The Boys Light Up
The Boys Light Up is the debut album from Australian pub rock band Australian Crawl,[2][3] which was released in 1980 and contains the title track, "The Boys Light Up", "Indisposed", "Downhearted" and their previously released debut single "Beautiful People". The album reached #4 on the Australian album charts and remained in the charts for an unbroken 101 weeks,[4] eventually selling over 280 000 copies (five times platinum).[5]
The Boys Light Up | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 1980 | |||
Recorded | August 1979 – February 1980 | |||
Studio | AAV Studios (Melbourne, Victoria) | |||
Genre | Pop/Rock | |||
Length | 38:25 | |||
Label | EMI | |||
Producer | David Briggs | |||
Australian Crawl chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from The Boys Light Up | ||||
| ||||
The Boys Light Up 1992 Re-release | ||||
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Various band members were involved in songwriting, often with relatives or former bandmates. Rhythm guitarist Brad Robinson's father James Robinson was a Federal Arbitration Court Justice and co-wrote two songs for this album.[6] Reyne's bandmate from Spiff Rouch, Mark Hudson co-wrote their first single, "Beautiful People" (1979).[7] "Downhearted" was written by Bill McDonough and his bandmates from The Flatheads, Guy McDonough (his brother, who later joined the Crawl) and Sean Higgins.[7] Producer, David Briggs (Little River Band guitarist), co-wrote "Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama" with Reyne.[7]
The album was re-released in 1992 in CD format (see cover right below), and as a 2-CD set with follow-up album Sirocco in 1996.[3] In October 2010, Boys Light Up was listed in the top 50 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.[8]
Track listing
- "My Coffee's Gone Cold" (Simon Binks) – 3:29
- "Man Crazy" (James Reyne) – 3:39
- "Way I've Been" (Brad Robinson, James Robinson) – 2:17
- "Chinese Eyes" (James Reyne, Simon Binks) – 3:01
- "Downhearted" (Sean Higgins, Guy McDonough, William 'Bill' McDonough) – 3:09
- "Beautiful People" (James Reyne, Mark Hudson) – 2:56
- "Indisposed" (Brad Robinson, James Robinson, James Reyne, William 'Bill' McDonough) – 4:04
- "Walk My Way" (James Reyne, Brad Robinson) – 2:44
- "The Boys Light Up" (James Reyne) – 4:41
- "Boot Hill" (James Reyne, Simon Binks) – 2:36
- "Red Guitar" (Simon Binks) – 3:19
- "Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama" (James Reyne, David Briggs) – 2:30
Songwriting credits from Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).[7]
Personnel
Australian Crawl
- James Reyne – lead vocals, harmonica
- Simon Binks – lead and slide guitar, vocals
- Bill McDonough – drums, percussion, vocals
- Brad Robinson – rhythm guitar, vocals
- Paul Williams – bass, vocals
Additional musicians
- Mal Logan, Eddie Rayner, Peter Jones, Keith McKay – keyboards
- Bill Harrower – saxophone
- Derek Pellicci – percussion
- Mal Stainton – backing vocals
Additional credits
- Engineer — Ross Cockle
- Producer — David Briggs
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1980) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] | 4 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1980) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[11] | 8 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[12] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- Allmusic review
- "1996: 10th Annual ARIA Awards". ARIA. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
- Holmgren, Magnus; Warnqvist, Stefan; Draper, Oliver; McDonough, Bill. "Australian Crawl". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
- "Love is in the air Episode 5: "National Anthems"; transcript of interview with James Reyne". ABC-TV. 9 November 2003. Archived from the original on 28 January 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2008.
- "Memorable TV Oz Rock: Australian Crawl entry". Memorable TV / Little Acorns Publishing. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2008.
- "APRA". Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
- O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). 100 Best Australian Albums. Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-955-9.
- "MSN entry on The Boys Light Up". Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 432. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Kent Music Report No 341 – 5 January 1981 > Platinum and Gold Albums 1980". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 12 November 2021 – via Imgur.com.