Desperate (Divinyls album)
Encyclopedia
Desperate is the debut studio album
and second overall album by Australian rock band Divinyls
, released in 1983
by Chrysalis Records
. The album contains the hits "Boys in Town
", "Science Fiction
" and "Siren (Never Let You Go)
".
and fronted by lead singer Christina Amphlett
. After scoring several gigs, they were discovered by Australian director Ken Cameron. This led to Divinyls providing the entire soundtrack for his 1982 film Monkey Grip
. Amphlett was also given a supporting role in the film, playing a temperamental rock singer loosely based on herself, fronting a band played by other Divinyls members. In the film, the band performed their debut single "Boys in Town
", as well as other songs "Only Lonely", "Elsie", "Only You", "Girlfriends" and "Gonna Get You", the latter being the first appearance of them in the film. The soundtrack Music from Monkey Grip was acknowledged as a Divinyls album, and when released in 1982, it made the top twenty-five of the Australian Albums Chart.
"Boys in Town" was a success in Australia where it made the top ten, peaking at number eight in 1981. The next year "Science Fiction" was released and was also a success, peaking at number thirteen. When Desperate was released, it climbed the albums chart and eventually peaked at number five. In addition, it proved to be among the top twenty most successful albums of 1983, ranking in at number seventeen according to the Kent Music Report end of year chart.
The track listing of Desperate differed between the Australian release and the international version. Because Divinyls had already released the Monkey Grip soundtrack, which contained the songs performed in the film, in particular the single "Boys in Town", they were not included on the original Australian release of Desperate. This meant that "Science Fiction" was released as the official lead single. On the international release of Desperate, some of the songs from the Monkey Grip soundtrack were included as official album tracks, such as "Boys in Town", "Only Lonely", "Only You" and "Elsie".
The majority of the songs on Desperate were written by Christina Amphlett and/or Mark McEntee except "Siren (Never Let You Go)
", which was written by band member Bjarne Ohlin, and "I'll Make You Happy", which was a cover of the original 1966 song by The Easybeats
.
Caroline Records announced that a remastered CD version of the original Desperate album was released on February 5, 2008.
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...
and second overall album by Australian rock band Divinyls
Divinyls
Divinyls were an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980 and featuring vocalist Christina Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee. As the focal point, Amphlett performed on stage wearing a school uniform and fishnet stockings, often using an illuminated neon tube as a prop and displaying...
, released in 1983
1983 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.-January-April:*January – ZTT Records is founded.*January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization...
by 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...
. The album contains the hits "Boys in Town
Boys in Town (song)
"Boys in Town" is the debut single by Australian rock band Divinyls, released in 1981. The song was used in the 1982 film Monkey Grip and was first released on the soundtrack to the movie, along with several other Divinyls tracks written and recorded for the film including the single's b-side "Only...
", "Science Fiction
Science Fiction (song)
"Science Fiction" is a song by Australian rock, New Wave group Divinyls, which was the lead single from their first studio album, Desperate. Released in November 1982, "Science Fiction", peaked at No. 13 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart...
" and "Siren (Never Let You Go)
Siren (Never Let You Go)
"Siren " is a rock song by Australian band Divinyls. It was released in 1983 from their debut album Desperate and charted within the top fifty in Australia.-Song information:...
".
Background
Divinyls formed in 1980, founded by Mark McEnteeMark McEntee
Mark McEntee is an Australian musician, he was the guitarist for the rock band Divinyls. In May 2001, Divinyls' "Science Fiction", written by lead singer Christina Amphlett and McEntee, was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time...
and fronted by lead singer Christina Amphlett
Christina Amphlett
Christine Joy Amphlett was the lead singer of Australian rock band Divinyls. She is also known as Chrissy Amphlett.She grew up in Geelong as a singer and dancer...
. After scoring several gigs, they were discovered by Australian director Ken Cameron. This led to Divinyls providing the entire soundtrack for his 1982 film Monkey Grip
Monkey Grip (film)
Monkey Grip is a 1982 Australian drama film directed by Ken Cameron. It is based on the novel, also titled Monkey Grip, by Helen Garner...
. Amphlett was also given a supporting role in the film, playing a temperamental rock singer loosely based on herself, fronting a band played by other Divinyls members. In the film, the band performed their debut single "Boys in Town
Boys in Town (song)
"Boys in Town" is the debut single by Australian rock band Divinyls, released in 1981. The song was used in the 1982 film Monkey Grip and was first released on the soundtrack to the movie, along with several other Divinyls tracks written and recorded for the film including the single's b-side "Only...
", as well as other songs "Only Lonely", "Elsie", "Only You", "Girlfriends" and "Gonna Get You", the latter being the first appearance of them in the film. The soundtrack Music from Monkey Grip was acknowledged as a Divinyls album, and when released in 1982, it made the top twenty-five of the Australian Albums Chart.
"Boys in Town" was a success in Australia where it made the top ten, peaking at number eight in 1981. The next year "Science Fiction" was released and was also a success, peaking at number thirteen. When Desperate was released, it climbed the albums chart and eventually peaked at number five. In addition, it proved to be among the top twenty most successful albums of 1983, ranking in at number seventeen according to the Kent Music Report end of year chart.
The track listing of Desperate differed between the Australian release and the international version. Because Divinyls had already released the Monkey Grip soundtrack, which contained the songs performed in the film, in particular the single "Boys in Town", they were not included on the original Australian release of Desperate. This meant that "Science Fiction" was released as the official lead single. On the international release of Desperate, some of the songs from the Monkey Grip soundtrack were included as official album tracks, such as "Boys in Town", "Only Lonely", "Only You" and "Elsie".
The majority of the songs on Desperate were written by Christina Amphlett and/or Mark McEntee except "Siren (Never Let You Go)
Siren (Never Let You Go)
"Siren " is a rock song by Australian band Divinyls. It was released in 1983 from their debut album Desperate and charted within the top fifty in Australia.-Song information:...
", which was written by band member Bjarne Ohlin, and "I'll Make You Happy", which was a cover of the original 1966 song by The Easybeats
The Easybeats
The Easybeats were an Australian rock and roll band. They formed in Sydney in late 1964 and broke up at the end of 1969. They are regarded as the greatest Australian pop band of the 1960s, and were the first Australian rock and roll act to score an international pop hit with their 1966 single...
.
Caroline Records announced that a remastered CD version of the original Desperate album was released on February 5, 2008.
Track listing (Australian release)
Track listing (International release)
Charts
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart | 5 |
End of Year Charts
| End of Year Chart (1983) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart | 17 |
Personnel
- Christina AmphlettChristina AmphlettChristine Joy Amphlett was the lead singer of Australian rock band Divinyls. She is also known as Chrissy Amphlett.She grew up in Geelong as a singer and dancer...
— vocals, writer - Mark McEnteeMark McEnteeMark McEntee is an Australian musician, he was the guitarist for the rock band Divinyls. In May 2001, Divinyls' "Science Fiction", written by lead singer Christina Amphlett and McEntee, was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time...
— vocals, guitar, writer - Bjarne Ohlin — vocals, guitar, keyboards, writer
- Richard HarveyRichard HarveyRichard Harvey is a BAFTA Award–winning British musician and composer. He is best known for his film and television soundtracks...
— drums - Rick Grossman — bass
- Bob ClearmountainBob ClearmountainBob 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...
— mixer - Jeff Hendrickson — engineer
- Malcolm Pollack — engineer
- Mark OpitzMark OpitzMark Opitz, started his career with ABC TV in Sydney in the 1970’s and has since gone on to work with many of the great Australian musicians that have graced both the Australian and international music charts for the past 25 years....
— producer