| Author | Message | ||
     Brook Crowley Unregistered guest |
I keep coming back to the Go-betwens's web site and I love to look up the discography. But I need to ask a very, very important question. Who, out of all the Go-betweens, had the most successful solo career (either performing as a solo artist or in another band), and what one post Go-betweens sold the most copies? | ||
| Peter Azzopardi Member Username: Pete Post Number: 37 Registered: 09-2004 |
Not that I have the insider information, but if you go by the bargin and secondhand bins, at least here in Australia, Grant's first solo album "Watershed" comes up quite a lot; Robert's hardly ever. I also see "In Your Bright Ray" in the secondhand section quite a bit too, but these appearances could be more a reflection on quality over units shifted. I'd like to imagine, for the sake of poetic justice, that Cleopatra Wong outsold them all! | ||
| Cassiel Unregistered guest |
Peter, I'm puzzled; why would it be poetic justice for Cleopatra Wong to have outsold Grant and Robert? | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 45 Registered: 09-2004 |
Cassiel because we were more fabulous than the solo work of either RF or GW. | ||
| weasel Unregistered guest |
i heard a rumour that John Wilsteed had a very successful solo career selling used cars on the Marooka Magic Mile | ||
| Cichli Suite Member Username: Cichli_suite Post Number: 26 Registered: 08-2004 |
Where did you get the name Cleopatra Wong from, Lindy? | ||
| Cassiel Unregistered guest |
Thanks for clearing that up so succinctly, Lindy. You must have been very, very good indeed. Is/was your stuff available here in the UK? | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 22 Registered: 10-2004 |
to this day, i still haven't heard cleopatra wong. their albums are impossible to find here in the US. i think ebay is my only hope. grant's cds are in abundance in the bargain bins. robert's albums are always cheap when you find them, but they've become increasingly difficult to locate these days. i wonder if they'll ever reissue any of them. seems doubtful, kind of. i saw a used amanda brown cd in my local record store (amoeba) several weeks ago. they wanted $25.00 for it! must be rare or something. | ||
| Cassiel Unregistered guest |
I think the Grant abundance might have had something to do with the fact that Beggars Banquet believed, freed from the shackles of the Go-Betweens, that he would deliver hits. Particularly with Watershed. That is always easy to find, followed by Fireboy. When it became palpably obvious that no hit was to be forthcoming, I reckon fewer units were pressed of the likes of Horsebreaker and In My Bright Ray. I would wager far, far fewer copies of Danger in the Past were pressed in comparison to Watershed. I don't know about Cleopatra Wong, not having been able to find it here in the UK. I haven't heard them either. Any links to your stuff, Lindy? Or a crafty MP3 file lying around? | ||
| Paul B. Member Username: Paul_b Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2004 |
Jeff, If you see a Cleopatra Wong CD buy it. I have only ever seen one copy of Egg and have never seen a copy of Cleopatra’s Lament, then again I have also never seen a copy of Roberts ‘Baby Stones’ single. Lindy, if you have a box of CD’s under the stairs just let us all know. For a while in the early 90’s it seemed,, that Grant was being pushed as THE new Australian alt-rock singer, his mug was everywhere and so was Watershed. I’m forever seeing copies of ‘When Word Gets Around’ with those ‘promotion only-not for sale’ stickers on them. My wife (who generally cant stand the GB’s) had a copy of this album before she met me, so this at lest accounts for one second-hand copy. Grants record company at the time ‘White’ must have also sent out a copy of ‘Fireboy’ to every student newspaper along the East Australian coast, I reviewed a copy and many friends also received a copy this way, even more for the pawn shops. BTW, the Amoeba store on Haight in San Francisco would go down in my book as one of the better (second hand) record stores in the universe. | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 48 Registered: 09-2004 |
I am now looking at the video cover of the the film called Cleopatra Wong The Queen of Kung Fu. Filmed on location in Hong Kong Singapore and the Phillipines, Cleo Wong is the fastest lady in the Orient and an expert in all the intricacies of Kung Fu. "Cats may have nine lives but Cleo has ninety-nine and she uses them all to the fullest" | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 49 Registered: 09-2004 |
Yes Roger Grierson now CEO of Festival records but in the late 80's and up to the split the Oz manager for The Go-Betweens and great proponent of GW's solo work described him as the "new Mossy" reference to Ian Moss of Cold Chisel. | ||
| Peter Azzopardi Member Username: Pete Post Number: 38 Registered: 09-2004 |
Cassiel, I was being somewhat cheeky when I made that comment. I apologise. I made it in light of previous discussions regarding songwriting royalties, arranging, etc. I wish Robert and Grant all the gold in the earth. Regarding Cleopatra Wong, there was a copy of the mythical "Lament" CD on ebay late last year that had a very expensive starting price. My copy of "Egg" is a cassette (no, not a dub), though I do occassionally see the digipak CD around shops in Melbourne. I recently bought a wonderful Plug Uglies 12-inch called "Johnny Panic" after reading an inspiring article on the band in a book called "Blunt" (comprising of several artciles on some lesser known, presumably great Australian bands). For those who don't know, Plug Uglies is the band John Wilsteed joined after he got kicked out of the Go-Betweens (actually, according to his interview in "Blunt" he joined them mid-sentence, via telephone, of Grant firing him). The title song of the EP is very good indeed. As Plug Uglies released everything independently, copies are scarce (though my copy of "Johnny Panic" sat in Dixon's Fitzroy for about three years until I finally bought it, along with an earlier mini-album called "Knock Me Your Lobes" which will hopefully still be there next week). Continuing on with this bargin bin discussion, a certain visiting Go-Bs fanatic, let's call him J. T., recently picked up Amanda Brown's solo album for a cool $9.99 in JB Hi-Fi on Melbourne's Elizabeth Street. | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2004 |
Knock me your Lobes is a magnificent mini album, so you should hop to the record shop and snap it up. If you're lucky, the postcards might still be inside. NB: Cleopatra's Lament was in a cardboard sleeve if that's any help. It can be found if you look hard enough. I think I bought mine from Brashs or something when it came out. I'm sure Red Eye in Sydney have a copy of it for $89.98 or something. | ||
| Donna McLaughlin Unregistered guest |
When Grant and Robert got together and started calling themselves the Go Betweens again, after the solo careers, I did wonder about it. A freind who had worked for their Australian record company (or maybe manager, I dont' remember) told me that the sales for their combined solo albums, all of them, never came close to the sales for even a single Go Betweens album. I think that would persuade anyone they had better use the band name again. | ||
| Randy Adams Unregistered guest |
I have no doubt that going back to the GoBees moniker was a good idea moneywise. I, for one, actually like the solo albums. They give each of them more space to stretch which benefits Grant in particular since he's so prolific. Robert, on the other hand, seems to benefit from the pressure of having other people impatiently tapping their feet waiting for some output. | ||
| James Unregistered guest |
I thought Baby Stones was genius...Robert's best work. I thought watershed was OK but it was a little more of the same. I thought it interesting that Robert worked with Mic Harvey (and some other bad seeds) on Baby Stones and GW worked with Dave"slice of heaven" Dobbyn on Watershed...maybe one can draw an assumption on where they both thought their future was headed. That being said if you take the best 5 songs off Watershed and the best 5 songs off Baby Stones it would of made an awesome Gobs record. I'll never forget reading in NME how they couldn't understand why Grant would change to G.W., they wondered if it was to make him sound like a Rugby front row forward!!!!! | ||
| Peter Collins Unregistered guest |
I got all my Grant/Forster solo stuff from an excellent and huge second hand shop in Croydon, south London, whose name escapes me right now. They might just have some Cleo Wong. Excellent section on Krautrock as I recall. | ||
| Peter Azzopardi Member Username: Pete Post Number: 44 Registered: 09-2004 |
Donat, picked up "Knock Me Your Lobes" today. No postcards--according to the A4 sized paper insert they were limited to the first 200 copies--but a paper insert/press-release (which I just mentioned) anouncing the launch gig for the mini-album in question and a 12" single ply piece of glossy paper with lots of photos and track information. Oh yeah, another great record to boot! | ||
| Roger Griffin Member Username: Roger Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2004 |
James said: "if you take the best 5 songs off Watershed and the best 5 songs off Baby Stones it would of made an awesome Gobs record." You would end up with a version of Freakchild as most of these were demo'd at Botany St. But for me, Danger In The Past LP was a career high for RF, and I think it's a combination of the circumstances of its writing (fraught times in the GoBs and with his head being in Germany) and the profound influence of Mick Harvey and The Bad Seeds whose sparse playing allows these brilliant songs to resonate. | ||
| Donna M Unregistered guest |
Fpor Robert 5 songs every two years is about right, not a lot given this is his fulltime job,at least compared to other songwriters. I used to hope that would make for quality. Danger in the Past/Liberty Belle were really Robert's twin peaks. It doesn't help my disappointment when Grant and Robert always say each new album is the greatest thing they've ever done. This is just their routine publicity these days, part of the routine release schedule - every two years. And unfortunatly that just makes me not trust what they say about their new material anymore. | ||
| Roger Griffin Member Username: Roger Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2004 |
That is generally true - what you say about their promotion of their albums. But, sooner or later they would end up criticising some aspect of the recording/production of every album - with the exception of Liberty Belle and Before Hollywood, it seems. The Cocteau Twins used to go much further than that, regularly dismissing previous records as absolute awful rubbish. I used to find that a little sad for some reason. | ||
| gareth Unregistered guest |
A prime example of the 'dissing' of previous records is The House of Love. Each album was billed as 'the one we should have made as our second album'. Even a compilation of b-sides and unrelased tracks was given this high praise. If that is the case, can i have the money back on the ones that you though were sub-standard? Looking forwards to their new record though... | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 13 Registered: 11-2004 |
The Plugs MLP Knock me your Lobes is a fantastic record, Surprisingly, Steve Malkmus of Pavement is a fan. In fact, he played the video to 'The Body is Dirt' when he programmed Rage once. :E There's a Plug Uglies retrospective CD made up of the vinyl tracks, as well as live to air and rehearsal room recordings. It's meant to be out in the mid-year. Also, there'll be a string of reformation shows in Sydney around September/October with my informant John Willsteed on bass. Back to Go-Betweens matters, had Freakchild been released as their 7th album, judging by the rehearsal tapes of say "the botany sessions", then it would have included the best songs off both Grant's and Robert's debut albums. If you have a lot of time like I sometimes do, it's interesting to take the two debut solo records and make a cassette of the best 6 tracks from each and create your own bogus 7th album. Differing production values aside, it works rather well. | ||
| Peter Azzopardi Member Username: Pete Post Number: 47 Registered: 09-2004 |
Wow. Thanks for the Plug Uglies tip Donat. I've had a tremedous run of luck getting into old or defunct bands just at the right time. | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 15 Registered: 11-2004 |
What other ye olde Australian bands have you gotten into? Upsidedown House are well worth tracking down. | ||
| Peter Azzopardi Member Username: Pete Post Number: 48 Registered: 09-2004 |
Well, I got into the Go-Bs around '98, just in time for the Lost Album and reformation. More recently I got into Joel Silbersher's various groups, including God, Hoss, Tendrils and then he put out a fantastic solo album on Mick Turner's record label. There have been others bands and artists too--not neccessarily Australian--I've uncovered just prior to some kind of comeback or retrospective that I can't recall just now. I can't say I go to great lengths to dig up releases by obscure Aussie bands though; Plug Uglies were an exception because I knew those records were sitting there and their write up in that Blunt book was very glowing. That book makes me want to check out more of the Craven Fops and bands like Venom P. Stinger. An invaluable resource. | ||
| James Unregistered guest |
Roger Norris was agreat front man for the Plug Uglies...for those interested I saw Johnny Wilstead the other day and he told me that him and his wife are expecting their first child | ||
| Peter Azzopardi Member Username: Pete Post Number: 54 Registered: 09-2004 |
Thats good news for Wilsteed. I saw a clip for the Plug Uglies' "Dispomania" on an old tape of Rage the other day which was a very pleasant surprise. | ||
| Leigh Unregistered guest |
I just stumbled across this page, whilst doing a search on the Plug Uglies - it's great to see that a few people remember them! I heard the reformation and CD news a while back myself, suffice to say I was delighted. I've got "Knock Me Your Lobes" and "Johnny Panic" but have yet to track down the "Pounding Grace" 7" single and other such miscellanea... Incidentally, would anyone happen to have the "Johnny Panic" video clip? I've Got "Dipsomania" but only saw the former once, back in 1990! Email me, should you be able to help me! | ||
| Peter Azzopardi Member Username: Pete Post Number: 70 Registered: 09-2004 |
I can't help you Leigh, but here's to hoping there may be a CD-ROM component to the CD retrospective. I'm also on the look out for the "Pounding Grace" 7". | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 23 Registered: 11-2004 |
The B-side, 'Grubby Supper' is a killer track. The Pineapples from the Dawn of Time played it with Willsteed onstage when we played a tribute show to the late Michael Hiron, in Brisbane about four years ago. I'm really looking forward to the Plugs CD- it's about time! The Drunk, the Monk and the Spunk (post Plugs band with Willsteed, Roger Norris and Kathy Wemyss) CD is worth hunting down too. I also can't wait for the early Triffids comp that's coming out on WMinc too. I've only heard one early track on one of those Distant Violins compilation tapes and it sounds a little like the Gobs '79 lost album' material. | ||
| jack Unregistered guest |
I think Robert and Grant's solo records held to the same pattern of their GB work: Grant, lots of great-sounding songs, but also predictable and shallow at times; Robert, patchy, sometimes arch and self-impressed, but also flat-out brilliant. Baby Stones, Danger in the Past and maybe five songs from Country Phone are so good, you're more than happy to forgive the filler; with Grant, it can be hard to figure out which is which.... | ||
| Andy Robinson Unregistered guest |
Just had a notification that there's a copy of Cleopatra Wong "Egg" up on E-bay if anyone's interested. | ||
| martin crane Unregistered guest |
what tracks were on Baby Stones - I thought I had most things by Robert - sounds like it was an extended EP. Tracklisting anyone? And the aborted Freakchild? This was in 89 was it? Tracks? | ||
| Roger Griffin Member Username: Roger Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2004 |
Baby Stones was released as a 7" single and given to the press. The b-side is the fabulous acoustic guitar track "The Land That Time Forgot". As for the unrecorded Freakchild album a number of songs were demo'd in October 1989 by Robert and Grant including: Dear Black Dream / Danger In The Past / I Love You Still / Is This What You Call Change / Open Invitation / Dream About Tomorrow / I’ve Been Looking For Somebody / All The World Knows / Haunted House / Just Get That Straight / The Day My Eyes Came Back / Running The Risk / It Had To Be Me / Signs Of Life / How I Wish This War Was Over / Art Cinema / Nowhere By Any Other Name / House Of Snakes / I Love You Still / Running The Risk / The Man Who Died In Rapture / The River People / Drop. | ||
| Brook Crowley Member Username: 1_fan Post Number: 25 Registered: 02-2005 |
Grant McClennan did it, Robert Forster did it, Amanda Brown did it, too (well, sort of; it was a soundtrack album (Incognito)) and I think she should make a proper solo album of fresh material. As for Robert Vickers, John Willsteed and Lindy Morrison, well, I reckon they should make some solo records too. Anyone agree? | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 47 Registered: 11-2004 |
John Willsteed has peformed as a solo artist before. If you can find a copy of the ZIP EYE EAR EP, he does a song called It's a Wonderful Life. There are also tracks by Irena Luckus, Matt Mawson and Tim Grouchy. All four artists were part of a art collective known as ZIP, from 83-86 or so. It's a fantastic book and single package with some quite interesting art. I saw a copy of it at Egg Records in Newtown, Sydney over Christmas. It's probably still there! I'm sure there have been other instances, none of which I can remember at the moment. | ||
| andrew mills Member Username: Tillsley Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2005 |
Baby Stones was also given away free at the time in the UK from branches of the now-defunct Our Price records. Which is nice. Our Price also ran a UK TV advert or two in 1990 for the 78-90 compilation release. Seems bizarre thinking about that now. | ||
| Trevor Boyd Member Username: Trevor_boyd Post Number: 6 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jack Frost - 'nuff said | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 12 Registered: 04-2005 |
Re: 'Baby Stones/The Land That Time Forgot' 45. Whilst polishing my singles collection the other day, I discovered that I had 2 copies. It was a free single at the time, but I had trouble getting it, so I had contacted BB. They had (have?) some friendly people working for them and sent me a copy, along with a whole goody bag of G-bs promos, photos etc. But in the interim I had of course found it in a shop. If anyone wants it (free, I should add!), please mail me. | ||
| Matthias Treml Member Username: Matthias Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2005 |
Donat, I also have a freakish fetish for making up my own cds. Can you share with us which songs and in what order you made your 7th album from the first two solo records of Grant and Robert? Also, I've thought about continuing this trend and doing the next two solo records etc. Unfortunately, I cannot get my hands on Robert's stuff. Also, it sounds like I'd need The Land That Time Forgot for the '7th' album. Any thoughts? BTW, Lindy I love your posts. Will you drum for my band? | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2005 |
I agree with Trevor. Surely "Cousin/Angel" off Snowjob is one of the best GMc songs. If they're doing "Baby Stones", I'd really like to hear Cousin/Angel.....at the Heritage hotel Bulli July 14. You have plenty of time to practise! | ||
| david nichols Member Username: David Post Number: 49 Registered: 09-2004 |
Cleopatra Wong CD currently on ebay featuring 'Lindy Morrison from The Moodists and Dave Graney' | ||
| Trevor Boyd Member Username: Trevor_boyd Post Number: 8 Registered: 05-2005 |
Geoff is right, Cousin/Angel is a fantastic song...and Civil War Lament and Providence off the 1st Jack Frost album...and Angela Carter off the second...The Kilbey/Mclennan combination was a potent one in more ways than one...surprised they didn't cover 'The Needle and the Damage Done' | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 3 Registered: 05-2005 |
I guess they can't do Providence as Kilbey always get the Church to do that now!! | ||
| Matt Ellis Member Username: Matt_ellis Post Number: 23 Registered: 11-2004 |
I'd like to make a case for Haunted House. I'm sure I remember seeing featured in an old Go-Betweens set list. I think it's the best solo song Grant has done. Generally though its usually Roberts solo songs which they seem to perform live. Geoff: I have a wonderful MP3 of Kilbey and McLennan (without a backing band) playing Providence live on acoustic guitars. I can really imagine Robert and Grant doing this after they return from an encore (which often features the two of them without backing on acoustics). I think it's a shame that Love Is A Sign seems to have been put on the back burner on this tour (I think the song is deal for the post encore treatment as per the Astoria gig in '03) Aviatrix is my fave Jack Frost song but there is more chance of The La's bringing out a 2nd album than hearing this live. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 31 Registered: 03-2005 |
Lindy Morrison of the Moodists? Do things get that screwed up by the time they get to Perth? | ||
| cosmo vitelli Member Username: Cosmo Post Number: 5 Registered: 05-2005 |
here is my FREAKCHILD which i have been listening to in the car for the last week: Easy Come Easy Go Baby Stones Haunted House Is This What You Call Change? Open Invitation Drop Signs Of Life Danger In The Past Dream About Tomorrow River People I have only used tracks from the list of demos or GBs live set of the time.These are not my favourite solo songs and i picked the songs which sounded best together.My version of FREAKCHILD (differing production aside) sounds satisfying but i am not sure it sounds like a GBs album.Any other versions out there? | ||
| Stephen Harris Member Username: Smh Post Number: 12 Registered: 05-2005 |
The freakchild Drop is a completely different song to the one on Country Phone | ||
| cosmo vitelli Member Username: Cosmo Post Number: 7 Registered: 05-2005 |
well thats buggered my compilation then | ||
| Stephen Harris Member Username: Smh Post Number: 14 Registered: 05-2005 |
sorry cosmo - you could replace it with dear black dream, I think that's the only other of Robert's songs recorded. Roger Griffin's list of songs demo'd for Freakchild has a few songs not on my copy of The Botany Sessions - All The World Knows, Art Cinema, How I Wish This War Was Over and The Day My Eyes Came Back. I know the last from Fireboy but have never heard the others. Does anyone know why they're not part of what I assume is the regular Botany Sessions? | ||
| cosmo vitelli Member Username: Cosmo Post Number: 8 Registered: 05-2005 |
i tried dear black dream stephen and it didnt sound right with the other tracks however it would appear i have little choice if i am to keep the RF/GM symmetry | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 82 Registered: 09-2004 |
re Lindy Morrison and the Moodists (bugga) Clare Moore, Cathy Green (from X) and I were often misnamed by the press. Any of the three names seemed to do for some very diligent journos. When the three of us were together we would laugh ourselves stupid because all female drummers must have looked the same to some of the media..... | ||
| tricko Member Username: Tricko Post Number: 4 Registered: 05-2005 |
didn't plug uglies have a female drummer too? tina something? | ||
| Brook Crowley Member Username: 1_fan Post Number: 38 Registered: 02-2005 |
Has anyone an idea when another solo album by a Go-Between will come out? I mean, when the latest Go-Betweens tour is through, will Robert and/or Grant record another solo disc? And Lindy, if you respond, I suggest YOU make a solo album as well. I'll tell you what, a bluesy drum solo would sure be nice!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 46 Registered: 04-2005 |
In one of the recent interviews (maybe the one on Fresh Air, I forget), the guys said that they weren't interested in doing solo albums at this time. Once they decided to be the Go-Betweens again, that's been their sole focus. Far preferable, I'd say, than the inevitable diminishing returns of overlapping group/solo careers (witness GBV/Pollard, Roxy/Ferry, etc.). | ||
| Roger Griffin Member Username: Roger Post Number: 21 Registered: 11-2004 |
Stephen Harris - I think the tape I have is just a different compilation. That is, a different version compiled as a guide for members to learn the songs. The other differences are that my copy doesn't have the glitch in "I Love You Still" and the 2nd version of "I've Been Looking..." is not cut off at the end. For the record, "Art Cinema" is great. Tricko - she is Tina Havelock-Stevens and she also drummed for Crow and more recently, Titanics which includes Dave McCormack and at one stage, Glenn Thompson. | ||
| Snowy Member Username: Snowy Post Number: 1 Registered: 07-2005 |
I'd love Robert to release another solo album. I think bits of Danger in the Past are up there with the best Go-Betweens material, but just different enough to distinguish it. Did anyone go to the free gig at the Grays Club in 94? That was a superb night. |