Mars Needs Guitars!

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Mars Needs Guitars!
Mars Needs Guitars! cover
Studio album by Hoodoo Gurus
Released Flag of Australia May, 1985
Flag of the United Kingdom 1985
Flag of the United States July 7, 1987
Flag of Australia February 22, 2005
Genre Rock
Length 33:35
Label Flag of Australia Big Time
Flag of the United Kingdom Chrysalis
Flag of the United States Elektra
Flag of Australia EMI
Producer Charles Fisher, Hoodoo Gurus
Professional reviews
Hoodoo Gurus chronology
Stoneage Romeos
(1984)
Mars Needs Guitars!
(1985)
Blow Your Cool!
(1987)
Singles from Mars Needs Guitars!
  1. "Bittersweet"
    Released: June, 1985
  2. "Like Wow - Wipeout!"
    Released: October, 1985
  3. "Death Defying"
    Released: February, 1986
  4. "Poison Pen"
    Released: September, 1986

Mars Needs Guitars! was iconic[1][2] Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus' second album. The title is a reference to the 1967 science fiction film, Mars Needs Women. Singles from the album were "Bittersweet" (1985) (reached #10 on Melbourne Record Charts)[3], "Like Wow - Wipeout!" (1985, #28[3]), "Death Defying" (1986) and "Poison Pen" (1986). Mars Needs Guitars! reached No. 140 on the American Billboard 200 album charts in 1986.

The title track, "Mars Needs Guitars" (also B side of "Bittersweet" single), was written by all five Gurus[4] and lead vocals were by Brad Shepherd. All other tracks were written[4] and featured lead vocals by Dave Faulkner.[5] Hayride to Hell (1995) is a short film written and directed by former Gurus member Kimble Rendall.[6]

"When we commenced the sessions for Mars Needs Guitars! we had a brand new drummer, Mark Kingsmill who altered our lives forever with his distinctive explosive style." - Dave Faulkner.[7]

The song "Bittersweet" was used in the video game MVP Baseball 2004.

The album was re-released by EMI on the February 22, 2005 with five bonus tracks, a folder out poster and liner tracks by Wally Kempton (Even/The Meanies). Three of the bonus tracks (13 to 15) were recorded live at Selina's, Sydney, in 1986.[5]

Contents

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Original release

All written tracks by Faulkner unless otherwise indicated.[4]

  1. "Bittersweet" – 3:44
  2. "Poison Pen" – 4:09
  3. "In the Wild" – 3:07
  4. "Death Defying" – 3:21
  5. "Like Wow - Wipeout!" – 3:09
  6. "Hayride to Hell" – 3:15
  7. "Show Some Emotion" – 2:56
  8. "Other Side of Paradise" – 3:31
  9. "Mars Needs Guitars" (James Baker, Clyde Bramley, Faulkner, Mark Kingsmill, Brad Shepherd)[4] – 2:52
  10. "She" – 3:28

[edit] 2005 re-release

Songwriters same as above, with additional tracks by Faulkner unless indicated.

  1. "Bittersweet" – 3:44
  2. "Poison Pen" – 4:09
  3. "In the Wild" – 3:07
  4. "Death Defying" – 3:21
  5. "Like Wow - Wipeout!" – 3:09
  6. "Hayride to Hell" – 3:15
  7. "Show Some Emotion" – 2:56
  8. "Other Side of Paradise" – 3:31
  9. "Mars Needs Guitars" – 2:52
  10. "She" – 3:28
  11. "Bring the Hoodoo Down" - 2:54
  12. "Turkey Dinner" - 4:14
  13. "Death Ship" (live) (Faulkner, Roddy Radalj, Alan Sharples)[4] - 2:42
  14. "In the Wild" (live) - 3:29
  15. "Teenage Head" (live) (Cyril Jordan, Roy Loney)[4] - 3:02

[edit] Personnel

Credited to:[5]

[edit] Hoodoo Gurus

  • Clyde Bramley — bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Faulkner — lead vocals (except track 9), guitar, keyboards
  • Mark Kingsmill — drums, cymbals
  • Brad Shepherd — lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (track 9), harmonica (mouth harp)

[edit] Additional credits

  • John Bee — Engineer
  • Richard Allan — Illustrations
  • Charles Fisher — Producer (except track 11)
  • Don Bartley — Mastering (remastering)
  • Hoodoo Gurus — producer (track 11)

[edit] References

  1. ^ ARIA Awards 2007: About Hall of Fame. ARIA Awards. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  2. ^ Pope, Mark (2007-05-07). (PDF) "ARIA presents the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame". Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
  3. ^ a b Guest, Thomas J. (1991). Thirty Years of Hits. Collingwood, Melbourne: M. J. Maloney. ISBN 0-646-04633-0. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f Australasian Performing Right Association. APRA. Retrieved on 2007-11-30.
  5. ^ a b c Discogs entry on Mars Needs Guitars!. discogs.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-30.
  6. ^ Internet Movie Database entry on Kimble Rendall. IMDb. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
  7. ^ Faulkner, Dave (June 2000). "Pop and punishment". juliat. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.