Bittersweet (Hoodoo Gurus song)

Infobox Single
Name = Bittersweet


Cover size =
Caption =
Artist = Hoodoo Gurus
Album = Mars Needs Guitars!
A-side = "Bittersweet"
B-side = "Mars Needs Guitars"
Released = flagicon|Australia June, 1985
Format = 7" vinyl
12" vinyl
Recorded =
Genre = Rock
Length = 3:46
Label = flagicon|Australia Big Time
flagicon|UK Chrysalis
flagicon|US Elektra
Writer = Dave Faulkner
Producer = Charles Fisher
Certification =
Last single = "I Want You Back"
(1984)
This single = "Bittersweet"
(1985)
Next single = "Like Wow - Wipeout!"
(1985)
Misc =

"Bittersweet" was a single by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus which reached #10 on the Melbourne Record Charts.cite book |last=Guest |first=Thomas J. |title=Thirty Years of Hits |publisher=M. J. Maloney |year=1991 |location=Collingwood, Melbourne |isbn=0-646-04633-0 ] It was released on Big Time Records in June, 1985; and was written by Dave Faulkner.cite web |url=http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch&switchDet=Y |title=Australasian Performing Right Association |publisher=APRA |accessdate=2007-12-15 ]

"Mars Needs Guitars" (B side), was written by all five Gurus (James Baker, Clyde Bramley, Faulkner, Mark Kingsmill and Brad Shepherd) ] and lead vocals were by Brad Shepherd.

It was also released in 1985 in the United States by Elektra with "Bring the Hoodoo Down" as the B-side, and in the United Kingdom as a 12" single by Chrysalis Records with two B-sides, "Bring the Hoodoo Down" & "Turkey Dinner".cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/release/618960 |title=Rate Your Music - "Bittersweet" (12")|accessdate=2008-01-30 ]

"... I vowed to myself that I would write less comic narratives and try to express my sentiments in a more forthright way. I feel I succeeded with "Bittersweet" though at the time I didn't think that a) the band would want to play it and b) our audience would want to hear it. I was happily wrong on both counts." - Dave Faulkner. [cite web |year=2000 |month=June |last=Faulkner |first=Dave |url=http://www-personal.umich.edu/~juliat/hg/popandpunishment.html |publisher=juliat |title="Pop and punishment" |accessdate=2007-12-15 ]

Cover versions & others

Courtney Love provided lead vocals for her band Hole's version of "Bittersweet" with Faulkner's backing vocals at Hole's 1999 Big Day Out performance. [cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/release/996040 |title=Discogs entry on "Bittersweet" (unofficial Hole album) |publisher=discogs.com |accessdate=2008-01-21 ]

The song "Bittersweet" was used in the video game MVP Baseball 2004.

Track listing

7" version

# "Bittersweet" (Dave Faulkner) — 3:46 [cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/release/601072 |title=Discogs entry on "Bittersweet" 7" |accessdate=2008-01-30 ]
# "Mars Needs Guitars" (James Baker, Clyde Bramley, Faulkner, Mark Kingsmill and Brad Shepherd) ] — 2:51

7" version (US)

# "Bittersweet" (Faulkner) — 3:46
# "Bring the Hoodoo Down" (Faulkner)- 3:00

12" version

# "Bittersweet" (Faulkner) — 3:44 ]
# "Bring the Hoodoo Down" (Faulkner) ] - 3:09
# "Turkey Dinner" (Faulkner) ] - 4:23

Personnel

Credited to: [cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/release/381500 |title=Discogs entry on "Mars Needs Guitars!" |accessdate=2007-12-15 ]
* James Baker — drums
* Clyde Bramley — bass, backing vocals
* Dave Faulkner — lead vocals (track A), guitar
* Mark Kingsmill — drums, cymbals
* Brad Shepherd — guitar, lead vocals (track B), harmonica

* Producer — Charles Fisher
* Engineer — John Bee
* Mastering — Don Bartley

Reviews

* Allmusic [http://wm10.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:gnfwxxqkldfe link]

References