It's Still Living

It's Still Living is a live album by The Birthday Party[2] recorded at The Astor Theatre in St Kilda, Victoria on 15 January 1982,[3] and released in May 1985. The initial LP release in 1985 by the band's former manager and backer Keith Glass, on his Missing Link label,[4] was not sanctioned by the band.[2][5][6] The sound quality of the recording is poor and it is marred by technical glitches (mainly the sounds of the amps crackling and shorting out).[7] In 1991 the album was re-released on the Virgin label,[8] with the LP being released on green vinyl.[9][10]

It's Still Living
Live album by
The Birthday Party
ReleasedMay 1985
Recorded15 January 1982
Astor Theatre
St Kilda, Victoria
GenrePost-punk
LabelMissing Link
Virgin
The Birthday Party chronology
Junkyard
(1982)		 It's Still Living
(1982)		 Mutiny/The Bad Seed
(1983)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

The photograph of the band was taken by Peter Milne on the Birthday Party's first trip back home after taking up residency in London. This shoot was in the studio of Victoria College in High Street, Prahran.[11] According to the album liner notes film footage of the concert was shot by Paul Goldman and Evan English (aka The Rich Kids).[3] The footage, however, has never been released.

Reception

Spin wrote, "Manic then droning, infused with secret pyrotechnic calm. Leader Nick Cave shrieks deeply bellowed frenzies from gloom and blues over the band’s patented rusty catcall guitar while apocalyptic Catholic images fly amok."[12]

Track listing
It's Still Living
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."King Ink"Nick Cave, Rowland Howard[13]5:23
2."Zoo Music Girl"Cave, Howard[13]3:06
3."The Dim Locator"Howard[13]4:14
4."She's Hit"Cave, Tracy Pew[13]6:17
5."A Dead Song"Anita Lane, Cave[13]2:42
6."Pleasure Heads"Cave[13]2:50
7."Junkyard"Cave, Howard[13]6:18
8."Blast Off"Howard[13]2:20
9."Release the Bats"Mick Harvey, Cave[13]3:14
10."Nick the Stripper"Cave[13]4:22
11."Big Jesus Trash Can"Harvey, Cave[13]3:47
12."Dead Joe"Lane, Cave[13]3:36

Personnel

Birthday Party

Credits
  • Engineer – Chris Thompson
  • Mixed – The Birthday Party, Tony Cohen
  • Artwork – James McDonald
  • Photography – Peter Milne

Chart positions
Chart (1985) Peak
position
UK Independent Albums Chart[14] 19

Release history
Region Date Label Format Catalogue
Australia May 1985 Missing Link LP ING 009
1991 CD LINK 28
Virgin LP, CD VOZ 2048

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Birthday Party'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 9 August 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  3. "The Birthday Party - 1982". From the Archives.org. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  4. "Birthday Party". NME. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  5. Robbins, Ira. "Birthday Party". Trouser Press Magazine. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  6. Clifford, Dave (21 July 1999). "Sharps & Flats". Salon. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  7. Valdivia, Victor. "It's Still Living - The Birthday Party". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  8. "It's Still Living". Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  9. "Birthday Party - Discography". Nick Cave online. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  10. "Record Listing". Mute Driver Records. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  11. "Birthday Party, Summer, 1981". National Library of Australia. 23 May 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  12. Andrea Enthal (September 1985). "Underground". Spin. No. 5. p. 34.
  13. "APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  14. Lazell, Barry. "Indie Hits: "B"". Cherry Red. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
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