Woodface
Encyclopedia
Woodface is the third studio album
by the band Crowded House
. The album was produced by Mitchell Froom
and released by Capitol
in July 1991. It features five singles "Chocolate Cake
", "Fall at Your Feet
", "Weather with You
", "Four Seasons in One Day
", and "It's Only Natural". Woodface was a major hit in Australia and New Zealand as well as giving the band their first top ten hit album in the UK. It was listed at No. 3 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums
, in October 2010.
, band-leader Neil Finn
began recording songs with his older brother and former Split Enz
band mate Tim Finn
. These songs were originally intended for a Finn Brothers
album. Once these sessions were complete, Neil teamed back up with Nick Seymour
and Paul Hester
to write and record Crowded House's third album. Capitol Records
rejected most of the new Crowded House songs, so Neil asked Tim if the band could use some of the new Finn Brothers songs. Tim agreed, on condition that he would join the band, although he has since indicated he meant this as a joke. Whatever the truth of that claim, the group that returned to the studio included Tim as a full band member.
The album was titled Woodface and was released in July 1991. It was co-produced by Mitchell Froom
and Neil Finn, and mixed by Bob Clearmountain
. Eight tracks were co-written by Neil and Tim Finn and mainly feature the brothers harmonising on lead vocals, although Neil takes the lead on "Four Seasons In One Day" and Tim sings "All I Ask", which later featured in AIDS
awareness commercials in Australia. Five other tracks were solo compositions by Neil Finn and the remaining two were written by Paul Hester, including "I'm Still Here", a hidden track. Former Beach Boys drummer Ricky Fataar
is credited on three of the Finn Brothers songs, "All I Ask", "There Goes God" and "Weather With You".
During the UK leg of the Woodface tour, Tim left the band. Multi-instrumentalist Mark Hart
, who had played some keyboards on Woodface, was recruited to replace Tim for the remaining dates. The final date of this tour at The Town & Country Club
in London was recorded and given a limited release in Australia, while individual tracks were used as B-sides for the album's singles in other countries.
Additional musicians
Album credits
"I'm Still Here" follows "How Will You Go" in track 14 as a hidden track
at 3:37 after 30 seconds silence.
The following songs were recorded by Crowded House for Woodface before Tim Finn became involved but were not included on the album. Seven appeared on the 1999 rarities collection Afterglow
. "Fields Are Full of Your Kind" and "My Legs are Gone" remain unreleased.
", was a humorous comment on American excess, which perhaps unsurprisingly failed to make the US Billboard Hot 100
Singles Chart. It did, however, peak at #2 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. Although the second single, "Fall at Your Feet", entered the lower reaches of the Hot 100 and "It's Only Natural" peaked at #5 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the poor performance of the singles from Woodface in the US reflected the band's declining poularity there. Outside the US, the singles from Woodface were more successful, especially in Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, where all five singles from the album charted.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the band Crowded House
Crowded House
Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand , Australia and the United States...
. The album was produced by Mitchell Froom
Mitchell Froom
-Career:Froom began his career as a keyboard player in Sonoma County, California. The band Crossfire featured two keyboards players; Mitchell on one side of the stage and brother David on the other with Gary Pihl on guitar...
and released by Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in July 1991. It features five singles "Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Cake (song)
"Chocolate Cake" is a 1991 song by Australasian rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album Woodface. The song was not originally intended as the lead single, as it was intended for "It's Only Natural" to be the lead track. However, despite this, "Chocolate Cake" was released as the album's lead...
", "Fall at Your Feet
Fall at Your Feet
"Fall at Your Feet" is a 1991 song by rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album Woodface. It is the only song written solely by the group's leader Neil Finn from Woodface that was released as a single as all other singles from the album were cowritten by Finn with his brother Tim Finn...
", "Weather with You
Weather with You
"Weather with You" is a 1991 song by rock group Crowded House. It was the third and most successful single released from the group's third studio album Woodface, reaching top fifty charts in six countries with a peak of #7 in the United Kingdom....
", "Four Seasons in One Day
Four Seasons in One Day
"Four Seasons in One Day" is a 1992 single released by rock group Crowded House. It was co-written by Neil Finn and brother Tim Finn, originally intended for their debut Finn Brothers album, however was moved onto the Woodface project as the two projects amalgamated. The song reached #26 on the UK...
", and "It's Only Natural". Woodface was a major hit in Australia and New Zealand as well as giving the band their first top ten hit album in the UK. It was listed at No. 3 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...
, in October 2010.
Background
During a break from Crowded House following the Canadian leg of the tour in support of their second album, Temple of Low MenTemple of Low Men
Temple of Low Men is Crowded House's second studio album, released in 1988. The album had five singles, Sister Madly, I Feel Possessed, Into Temptation, When You Come and Better Be Home Soon.-Album:...
, band-leader Neil Finn
Neil Finn
Neil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
began recording songs with his older brother and former Split Enz
Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
band mate Tim Finn
Tim Finn
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
. These songs were originally intended for a Finn Brothers
Finn Brothers
The Finn Brothers is a New Zealand Rock musical duo consisting of brothers Neil and Tim Finn. In June 1993 both members were awarded the OBE for their contribution to music....
album. Once these sessions were complete, Neil teamed back up with Nick Seymour
Nick Seymour
Nick Seymour is a musician, painter, and record producer. He is best known for being the bass guitarist in the Australasian rock group Crowded House and brother to Mark Seymour of another successful group; Hunters and Collectors.- Biography :Born in Benalla, Victoria, Australia, Seymour studied...
and Paul Hester
Paul Hester
Paul Newell Hester was an Australian musician and television personality; he was the drummer for the related bands Split Enz and Crowded House.-The early years:...
to write and record Crowded House's third album. Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
rejected most of the new Crowded House songs, so Neil asked Tim if the band could use some of the new Finn Brothers songs. Tim agreed, on condition that he would join the band, although he has since indicated he meant this as a joke. Whatever the truth of that claim, the group that returned to the studio included Tim as a full band member.
The album was titled Woodface and was released in July 1991. It was co-produced by Mitchell Froom
Mitchell Froom
-Career:Froom began his career as a keyboard player in Sonoma County, California. The band Crossfire featured two keyboards players; Mitchell on one side of the stage and brother David on the other with Gary Pihl on guitar...
and Neil Finn, and mixed by Bob Clearmountain
Bob Clearmountain
Bob Clearmountain is an award-winning American music engineer, mixer and producer. He has worked with many prominent names in music including Bruce Springsteen , The Rolling Stones , Bryan Adams , Robbie Williams Bob Clearmountain is an award-winning American music engineer, mixer and producer. He...
. Eight tracks were co-written by Neil and Tim Finn and mainly feature the brothers harmonising on lead vocals, although Neil takes the lead on "Four Seasons In One Day" and Tim sings "All I Ask", which later featured in AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
awareness commercials in Australia. Five other tracks were solo compositions by Neil Finn and the remaining two were written by Paul Hester, including "I'm Still Here", a hidden track. Former Beach Boys drummer Ricky Fataar
Ricky Fataar
Ricky Fataar is a South African multi-instrumentalist of Malay descent, who has performed as both a drummer, and a guitarist. He gained fame as an actor in the comedic television movie, The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash, a spoof on the actual history of The Beatles, and for his performance as a...
is credited on three of the Finn Brothers songs, "All I Ask", "There Goes God" and "Weather With You".
During the UK leg of the Woodface tour, Tim left the band. Multi-instrumentalist Mark Hart
Mark Hart
Mark Hart , is a multi-instrumentalist best known for his participation as a member of Supertramp and Crowded House....
, who had played some keyboards on Woodface, was recruited to replace Tim for the remaining dates. The final date of this tour at The Town & Country Club
The Town & Country Club
The Town & Country Club was a 2,100 capacity theatre-style venue in Kentish Town in North London, England. The venue was built in 1934 and was originally an art deco cinema....
in London was recorded and given a limited release in Australia, while individual tracks were used as B-sides for the album's singles in other countries.
Personnel
Crowded House- Neil Finn – guitar, vocals, keyboards
- Tim Finn – piano, guitar, vocals
- Paul Hester – drums, vocals, keyboards, percussion
- Nick Seymour – bass guitar, vocals
Additional musicians
- Ricky Fataar – drums, percussion tracks 5, 8 and 10
- Chris Wilson – harmonica tracks 1, 4 and 8
- Peter BucknellPeter BucknellPeter Wentworth Bucknell is an Australian-born classical violist and filmmaker residing in Manhattan in the United States.-Performance:...
– violin "There Goes God" - Vince Parsonage – viola "There Goes God"
- Alex AcunaAlex AcuñaAlejandro Neciosup Acuña aka Alex Acuña is a Peruvian drummer and percussionist, in the Afro-Cuban jazz style.Born in Pativilca, Peru, Acuña played in local bands from the age of ten, and moved to Lima as a teenager. At the age of eighteen he joined the band of Perez Prado, and in 1967 he moved...
– additional percussion - Geoffrey Hales – additional percussion
- Jack Mack – brass
- David HidalgoDavid HidalgoDavid Hidalgo is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his work with the band Los Lobos. He is also a member of the supergroup Los Super Seven and of the Latin Playboys, a side project band made up of some of the members of Los Lobos...
– accordion "As Sure as I Am" - Jorge Callendrelli – conductor, string arranger "All I Ask"
- Sharon Finn – backing vocals "All I Ask"
- Mitchell Froom – keyboards
- Mark Hart – additional keyboards
- Stuart Ellison – additional keyboards
Album credits
- Mitchell Froom, Neil Finn – producers
- Tchad BlakeTchad BlakeTchad Blake is an American record producer, audio engineer, mixer and musician.He has worked with numerous artists and musicians, including State Radio, Apartment 26, Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel, Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Richard Thompson, Brazilian Girls, Sheryl Crow, November 2nd, Travis, Marike...
– engineer - Paul Kosky – engineer (Periscope Studios)
- Rob Jaczko – second engineer (A&M Studios)
- Max Garcia – second engineer (Periscope Studios)
- Bob Clearmountain – mixing (A&M Studios / Record PlantRecord Plant StudiosThe Record Plant was a series of three famous recording studios which were founded by Gary Kellgren and Chris Stone, beginning in New York City in 1968. The next year, Kellgren and Stone opened a second studio in Los Angeles. In 1972, the company expanded again with a third location in Sausalito,...
) - Bob LudwigBob LudwigBob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....
– mastering (MasterdiskMasterdiskMasterdisk is an audio mastering and multimedia company in New York City, located on West 45th Street in Manhattan. They provide production services such as audio mastering, vinyl cutting and enhanced CD and DVD production....
)
- Nick Seymour, Tommy Steele – art direction
- Nick Seymour – cover painting
- Dennis Keeley – photography
- Stephen Walker – design
- Timothy Eames – letter construction
- Brenda Bentley – costumes
Track listing
All songs written by Neil Finn and Tim Finn, except where indicated.- "Chocolate CakeChocolate Cake (song)"Chocolate Cake" is a 1991 song by Australasian rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album Woodface. The song was not originally intended as the lead single, as it was intended for "It's Only Natural" to be the lead track. However, despite this, "Chocolate Cake" was released as the album's lead...
" – 4:02 - "It's Only Natural" – 3:32
- "Fall at Your FeetFall at Your Feet"Fall at Your Feet" is a 1991 song by rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album Woodface. It is the only song written solely by the group's leader Neil Finn from Woodface that was released as a single as all other singles from the album were cowritten by Finn with his brother Tim Finn...
" (N. Finn) – 3:18 - "Tall Trees" – 2:19
- "Weather with YouWeather with You"Weather with You" is a 1991 song by rock group Crowded House. It was the third and most successful single released from the group's third studio album Woodface, reaching top fifty charts in six countries with a peak of #7 in the United Kingdom....
" – 3:44 - "Whispers and Moans" (N. Finn) – 3:39
- "Four Seasons in One DayFour Seasons in One Day"Four Seasons in One Day" is a 1992 single released by rock group Crowded House. It was co-written by Neil Finn and brother Tim Finn, originally intended for their debut Finn Brothers album, however was moved onto the Woodface project as the two projects amalgamated. The song reached #26 on the UK...
" – 2:50 - "There Goes God" – 3:50
- "Fame Is" (N. Finn) – 2:23
- "All I Ask" – 3:55
- "As Sure as I Am" (N. Finn) – 2:53
- "Italian Plastic" (Paul Hester) – 3:39
- "She Goes On" (N. Finn) – 3:15
- "How Will You Go" – 3:07 / "I'm Still Here" (Hester) – 1:07
"I'm Still Here" follows "How Will You Go" in track 14 as a hidden track
Hidden track
In the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener...
at 3:37 after 30 seconds silence.
The following songs were recorded by Crowded House for Woodface before Tim Finn became involved but were not included on the album. Seven appeared on the 1999 rarities collection Afterglow
Afterglow (Crowded House album)
Afterglow is a Crowded House compilation album, released in 1999. It includes a selection of rarities and outtakes. The tracks were recorded between 1985 and 1994. Seven of the songs were originally recorded for the Woodface album before Tim Finn became involved...
. "Fields Are Full of Your Kind" and "My Legs are Gone" remain unreleased.
- "Anyone Can Tell"
- "Left Hand"
- "Dr. Livingstone"
- "Sacred Cow"
- "I Love You Dawn"
- "My Telly's Gone Bung"
- "Time Immemorial"
- "Fields Are Full of Your Kind"
- "My Legs Are Gone"
Chart performance
Album
Sales of Woodface indicated that Crowded House remained hugely popular in Australasia. Their continued diminishing success in the US was countered by increased sales in Europe where the album reached several national charts, including a top 10 hit in the UK. The album was certified platinum in Australia (x2), New Zealand (x4), Canada and the UK.| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian 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... |
2 |
| Canadian Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
20 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
1 |
| German Albums Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
26 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
13 |
| Swedish Albums Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
24 |
| Swiss Albums Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
12 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
6 |
| 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... |
83 |
Singles
"The first single, "Chocolate CakeChocolate Cake (song)
"Chocolate Cake" is a 1991 song by Australasian rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album Woodface. The song was not originally intended as the lead single, as it was intended for "It's Only Natural" to be the lead track. However, despite this, "Chocolate Cake" was released as the album's lead...
", was a humorous comment on American excess, which perhaps unsurprisingly failed to make the US Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
Singles Chart. It did, however, peak at #2 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. Although the second single, "Fall at Your Feet", entered the lower reaches of the Hot 100 and "It's Only Natural" peaked at #5 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the poor performance of the singles from Woodface in the US reflected the band's declining poularity there. Outside the US, the singles from Woodface were more successful, especially in Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, where all five singles from the album charted.
| Single | AUS 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... |
NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
UK 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 ... |
CAN 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.... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
GER Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
NED |
SWE Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
SWI Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
FRA Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Chocolate Cake Chocolate Cake (song) "Chocolate Cake" is a 1991 song by Australasian rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album Woodface. The song was not originally intended as the lead single, as it was intended for "It's Only Natural" to be the lead track. However, despite this, "Chocolate Cake" was released as the album's lead... " |
20 | 7 | 69 | 9 | — | — | 27 | — | — | — |
| "Fall at Your Feet Fall at Your Feet "Fall at Your Feet" is a 1991 song by rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album Woodface. It is the only song written solely by the group's leader Neil Finn from Woodface that was released as a single as all other singles from the album were cowritten by Finn with his brother Tim Finn... " |
31 | 24 | 17 | 27 | 75 | — | 41 | — | — | 30 |
| "Weather with You Weather with You "Weather with You" is a 1991 song by rock group Crowded House. It was the third and most successful single released from the group's third studio album Woodface, reaching top fifty charts in six countries with a peak of #7 in the United Kingdom.... " |
27 | 9 | 7 | 34 | — | 23 | 10 | 37 | 8 | — |
| "Four Seasons in One Day Four Seasons in One Day "Four Seasons in One Day" is a 1992 single released by rock group Crowded House. It was co-written by Neil Finn and brother Tim Finn, originally intended for their debut Finn Brothers album, however was moved onto the Woodface project as the two projects amalgamated. The song reached #26 on the UK... " |
47 | 33 | 26 | 68 | — | — | 50 | — | — | — |
| "It's Only Natural" | 15 | 31 | 24 | 55 | — | 59 | 55 | — | — | — |