Darling It Hurts

"Darling It Hurts" is a song by Australian rock group Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls released in September 1986 as the second single from their first double album, Gossip. The song, written by Kelly with lead guitarist Steve Connolly, reached No. 25 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart in October.[1][2] It was issued in 1987 on A&M Records in the United States, where it reached No. 19 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart.[3] Due to possible racist connotations the band changed its name, for international releases, to Paul Kelly and the Messengers. According to Allmusic's Mike Gagne, "Kelly's pain can be felt as he describes an ex-girlfriend of his who has turned to prostitution."[4]

"Darling It Hurts"
7" single
1986 AUS release (Mushroom Records)
Single by Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls
from the album Gossip
B-side"Preaching to the Converted"
ReleasedSeptember 1986
RecordedMay 1986
StudioTrafalgar Studios, Sydney
GenreRock
Length3:18
LabelMushroom
Songwriter(s)Paul Kelly, Steve Connolly
Producer(s)Alan Thorne, Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls singles chronology
"Before Too Long"
(1986)		 "Darling It Hurts"
(1986)		 "Leaps and Bounds"
(1987)
"Darling It Hurts"
7" single
1987 US release (A&M Records)

Background

After recording his solo album, Post in early 1985, Kelly established a full-time band in Sydney. It included Michael Armiger (bass guitar, rhythm guitar), Michael Barclay (drums, later in Weddings, Parties, Anything) and Steve Connolly (lead guitar). Bass guitarist Jon Schofield and the keyboard player Peter Bull soon joined.[5] Through a joke based on Lou Reed's song "Walk on the Wild Side", the band became known as Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls.[6][7] Armiger left and the Coloured Girls line-up stabilised in late 1985 as Barclay, Bull, Connolly and Schofield.[6][8]

By May 1986, the band entered Trafalgar Studios and released their debut 24-track double LP, Gossip in September.[8] It included remakes of four songs from Post.[9] Gossip peaked at No. 15 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart.[1] Singles from the album were "Before Too Long" which peaked at No. 15 on the related Singles Chart and "Darling It Hurts" which reached No. 25.[1] The song was written by Kelly with lead guitarist, Steve Connolly.[10]

A trimmed version of Gossip, featuring 15 tracks on a single LP, was released in the United States by A&M Records in July 1987.[8] Allmusic's Mike DeGagne noted that "[it] bursts at the seams with blustery, distinguished tunes captivating both the somberness and the intrigue thrown forward from this fine Australian storyteller".[4] "Darling It Hurts" was described as "more intricate" where "Kelly's pain can be felt as he describes an ex-girlfriend of his who has turned to prostitution".[4]

The album was co-produced by Kelly with Alan Thorne (Hoodoo Gurus, The Stems) who, according to music journalist Robert Forster (former The Go-Betweens singer-songwriter), helped the band create "a sound that will not only influence future roots-rock bands but, through its directness, sparkle and dedication to the song, will also come to be seen as particularly Australian. Ultimately, it means the records these people made together are timeless".[11]

Due to possible racist connotations the band changed its name for international releases to Paul Kelly and the Messengers.[6][7] They made a US tour, initially supporting Crowded House and then headlining, travelling across the US by bus.[6] "Darling It Hurts" peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in 1987.[3] The New York Times rock critic Jon Pareles wrote "Mr. Kelly sang one smart, catchy three-minute song after another – dozens of them – as the band played with no-frills directness" following the band's performance at the Bottom Line Club in New York.[12]

Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls' second album, Under the Sun, was released in late 1987 in Australia and New Zealand; and early 1988 in North America and Europe (under the name Paul Kelly and the Messengers).[8] On the Kent Music Report Albums Chart it reached No. 19 with the lead single "To Her Door", written by Kelly, peaking at No. 14 on the related singles chart.[1][13]

Music and lyrics

"Darling It Hurts" is about a man who realises that his former lover is a prostitute.[14] The chorus, "Darling it hurts to see you down Darlinghurst tonight", refers to Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross – at the time – a red-light district. The reference to "that man with the glad hands" relates to patrons slowing as they drive-by looking for a sex worker. Whilst "man with the glad bags" refers to dealers who sell drugs in zip-lock glad bags. Kelly indicated the title is based on artist Toby Zoates' infamous graffiti[15][16] which he saw in Darlinghurst when living in Sydney.[9]

The video, directed by Claudia Castle,[17] is shot in black-and-white showing the band performing in front of a dancing couple. Castle directed several of the band's videos, including the 1988 ARIA Music Award winning video for "To Her Door".[18]

The song was covered by Magic Dirt on the 2002 compilation album, The Women at the Well: The Songs of Paul Kelly.[19][20]

Track listing

Australian release
  1. "Darling It Hurts" (Paul Kelly, Steve Connolly)[10] – 3:18
  2. "Preaching to the Converted" (Kelly) – 4:31

US release
  1. "Darling It Hurts" (Kelly, Connolly) – 3:18
  2. "Down on My Speedway" (Kelly) – 3:22

Personnel

Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls

  • Paul Kelly – acoustic guitar, lead vocals
  • Steve Connolly – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Michael Barclay – drums, backing vocals
  • Peter Bull – keyboards, backing vocals
  • John Schofield – bass guitar, vocals

Additional musicians

  • Chris Coyne – saxophone
  • Wayne Freer – trombone

Recording details

  • Producer – Alan Thorne, Paul Kelly
  • Engineer – Alan Thorne

Charts
Chart (1986) Peak
position
Australian (Kent Music Report)[21] 25

References
General
  • McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Whammo Homepage". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 9 March 2010. Note: Archived [online] copy has limited functionality.
  • Nimmervoll, Ed. "Paul Kelly > Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  • Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara; Paul McHenry (2002) [1987]. The Who's Who of Australian Rock. Noble Park, Vic: Five Mile Press. ISBN 1-86503-891-1.[22]
Specific
  1. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  2. "Discography Paul Kelly". Australian Charts Portal. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
  3. "Paul Kelly – Charts & Awards – Billboard singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
  4. DeGagne, Mike. "Gossip > Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  5. Spencer et al, (2007), Kelly, Paul and the Coloured Girls entry. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  6. McFarlane, "'Paul Kelly' entry". Archived from the original on 30 September 2004. Retrieved 25 March 2014., retrieved 14 March 2010.
  7. Jenkins, Jeff; Ian Meldrum (2007). "31: Paul Kelly – From Little Things Big Things Grow". Molly Meldrum presents 50 years of rock in Australia. Melbourne, Vic: Wilkinson Publishing. pp. 213–219. ISBN 978-1-921332-11-1.
  8. Holmgren, Magnus. "Paul Kelly". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  9. Horsburgh, Susan (4 June 2007). "Song lines". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  10. ""Darling It Hurts" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  11. Forster, Robert (April 2009). "Thoughts in the Middle of a Career: Paul Kelly's – Songs from the South". The Monthly. 44: 62–64. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  12. Pareles, Jon (18 September 1988). "Two Rock Storytellers Hit Their Stride". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  13. ""To Her Door" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  14. Zuel, Bernard (18 September 2004). "A tale of two cities' ditties". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  15. Kelly, Sean. "Stigma Research Laboratory" (PDF). Tasmania School of Art (University of Tasmania). p. 15. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  16. Fahey, Warren. "Sydney: Brash, Bold & Beautiful". Australian Folklore Unit. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  17. Garcia, Alex S. (2008). "Paul Kelly – artist videography". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
  18. "ARIA Awards 2008: History: Winners by Artist search result for Paul Kelly". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  19. Holmgren, Magnus. "The Women at the Well:A Tribute to Paul Kelly". Australian Rock Database. Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  20. "Magic Dirt Cover Songs". The Covers Project. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  21. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 164. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  22. "Who's who of Australian rock / compiled by Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara & Paul McHenry". catalogue. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
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