The Boys Light Up

Infobox Album | Name = The Boys Light Up
Type = Album
Artist = Australian Crawl


Released = April, 1980
Recorded = August, 1979 - February, 1980
Genre = Pop/Rock
Length = 38:25
Label = EMI
Producer = David Briggs
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dxftxq9hld0e link]
This album = "The Boys Light Up"
(1980)
Next album = "Sirocco"
(1981)
Misc = Singles
Name = The Boys Light Up
Type = studio
single 1 = Beautiful People
single 1 date = August, 1979
single 2 = The Boys Light Up
single 2 date = March, 1980
single 3 = Downhearted
single 3 date = May, 1980 Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = "The Boys Light Up"
1992 Re-release
Type = album


Lower caption = "The Boys Light Up" 1992 CD cover

"The Boys Light Up" is the debut album from iconiccite web |url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1996 |publisher=ARIA |title="1996: 10th Annual ARIA Awards" |accessdate=2008-03-10 ] Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl and contains such hits as the title track, "The Boys Light Up", "Indisposed", "Downhearted" and their previously released debut single "Beautiful People". The album reached #4 on the Australian album charts and remained in the charts for an unbroken 101 weeks ["Australian Chart Book 1970-1992" David Kent (ISBN 0-646-11917-6) ] , eventually selling over 280 000 copies (five times platinum).

The title track, written by lead singer James Reyne contains the invented word "dorseted":

"People aren't used to hearing 'Dorseted', and it's not actually a word - it's from the Dorset Gardens - I'm trying to be as suburban as possible, and it rhymed with 'corseted'." - James Reyne, 2003 [cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/love/episodes/transcript5.htm |title="Love is in the air" Episode 5: "National Anthems"; transcript of interview with James Reyne |publisher=ABC-TV |date=2003-11-09 |accessdate=2008-03-02 ]

Various band members were involved in songwriting, often with relatives or former bandmates. Rhythm guitarist Brad Robinson's father James Robinson was a Federal Arbitration Court Justice and co-wrote two songs for this album.cite web |url=http://www.memorabletv.com/musicworld/ozrock/atob.htm |title=Memorable TV Oz Rock: Australian Crawl entry |publisher=Memorable TV / Little Acorns Publishing |accessdate=2008-03-02 ] Reyne's bandmate from Spiff Rouch, Mark Hudson co-wrote their first single, "Beautiful People" (1979).cite web |url=http://www.apra.com.au/site/public/searchworksresult.stm |title=APRA |accessdate=2008-03-05 ] "Downhearted" was written by Bill McDonough and his bandmates from The Flatheads, Guy McDonough (his brother, who later joined the Crawl) and Sean Higgins. Producer, David Briggs (Little River Band guitarist), co-wrote "Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama" with Reyne.

The album was re-released in 1992 in CD format (see cover right below), and as a 2-CD set with follow-up album "Sirocco" in 1996.

Track listing

#"My Coffee's Gone Cold" (Simon Binks) - 3:29
#"Man Crazy" (James Reyne) - 3:39
#"Way I've Been" (Brad Robinson, James Robinson) - 2:17
#"Chinese Eyes" (James Reyne, Simon Binks) - 3:01
#"Downhearted" (Sean Higgins, Guy McDonough, William 'Bill' McDonough) - 3:09
#"Beautiful People" (James Reyne, Mark Hudson) - 2:56
#"Indisposed" (Brad Robinson, James Robinson, James Reyne, William 'Bill' McDonough) - 4:04
#"Walk My Way" (James Reyne, Brad Robinson)- 2:44
#"The Boys Light Up" (James Reyne) - 4:41
#"Boot Hill" (James Reyne, Simon Binks) - 2:36
#"Red Guitar" (Simon Binks) - 3:19
#"Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama" (James Reyne, David Briggs) - 2:30

Songwriting credits from Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).

Personnel

Credited to: [cite web |url=http://music.msn.com/album/?album=10197163 |title=MSN entry on "The Boys Light Up" |accessdate=2008-03-04 ]

Australian Crawl

* James Reyne – lead vocals, harmonica
* Simon Binks – lead and slide guitar, vocals
* Bill McDonough – drums, percussion, vocals
* Paul Williams – bass, vocals
* Brad Robinson – rhythm guitar, vocals

Additional musicians

* Mal Logan, Eddie Rayner, Peter Jones, Keith McKay - keyboards
* Bill Harrower - saxophone
* Derek Pellici - percussion
* Mal Stainton - backing vocals

Additional credits

* Engineer — Ross Cockle
* Producer — David Briggs

References