This Island (Eurogliders album)
Encyclopedia
This Island is the second studio album by Australian Indie pop
, rock
band Eurogliders
, and was released in May 1984 on Columbia Records
. It peaked at #4 on the Australian Kent Music Report
albums chart, it spawned their #2 hit single, "Heaven (Must Be There)
".
The album appeared on the United States, Billboard 200
charts, "Heaven" received significant airplay and peaked at #21 on the Mainstream Rock
charts and appeared on the Hot 100
.
ist and singer, Bernie Lynch and his domestic partner, UK-born vocalist, Grace Knight
, formed Eurogliders
during 1980 in Perth, Western Australia
with Crispin Akerman on guitar, Don Meharry on bass guitar
, Guy Slingerland on drums
and Amanda Vincent on keyboards
. By the end of 1981, drummer John Bennetts replaced Slingerland. They were signed by manager, Brian Peacock, to their first recording and publishing contracts with Polygram
. They recruited Melbourne bass player Geoff Rosenberg to replace Meharry.
In late 1981, Eurogliders travelled to the Philippines
capital of Manila
, to start recording their first album, Pink Suit Blue Day
, produced by Englishman Lem Lubin, which did not peak into the top 50 of the Australian Kent Music Report
albums chart. From Manila, they relocated to Sydney where several tracks were re-recorded and the entire album was remixed. They released their first single in June, "Without You", which peaked into the top 40 on the Kent Music Report singles chart. A follow-up single, "Laughing Matter" in September did not chart into the top 50.
Eurogliders changed record labels from Polygram to CBS
in 1983, they recorded "No Action" which was released as a single. The band replaced bass guitarist, Rosenberg, with Scott Saunders and then travelled to the UK in July. While there, they replaced Sauders with bass guitarist Ron Francois
, formerly of The Teardrop Explodes
and Lene Lovich
. With this line-up they recorded This Island, produced by Nigel Gray (also worked with the Police) which was released in May 1984 and peaked at #4 on the Australian albums chart. The single, "Heaven (Must Be There)
", also released in May, reached #2 on the Australian singles charts, and #65 on the US Billboard
Hot 100 chart and #21 on its Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart. The album peaked at #140 on the Billboard 200 chart
.
Additional musicians
Recording details
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Eurogliders
Eurogliders
Eurogliders were an Indie pop band formed in 1981 in Perth, Western Australia, which included mainstays Grace Knight on vocals and Bernie Lynch on guitar and vocals. The band was originally formed by Bernie Lynch and Amanda Vincent under the name Living Single. After almost a year, Grace Knight...
, and was released in May 1984 on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. It peaked at #4 on the Australian Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
albums chart, it spawned their #2 hit single, "Heaven (Must Be There)
Heaven (Must Be There)
"Heaven " is a song by Eurogliders from their album This Island. The song was released as a 7" vinyl and a 12" in 1984....
".
The album appeared on the United States, Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
charts, "Heaven" received significant airplay and peaked at #21 on the Mainstream Rock
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
charts and appeared on the Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Background
GuitarGuitar
The 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...
ist and singer, Bernie Lynch and his domestic partner, UK-born vocalist, Grace Knight
Grace Knight
Grace Knight is an English-born, Australian vocalist, saxophone player and songwriter. She was a mainstay of Indie pop group Eurogliders during the 1980s which formed in Perth. Knight later became a solo jazz singer and musician based in Sydney...
, formed Eurogliders
Eurogliders
Eurogliders were an Indie pop band formed in 1981 in Perth, Western Australia, which included mainstays Grace Knight on vocals and Bernie Lynch on guitar and vocals. The band was originally formed by Bernie Lynch and Amanda Vincent under the name Living Single. After almost a year, Grace Knight...
during 1980 in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
with Crispin Akerman on guitar, Don Meharry on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Guy Slingerland on drums
Drum kit
A 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 ....
and Amanda Vincent on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
. By the end of 1981, drummer John Bennetts replaced Slingerland. They were signed by manager, Brian Peacock, to their first recording and publishing contracts with Polygram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
. They recruited Melbourne bass player Geoff Rosenberg to replace Meharry.
In late 1981, Eurogliders travelled to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
capital of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, to start recording their first album, Pink Suit Blue Day
Pink Suit Blue Day
Pink Suit Blue Day is the debut album by Australian Indie pop, rock band Eurogliders released in 1982. Their debut single, "Without You", was released in June and peaked into the top 40 of the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart. A follow-up single, "Laughing Matter" in September did not...
, produced by Englishman Lem Lubin, which did not peak into the top 50 of the Australian Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
albums chart. From Manila, they relocated to Sydney where several tracks were re-recorded and the entire album was remixed. They released their first single in June, "Without You", which peaked into the top 40 on the Kent Music Report singles chart. A follow-up single, "Laughing Matter" in September did not chart into the top 50.
Eurogliders changed record labels from Polygram to CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in 1983, they recorded "No Action" which was released as a single. The band replaced bass guitarist, Rosenberg, with Scott Saunders and then travelled to the UK in July. While there, they replaced Sauders with bass guitarist Ron Francois
Ron François
Ron François was a founder member of The Sinceros , and former member of the London R&B band The Strutters. After the demise of The Sinceros in 1981, François joined The Teardrop Explodes and stayed with Epic Records releasing a solo single, "If You Love Me", in 1982 before departing to live in...
, formerly of The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes were an English post-punk/neo-psychedelic band formed in Liverpool in 1978. Best known for their Top Ten UK single "Reward" the group originated as a key band in the emerging Liverpool post-punk scene of the late 1970s, the group also launched the career of group frontman...
and Lene Lovich
Lene Lovich
Lene Lovich is an American singer based in England, who first gained attention as part of the New Wave music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Her most popular hit single was "Lucky Number", first released in 1979.-Early years:...
. With this line-up they recorded This Island, produced by Nigel Gray (also worked with the Police) which was released in May 1984 and peaked at #4 on the Australian albums chart. The single, "Heaven (Must Be There)
Heaven (Must Be There)
"Heaven " is a song by Eurogliders from their album This Island. The song was released as a 7" vinyl and a 12" in 1984....
", also released in May, reached #2 on the Australian singles charts, and #65 on the US Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100 chart and #21 on its Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart. The album peaked at #140 on the Billboard 200 chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
.
Track listing
Personnel
Eurogliders members- Crispin Akerman — 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...
- John Bennetts — 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 ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, cymbals - Ron FrancoisRon FrançoisRon François was a founder member of The Sinceros , and former member of the London R&B band The Strutters. After the demise of The Sinceros in 1981, François joined The Teardrop Explodes and stayed with Epic Records releasing a solo single, "If You Love Me", in 1982 before departing to live in...
— synthesiserSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Grace KnightGrace KnightGrace Knight is an English-born, Australian vocalist, saxophone player and songwriter. She was a mainstay of Indie pop group Eurogliders during the 1980s which formed in Perth. Knight later became a solo jazz singer and musician based in Sydney...
— vocals, tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, keyboards - Bernie Lynch — vocals, synthesiser
- Geoff Rosenberg — bass guitar on "No Action"
- Amanda Vincent — synthesiser, keyboards, glockenspielGlockenspielA glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
Additional musicians
- Mark Bhan — trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Mark Isham — trumpet
- Gary Kettel — percussion
- Sam McNally — synthesiser
- Mark Moffatt — drums, drum programming
Recording details
- Engineer — David Nicholas, Jim Ebdon, Nigel Gray, Pete Buhlman
- Assistant Engineer —
- Mix Engineer & Post Production — Jon Mathias, Mark Moffatt
- Assistant Mix Engineer —
- Producer — Nigel Gray
- except for "No Action" — Mark Moffatt, 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....
- except for "No Action" — Mark Moffatt, Mark Opitz