Cut Lunch

Cut Lunch
EP by Models
Released	June 1981
Recorded	Richmond Records, Melbourne 1981 "Atlantic Romantic" at AAV, Melbourne 1981
Genre	New Wave
Length	20:42
Label	Mushroom
Producer	Tony Cohen, Models "Atlantic Romantic" by Eddie Rayner, Models
Models chronology
Alphabravocharliedelta echofoxtrotgolf (1980) Cut Lunch (1981) Local and/or General (1981)

Cut Lunch is a mini-album or EP by Australian New Wave band Models, originally released on 10" vinyl by Mushroom Records in June 1981.^[1] The collection started off as demo recordings, which proved successful enough to release just before the group went to England to record their second album proper, Local and/or General.^[1] One track, "Man o' Action", was re-recorded for that album. Cut Lunch is generally regarded as the Models' release which is the most influenced by post-punk and dub, and least by conventional pop music. Apart from "Atlantic Romantic", which had been a live favourite of the group for a number of years, the songs were freshly composed: their lyrics were difficult to understand, and remain confusing even now. "Atlantic Romantic" was co-produced by Eddie Rayner of Split Enz fame.^[2]

A promotional music video was released for the mini-album, which combined videos for brief excerpts of each of the tracks (including a crude home-made claymation video for "Germ") with vox pop interviews conducted by the band members in the streets of Melbourne. No single was released, although "Two Cabs to the Toucan" was promoted on Countdown. Cut Lunch peaked at #37 in the Australian albums charts and at #38 on the singles charts.^[3] "Cut Lunch", the title track, and "Two Cabs to the Toucan" were the most played tracks on radio.^[1]

Background

Models had formed in Melbourne in 1978 by members from Teenage Radio Stars and JAB (Johnny, Ash, Bohdan), after some line-up changes they were Andrew Duffield on keyboards, Mark Ferrie on bass guitar, Janis Friedenfelds (aka Johnny Crash) on drums and percussion, and Sean Kelly on vocals and lead guitar.^[1][2]

Their first release in October 1979 was a give-away, shared single, "Early Morning Brain (It's Not Quite the Same as Sobriety)" backed with The Boys Next Door's "Scatterbrain" that was given away for free at a "Record Giveaway" night at the Crystal Ballroom, in St Kilda.^[1] Friction within the band led to their break-up in November, ex-The Easybeats members, Vanda & Young who were now record producers/songwriters asked Models to cut some demos - so they reformed at the end of December.^[1]

Their second single, "Owe You Nothing" appeared in August 1980, both singles were released on independent labels, in limited pressings (500 copies)^[2] and did not chart on the Top 40 Australian singles chart according to the Kent Music Report.^[3]

In November 1980, the Duffield, Ferrie, Friedenfelds and Kelly line-up released Models' first album, Alphabravocharliedeltaechofoxtrotgolf, on Mushroom Records.^[2] It peaked at #43 on the Australian albums chart.^[3] The album was well received by audiences on the live pub circuit. No singles were released commercially from the album, although "Two People Per km²" and "Uncontrollable Boy" were on a 12-inch disc released to radio stations,^[1][2] and a music video was made for "Two People Per km²". The band performed extensively both locally and interstate, they supported Ramones and Midnight Oil on a national tour.^[1]

Early in 1981, Friedenfelds was replaced on drums by Mark Hough (aka Buster Stiggs) from New Zealand band The Swingers.^[2] In June, Models released a 10" album, Cut Lunch, which consisted of demo tracks produced by Tony Cohen and Models except "Atlantic Romantic" produced by Split Enz keyboard player Eddie Rayner and Models.^[1][2] After recording Cut Lunch, Models travelled to United Kingdom to record, Local and/or General, with Steve Tayler producing.^[1][2]

Track listing

1. "Two Cabs to the Toucan" (Andrew Duffield, Sean Kelly)^[4] – 3:19
2. "Germ (Teradacity Cometh)" (Kelly)^[5] – 2:12
3. "Atlantic Romantic" (Kelly)^[6] – 3:29
4. "Unfaithful to the Corps" (Mark Ferrie)^[7] – 3:29
5. "Man o' Action" (Kelly, Mark Hough)^[8] – 3:30
6. "Cut Lunch" (Kelly)^[9] – 4:43

Personnel

Models members

• Andrew Duffield — keyboards
• Mark Ferrie — bass guitar
• Sean Kelly — guitar, clarinet, vocals
• Mark Hough (aka Buster Stiggs) — drums

Production details

• Producer — Tony Cohen and Models; except "Atlantic Romantic" by Eddie Rayner and Models

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Models'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. http://web.archive.org/web/20040604150835/www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=501. Retrieved 2009-03-02. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} "Models". Australian Rock Database. Magnus Holmgren. http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/models.html. Retrieved 2009-03-02. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.  NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
4. ^ ""Two Cabs to the Toucan" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Two%20Cabs%20To%20The%20Toucan. Retrieved 2009-03-02. 
5. ^ ""Germ" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Germ. Retrieved 2009-03-02. 
6. ^ ""Atlantic Romantic" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Atlantic%20Romantic. Retrieved 2009-03-02. 
7. ^ ""Unfaithful to the Corps" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Unfaithful%20To%20The%20Corps. Retrieved 2009-03-02. 
8. ^ ""Man o' Action" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Man%20o%20Action. Retrieved 2009-03-02. 
9. ^ ""Cut Lunch" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Cut%20Lunch. Retrieved 2009-03-02.