Twentieth Century (Cold Chisel album)

Twentieth Century
Studio album by Cold Chisel
Released April 1984
Recorded Rhinceros Studios, Paradise Studio, Studio 301, Capitol Theatre, Sydney, and Richmond Studios, Melbourne, September 1983 - January 1984
Genre Pub rock
Label Elektra
Producer Mark Opitz, Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel chronology
Northbound
(1983)Northbound1983		 Twentieth Century
(1984)		 Barking Spiders Live: 1983
(1984)Barking Spiders Live: 19831984
Singles from Twentieth Century
  1. "Hold Me Tight / No Sense"
    Released: October 1983
  2. "Saturday Night"
    Released: March 1984
  3. "Twentieth Century"
    Released: 1984
  4. "Flame Trees"
    Released: August 1984

Twentieth Century is the final studio album for Australian band Cold Chisel until the group reformed in 1998. The album was written and recorded over various sessions during the period of the band's break-up and during breaks in their final tour. It was released in early 1984 and peaked at No. 1 on the Australian albums chart, their third consecutive album to do so. It charted for a total of 46 weeks.[1]

Background

Twentieth Century was the first recording to vary the core members of Cold Chisel, with Steve Prestwich having been sacked during the previous year's tour of Germany. For all but three songs, he was replaced by Ray Arnott. The band had announced its intention to separate in August 1983, and by December had played its final shows (before reunion), months before the release of the album.

Tensions within the band were particularly high. Although Arnott was the drummer on most of the album, Prestwich was playing on the band's farewell tour. There were problems with the incompatibility of equipment when recording was done at different studios. Barnes was to later say that he felt intimidated when his more personal songs were competing against Walker's for album space, with songs such as "No Second Prize", later a solo hit, being rejected by the band. He also felt he wanted the band to be more "rocking", while Moss wanted to experiment with his guitar playing and Prestwich was unwilling to play straightforward rock and roll.[2] Barnes had said he was only willing to do the album if everyone received even royalties, "No matter who wrote the fucking things."[3] He had three songs on the album, the only person besides Walker to have an unshared credit.

Singer Barnes said of the album, "While there are some great songs on it, I don't think it was one of our great records - it was fragmented and sounds like a dying band, but it marked the end of an era."[4]

Don Walker's feelings were stronger, saying, "The album was a nightmare. It was one of the two or three nightmares of my life. At that time relations within the band were barely above speaking terms. The business and money side of it were incredibly bitter between several people."[5] Mark Opitz said, "With Cold Chisel I was there for the breakthrough and the break-up. And let me tell you, the breakthrough album was a lot more fun."[6]

The original choice of producer, Tony Cohen, had to leave the project due to health problems, exacerbated by tensions during the recording. He said that Walker wanted a rawer recording, whereas "Barnesy wanted to be like The Eagles, like some LA production thing.[7] Opitz, who had worked with the band on the previous three albums, was asked to assist with the recording. "Essentially they wanted me to do the same thing I'd always done, but pay me less," Opitz said.[6]

Despite the feeling of the band members, the album was mostly well received and sold well. "Flame Trees" and "Saturday Night" receive strong airplay on classic rock stations in Australia decades after release.[8]

The art work for the album was done by Chilean artist Eduardo Guelfenbein, who was also responsible for directing the videos for the songs "Hold Me Tight" and "No Sense".

Track listing

All songs written by Don Walker, except as noted.

Side One

  1. "Build This Love" - 4:01
  2. "Twentieth Century" - 2:17
  3. "Ghost Town" - 1:20
  4. "Saturday Night" - 4:26
  5. "Painted Doll" - 2:19
  6. "No Sense" (Jimmy Barnes) - 3:10
  7. "Flame Trees" (Steve Prestwich/Walker) - 4:24

Side Two

  1. "Only One" (Barnes) - 3:41
  2. "Hold Me Tight" - 1:42
  3. "Sing to Me" - 4:49
  4. "The Game" (Phil Small/Walker) - 5:13
  5. "Janelle" - 3:40
  6. "Temptation" (Barnes) - 3:23

Chart positions

Year Chart Position
1984 Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart 1

Personnel

Cold Chisel

Additional personnel

Footnotes

  1. ↑ David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. p. 72. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  2. ↑ Michael Lawrence (2012). Cold Chisel: Wild Colonial Boys. Melbourne, Victoria: Melbourne Books. p. 211. ISBN 9781877096174.
  3. ↑ Scott Howlett (December 1988). "The Cold Chisel Story: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do". Australian Playboy: 98.
  4. ↑ Jimmy Barnes (2008). Icons of Australian Music: Jimmy Barnes. Springwood, New South Wales: roving eye. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-9804495-0-1.
  5. ↑ Michael Lawrence (1998). Showtime: The Cold Chisel Story. Belmont, Victoria: Michael Lawrence. p. 174. ISBN 1-86503-118-6.
  6. 1 2 Mark Opitz; Luke Wallis; Jeff Jensen (2012). Sophisto-Punk. North Sydney: Ebury Press. p. 183. ISBN 9781742757933.
  7. ↑ Clinton Walker (1996). Stranded: The Secret History of Australian Independent Music 1977–1991. Pan MacMillan. p. 146. ISBN 0-7329-0883-3.
  8. ↑ Anthony O'Grady (2001). Cold Chisel: The Pure Stuff. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. p. 128. ISBN 1-86508-196-5.
Preceded by
The Swing by INXS		 Australian Kent Music Report number-one album
23–29 April 1984 		Succeeded by
Throbbin' '84 by Various artists
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