| Author | Message | ||
     Alex doherty Member Username: Alexthedog Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hey Everyone, My names Alex, I'm new to the message board and I was just curious to know if their are any young(er) Go-bs fans out there. I'm 22 and I've never met anyone who likes them and despite some pretty serious Go-betweens evangelising on my part, my friends remain largely disinterested. So anyone out there? | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 66 Registered: 10-2004 |
Well, I'm 30, which seems to be firmly at the younger end of the Go-Betweens fan age spectrum. But I got into them 10 years ago, back in college, so it's not like I'm brand new to them or anything. Too young to have seen them in the 80s, though. | ||
| Guy Ewald Member Username: Guy_ewald Post Number: 9 Registered: 02-2005 |
Senior Citizen here at 51. Discovered them when 'Before Hollywood' came out and marvelled as they leapt from strength to strength through the 1980's. They were my favorite band of the decade, I played them often when I deejayed and saw them on every occasion I could (though trips to the US were not too frequent). | ||
| Guy Ewald Member Username: Guy_ewald Post Number: 10 Registered: 02-2005 |
Funny though, I can remember pestering people about how great The Go-Betweens were and just failing to convert them. Some of these same people now rate the band highly. I remember one occasion at a party/music-listening-hang-out when I had my friends Mark & Lucy almost convinced, but then they focused on the title of 'The House That Jack Kerouac Built' dismissing it as corny wordplay as a way of explaining their disinterest in the band. Frustrated the hell out of me. | ||
| kuba Unregistered guest |
Hey Alex, I'm 22. Don't know any younger GB's fans than me, although some of my younger friends really liked 16 Lovers Lane and some other stuff. Cheers. | ||
| The original Michael Unregistered guest |
My daughters, aged 5 and 3, are massive fans - beat that! Alex, the eldest, favours Robert; she loves 'Caroline and I' and, especially, 'Surfing Magazines.' Could be the youngest Go-Bs fans out there! | ||
| Stuart Unregistered guest |
I'm 19 and got into the Gos from the 2 compilation CDs, and 'Bright Yellow Bright Orange' that I got at my local library. 'Oceans Apart' is the first album of thiers that I've actually bought, but I'm planning on getting the others eventually (limited uni student funds)! Cheers to the Bundaberg (Queensland) library, which has an impressively good collection for a regional city. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Unregistered guest |
My daughter is 3-and-a-half and I've already mentioned on another thread that she loves Oceans Apart (though she thinks the 'hot' mastering style is a tad gauche). | ||
| Peter Azzopardi Member Username: Pete Post Number: 100 Registered: 09-2004 |
I'm 23 Alex. I got into the band at 16 when my sister brought home the tribute CD "Right Here" and "Before Hollywood" on her weekend visits. Yes, I tried to introduce my high-school friends to the band and succeeded with one (who no longer particularly cares for them). At every subsequent school concert I managed to get at least one Go-Bs song performed by me and my musical classmates and friends. They went down okay with audiences mostly comprised of proud parents and teachers, but they probably would have preferred something they knew. I no longer bother pushing them as, not only have I repeatedly failed to win people over with numerous mix tapes and LP lendings, but I've come to get an idea of why people don't find them so great, and I'm fine with that. I used to think people just didn't get the subtlety of their writing and arrangements, for one, and I've learned to appreciate that this isn't necessarily a virtue. The only die-hard Go-Bs fans I've met have been from this MB: Padraig Collins, site administrator Jonathan Turner and his expatriate journo friend Ben Clancy, and David Nichols (who I presume still likes the band). | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 37 Registered: 11-2004 |
My girlfriend (also named Alex) is twenty and she loves the Go-Betweens. She's a Belle & Sebastian obsessive, so the transition was quite easy. All it takes is a perfect Go-Betweens mixtape. | ||
| Peter Azzopardi Member Username: Pete Post Number: 102 Registered: 09-2004 |
Donat, I'd be interested to see the contents of that mixtape. If, indeed, "all it takes is a perfect Go-Betweens mixtape," then perhaps you've solved the problem for hundreds of spotty faced, soul-searching, dateless pop-romantics the world over. Just kidding. I am interested in your tracklisting though, as I often wonder if my Go-Bs compilations have failed to impress because of my song selecting and sequencing. Late last year I made a good friend what I intended to be the ultimate 2CD Go-bs mix, complete with 14 page booklet (full-colour centrefold! Textured cardboard cover!). I don't know what he thinks of it. | ||
| Duncan H Unregistered guest |
My children (aged 5 and 3, as seems to be the trend here) are also Go-Bs fans. "Surfing Magazines" is certainly the hit song in this age group. My daughter, the other day, appeared to know all the lyrics to "Poison in the walls", much to our surprise. She likes the "eyes in the sky" line very much, and the bit about the spider in "Too much of one thing". | ||
| Pádraig Collins Unregistered guest |
Pete, you big nerd! ... I'm just jealous of your dedication though. I have long since given up on converting anyone to the Go-Betweens cause, though I do love preaching to the already converted! So, The Go-Betweens are popular amongst our 3-5 years olds. By the time they hit their teens I imagine there will be a re-released, properly mastered version of Oceans Apart to thrill them, and us, with. I've bought most Go-Betweens albums at least twice, no reason (or reas-on as Robert says) to suspect it will be any different with the mark II records. It is refreshing though that our children listen to good music. It bears out my theory that if your children listen to Britney Spears/ Gwen Stafani type crap IT'S YOUR FAULT! | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 39 Registered: 11-2004 |
Peter, now that I have to accomodate OA songs, I'll post up my cassette track listings for the C-90 asap. | ||
| Graham Twyford Member Username: Graham_twyford Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2005 |
Peter, I recently compiled a GB compilation for my 23 year old German girlfriend with a view to introducting/converting ahead of new album and upcoming gigs. She's a bit of a 'mainstreamer' but it worked! She now really likes them. Below is the winning(!) track listing. I had to leave out some of my favourites like 'Twin layers..' and 'The Clarke sisters' because they're just not conversion material. And whilst on the theme I'm 29. 1-Streets of your town 2-Bachelor kisses 3-Caroline and I 4-Love is a sign 5-Right Here 6-Magic in here 7-Spring rain 8-Cattle and Cane 9-Poison in the walls 10-A little romance 11-Heart and home 12-Quiet heart 13-I just get caught out 14-You tell me 15-To reach me 16-He lives my life 17-Bye bye pride 18-Head full of steam 19-Old Mexico 20-Surfing Magazines 21-Going blind 22-Dive for your memory | ||
| Hupperetz Member Username: Trou Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2005 |
I personnaly think that the Gobs are more convincing in concert than on record. Everytime I'm with a novice for a gig he change his mind over this band. | ||
| Todd Slater Member Username: Todd_slater Post Number: 9 Registered: 01-2005 |
I was given 'Send me a Lullaby' when I was 15 (1983) and have been on board since. Baroona Hall in Brisbane was the first time I saw them all of 16. Paul Keating thanked the 'True Believers' after the Australian election in 1993 for keeping the faith and re electing him. For me there are a lot of true believers on this message board and it's a great thing. Despite all the past saga's that the Go Betweens in 2005, are not only still around but are making some of the most vital, enjoyable, refreshingly intelligent and greatest music of their and our lives is a wondourous thing to behold. My first child (daughter) was born on Wednesday night here in Sydney and she is coming home next week to a wonderful soundtrack to her first year on this planet "Oceans Apart'. I for one can't wait for the newest and youngest Go Betweens fan to hear the sound of greatness at less than one week old. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 68 Registered: 08-2004 |
For all of us oldies, I'm 32, playing your favourite albums to your children comes at a risk. Although we feel our children are getting the best education from our collections, when they hit their teens the urge to rebel will overwhelm the majority of kids. My parents played a lot of Country and Irish folk which really didn't stand up against Kraftwerk, New Order and The Associates. The past lost out to what I saw as the future of music at the time. Only when I hit my late 20's did I start to recognise the worth of some Country music, although my "olds" turned their noses up when it came to Gram Parsons. | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 40 Registered: 11-2004 |
Peter, here's the listing of the original tape: SIDE A lee remick day for night help or something the sound of rain people say don't let him come back stop before you say it hope (postcard demo) i need two heads (bungalow bar, glasgow '80) it took you a week the clowns are in town world weary midnight to neon the girls have moved undo what you did (mosman hotel 22/4/82) a peaceful wreck (peel session 5/8/82) two steps step out by chance SIDE B that way this girl, black girl you never lived part company five words (peel session 21/10/84) to reach me palm sunday core of a flame i just get caught out spirit of a vampyre love goes on! you can't say no forever open invitation (botany session 1989) It's hard to squeeze the Go-Betweens into a C-90 cassette, but it's a great tape and sounds fantastic in the car. If I had to pair it down to add the mk 2 tracks, | ||
| Peter Azzopardi Member Username: Pete Post Number: 103 Registered: 09-2004 |
Great mix, Donat, but no "Spring Rain"? That is THE one song I know will turn people on. I'm very envious of those bootlegs you have, BTW. Graham, I've never tried to mix the new with the old Go-Bs. Good on you for trying. I guess I think of them as two different bands, so not worth confusing eras. Here's my 2CD mix. Having 160 minutes at your disposal just made what I chose to leave off more difficult. I'd like to change it myself, but it was chosen with what I thought would be more appealling to my friend in mind (there's a lot more Grant songs because I guess my subconscious deems him more accessible). DISC ONE Lee Remick Long Lonely Day The Sound of Rain People Say I Need Two Heads Hope Your Turn, My Turn Hold Your Horses It Could Be Anyone Hammer the Hammer A Peaceful Wreck Two Steps, Step Out Dusty In Here Cattle and Cane As Long As That Man O'Sand To Girl O'Sea (single) This Girl, Black Girl Emperor's Courtesan Attraction Bachelor Kisses The Old Way Out Part Company Unkind & Unwise Secondhand Furniture DISC TWO Spring Rain The Wrong Road Twin Layers of Lightning Palm Sunday Apology Accepted The Life At Hand Little Joe I Work In A Health Spa Don't Call Me GOne When People Are Dead Right Here Someone Else's Wife Bye Bye Pride You Won't Find It Again Love Goes On! Quiet Heart Streets Of Your Town Dive For Your Memory Wait Until June Rock And Roll Friend Mexican Postcard Wish I had kept lists of 60 and 90 tapes I've made in the past as my picks would have been a bit more selective and thus more interesting. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 21 Registered: 03-2005 |
I'm an oldie here, at 48. I think being accessible to the appeal of the GoBees is often a function of the right thing at the right time. Following my usual pattern, I discovered the GoBees in 1990 with the anthology Beggars Banquet put out that year. I enjoyed it and played it a lot but for no reason I can provide it never occurred to me to go buy the individual albums. Much later, in 2001, I had taken up playing guitar after having laid it down about 25 years before (on the invalid belief that I should turn to grown-up dreary things, like law school). I started rooting around in my music collection for things that would be fun to play to (rediscovering the Feelies, for example). Then I pulled out the GoBees' antho. This time I just went "wow, listen to these songs!" And have been hooked ever since. | ||
| Roger Griffin Member Username: Roger Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2004 |
I just turned 42 and got the GB bug in '85 or so hearing The Wrong Road (I think). My enthusiasm for their work (particularly RF) has never dimmed and inevitably, my 8 year old daughter has picked up on them with a radio session from '94 of RF and the CFACP lineup doing Drop with RF on piano. My daughter thrashes that track. And she bags'd the Nichols 2nd Ed. to give me for my birthday. That's my girl. Everybody...aaawwwww | ||
| Robin Connell Member Username: Robinelegia Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2005 |
I'm 27 and that seems to be the median age for those of my friends who enjoy the Go-B's. I have managed to convert a few people over to the band but all were fans of bands like Belle and Sebastian so it wasn't particularly hard. I actually got into the band a few years back while digging through the vinyl stacks looking for new/old bands to listen to at the college radio station where I work. Love at first listen really. I have converted a few people by playing them ad nauseum on the air, but it doesn't happen too often, or at least they don't call me and tell me about it. And hi, I'm new here. Okay...back to lurking. | ||
| Ian Member Username: Fins Post Number: 3 Registered: 05-2005 |
I'm 26 and got into the Go-Betweens about six years ago after hearing Cattle And Cane on a free CD. I went out and bought Liberty Belle as I heard it was their best (I still think it is) and ended up getting everything else. | ||
| tricko Member Username: Tricko Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hiya. Just want to congratulate Graham T on his "conversion tape" tracklisting. If that doesn't work, nothing will. The mystery of Go-Bs is that people either love them, or are completely disinterested. Maybe if more people hated them, they would be more successful? Oceans Apart: an ambitious, relatively straightforward, tuneful, well produced pop album. Masses of media. Rave reviews. But invisible to record buyers. Whhyyyyy? (38, no kids). | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 24 Registered: 03-2005 |
Well, it's been my lifelong observation that most people have the souls of cats. Expecting them to appreciate the Go Betweens is like expecting a cat to notice its reflection in a mirror. I hope the Go Bees are earning enough money to make a decent living and put something away. They're now at the age when that's important and Robert's raising some kids. For all the access they've given me to my own soul, I'd be happy to post some checks to Grant and Robert if I knew it would help them keep going. I think we are always going to be a relatively small family here. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 8 Registered: 04-2005 |
A couple of days ago, I had the fun task of making a 22-song GoBs CD mix for a friend who doesn't know them at all, which is surprising since she's up on most hip and/or obscure bands from the '80s and is a big Birthday Party fan. Knowing her tastes are a bit edgier, I wanted to feature a few of the band's early, more angular numbers, so 'SMAL' contributed two tracks at the expense of some more obvious choices. A couple of choices I'm questioning myself--I left off "Bachelor Kisses" because I'm not a big fan of it, prefering the 'SHF' B-sides I chose instead, and picked "Lee Remick" over "Karen." I limited myself to the first era of the band and also tried to keep it fairly balanced between RF and GM songs (11-10; they sing co-lead on one). I don't know if the friend will like it, but it makes for a nice chronological compilation, I think: Lee Remick I Need Two Heads The Girls Have Moved It Could Be Anyone Hammer The Hammer Cattle And Cane By Chance As Long As That Draining the Pool for You Newton Told Me Attraction Sweet Tasting Hours Spring Rain Twin Layers Of Lightning In The Core Of A Flame Apology Accepted The House That Jack Kerouac Built Bye Bye Pride Love Is A Sign Streets of Your Town Was There Anything I Could Do? Dive For Your Memory | ||
| Graham Twyford Member Username: Graham_twyford Post Number: 6 Registered: 05-2005 |
Good mix Kurt. Just one question, and this is going back to something Peter Azzopardi mentioned above too: why not mix 80s Go-Betweens with 2000 Go-Betweens? Peter I know you said you considered them to be 2 different bands. But surely the GBs on 'Before Hollywood' compared to '16LL' were essentially 2 totally different bands too? | ||
| Duncan Hurwood Member Username: Duncan_h Post Number: 2 Registered: 05-2005 |
When in the past I've had to introduce people to the Go-Bs (usually female people who I've liked quite a lot) I have tended to just buy them "16 Lovers Lane". As an introduction it can't be beaten. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 9 Registered: 04-2005 |
Graham, that's a good question. I mostly decided to work within the limitations of a single CD-R (a newbie probably doesn't want/need a 2-CD sampler), and to cover all I wanted to of the '78-88 years, I decided to omit the post-2000 albums. If my friend likes what she hears, Vol. 2 will definitely include some newer stuff. | ||
| Peter Azzopardi Member Username: Pete Post Number: 106 Registered: 09-2004 |
Good point, Graham. I personally think you can divide the eighties Go-Bs between the first and last three albums, and I did this on my 2CD comp. Maybe my friend prefers one over the other--I'm not sure. I didn't think he'd be interested in the new Go-Bs, though. It probably was too much information, as Kurt suggested, but I wanted it to be as sprawling as possible. You know, the 1978-1990 official comp. really achieves that effect well. Shame it's out of print as "Bellavista Terrace" is not a worthy introduction to the band, in my opinion. Duncan, I've tried 16LL on a couple of people and it had two results: a couple quite liked it but disliked earlier, edgier material; the other was that it gave people the impression they were slick and one-dimensional. The album holds up well on its own, however, but I'd pick "Before Hollywood" or "Liberty Belle" as an LP introduction as they are more varied. | ||
| M. Mark Burgess Member Username: Fortysomething Post Number: 4 Registered: 05-2005 |
I'm 44 and I gave up trying to convert people years ago. I think most people just don't have enough patience, not only with music but everything else in life. The Go-Betweens force you to slow down and experience aspects of life that you would otherwise miss. Perhaps we are all just "wired" differently? For instance, my wife and I agree about most things but she ( in her own words ) doesn't have the desire to understand what they're about. | ||
| Urban Jurgensen Member Username: Urban_j Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2005 |
If You are mr. Burgess of the Chameleons, I've had similar difficulties over the years - not completely without success - in "indoctrinating" my friends with you're "oceanic" music. So don't give up on the wife just yet... Aloha from Sweden. |