Draining the POLL for you - ILM artist poll #98 - The Go-Betweens

I've always loved Rock and Roll Friend despite my aversion to lyrics that reference R&R. Of course, Forster says it in a totally non-R&R-cliched way with that repeated "Do something about me" plea/demand that is so haunting and poignant. I didn't know it was anything's B-side until recently.

More catching up:

I can't fathom the appeal of Apology Accepted. Didn't realize it had appeal until now. Such a lame chorus lyric and passive-aggressive McLennan relationship lament with a plodding 70s classic rock pulse. Sorry, that's how I feel about it.

Penultimate track for this evening. I'll rush through one more shortly...

http://i67.tinypic.com/25iw6xl.jpg

#22
Clouds
from 16 Lovers Lane (1988)

Points: 226
Votes: 11 (0)

Youtube audio

Love "The Clock", but listening to the various live versions highlights how Grant's voice did not age very well.
I do find the chorus somewhat generic, but in the best possible sense of the word.

http://i63.tinypic.com/10xrkzm.jpg

#21
People Say
from 'People Say' 7" (1979)

Points: 228
Votes: 12 (0)

Youtube audio

"Clouds" is yet another example of how crystalline and precise Forster's writing had gotten by 1988.

I'll roll out the remainder on Friday!

I don't quite know what he's saying about the subject of People Say, except that he agrees with the people that he's mad to want/need/love said babe. What a great nugget of garagey fun.

I can't really mount a defence of Apology Accepted's sentiment (at least its chorus) but somehow I couldn't stop ranking it highly, maybe in deference to the younger me.

I used to fantasise about having someone to sing People Say about but even then it felt like an over-romantic stretch.

"Clouds" at 22? You people are disgusting savages.

You've cut my heart like you cut a tree.

"People Say" at 21? You people are disgusting savages.

tbh I didn't vote in this poll, so I shouldn't really complain, but I will

This is going to be some top 20

Yeah Clouds was my 11 and People Say was my 6. I had Rock & Roll Friend at 5, Unkind and Unwise at 7, and To Reach Me at 8. The dream is over.

people say I'm mad to love you
baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabe

Has Bobby got any bigger bangers than this? I think not

My phone clearly agrees with me, I'm on a train listening to songs on shuffle, and People Say just came on

I didn't vote because I'm mostly a GBs dilettante but I'm excited to think there's potentially 20 better songs than 'People Say' by anyone, let alone one band.

I'm having a hell of a time trying to figure out which remaining tracks must be in the Top 20. It's easy to pick 20 but hard to say that none of the others even made the top freakin 66!

Here's my best guess, unranked but chronological (and not necessarily my faves):

Ask
That Way
Bachelor Kisses
The Old Way Out
Part Company
Slow Slow Music
Draining the Pool for You
Spring Rain
The Wrong Road
Twin Layers of Lightning
Head Full of Steam
Right Here
You Tell Me
Bye Bye Pride
Love Goes On
Quiet Heart
The Devil's Eye
Streets of Your Town
Dive for Your Memory
When She Sang About Angels
Finding You

But that's 21. I give up deciding which one to bump. Maybe there's a "Right Here" or "Streets" backlash afoot? That would alright with me. This is kind of a fun game.

Anyway, that still leaves all of these out of the top 66:

Karen
Your Turn My Turn
Hold Your Horses
Man O Sand to Girl O Sea (hate this)
Casanova's Last Words
I Just Get Caught Out
The House That Jack Kerouac Built (Really?)
German Farmhouse (Really??)
Heart and Home
Orpheus Beach
Poison in the Walls
Mrs. Morgan
In Her Diary
Old Mexico
Make Her Day
No Reason to Cry
Lavender
This Night's for You

But that's 21. I give up deciding which one to bump.

bump two, cause you forgot Cattle And Cane

Slow Slow Music? Are you sure? (xp)

I don't think Ask, Slow Slow Music or The Devil's Eye will be in there.

Xp

I hope and assume "Man O' Sand" will make it over "Old Way Out" and "Slow Slow Music"

Not looking great for "German Farmhouse" though

bump two, cause you forgot Cattle And Cane

Urp. That's why it's a good thing Nag's doing the poll and not fuckups like me.

Going for a 1-2-3 of Cattle and Cane, Streets of Your Town and Part Company.

Cattle and Cane in at #67

Clear out the top ten for the expanded Send Me a Lullaby tracklist

#26
Darlinghurst Nights

mid-scrolling down I thought "why is the cover for Babylon Mixed Business itt?"

That image is Darlinghurst Road, 1990. Though it may strictly be King's Cross at that exact point. I don't know Sydney well. #FullDisclosure

should have scrolled even further! yeah, that's the Cross, but the photographer is probably on the Darlo side of William St

People Say was my number 2. I am listening to it right now and almost certainly having a better time than all the people who did not vote for it QED

I mean maybe it's too short but honestly you can just listen to it again straight afterwards. I'm living proof of that.

and damn I want to throw a 'too low' at Surfing Magazines which I find a beautiful mystery of a song - lots of restrained almost-too-poised Forster phrasing slipping into a bright pop chorus that makes me feel sad about I don't know what exactly.

Aaah, thanks sic.

I can barely remember which, from a glance at the above lists, is going to miss out. I certainly remember all of those getting points (very few non-outtakes missed out) so they're all winners! Or something.

Okay, now I remember!

I'll once again post a mere handful during the GMT+10 day, and commence the top dozen-or-so in about 12 hours time.

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#20
You Tell Me
from Tallulah (1987)

Points: 231
Votes: 14 (0)

Youtube audio

Great start to the top 20. One of their most beautiful choruses.

"You Tell Me" was the first Go-Be's album track to grab me by the lapels. Forster must hate the sampled backup vocals and harpsichord solo; I love his increasingly lovelorn "C'mon, c'mon!"s in the outro.

love this track

The hard thunk of the rhythm guitar

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#19
I Just Get Caught Out
from Tallulah (1987)

Points: 239
Votes: 15 (0)

Youtube audio

Out again tonight
I'm tired
We need a room
But there is
no roooooomm

xp another great track

Tallulahphiles might enjoy this 1987 Aus TV appearance. Doesn't include these two songs but 'Cut It Out' is there (!) and, more crucially, 4/5 of the second side of the long-player. Hehe.

Last one until it's Friday in a few more places...

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#18
Man O'Sand to Girl O'Sea
from 'Man O'Sand...' single (1983), re-recorded for Spring Hill Fair (1984)

Points: 247
Votes: 15 (0)

Youtube audio, single version
Youtube audio, album version

"Feel so sure of our love, I'll write a song about us breaking up" is one of my favourite opening lines ever.

Loving this top 20 so far.

I think I read somewhere that the song he's referring to is Part Company.

Ha! That's cool. Recorded *just* after this single was released.

But then I also read that Part Company is actually about leaving Australia.

I just read something similar! Then I pondered what Australia's hand-writing would look like.

Time for another, I think. Spread the timezone love around a bit...

http://i64.tinypic.com/mblftg.jpg

#17
The House That Jack Kerouac Built
from Tallulah (1987)

Points: 255
Votes: 13 (0)

Youtube audio

This is one fan favourite I don't really like so much. Though I used to. Man O Sand too low!

I love 'You Tell Me' and 'I Just Get Caught Out' - glad they placed high - they're fast-paced and hooky, without losing Forster's lyrical bite.

Can't see any of the reunion era cuts making it from here on in, which means a couple from my ballot won't make it ('No Reason To Cry', 'Orpheus Beach').

I have a list of 15 1982-1988 tracks, plus 'Karen', which I assume will squeak in - kind of the quintessential early track.

Tallulahphiles might enjoy this 1987 Aus TV appearance.

you're welcome!

I googled for photos of typical Darlinghurst terraces to better represent what their early-80s nights might have been spent in, but this 'news' story probably can't be beaten