''Danger in the Past'' is the debut solo album by
Robert Forster
Robert Wallace Forster Jr. (July 13, 1941 – October 11, 2019) was an American actor, known for his roles as John Cassellis in '' Medium Cool'' (1969), Captain Dan Holland in ''The Black Hole'' (1979), Abdul Rafai in '' The Delta Force'' (1986 ...
, formerly of
the Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens were an Australian indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1977. The band was co-founded and led by singer-songwriters and guitarists Robert Forster and Grant McLennan, who were its only constant members throughout ...
. It was recorded in Germany, where Forster was soon to live.
Details
Forster had recently moved to Bavaria to be with his future wife, Karin Bäumler, who appeared on the album. He said, "I phoned
Mick Harvey
Michael John Harvey (born 29 August 1958) is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. A multi-instrumentalist, he is best known for his long-term collaborations with Nick Cave, with whom he formed The ...
, who was up in Berlin, and asked him if he wanted to produce it, and he was very enthusiastic."
The album was recorded over 12 days. Musicians on the album included
Bad Seeds Hugo Race
Hugo Justin Race (born 23 May 1963) is an Australian rock musician and record producer who had been based in Europe from 1989 to 2011. He was a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (1983–85), and The Wreckery (1984–89) with Nick Barker ...
and
Thomas Wydler
Thomas Wydler (born 9 October 1959), is a Swiss musician best known for being a core member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, of which he has been a drummer since 1985. Prior to joining them, he was a member of the experimental German band Die Hau ...
. Forster said, "It was a stressful time for Mick. He was - I'd call it co-managing The Seeds. But it was a beautiful atmosphere, it was going back to playing living, breathing music. It was the record I'd always dreamed of making."
Forster later said, "Our work method was simple. Thomas would listen to a demo; Mick, on bass, would talk him through the arrangement; we'd go into the recording room, play the song no more than four times, do a take, and then go on to the next number. In this manner we were doing three of four songs a day. I was skipping between the recording and control rooms exalted.
For the cover of the album, Forster was photographed in a similar to pose to a picture of James Joyce he'd found in a library in
Ravensburg University, where Bäumler was studying, after he noted the resemblance to his grandfather. "I decided to replicate the photo for the cover and make no mention of it; just send it out in the world and see what people made of it."
Track listing
All songs written by Robert Forster.
;Side one
# "Baby Stones" – 4:07
# "The River People" – 3:25
# "Leave Here Satisfied" – 4:59
# "Heart Out to Tender" – 4:14
# "Is This What You Call Change" – 2:38
;Side two
- "Dear Black Dream" – 6:04
- "Danger in the Past" – 4:50
- "I've Been Looking for Somebody" – 4:20
- "Justice" – 3:45
Personnel
*
Robert Forster
Robert Wallace Forster Jr. (July 13, 1941 – October 11, 2019) was an American actor, known for his roles as John Cassellis in '' Medium Cool'' (1969), Captain Dan Holland in ''The Black Hole'' (1979), Abdul Rafai in '' The Delta Force'' (1986 ...
– guitar, vocals
*
Mick Harvey
Michael John Harvey (born 29 August 1958) is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. A multi-instrumentalist, he is best known for his long-term collaborations with Nick Cave, with whom he formed The ...
– organ, bass, guitar, percussion, piano, vocals
*
Hugo Race
Hugo Justin Race (born 23 May 1963) is an Australian rock musician and record producer who had been based in Europe from 1989 to 2011. He was a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (1983–85), and The Wreckery (1984–89) with Nick Barker ...
– guitar
*
Thomas Wydler
Thomas Wydler (born 9 October 1959), is a Swiss musician best known for being a core member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, of which he has been a drummer since 1985. Prior to joining them, he was a member of the experimental German band Die Hau ...
– drums
*Karin Bäumler – vocals
References
{{Authority control
1990 debut albums
Robert Forster (musician) albums
Beggars Banquet Records albums