Daddy's Highway

Daddy's Highway
Studio album by The Bats
Released 1987
Recorded 1986-1987 at Reel Time in Glasgow, Scotland and Nightshift in Christchurch, New Zealand
Genre Dunedin Sound, Indie pop, Alternative rock
Length 51:56
Label Flying Nun Records
Producer The Bats and John Milton
The Bats chronology

Made Up in Blue
(1986)
Daddy's Highway
(1987)
4 Songs
(1988)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Robert Christgau B+ [2]

Daddy's Highway is the 1987 debut album by New Zealand indie rock group The Bats.

Recording and release

By 1986, The Bats had released three critically acclaimed EPs, but still had not released a full-length album. While touring in the U.K. that year, an acquaintance in Glasgow offered the use of his home 8 track studio. Half of the tracks for what would become Daddy's Highway were recorded there.[3]

Upon their return to New Zealand, recording was completed at Nightshift in Christchurch, and the album was released by Flying Nun in 1987. "Block of Wood" was released as a 7" vinyl single.[4]

Reception

Daddy's Highway is often cited as The Bats' most highly regarded album, and is considered one of the best New Zealand albums of the 1980s.[5] In 2000, it was named #88 in music magazine Rip It Up's New Zealand's Top 100 Albums of All Time.[6] Notable tracks on the album include "North By North", "Tragedy" and the lead single, "Block of Wood", all of which were staples on New Zealand student radio.

2010 reissue

In October 2010, Flying Nun reissued Daddy's Highway. The album was remastered by Paul Kean, and five bonus tracks were added. "Calm Before The Storm" and "Candidate" were the B-sides to the "Block of Wood" single, and the remaining three songs were from the band's early EP Made Up in Blue .

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Robert Scott. 

No. Title Length
1. "Treason"   2:55
2. "Sir Queen"   3:25
3. "Round And Down"   2:18
4. "Take It"   2:30
5. "North By North"   4:08
6. "Tragedy"   3:00
7. "Block Of Wood"   3:12
8. "Miss These Things"   3:07
9. "Mid City Team"   2:25
10. "Some Peace Tonight"   2:53
11. "Had To Be You"   3:03
12. "Daddy's Highway"   4:00

Personnel

Also credited:

References

  1. Allmusic
  2. Christgau, Robert. "The Bats: Consumer Guide Reviews". The Village Voice. Robert Christgau.
  3. Kean, Paul. "The Bats: Ancient History - Official Site". The Bats. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  4. "The Bats - Official Site". The Bats. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  5. Hogg, Colin. "Flying Nun Records - The Bats". Flying Nun Records. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  6. Muller, Fred. "New Zealand's Top 100 Albums of All Time". Rock List. Retrieved 7 December 2011.