Junkyard (album)

Junkyard
Studio album by The Birthday Party
Released 10 May 1982
Recorded A.A.V. Studio 2, Melbourne and Matrix Studios, London 1981 & 1982
Genre Post-punk
Length 47:08
Label Missing Link (original Australian release)
Virgin (1990 Australian reissue)
Shock (1996 Australian reissue)
4AD (UK)
2.13.61 (1997 US release)
Buddha (2000 US reissue)
Drastic Plastic (2011 US LP reissue)
Propeller (New Zealand)
GeeBeeDee (Germany)
Expanded Music (Italy)
CNR (Netherlands)
Producer Richard Mazda, Tony Cohen and Nick Launay
The Birthday Party chronology

Drunk on the Pope's Blood
(1982)		 Junkyard
(1982)		 Mutiny/The Bad Seed
(1983)

Junkyard is a 1982 album by Australian post-punk group The Birthday Party. The album was recorded with Tony Cohen at Armstrong's Audio Visual (A.A.V.) Studios in Melbourne in December 1981 and January 1982. Additional tracks were recorded in London's Matrix Studios with punk producer Richard Mazda in May 1982. Mazda's previous work with ATV and The Fall had brought him to their attention. Later CD re-issues added the "Release the Bats/Blast Off!" single recorded at London's Townhouse Studio with Nick Launay in April 1981. A 2nd version of Dead Joe also appears on the re-issue.

The cover art is by Ed Roth and Dave Christensen.

Background

Nick Cave's then-girlfriend Anita Lane co-wrote with him on two songs, "Dead Joe" and "Kiss me Black."

The album was a somewhat transitional record for a variety of reasons. On 16 February 1982 in Melbourne, Tracy Pew (the band's bass player) was arrested for drunk driving. For this and several other outstanding offences he served 2.5 months in Pentridge Prison in Australia, and so Barry Adamson was drafted in on bass duties for several tracks.

Critical Reception and legacy

Julian Marszalek of The Quietus writes that "Junkyard still sounds as if it’s waiting for rock music to catch up with it," calling it "a high example of uncompromised music and art [...] that exists purely on its own terms."[1] Stylus's Chris Smith describes the album as "transcendent and captivating."[2]

In October 2010, Junkyard was listed at No. 17 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.[3]

Track listing

Original LP release

Side A

  1. "She's Hit" (Nick Cave, Tracy Pew) - 6:06
  2. "Dead Joe" (Anita Lane, Cave) - 3:08
  3. "The Dim Locator"(Rowland S. Howard) - 2:49
  4. "Hamlet (Pow Pow Pow)" (Cave, Howard) - 5:33
  5. "Several Sins" (Howard, Harry Howard) - 2:56

Side B

  1. "Big Jesus Trash Can" (Cave, Mick Harvey) - 3:00
  2. "Kiss Me Black" (Barry Adamson on bass) (Lane, Cave)- 2:48
  3. "6" Gold Blade"(Cave, Harvey) - 3:34
  4. "Kewpie Doll" (Cave, Harvey) - 3:32
  5. "Junkyard" (Cave, Howard) - 5:49

CD Reissue

  1. "Blast Off!" (Howard) - 2:17 (CD bonus track)
  2. "She's Hit" - 6:06
  3. "Dead Joe" - 3:08
  4. "The Dim Locator" - 2:49
  5. "Hamlet (Pow Pow Pow)" - 5:33
  6. "Several Sins" - 2:56
  7. "Big Jesus Trash Can" - 3:00
  8. "Kiss Me Black" (Barry Adamson on bass) - 2:48
  9. "6" Gold Blade" - 3:34
  10. "Kewpie Doll" - 3:32
  11. "Junkyard" - 5:49
  12. "Dead Joe" (2nd version) (Barry Adamson on bass) - 3:07 (CD bonus track)
  13. "Release the Bats" (Harvey/Cave) - 2:09 (CD bonus track)

Personnel

The Birthday Party[4]

Additional Personnel

Chart positions

Chart (1982) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[5] 73
UK Independent Albums Chart[6] 1

References

  1. ↑ http://thequietus.com/articles/08590-the-birthday-party-junkyard
  2. ↑ http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/on_second_thought/the-birthday-party-junkyard.htm
  3. ↑ O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). 100 Best Australian Albums. Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-955-9.
  4. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Birthday-Party-Junkyard/release/422339
  5. ↑ "Birthday Party | Artist". Official Charts Company. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  6. ↑ Lazell, Barry. "Indie Hits: "B"". Cherry Red. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2014.

External links