•
Rating: This is the second album from the band out of Melbourne, led by Colin Hay, and it was released in 1983, two years after their previous best seller "Business As Usual," enjoying good international success with the new hit "Overkill." In reality, the album was recorded in the summer of 1982, on the road, so as not to hinder the sales of the preceding record.
The ingredients remain unchanged that have led to the success of this ensemble, with the five Aussies engaged in a sonic renewal that doesn't alter the magical formula of the anthem "Down Under," but that traces new paths of expression, and this is achieved partially. "Overkill" is the most engaging piece on the album, with a rarefied atmosphere, suitable for Colin’s reflections with "...ghosts appear and fade away far off..." The nuances of the piece are multiple, so here's the beginning with dramatic and tense sax, a simple and melancholic guitar solo, almost desperate, like the singing: truly a great piece. The second hit from the album is "It's A Mistake" a sort of anti-nuclear satire with a cheerful and restless Reggae at the same time. The upbeat track is "Upstairs In My House" with a classically structured guitar solo and Colin's poignant voice, which manages to transform every word into a feeling of freedom and celebration, without forgetting a touch of melancholy, but always shyly, without wanting to overwhelm the listener.
In this work, Ron Strykert is given space in both composition and singing, tackling an energetic piece, almost Hard Rock: "I Like To," filled with guitar, squeezed like in a studio jam, fluid and lively, with a breathless refrain that sticks in your head and a small taste of what the band can do (and will do) live: Rock 'N' Roll to entertain and have fun, nothing more. The record closes solemnly with the piece "No Restrictions" with almost Hendrix-like guitar accents at the start, which seem to float from Oceania and the sound advancing slowly, then giving way to the quick drums accompanying Colin: in this piece, he sings touching the heart, using the voice as an instrument, while the chorus is as simple as it is tasty: "Whoa-oh-oh-Whoa-oh-oh-oh" where Greg Ham's flute produces a very exotic solo, like a tropical beach. There is room for a long track similar to "Down By The Sea" from the previous album, titled "No Sign Of Yesterday," which I do not like: I find it long and lacking in bite, too self-indulgent; "Blue For You" is another Reggae story but more cheerful, not disdainful. "Settle Down My Boy" has a nice almost Spanish-style guitar solo, but otherwise has a chorus like a children's show." Moreover, even "High Wire" is rather anonymous, Rock for sure and with the sax well-present, listened to while waiting for something better that arrives with the track "Dr. Hecklyll & Ms. Jive" much more lively and vibrant.
This album, therefore, has the flaw of following the first, not being a surprise, which is the risk of music releases, of any genre, looking similar, but in this case, there are only three mediocre tracks out of a total of ten: a high average for a band that was repeating itself. In the 2003 reissue of the album, there are five bonus tracks: "Shintaro" credited to Strykert but well sung by Colin Hay, "Till The Money Runs Out," a lively piece that's nice to listen to, "Upstairs In My House" live as well as the unreleased "Fallin' Down," penned by Hay, and "Longest Night" composed by Ham. The follow-up to "Business As Usual" sells well, and a long tour in the U.S.A. is undertaken, with some dates alongside the Clash and Stray Cats, during which a concert in San Francisco (though some say Berkeley) in 1984 is filmed. Subsequently, Jerry Speiser and John Rees leave the band to its fate, which ends up being to release a third album without the trusty producer Peter McIan, but with Colin Hay and Greg Ham behind the console: the maligned "Two Hearts" of which I've only heard "Everything I Need." At this point, even Ham and Strykert leave and Colin completes the album's support tour with touring musicians. Then he dissolves the band.
Regret remains for an honest, likable band, that has delivered a non-original but fitting and sincere sound, thanks to the flair of Colin Hay, a likable character who still writes music today and has never let it go to his head. The rating is related to the sales and the group's resonance at the time.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive (04:38)
Dr. Jeckyll works late at the laboratory
Where things are not as they seem
Dr. Jeckyll wishes nothing more desperately
Than to fulfill all of his dreams
Letting loose with a scream in the dead of night
As he's breaking new ground
Trying his best to unlock all the secrets
But he's not sure what he's found
Dr. Jeckyll is his own little guinea pig
'Cos they all think he's mad
Sets his sights on the search of a lifetime
And he's never, never sad
Whoa oh, it's off to work he goes
In the name of science and all its wonders....
This is the story of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
They are a person who feels good to be alive
This is the story of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
Believes the underdog will eventually survive
Not long now till the ultimate experiment
He's breaking all the rules
He wants to cure all matter of imbalance
In this world of fools
He locks the door and he looks around nervously
He knows there's no one there
He drinks it down and waits for some reaction
To all his work and care
Hey, hey he fumbles for what to say
He loves the world except for all the people....
This is the story of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
They are a person who feels good to be alive
This is the story of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
Believes the underdog will eventually survive
Whoa oh, it's out at night he goes
He slips easily into conversation
Hey hey, he's cool in every way
Sometimes he loves to sing that old black magic
This is the story of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
They are a person who feels good to be alive
This is the story of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
Believes the underdog will eventually survive
This is the story of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
They are a person who feels good to be alive
This is the story of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
Believes the underdog will eventually survive
02 Overkill (03:46)
I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications
Especially at night
I worry over situations
I know we'll be alright
Perhaps it's just imagination
Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away
Alone between the sheets
Only brings exasperation
It's time to walk the streets
Smell the desperation
At least there's pretty lights
And though there's little variation
It nullifies the night
From overkill
Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away
Come back another day
I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications
Especially at night
I worry over situations that
I know will be alright
It's just overkill
Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away
Ghosts appear and fade away
Ghosts appear and fade away
04 Upstairs in My House (04:02)
No one knows what I can see and and what I see it pleases me on my roof
South Pacific hot sea pool, Coney Island amusement school for mispent youth
Its all in my own front yard, seagulls grazing in the park and foreshore
South-East wind pins back my ears, Luna Park lights up the years of painless days
I like it, upstairs in my house
Dealers selling junk and trash, people spend their hard earned cash on Sundays
Its quiet when they fade away, Westgate Bridge breakes up the day, into red sky
I like it, upstairs in my house, upstairs in my house
No one knows what I can see and what I see it pleases me on my roof
I like it, upstairs in my house, upstairs in my house
06 It's a Mistake (04:33)
Jump down the shelters to get away
The boys are cockin' up their guns
Tell us general, is it party time?
If it is can we all come?
Don't think that we don't know
Don't think that we're not trying
Don't think we move too slow
It's no use after crying
Saying
It's a mistake, it's a mistake
It's a mistake, it's a mistake
After the laughter has died away
And all the boys have had their fun
No surface noise now, not much to say
They've got the bad guys on the run
Don't try to say you're sorry
Don't say he drew his gun
They've gone and grabbed old Ronnie
He's not the only one
Saying
It's a mistake, it's a mistake
It's a mistake, it's a mistake
Tell us commander, what do you think?
'Cos we know that you love all that power
Is it on then, are we on the brink?
We wish you'd all throw in the towel
We'll not fade out too soon
Not in this finest hour
Whistle your favourite tune
We'll send a card and a flower
Saying
It's a mistake, it's a mistake
It's a mistake, it's a mistake
08 Blue for You (03:55)
Sometimes the sun shines
And I close the blinds
'Cos I can't stand to see the light of day
I have no use for pain
But I don't mind the rain
'Cos I can stare outside and hear the sound
Today I looked right down to the ground
With nothing in between to break my fall
I'm blue for you, blue for you
I don't know what to do
CHORUS
Gotta form a plan of attack
Can't stop to look back I know
You are so far from here
Gotta be strong in my mind
Not encroach on your time I know that
That would be wrong for sure
I must get out and about
Of that I have no doubt
There surely must be new places to go
Sights I've never seen
All with pastures green
'Cos the old ones are making me blue for you
'Cos I'm blue for you, blue for you
I don't know what to do
And I'm blue for you, blue for you
I don't know what to do
Gotta form a plan of attack
Climb back on the track I know
Bid my devil friend good-bye
Hope I'm still in the race
But I don't know whaat to chase oh no
And you're still so far from here
The sun it still shines in
And I shall close the blinds
'Cos I know I won't see you anymore, see you anymore
And I'm blue for you, blue for you
I don't know what to do
'Cos I'm blue for you, blue for you
I don't know what to do
I don't know
I could take a big jump
10 No Restrictions (04:31)
Give me no restrictions on what I do or say
Don't speak of tomorrow when it's still today
Leave me to my selfish ways, I'm well enough alone
That is what I tell myself as I stumble home
Derelict across the street in the garbage bin
Looks like he's found something neat judging by his grin
Such a long long way to go, hope I get there soon
Wish I could jump a great height and land in my front room
Whoa-oh-oh-Whoa-oh-oh
Wake up in the morning make sure I'm still alive
Percolate the coffee opens up my eyes
Hear the cricket calling switch on the TV
Sit and stare for hours and cheer Dennis Lillee
Whoa-oh-oh-Whoa-oh-oh
Through the de-restriction zone we pass a long wide load
Laugh at the reflections of cat's eyes on the road
Freeways hypnotize me, up up and away
Hope we make it home tonight
Be that as it may
Whoa-oh-oh-Whoa-oh-oh
Loading comments slowly
