorrectly swapped, because the band changed their name from Flowers into Icehouse after this...
, which reached #4 on the National albums chart and became one of the year's biggest selling albums in Australia. Further singles "We Can Get Together" (October, 1980) and "Walls
Walls
- Other uses :*Wall's , a company that makes ice cream*Wall's sausages, a British sausage brand*Walls, an episode of Power Rangers S.P.D.- Music :*Walls EP, a 2005 album by The Red Paintings*Walls , 2007...
" (January, 1981) from Icehouse also hit the Top 20.
Following their signing with Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
in early 1981 for the European, Japanese, UK and US releases Flowers had to change their name due to legal restrictions preventing confusion with a Scottish group The Flowers. Therefore when this single was released on the international markets by Chrysalis, it was released under the band's new name, Icehouse.
10" single (UK release)
- "We Can Get Together"
- "Send Somebody" (Iva Davies, Michael Hoste)
- "Paradise Lost"
Review
- Allmusic [ link]