Hail (album)

Hail
Studio album by Straitjacket Fits
Released 1988 (NZ/UK/US
1989 (compilation)
Recorded The Lab Studios, Auckland, June–August 1988
Genre Alternative Rock, Dunedin Sound
Length 35:07 (original NZ release); 51:19 (1989 release)
Label Flying Nun Records (NZ)
Rough Trade (UK/US)
Producer Terry Moore
Straitjacket Fits chronology
Life In One Chord
(1987)
(EP)		 "Hail"
(1988)		 Melt
(1990)

Hail is the debut album released in 1988 by New Zealand band, Straitjacket Fits. There were three releases of the album, a New Zealand release in 1988, a United Kingdom and United States release also in 1988 and an extended album in 1989. The UK/US release featured tracks which had earlier been released in New Zealand on the Life in One Chord EP; the 1989 release contained all the songs from both the New Zealand album and the earlier EP.

Most of the songs on the album were credited to Shayne Carter/Straitjacket Fits, the exceptions being "Sparkle That Shines", "Take From The Years" and "Fabulous Things" (all Andrew Brough/Straitjacket Fits), and a cover of Leonard Cohen's song "So Long, Marianne". This was the only cover version recorded on any of Straitjacket Fits' albums.

The album was well received, though the band were disappointed that the sound of the finished release failed to capture either their live sound or the intensity of their debut EP.[1] Rip It Up described it as having "tidal waves of sweetly distorted guitar noise that spill over and arouind the vocal harmonies."[2]

The title track and "Sparkle That Shines" were both released as singles from the album.

Track listing

  1. "Telling Tales" (2:53)
  2. "Dead Heat" (3:40)
  3. "Hail" (4:05)
  4. "Only You Knew" (2:56)
  5. "Take From The Years" (3:10)
  6. "So Long, Marianne" (3:59)
  7. "Grate" (3:18)
  8. "Fabulous Things" (3:38)
  9. "Life In One Chord" (3:10)
  10. "This Taste Delight" (4:21)
  1. "Dialling A Prayer" (3:53)
  2. "All That That Brings" (4:17)
  3. "Hail" (4:05)
  4. "Sparkle That Shines" (3:57)
  5. "She Speeds" (4:05)
  6. "So Long, Marianne" (3:59)
  7. "Grate" (3:18)
  8. "Fabulous Things" (3:38)
  9. "Life In One Chord" (3:10)
  10. "This Taste Delight" (4:21)
  1. "Dialling A Prayer" (3:53)
  2. "Telling Tales" (2:53)
  3. "Dead Heat" (3:40)
  4. "Hail" (4:05)
  5. "Only You Knew" (2:56)
  6. "She Speeds" (4:05)
  7. "Sparkle That Shines" (3:57)
  8. "Take From The Years" (3:10)
  9. "So Long, Marianne" (3:59)
  10. "Grate" (3:18)
  11. "Fabulous Things" (3:38)
  12. "All That That Brings" (4:17)
  13. "Life In One Chord" (3:10)
  14. "This Taste Delight" (4:21)

References

  1. ^ Davey, T. & Puschmann, H. (1996) Kiwi rock. Dunedin: Kiwi Rock Publications. ISBN 0-473-03718-1. p. 88
  2. ^ Rip It Up, January 1989