Domestic Harmony

Domestic Harmony
Studio album by Do-Ré-Mi
Released 23 August 1985
Recorded January/February 1985
Genre Rock/Pop
Label Virgin
Producer Gavin Mackillop
Do-Ré-Mi chronology

The Waiting Room
(1982)		 Domestic Harmony
(1985)		 Adultery
(1987)
Singles from Domestic Harmony
  1. "Man Overboard"
    Released: June 1985
  2. "Idiot Grin"
    Released: September 1985
  3. "Warnings Moving Clockwise"
    Released: December 1985
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

Domestic Harmony is the debut LP album by Australian rock/pop group Do-Ré-Mi which was released by Virgin Records in August 1985.[2] The album has ten tracks, which were written by lead vocalist Deborah Conway, drummer Dorland Bray, bass guitarist Helen Carter and guitarist Stephen Philip.[3][4] The single "Man Overboard" had made its first appearance on 1982's The Waiting Room EP, but was re-worked and released as a single from this album to become a surprise top 5 hit,[5][6] it included lyrics referring to anal humour, penis envy and pubic hair; and had no chorus.[7] The album was produced in London by Gavin MacKilop and peaked at #16 on the National album charts.[5] It was released in different forms for UK, German and North American markets, the Australian 1988 CD version had five bonus tracks.[4]

Background

Do-Ré-Mi had formed in Sydney in 1981 when Deborah Conway (lead vocals) and Dorland Bray (drums, percussion, backing vocals), both previously in Melbourne-based group The Benders, joined Helen Carter (bass, backing vocals) ex-Friction.[4] Stephen Philip (guitar), ex-Thought Criminals, was initially a studio musician for their debut EP, Do-Ré-Mi released in August 1982 and was asked to join formally.[2] They returned to the studio almost immediately and recorded The Waiting Room EP which was released in September 1982. Paul Hester, later drummer for Split Enz and Crowded House, was living with Conway and guested on timbales for the track, "(Just Like) Hercules" from The Waiting Room.[8][9] "Man Overboard" had its first appearance on that EP but was later re-worked and released as a single in 1985 from the Domestic Harmony album, it peaked at #5 on the Australian singles charts.[6] Lyrical content included references to anal humour, penis envy and pubic hair. In 2001, Carter recalled the problems Do-Ré-Mi had with their record company about "Man Overboard" for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV series Long Way To The Top.

There was a real hit-maker mentality ... people would say 'It can't be a hit - it doesn't have a chorus... You're talking about pubic hair, oh my God!'[10]
—Helen Carter, 2001

Tracklisting

All tracks were written by Deborah Conway, Dorland Bray, Helen Carter and Stephen Philip, except where indicated.[3]

Australian 1985 original release

  1. "The Theme from Jungle Jim"
  2. "After the Volcano"
  3. "Idiot Grin"
  4. "Cuttlefish Beach"
  5. "Warnings Moving Clockwise"
  6. "Man Overboard"
  7. "Big Accident"
  8. "Racing to Zero"
  9. "New Taboos"
  10. "1000 Mouths"

Bonus tracks for 1988 Australian CD release

  1. "Black Crocodiles"
  2. "No Fury"
  3. "Shake this Place"
  4. "Man Overboard" (12" version)
  5. "Burning the Blues" (Dorland Bray)

Personnel

Do-Ré-Mi members

Additional musicians

Recording details

Art work

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Nimmervoll, Ed. "Do-Ré-Mi". HowlSpace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Australasian Performing Right Association". APRA. Retrieved 2008-10-14. Note: requires user to input song title e.g. MAN OVERBOARD
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Holmgren, Magnus. "Do-Ré-Mi". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kruger, Debbie (14–20 July 2004). "Once more with feeling". Melbourne Weekly Bayside Magazine. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  7. ↑ "Long Way To The Top article on Helen Carter". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  8. ↑ "Deborah Conway Official Website". Deborah Conway. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  9. ↑ Harris, Anna (30 January 2004). "Deborah Conway - still alive and brilliant". Archived from the original on 2006-05-14. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  10. ↑ "Helen Carter video interview for Long Way To The Top". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2008-10-14.