Under the Sun is the second album by Australian rock group Paul Kelly & The Coloured Girls and was originally released in December 1987 by Mushroom Records.[4][5] In the North American and European markets, it was released by A&M Records in 1988 with the band credited as Paul Kelly & The Messengers, with a different track order and listing.[5]
Under the Sun | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 1987 | |||
Genre | Australian Rock | |||
Length | 45:14 | |||
Label | Mushroom/White (Australia) A&M (U.S.) | |||
Producer | Alan Thorne and Paul Kelly except Dumb Things, produced by Martin Armiger and Paul Kelly | |||
Paul Kelly chronology | ||||
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Singles from Under the Sun | ||||
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Under the Sun | ||||
![]() 1988 North American/European release (A&M Records) |
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | B[3] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
On the Australian albums charts, it peaked at #19, with the single "To Her Door" peaking at #14.[6][7] Another single, "Dumb Things," peaked at #36 in early 1989 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) singles charts;[7] it reached #16 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.[8] The song was included in the soundtrack for the 1988 Yahoo Serious film Young Einstein.[9]
"To Her Door" won an ARIA Award in 1988 for 'Best Video' directed by Claudia Castle.[10][11] In 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) listed the Top 30 Australian songs of all time,[12] including "To Her Door," written by Kelly.[13]
Background
editAfter relocating from Melbourne to Sydney in 1985, Paul Kelly began to play and record with a full-time band, which included Michael Armiger on bass guitar, Michael Barclay on drums, Steve Connolly on guitar, eventually bassist Jon Schofield, and keyboardist Peter Bull joined.[5] Through a joke based on Lou Reed's song "Walk on the Wild Side", the band became known as Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls.[4][14] In September 1986 the band released their debut double LP Gossip.[5] Due to possible racist connotations the band changed its name, for international releases, to Paul Kelly and the Messengers.[4][14] They made an American tour, initially supporting Crowded House and then head-lining, travelling across the United States by bus.[4] Jon Schofield replaced Armiger on bass guitar, Chris Coyne on tenor saxophone and Chris Wilson on harmonica
On the Australian albums charts, it peaked at #19 with the single "To Her Door" peaking at #14.[6][7] First single from the album, "Bradman," had been released in January 1987 as a double-A side with "Leaps and Bounds" from Gossip but had little chart success.[6][7] The third and fourth singles, "Forty Miles to Saturday Night" and "Don't Stand So Close to the Window" also had little chart success.[6][7] Another single, "Dumb Things," peaked at #36 in early 1989 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) singles charts;[7] it reached #16 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.[8] The song was included in the soundtrack for the 1988 Yahoo Serious film Young Einstein.[9]
In 1988, "To Her Door" won an ARIA Award for 'Best Video' directed by Claudia Castle.[10][11] In 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) listed the Top 30 Australian songs of all time,[12] including "To Her Door," written by Kelly.[13]
"Desdemona" was featured in an episode of the Australian TV show Packed To The Rafters.
Track listing
editAll tracks written by Paul Kelly unless otherwise indicated.[13]
Original Australian LP/MC release
- "Dumb Things" (aka "I've Done all the Dumb Things) – 2:31
- "Same Old Walk" – 4:08
- "Big Heart" – 3:22
- "Don't Stand So Close to the Window" (Paul Kelly, A McGregor) – 2:35
- "Forty Miles to Saturday Night" – 3:11
- "I Don't Remember a Thing" – 2:04
- "Know Your Friends" – 3:37
- "To Her Door" – 3:18
- "Under the Sun" – 4:18
- "Untouchable" – 2:04
- "Desdemona" – 3:46
- "Happy Slave" – 2:30
- "Crosstown" – 2:23
- "Bicentennial" – 3:04
Bonus tracks for Australian CD release
- "Bradman" – 7:26
- "Pastures of Plenty" (Woody Guthrie) – 2:26
North American/European release
- "Dumb Things" – 2:31 ^^
- "Same Old Walk" – 4:08
- "Big Heart" – 3:22
- "Don't Stand So Close to the Window" (Paul Kelly, A McGregor) – 2:35
- "Forty Miles to Saturday Night" – 3:11 ^^
- "Untouchable" – 2:04
- "Know Your Friends" – 3:37
- "To Her Door" – 3:18 ^^
- "Under the Sun" – 4:18
- "Desdemona" – 2:07
- "Happy Slave" – 3:46
- "Crosstown" – 2:30
- "Little Decisions" – 2:25
- "Bicentennial" – 3:04
(^^) The European release featured slightly different mixes of these tracks.
Personnel
editPaul Kelly and the Coloured Girls
- Paul Kelly — acoustic guitar, vocals
- Michael Barclay — drums, vocals
- Peter Bull — keyboards
- Steve Connolly — guitar (electric), vocals
- Jon Schofield — bass guitar
Additional musicians
- Chris Coyne — saxophone (tenor)
- Chris Wilson — harmonica, vocals, saxophone (baritone)
- Jessica Kenny — vocals (on "Window")
- Joe Camilleri — saxophone (tenor) (on "Know Your Friends")
- Steve Miller — tin whistle (on "Window")
- Lucky Oceans — guitar (steel)
- Ian Simpson — banjo (on "Happy Slave")
Recording details
- Producer — Alan Thorne and Paul Kelly except "Dumb Things", produced by Martin Armiger and Paul Kelly
- Engineer — Alan Thorne
- Assistant engineer — Kathy Naunton
- Recording & mixing studio — Alberts and Trafalgar Studios
Art work
- Design — Melanie Nissen
- Photography — Francine McDougall (cover photo), Isabel Snyder
Charts
editChart (1987/88) | Peak position |
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Australian (Kent Music Report)[15] | 19 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[16] | 25 |
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[17] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
editFormat | Country | Label | Catalogue No. | Year |
LP/CD/Cassette | AUS | Mushroom | RML 53248 | November 1987 |
LP/CD | USA | A&M Records | SP 5157 | 1988 |
CD | Germany | A&M | 396979-1 | 1988 |
CD | AUS | Mushroom/White | MUSH322812 | 1997 |
References
edit- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ Rolling Stone magazine review
- ^ Christgau, Robert (14 March 1989). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Paul Kelly'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
- ^ a b c d Holmgren, Magnus. "Paul Kelly". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
- ^ a b c d Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b c d e f "Discography Paul Kelly". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
- ^ a b "Billboard singles charts". allmusic. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
- ^ a b "Young Einstein (1988) soundtrack". Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Retrieved 18 August 2008.
- ^ a b "ARIA Awards 2008: History: Winners by Artist search result". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
- ^ a b Garcia, Alex S. (2008). "Paul Kelly - artist videography". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
- ^ a b Kruger, Debbie (2 May 2001). "The songs that resonate through the years" (PDF). Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 25 August 2008.
- ^ a b c "Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) search engine". APRA. Retrieved 12 October 2008. Note: requires user to input song title e.g. DUMB THINGS
- ^ a b Jenkins, Jeff; Ian Meldrum (2007). Molly Meldrum presents 50 years of rock in Australia. Melbourne, Vic.: Wilkinson Publishing. ISBN 978-1-921332-11-1. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 164. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Paul Kelly – Under the Sun". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ McFarlane, Ian (1999). Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop (doc). Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Retrieved 26 August 2008.