Best Go-Betweens Album

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What I'm really interested here is, will winner have a double-l in its title? (No parenthetical note about which records I'm leaving out.)

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Before Hollywood 12
Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express 12
16 Lovers Lane 11
Tallulah 7
I am an impossible person and don't like the Go-Betweens4
The Friends of Rachel Worth 3
Oceans Apart 3
Spring Hill Fair 1
Send Me A Lullaby 1
Bright Yellow Bright Orange 0


mrlynch, Friday, 20 April 2007 04:07 (sixteen years ago) link

Who are the Go-betweens?

Jeff Treppel, Friday, 20 April 2007 04:12 (sixteen years ago) link

Which Go-Betweens album has the best pictures of their hot chix?

I am not afraid of you and you can spank my ass, Friday, 20 April 2007 04:43 (sixteen years ago) link

I made my oldies call their racehorse Before Hollywood. And another one Spring Hill Fair.
And I'm going to be in Spring Hill tonight. WOW!


They were fucking boring stories, sorry.


But the obvious answer is 16 Lovers Lane.

Also much love for Tallulah. And Oceans Apart.

Drooone, Friday, 20 April 2007 04:50 (sixteen years ago) link

The idea of racehorses named after GoBs albums has made my day. (There wasn't already a horse called "Spring Hill Fair"?)

I think 16 LL will win though I've never really understood the high degree of love for it. Songs here and there, sure - "Quiet Heart" is beautiful - but I find it a bit same-y. I'm all for Liberty Belle.

mrlynch, Friday, 20 April 2007 04:57 (sixteen years ago) link

Jeff: Australian indie band, 1977-2006. Said to be a bit influential although now I'm starting to wonder about that.

mrlynch, Friday, 20 April 2007 05:00 (sixteen years ago) link

I assumed Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express would win and voted for a different one just so it wouldn't be a walkover.

Alba, Friday, 20 April 2007 08:29 (sixteen years ago) link

I assumed Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express might not win and voted for it under all three logins.

Groke, Friday, 20 April 2007 08:56 (sixteen years ago) link

I assumed the Groke hivemind still ruled ILM, what a fool.

Alba, Friday, 20 April 2007 09:22 (sixteen years ago) link

Before Hollywood for That Way and As Long As That. Tallulah is pretty great, as is the debut. Don't care for the rest.

Dr.C, Friday, 20 April 2007 09:50 (sixteen years ago) link

I heard a best-of CD that was okay once, but it's not up there

xhuxk, Friday, 20 April 2007 11:16 (sixteen years ago) link

HI DERE!

The Amazing Randy, Friday, 20 April 2007 13:08 (sixteen years ago) link

They're all pretty great, but I picked Tallulah, my first. Sigh...

JN$OT, Friday, 20 April 2007 18:23 (sixteen years ago) link

bump

JN$OT, Sunday, 22 April 2007 07:22 (sixteen years ago) link

The Friends of Rachel Worth, please. Although even here, that 1990 comp works best.

Kevin John Bozelka, Sunday, 22 April 2007 07:31 (sixteen years ago) link

I couldn't bring myself to vote against Liberty Belle. Robert's delivery of the line "How could anyone disapprove of me?" is the deciding factor.

mrlynch, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 00:32 (sixteen years ago) link

This thread is just too painful, in light of a rather heated discussion this weekend.

But, yeah, Tallulah, since I heard "You Tell Me" on the plane and fell in love again.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 03:26 (sixteen years ago) link

You Tell Me is the only song I really love on Tallulah. The Clarke Sisters comes close, though I prefer the SNAP session version on the Bellavista Terrace extra disc.

Alba, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 09:28 (sixteen years ago) link

I love about 3/4 of Tallulah ("Bye-bye Pride", "The Clarke Sisters", "I Just Get Caught Out" etc etc) but find the remainder to be pretty annoying ("The House That Jack Kerouac Built" etc)

mrlynch, Thursday, 26 April 2007 23:35 (sixteen years ago) link

Oh look - there are the results. They've always been far and away my favourite three of the original six albums, so I'm pleased. Spring Hill Fair is a billion times better than Tallulah, though, for Part Company alone.

Alba, Thursday, 26 April 2007 23:39 (sixteen years ago) link

Hmm. to my ears "Spirit of a Vampyre" is the best thing on Tallulah. tell the truth I don't think any of their albums are perfect, all have some clunky moment or another. but I love them nonetheless, and Roy Kasten burned me McLeannan's Fireboy, which I am enjoying right now. still, I would've voted for Tallulah had I voted in this...

whisperineddhurt, Thursday, 26 April 2007 23:46 (sixteen years ago) link

Spring Hill Fair "Bachelor Kisses--a truly great tune and Go-Betweens were a fine group. RIP, Grant McLennen

ellaguru, Thursday, 26 April 2007 23:49 (sixteen years ago) link

Hmm. to my ears "Spirit of a Vampyre" is the best thing on Tallulah. tell the truth I don't think any of their albums are perfect, all have some clunky moment or another. but I love them nonetheless

A lovely tune -- crunchy and the closest they came to Crenshaw-isms -- with a real vulgar guitar solo; and, yes, they never made a perfect album until Oceans Apart.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 27 April 2007 00:18 (sixteen years ago) link

More of a split vote than I expected but that's good. I'm surprised how poorly Spring Hill Fair did though.

mrlynch, Friday, 27 April 2007 00:38 (sixteen years ago) link

three weeks pass...

i think my three favourite albums are on the bottom of the poll. weird.

alex in mainhattan, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 08:26 (sixteen years ago) link

If I'd voted, Liberty Belle would have won. I am clearly a failure as a human being. I am also saddened that noone voted for Bright Yellow Bright Orange as it is my favourite of the reformed era.

byebyepride, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 08:33 (sixteen years ago) link

actually quite amazing that there are so few impossible persons...

alex in mainhattan, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 08:51 (sixteen years ago) link

There ought to be a law, dammit!

JN$OT, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 08:54 (sixteen years ago) link

five months pass...

It's 62 degrees. No clouds. It's a 16 Lovers Lane day.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 16 November 2007 14:49 (sixteen years ago) link

One vote for "Spring Hill Fair"?!?!? I didn't vote but would probably have voted "Before Hollywood"

Tom D., Friday, 16 November 2007 14:53 (sixteen years ago) link

Before Hollywood and Send Me A Lullaby are their best albums because they have the most punch. 16 Lovers Lane is a bit shite to be honest - it's wishy-washy, drab and sounds 80s without the quirks of Tallulah. I reckon the sentimental lyricism went down better when the music sounded awkward.

verhexen, Friday, 16 November 2007 19:45 (sixteen years ago) link

Tallulah sounds more wishy-washy and eighties than 16 Lovers Lane; it's still my favorite.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 16 November 2007 19:57 (sixteen years ago) link

It's mid-evening and still is 30 degrees celsius. I'm attracted to someone I cannot have for varying reasons. I drove her around today while she was hungover. The floorboards on my house are polished wood. I've been for a walk. The only song that can paint this mood, this feeling and this situation is Bye Bye Pride.

But I still would have voted Liberty Belle & The Black Diamond Express today and any other day except for those slightly warm spring days where the sun just sneaks through the blinds. Those are 16 Lovers Lane days.

King Boy Pato, Sunday, 18 November 2007 09:21 (sixteen years ago) link

Also, Oceans Apart needs more love because it's proof that you can grow up and still be a romantic.

King Boy Pato, Sunday, 18 November 2007 09:22 (sixteen years ago) link

Also, it's catchy as.

W4LTER, Sunday, 18 November 2007 09:29 (sixteen years ago) link

five years pass...

If I had voted, Liberty Belle would have won!

http://devonrecordclub.com/2013/07/30/the-go-betweens-liberty-belle-and-the-black-diamond-express-round-52-toms-selection/

yugi ex, Tuesday, 30 July 2013 12:16 (ten years ago) link

Ah, but if I had voted I would've gone for Before Hollywood, so it'd still be a draw (NB: I may well have voted in this poll already).

Would've gone for The Lost Album if it were an option, cos I Like Their Early Stuff Better

Just noise and screaming and no musical value at all. (Colonel Poo), Tuesday, 30 July 2013 12:44 (ten years ago) link

I also would have voted for Before Hollywood.

I wanna live like C'MOWN! people (Turrican), Tuesday, 30 July 2013 14:01 (ten years ago) link

I would also have voted Before Hollywood.

Austin, Tuesday, 30 July 2013 14:38 (ten years ago) link

one month passes...

This is great: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKxhevymXVM

yuoowemeone, Friday, 30 August 2013 12:26 (ten years ago) link

one year passes...

On Spring Hill Fair, celebrating its thirtieth birthday.

http://thequietus.com/articles/16322-the-go-betweens-spring-hill-fair-review

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 29 September 2014 21:15 (nine years ago) link

Well done, Alfred. Though you mentioned they were sober and Grant most certainly was not.

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 29 September 2014 23:32 (nine years ago) link

lol -- sober in mien. I've only read speculation about McClennan's alleged drug use.

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 29 September 2014 23:38 (nine years ago) link

Oh, Steve Kilbey has more than confirmed it. Which is funny because he and Robert don't seem like the type (whatever that means).

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 29 September 2014 23:40 (nine years ago) link

LP boxed set:

First 600 orders worldwide get a book from Grant McLennan’s personal library and a signed bookmark from Robert Forster

!!!

Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 1 October 2014 14:04 (nine years ago) link

oof that looks great ... and so expensive!

tylerw, Wednesday, 1 October 2014 14:06 (nine years ago) link

Details and all

http://dominorecordco.com/gobetweens/

Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 1 October 2014 14:22 (nine years ago) link

Hmm, gonna have to look closely at the tracklisting of the CDs, I have all the expanded reissues from around 10 years ago.

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 1 October 2014 15:01 (nine years ago) link

Yeah, tons of tracks on those. I assume there must be more than a little overlap.

Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 1 October 2014 15:45 (nine years ago) link

I'm glad Grant McLennan owned more than 600 books

sʌxihɔːl (Ward Fowler), Wednesday, 1 October 2014 15:53 (nine years ago) link

if the guest essayists are as sharp as the one I've read, then this box should be a treasure.

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 1 October 2014 15:54 (nine years ago) link

Forster: "I don't think anything has been done like this before for a band of our popularity or 'reach'. That's what I love about it - the blowing up and mythologising of the band to a size that is correct in regard to its importance, but not its record sales."

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 1 October 2014 16:02 (nine years ago) link

forster and mclennan's high self-regard has always been oddly charming

tylerw, Wednesday, 1 October 2014 16:12 (nine years ago) link

great piece on spring hill fair, btw alfred! though I like river of money.

tylerw, Wednesday, 1 October 2014 16:17 (nine years ago) link

Wonder if Grant was a big annotator of his books? I'm seriously considering a pre-order, even though the vinyl lps are about as useful to me as 8-track tapes.

doug watson, Wednesday, 1 October 2014 17:16 (nine years ago) link

thanks, tyler!

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 1 October 2014 17:17 (nine years ago) link

yr welcome.
would be great if grant's entire collection was made up of harry potter first editions.

tylerw, Wednesday, 1 October 2014 17:21 (nine years ago) link

will never own the set, but wouldn't mind just looking through the list of book titles

alfred's piece is first on my reading list though

john wahey (NickB), Wednesday, 1 October 2014 17:51 (nine years ago) link

By my estimation, this box set has at least 40 (!) songs which have never been on CD, at least in these versions - 17 of them, going by the titles, have never been released in any form. Of course, the number of non-CD tracks could be higher - some of the songs listed were b-sides or bonus tracks on the 2xCD versions of the first three albums, but some of those may not be the same versions as these.

It looks like one complete Peel session is included, two others are not, and sadly it's the one that's already been on CD. There were other radio sessions, and some of the alternate versions of album tracks may be from those.

This is sort of a bad deal for the die-hard Go-Betweens fan who bought the albums as they came out, and later bought up to the expanded CD versions - 40 "new" songs for more than 200 dollars. But the book from Grant's collection is pretty intriguing, and the bookmark from Robert is a very funny Go-Betweens type of touch.

crustaceanrebelisback, Wednesday, 1 October 2014 19:18 (nine years ago) link

three years pass...

My picks!

The Silky Veils of Alfred (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 2 September 2018 05:10 (five years ago) link

I particularly like the Tallulah bit. I tend to be dismissive of it when I'm not listening to it, precisely because of "Cut It Out". (Plus, I seem to like "Right Here" waaaay less than many.) The rest, however, is great.

Nag! Nag! Nag!, Sunday, 2 September 2018 07:03 (five years ago) link

Soto, I hate to be that guy again but just noticed you've accidentally listed 'A Bad Debt Follows You' as 'A Bad Debt Won't Leave'!

Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Sunday, 2 September 2018 09:32 (five years ago) link

two years pass...

Listening to this live album called Fountains of Youth: Live at the Town and Country Club which sounds pretty good. Seems like tyler blogged about it.

Rich Valley Girl, Poor Valley Girl (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 22 June 2021 04:42 (two years ago) link


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