Door, Door (album)
Encyclopedia
Door, Door was the debut album by Australian rock band The Birthday Party
, released under the name "The Boys Next Door" in 1979. The Album was recorded before the band left Australia
for London
in 1980, at which point they changed their name to The Birthday Party and created the body of work for which they are most recognized. Likewise, the album is different stylistically from their later work, being less dark and slightly more poppy
. Guest saxophonist Chris Coyne had played in the band in its pre-Punk days.
The band recorded a full album in June 1978 as a four-piece. After Rowland S. Howard joined (shortly after June 1978), and they rapidly developed new material, they recorded five new songs in January 1979 which became side two of the released LP (tracks 6-10 of the CD release). Of the "missing" half-album, only a demo of the song "Sex Crimes" has ever been released (in 2005).
The album includes the single "Shivers" which became their best known song of this period. Written by Rowland S. Howard, "Shivers" was later covered by Marie Hoy, The Screaming Jets, and others. "Shivers" was also in the soundtrack of the 1980s film Dogs in Space
.
All songs credited to The Boys Next Door.
The Birthday Party (band)
The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career...
, released under the name "The Boys Next Door" in 1979. The Album was recorded before the band left Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1980, at which point they changed their name to The Birthday Party and created the body of work for which they are most recognized. Likewise, the album is different stylistically from their later work, being less dark and slightly more poppy
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. Guest saxophonist Chris Coyne had played in the band in its pre-Punk days.
The band recorded a full album in June 1978 as a four-piece. After Rowland S. Howard joined (shortly after June 1978), and they rapidly developed new material, they recorded five new songs in January 1979 which became side two of the released LP (tracks 6-10 of the CD release). Of the "missing" half-album, only a demo of the song "Sex Crimes" has ever been released (in 2005).
The album includes the single "Shivers" which became their best known song of this period. Written by Rowland S. Howard, "Shivers" was later covered by Marie Hoy, The Screaming Jets, and others. "Shivers" was also in the soundtrack of the 1980s film Dogs in Space
Dogs in Space
Dogs in Space is a 1986 Australian film set in the "little band scene" in Melbourne in 1978. It was directed by Richard Lowenstein and starred Michael Hutchence as Sam, the drug-addled frontman of the fictitious band from which the film takes its name....
.
Track listing
- "The Nightwatchman" – 2:07
- "Brave Exhibitions" – 2:27
- "Friends of my World" – 2:46
- "The Voice" – 2:55
- "Roman Roman" – 1:35
- "Somebody's Watching" – 2:39
- "After a Fashion" – 4:36
- "Dive Position" – 2:47
- "I Mistake Myself" – 4:31
- "Shivers" – 4:34
All songs credited to The Boys Next Door.
Band personnel
- Phill CalvertPhill CalvertPhill Calvert is an Australian rock drummer and producer best known for his playing in the influential post-punk band The Birthday Party with Nick Cave. His playing with the Birthday Party was noted for its use of tom-toms...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Nick CaveNick CaveNicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Mick HarveyMick HarveyMichael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Rowland S. HowardRowland S. HowardRowland Stuart Howard was an Australian rock musician, guitarist and songwriter, he played electric guitar in the post-punk group The Birthday Party. Howard died of liver cancer in December 2009, aged 50 years....
- guitar (tracks 6-10 only) - Tracy PewTracy PewTracy Pew was an Australian musician, best known as the bass player for The Birthday Party.Born in Australia, Pew moved with his family to New Zealand in 1959, returning in May 1964...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Additional personnel
- Tony CohenTony CohenTony Cohen is an acclaimed Australian record producer and sound engineer based in Melbourne, best known for his work with The Birthday Party and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in the 1980s...
- engineerEngineerAn engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,... - Chris Coyne - tenor sax
- Andrew Duffield - electronicsElectronicsElectronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
- Henry Vyhnal - violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....