Hot for the Orient

Infobox Album
Name = Hot for the Orient
Type = Studio
Artist = Skyhooks
Released = 1980
Genre = Glam rock
Length =
Label = Mushroom Records
Last album = "Guilty Until Proven Insane"
(1978)
This album = "Hot for the Orient"
(1980)
Next album = "The Lost Album"
(1999)

"Hot for the Orient" is a 1980 studio album from Australin glam rock band Skyhooks. This was the only album the band recorded without newly departed vocalist Graeme "Shirley" Strachan, instead with replacement vocalist Tony Williams as lead singer.

The album pruduced three singles: "Over the Border", "This Town is Boring" and "Keep the Junk in America". The respective B-sides were "Wrong Number Right Girl", "Is This Too Much or What", and "Rolls Royce in the Swimming Pool". Only "Over the Border", a political statement about the state of the police force in Queensland at the time, managed to chart in Australia, peaking at #32. [ [http://www.aswas.com/skyhooks/discography.html Official Skyhooks website] .]

The album failed to chart in the top ten in Australia,only to reach #32, unlike their previous four studio albums which were all top 10 in Australia, and the band disbanded soon after. However, the band reformed in 1983 with their classic line-up of their early-mid 1970's success and began touring once again. "Hot For THe Orient" spawned two film clips; "Over The Border" and "Keep The Junk In America"

The album was re-printed on CD and re-relased as part of the Skyhooks Roadcase boxset in 1996. Copies of this album are still available but remain very rare, much like the band's previous studio album, "Guilty Until Proven Insane".

For the first time on a Skyhooks album, more than one track was sung by a member of the band other than the lead vocalist. "Cars, Bars and Girls" is sung by bass player Greg Macainsh, "My Heart Gets Blown to Bits" is sung by drummer Imants "Fredie" Strauks, and "Keep the Junk in America" features vocals from guitarist Bob "Bongo" Starkie.

Track listing

All tracks by Greg Macainsh, expect where noted.

# "Bondage on the Boulevarde"
# "This Town is Boring"
# "White Skin and Black Sheets"
# "She's OK But She's Not You"
# "Cars, Bars and Girls"
# "Red Fingernails"
# "My Heart Gets Blown to Bits" (Imants "Freddie" Strauks)
# "Fathers and Daughters"
# "No Inspiration"
# "Keep the Junk in America" (Bob "Bongo" Starkie)
# "Over the Border"
# "Wrong Number Right Girl"

Personnel

*Tony Williams - Lead vocals
*Bob Spencer - Guitar
*Bob "Bongo" Starkie - Guitar
*Greg Macainsh - Bass
*Imants Alfred Strauks - Drums, percussion

References