Cold Chisel
Band members Related acts
line up 1 (1973-74) as Orange - Les Kaczmarek -- bass - Ain Moss -- guitar - Steve Prestwich (RIP 2011) -- drums, percussion - Don Walker -- keyboards
line up 2 (1974) as Cold Chisel - Les Kaczmarek -- bass - Ain Moss -- guitar - Steve Prestwich (RIP 2011)-- drums, percussion - Don Walker -- keyboards
line up 3 (1974-84) - Jim Barnes --
lead vocals., rhythm guitar
supporting musicians - Dave Blight -
harmonica
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- Jim Banres (solo efforts) - Catfish (Don Walker) - The Earls of Duke (Phil Small) - Fraternity (Jim Barnes) - Hot Ice (Phil Small) - Little River Band (Steve Prestwich) - Ian Moss (solo efforts) - Orange (Phil Small) - The Outsiders (Phil Small) - Planet (Phil Small) - Pound (Phil Small) - Steve Prestwich (solo efforts) - Tex, Don & Charlie (Don Walker) - Don Walker (solo efforts)
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Breakfast At Sweethearts Company: Elektra Catalog: 6 Country/State: Adelaide, Australia Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: includes original lyric inner sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 887 Price: $2
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Amazing how wrong first impressions can be ... I picked this one up a couple of years ago at a yard sale. I had no idea who these guys were; wasn't even sure of the band's name, but based on a cursory glance of the cover, thought it was going to be some sort of Black Sabbath wannabes. Well, unless you consider snarling Australia pub-rockers to be in the same genre as Ozzy and company, I wasn't even close.
Produced by Richard Batchens, 1979's "Breakfast At Sweethearts" was the band's sophomore album. With the band still touring in support of their debut album, the recording sessions took place on weekends and during the band's occasional breaks. The recording sessions were apparently difficult with producer Batchens and the band frequently clashing. In the end, neither party was particularly happy with the results. Featuring ten tracks largely penned by keyboardist Don Walker, the collection's often labeled as pub rock, but to my ears that isn't a particularly accurate description. Kicked along by lead singer Jim Barnes growling, tortured vocals, these guys occasionally sounded like a slightly more varied version of AC/DC (Barnes briefly replaced Bon Scott in the band Fraternity). Like that band, there was a certain dark, ominous vibe to much of their material ('Conversations, 'Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye), and 'The Door'). Walker's peeking Tom lyrics were almost always intriguing, reflecting an amazing eye for everyday details, though in many cases the plotlines were hard for an American to figure out - I've listened to tracks like 'Dresden' and 'Conversations' dozens of times and still don't have a clue. Good place to start exploring their extensive catalog.
"Breakfast
At Sweethearts" track listing:
1.) Conversations (Don Walker) - 4:32 rating: *** stars 'Conversations' started out with some melodic Walker keyboard chords, but when Small's bass and Jim Barnes growling voice kicked it, you quickly figured out this wasn't going to be a soothing ballad. Geez, these guys sounded kind of pissed off, though I have to admit the plotline was lost on my ears - life's tough in Adelaide ? YouTube has a live performance of the song. It was recorded a couple of years after the album came out, but is even tougher than the studio version. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFANpGrcNUY 2.) Merry-Go-Round (Don Walker) -3:40 rating: *** stars 'Merry-Go-Round
' had a bouncy, no-frills, almost new wave-ish feel. Commercial in a
Eddie and the Hot Rods kind of way. YouTube has a 1980 clip of
the band performing the tune at the Manly Vale Hotel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCM3siN_-qM 'Dresden'
offered up one of their prettier, more commercial melodies with a nice Ian
Moss solo. Unfortunately it was another example where the
plotline was lost on American ears ...
'Goodbye
(Astrid Goodbye)' was a raw, take-no-prisoners boogie rocker. Imagine
Sammy Hagar playing with AC/DC. The album version featured a
different mix than the earlier single version. YOuTube has a
bunch of live performances of the tune. This one seems to have been a
promotional video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMZbOVdXCFg
Unlike most of the album, the keyboard-powered ballad 'Plaza' was an autobiographical number focusing on Walker's time spent living in Sydney's seemingly shabby Plaza Hotel. Sounded like he actually had a petty good time living there.
(side
2) The
hard rocking 'Shipping Steel' was built
on a surprisingly funky Ina Moss guitar riff that kind of invaded your head
and wouldn't leave. Even with the lyrics, it was hard to figure
these songs out. As far as I can figure it out, this one was about a
long distance Australian truck driver ... Live clip courtesy of
YouTue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tnbcuzQB30
Okay,
'I'm Gonna Roll Ya' was an energetic slice of rockabilly, but with X-rated
lyrics. Live clip from a 1982 performance at Hamburg's Markthalle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMbQ5BNqMYw Hum,
do I detected a touch of cynicism in Walker's lyrics and Barnes delivery
? Not happy with the Australian music industry and
Australian fans ? Great tune with some of the most biting lyrics
you'll ever see. Built
on Phil Small's reggae bass line, 'Breakfast At Sweethearts' was apparently
another Walker autobiographical number - a tribute to Sydney's Sweethearts
Cafe. With it's people-watching lyrics, this one's always
reminded me a bit of an Australian version of John Cougar-Mellencamp.
The song was tapped as the second single. YouTube has a clip of
the band performing the song on the Australian Countdown television
program: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1q3BaetcUE
A man whose wife is supplementing family income via the oldest profession ? Again, beats me. Ian Moss' explosive end-of-song guitar solo was almost scary in it's intensity.
- 1978's 'Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye) b/w 'Georgia On My Mind' (Elektra catalog number 100078) - 1979's 'Breakfast At Sweethearts' b/w 'Plaza' (Elektra catalog number 100085) - 1979's 'Shipping Steel b/w 'Showtime' (WEA catalog number 100090)
A substantial Australian hit, in spite of an America tour, the album did nothing in the States.
For anyone interested, the band has an interesting website at: http://www.coldchisel.com/
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