| East | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Cold Chisel | ||||
| Released | June 2, 1980 | |||
| Recorded | March–April 1980 | |||
| Genre | Pub rock | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producer | Mark Opitz and Cold Chisel | |||
| Cold Chisel chronology | ||||
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| Singles from East | ||||
East was the third studio album by Australian pub rock band Cold Chisel, released in June 1980. The album peaked at No. 2 and spent 63 weeks on the national chart.[1] It was the biggest-selling Australian album release of the year. It was the only Cold Chisel album to chart in America, reaching 171 on the Billboard 200.[2]
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The cover art was inspired by the 1793 painting The Death of Marat.[3] The photo of Barnes was taken at Philip Mortlock's apartment in Elizabeth Bay, where the video for Cheap Wine was later shot.[4] Barnes had purchased the headband in Japan, and years later discovered he had worn it upside-down.[5]
The album was preceded by the release of the single "Choirgirl" that was actually recorded in October 1979 and released in November, the band's first recording with Mark Opitz who would then work on all subsequent Cold Chisel albums. The songs "Cheap Wine" and "My Baby" were also released as singles. East was the first Cold Chisel album to feature tracks written by all members of the band.
"East" was a deliberate attempt by Cold Chisel to make a more commercial album. Walker said at the time, "I go to bed with a tape recorder under my pillow. The tape loop says, 'hit single, hit single, hit single.'"[6] Allmusic descibes the album as, "their most widely accepted and artfully constructed album."[7] Producer Opitz said of the pressure for commercial success, "My brief to myself was: “I don’t want to sacrifice the credibility of the band, but I still need hits.” Of course, the band at that stage were letting me have my total way with them. Because they weren’t a successful recording band."[8]
Some of the songs were topical at the time of release. "Ita" referred to journalist and television presenter Ita Buttrose.[9] "Star Hotel" is written about the riot that took place there,[10]"Choirgirl" about abortion,[11] and "Four Walls" referenced the riots at Bathurst Gaol.[12] Barnes later said, "At the time we'd been doing a hell of a lot of gigs in jails and Don had been really into it. He'd been talking to Jack Mundey and all those people, and I don't think he knew why, but he was sort of obsessed with the penal system."[13]
The first 10,000 pressings of the album came with a bonus single, featuring a live cover of "Knocking on Heaven's Door" on the A-side, and a studio recording of "Party's Over" on the B-side.[6]
At the 1980 TV Week/Countdown Music Awards, East won a number of awards, including Best Australian Album, Best Australian Record Cover Design and Most Popular Record.[14] In October 2010, East, was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums with their 1982 album Circus Animals at No. 4.[15]
In a 2011 Triple J poll, East was voted as the 21st best Australian album by industry pundits,[16] and 42nd by station listeners.[17]
A review at Allmusic described the album as Cold Chisel's, "slickest to date," and, "More commercial without compromising on the rawness of their roots."[18] Reviewer Adrian Zupp noted the individual performances on the album, commenting, "As always, the rhythm section gymnastics of drummer Steven Prestwich and bassist Phil Small provide an alternately swift and delicate undercurrent for Ian Moss' guitar heroics, Don Walker's exuberant piano playing, and Barnes' banshee wails."[18] Zupp gave the album a rating of four and a half stars from a possible five, and summarised, "With East, Cold Chisel signaled that they had moved on up without selling out."[18]
All songs by Don Walker, except as noted
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