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

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

http://i68.tinypic.com/ka1pab.jpg

#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

Too low for "Man O' Sand"! #5 on my ballot and their most ferocious band recording

Great little run - I didn't vote for all the Forster songs off Tallulah but I love them and delighted/surprised they're so popular.

Love Man O'Sand, but only the single version, which is tighter and better and sounds like the soundtrack to a great lost TV cop show. The backing vocals are great and RF is perfectly on his line between ridiculous and sexy.

My god sic! Did you make the original recording at broadcast, even? Funnily enough, I almost quipped "sic, any idea what became of that female host of Rock Arena?" purely for LOLs. Thanks for the terrace housing link. Luvly!

Something a little less Forster-y?

http://i64.tinypic.com/35dc288.jpg

#16
The Wrong Road
from Liberty Belle & the Black Diamond Express (1986)

Points: 268
Votes: 14 (0)

Youtube audio

I was thinking I'd probably replayed it on TV whenever that uploader taped it, but that does actually look dodgy enough that it might be an original 1987 VHS off-air!

I see! Gosh!

Is it wrong to prefer the album version of "Man O' Sand"? I love the long careening guitar solo.

Nah, same. Wasn't mad on it till I heard the album version. It fucking bangs.

I think I'm in the same boat. Though I'm not to be trusted at all on this matter as I'd prefer to just stick to the nice wimpy B-side. :)

Better pick up the pace...

http://i65.tinypic.com/213n62w.jpg

#15
Quiet Heart
from 16 Lovers Lane (1988)

Points: 275
Votes: 16 (0)

Youtube audio

Oh yeah, stats fans, look! First track on a (slim) majority of ballots!

"Quiet Heart" is the "With or Without You" I prefer. A gem of a first stanza, generating real erotic heat. As usual with these guys, they do unexpected things with instruments. You expect a big rawk solo; instead, Forster plays harmonica, then Willsteed follows it with a flamenco solo.

Talk about a Marmite track... sorry, Vegemite.

The Wrong Road is stunning. Did bitter disappointment ever sound so beautiful?

The guitar solo in "Quiet Heart" is so simple and so perfect

In one of the documentaries, possibly the one about 16LL, Brown says something about the chorus (written about her) being enormously endearing in its typically male awkwardness around articulating emotions in person. But I'm failing to find the footage OR paraphase it adequately from memory. Damn.

Though I think it's possible that the little switch to the slightly more forceful "I tried to tell you" section might somehow still be somewhat affecting if he just started reading a shopping list at that point.

"It makes you love them more because they're so awkward and hopeless about it". Amanda's comments on the song are indeed from the 16 Lovers Lane documentary - from about 7 minutes 22 seconds in this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S99aMFGnKw

Thanks! I thought "boofy" might have featured.

I was actually in the minority who didn't vote for it, but I can dig it.

I didn't and I can't.

What is your position on Marmite?

I prefer it to this song.

LOL

http://i65.tinypic.com/2jcg7bk.jpg

#14
Finding You
from Oceans Apart (2005)

Points: 276
Votes: 16 (1)

Youtube audio

Talk about a Marmite track... sorry, Vegemite.

transposition doesn’t work, everyone loves Vegemite

Gotta love how the first three reveals of the Top 20 were ones I left off my betting sheet. Only Man O Sand was due to my own bias, but I've always heard Kerouac scorned for invoking his name in an unearned, show-offy way, so I guessed that might hurt its chances, although I love the song.

I learned from reading Forster's memoir that he contributed the second verse to "Finding You," one of their few co-writes

Yeah the Kerouac thing always distracted me from liking the song more too, but I've really got into its intensity in the relistening for this poll. Xpost

Forster's sob lets down "...Jack Kerouac" imo. If you're punning off a classic Aretha number, sing it better.

Not surprised Finding You made it this high. It could fit well on 16 Lovers Lane, I reckon.

I can't say I ever thought of it as a pun on the Aretha song!

I mean, you know the nursery rhyme, right?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_the_House_That_Jack_Built

A tad ambitious of Robert to take on Aretha.

It's true that his voice has rarely sounded reedier but I love that quality to his voice.

I mean, you know the nursery rhyme, right?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_the_House_That_Jack_Built

― Alba, Friday, July 12, 2019 8:27 AM (four minutes ago)

Of course! But Aretha owns the title, as she owns all.

Never thought of this till now but it's very Venus in Furs, isn't it?

good catch

http://i66.tinypic.com/35k8tva.jpg

#13
That Way
from Before Hollywood (1983)

Points: 284
Votes: 19 (0)

Youtube audio

xp Just as likely to be punning off Tracie as Aretha I reckon, and more likely the nursery rhyme than both.