MusicJournoAustralian Crawl
August 3rd 2006 06:15
Australian Crawl's first album
It was only a matter of time before I got around to this great Australian 80s rock band. Along with Midnight Oil they were one of the first proponents of iconically Australian rock. Formed in 1978 by Melbournites James Reyne and Simon Binks (both previously of the band Spiff Roach), the band would go on to have a string of hit singles and Reyne himself would continue with an illustrious solo career.
ORIGINAL LINEUP
James Reyne - vocals, piano
Simon Binks - guitar
Brad Robinson - guitar
Paul Williams - bass (also previously from Spiff Roach)
Bill McDonough - drums
The band kicked things off to a mighty start with the classic album 'The Boys Light Up' (pictured above) which spent a massive 104 weeks in the charts. Shortly after this, in 1981, they were joined by songwriter Guy McDonough on vocals and guitar, who would become an integral part of the band. Their second album, 'Sirocco', would prove almost as successful as their first, and included the hit single 'Errol'. The band then decided to try and crack the American market, even recording their next album in Hawaii, but they failed to make much headway.
On returning home to Australia in 1983, drummer Bill McDonough left the band and was replaced by John Watson. Shortly after this, in 1984, Guy McDonough died an amphetamines-related death.
The band released their final studio album 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place' in 1986. It cost nearly half a million dollars to make and was a bit of a flop. The band spent the following year on tour just to pay off the debt they had wracked up. Not surprisingly, they broke up afterwards.
James Reyne would go on to have a successful solo career, whilst Brad Robinson went into television. Robinson would also later act as manager for Reyne. He died in 1996 from Lymphoma. Guitarist Simon Binks suffered brain damage after a drink-driving related car crash in 1995. He was awarded compensation this year, some ten years later, by the NSW government due to poorly signed roadworks at the time.
DISCOGRAPHY
The Boys Light Up (1979) SINGLE
The Boys Light Up (1980) ALBUM
Downhearted (1980) SINGLE
Beautiful People (1980) SINGLE
Sirocco (1981) ALBUM
Oh No Not You Again (1981) SINGLE
Things Don't Seem (1981) SINGLE
Errol (1981) SINGLE
Sons of Beaches (1982) ALBUM
Daughters of the Northern Coast (1982) SINGLE
Shut Down (1982) SINGLE
Phalanx (1983) LIVE ALBUM
Semantics (1983) EP
Semantics (1983) U.S. ALBUM
Reckless (1983) SINGLE
Louie Louie (1984) SINGLE
Santa Claus is Back in Town (1984) SINGLE
Crawl File (1984) GREATEST HITS ALBUM (singles collected)
If This is Love (1985) SINGLE
Trouble Spot Rock (1985) SINGLE
Two Can Play (1985) SINGLE
Between a Rock and a Hard Place (1986) ALBUM
Two Hearts (1986) SINGLE
The Final Wave (1986) LIVE ALBUM (recording of last show)
Reckless 1979-1995 (1995) COMPILATION ALBUM (European greatest hits)
Boys Light Up/Sirocco (1996) DOUBLE ALBUM (re-issue)
Lost and Found (1996) COMPILATION ALBUM (rarities/previously unreleased)
Live (1998) LIVE ALBUM
More Wharf (1998) GREATEST HITS ALBUM
Australian Crawl: James Reyne, the Definitive Collection (2002) GREATEST HITS DOUBLE-ALBUM
| 62 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Simon Binks
I was not even a little drunk during my accident. I only had 2 drinks all night.
And I'm not a blithering idiot.
It was a police or NS Council set up. The PCA report didn't even have my name on it.
The truth will come out.
And it was Spiff Rouch, not Roach.
Paul only sat in an audition. But when James and I left to start A/C, I called him up as I thought he was a really cool guy.
Simon Binks
Comment by Debstar68
Beautiful People was the first single released (1979), not The Boys Light Up (1980).
Next, Santa Claus is Back in Town, was released in 1982, not 1984. The boys performed this on CountDown and Guy passed away in June 1984, which would have made it impossible for Guy performing on CountDown, if it had of been released in 1984.
Comment by Vicstar62
Just wondering if you can enlighten me as to the real reason why Australian Crawls More Wharf album is no longer in circulation or available anywhere? I would really love to purchase one but have hit brick walls all round? Thanks for any help
Vicki
Comment by simonjbinks
I don't know what's going on. EMI seem to have pulled our records due to a dispute. They put out a substandard DVD behind our backs and I'm trying to get a good one released. They don't want to spend the money on one of the most successful and profitable band they ever signed in Australia. 'm trying to get it organised.
Sorry. Just found this.
Simon.
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Simon Binks
What might help is if people were to write to EMI requesting a DVD. There are plenty of compilations out but I think we deserve our own DVD.
I was told by an EMI employee in 1996 or 97 that tapes had been destroyed by a chemical spill. That would explai why the crap Crawl/Reyne DVD was of such poor quality and in stereo, not 5.1.
Way to go with duty of care EMI.
Smon
Comment by Vicstar62
Thanks for the reply and hope you have some luck...would realllly love to purchase the More Wharf album as it brings back such wonderful memories of my youth and lazy summer days. Aussie Crawl was and is such a great Australian icon and EMI should sort out whatever problems they have and listen to the public on this one. Thanks again
Vicki