Of Skins and Heart
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''Of Skins and Heart'' is the debut album by the Australian
psychedelic rock Psychedelic rock is a rock music Music genre, genre that is inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelia, psychedelic culture, which is centered on perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. The music incorporated new electronic sound ...
band The Church, Note: Archived n-linecopy has limited functionality. released in April 1981 by EMI Parlophone. It peaked at No. 22 in the Australian
Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to January 1999. The chart was re-branded the Australian Music Report (AMR) in July ...
Albums Chart. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until
Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) is a trade association representing the Australian recording industry which was established in the 1970s by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing th ...
(ARIA) created their own
charts A chart (sometimes known as a graph) is a graphical representation for data visualization, in which "the data is represented by symbols, such as bars in a bar chart, lines in a line chart, or slices in a pie chart". A chart can represent tabul ...
in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
It is their only album to feature Nick Ward on drums and has a harder, more new wave influenced sound than their later material, although Kilbey's semi-surreal lyrics are already present. It was produced by
Chris Gilbey Christopher John Gilbey (born 13 May 1946, Islington) is an English-born Australian entrepreneur and music industry identity. His more recent activities are in the field of materials science and signals processing from graphene-coated material ...
and
Bob Clearmountain Bob Clearmountain (born January 15, 1953) is an American recording engineer, mixer and record producer. He has worked with many major acts, including Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Toto, Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams, with whom he has a very ...
. Seven songs were entirely written by lead singer and bass guitarist Steve Kilbey and two were co-written with others. The first single, "She Never Said", did not chart on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The second single, " The Unguarded Moment", was co-written with Mikella Parker, Note: User may have to search again and provide details at 'Titles' e.g Unguarded Moment; or at 'Performers' Church who was married to Steve Kilbey at the time. This song launched the band to success and has been their biggest hit to date. It brought early attention and significant radio play to the band, it peaked at No. 22 in Australia and No. 19 in New Zealand. The track "Is This Where You Live" became a live staple over the following years. By the time of the album's release, Ward had been replaced on drums by Richard Ploog. The album was re-sequenced and released internationally as ''The Church'' in 1982.


Background

In Sydney, in March 1980, singer, bass guitarist and songwriter Steve Kilbey bumped into guitarist Peter Koppes, an old bandmate from his Canberra days. Koppes was playing with another Canberran, drummer Nick Ward, in a Sydney band called Limazine. The three decided to form a new band, called it The Church (originally The Church of Man) and began performing. A month later, Marty Willson-Piper, originally from
Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
, United Kingdom, came to one of their gigs and was invited to join on second guitar. A four-song demo was recorded in Kilbey's bedroom studio. Thanks to contacts from Kilbey & Koppes' former band Baby Grande, they sent the tape to the Australian branch of publishing company ATV Northern Songs. The song "Chrome Injury" attracted the attention of managing director
Chris Gilbey Christopher John Gilbey (born 13 May 1946, Islington) is an English-born Australian entrepreneur and music industry identity. His more recent activities are in the field of materials science and signals processing from graphene-coated material ...
, who had recently formed a record production company in association with
EMI Records EMI Records (formerly EMI Records Ltd.) is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British flagship label by the music company of the same name in 1972, and launched in January 1973 as the succ ...
in Australia and resurrected the Parlophone label. Note: n-lineversion has limited preview. Gilbey signed the band, went to band rehearsals and helped shape their sound by buying Willson-Piper a 12 string
Rickenbacker Rickenbacker International Corporation is a string instrument manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California. The company is credited as the first known maker of electric guitars – a steel guitar in 1932 – and today produces a range ...
guitar and Koppes an Echolette tape delay. Sessions for their first album followed in late 1980 at
Studios 301 Studios 301 is an Australian recording studio and is both the longest-running professional recording studio in the southern hemisphere and the largest studio complex in Australia. History The studio was founded in 1926 under the Columbia Gra ...
in Sydney. Of the four songs originally demoed, only "Chrome Injury" was included. The album, ''Of Skins and Heart'', was co-produced by Gilbey and
Bob Clearmountain Bob Clearmountain (born January 15, 1953) is an American recording engineer, mixer and record producer. He has worked with many major acts, including Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Toto, Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams, with whom he has a very ...
( Bryan Adams). Seven of the nine tracks were written solely by Kilbey. The first single, "She Never Said", was released in November, but did not chart. The second single, "The Unguarded Moment", co-written with Kilbey's girlfriend Michelle Parker, was issued alongside the album in March 1981, initially only in Australia. "The Unguarded Moment" reached No. 22 on the Australian
Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to January 1999. The chart was re-branded the Australian Music Report (AMR) in July ...
Singles Chart while ''Of Skins and Heart'' achieved the same position on the related Albums Chart. To promote their releases, the band undertook their first national tour. By the time of the album's release, drummer Ward had already been replaced by Richard Ploog. He was recruited by their manager, Michael Chugg, after hearing of his reputation in Adelaide. Ploog's arrival established The Church's first stable line-up. The first recordings by the group with Ploog were eventually released as a five-track double single / extended play, ''Too Fast for You'' in July 1981. It included the first collectively written track, "Sisters". Another track, "Tear It All Away", later released as a separate single, showed a development towards more elaborate guitar structures and what would become the signature Church sound. Their image of tight jeans and paisley shirts (many designed and made by Michelle Parker), as well as their 'jangly' guitar sound evoked comparisons to 1960s psychedelic groups, particularly
The Byrds The Byrds () were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) remaining the sole cons ...
. The success of ''Of Skins and Heart'' enabled Chris Gilbey to present the release to Freddie Cannon of French label
Carrere Carrere or Carrère may refer to: As a name * Georges Carrère (1897–1986), French classical violinist * Edward Carrere (1906–1984), Mexican art director * Emmanuel Carrère (1957–), French author, screenwriter, and director * Fernando Car ...
and Rupert Perry of American label Capitol. Both labels released the album in 1982, renamed as simply ''The Church'', with slightly altered track listings including songs from ''Too Fast for You'' and using a crop of that EP's artwork for the cover. Ploog was incorrectly credited as the sole drummer on the release, despite only playing on one or three tracks, depending on the version. Capitol also released an edited single version of "The Unguarded Moment" which was a minute shorter than the original – a decision which displeased the band.


Reception

'' Cash Box magazine'' said "This young Australian quartet plays a sprite brand of British new pop that recalls the early days of The Kinks and
The Who The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...
. A ringing guitar sound, Ray Davies-styled vocals and some of the neatest hooks this side of Sydney make this a memorable debut release."


Track listing

All songs by written by Steve Kilbey, except where noted. 1981 Australian release Parlophone PCSO 7582 # "For a Moment We're Strangers"  – 3:57 # "Chrome Injury"  – 4:01 # "The Unguarded Moment" (Kilbey, Michele Parker)  – 4:12 # "Memories in Future Tense"  – 4:46 # "Bel-Air"  – 3:57 # "Is This Where You Live"  – 7:40 # "She Never Said"  – 3:16 # "Fighter Pilot...Korean War"  – 4:29 # "Don't Open the Door to Strangers" (Kilbey, Willson-Piper) – 3:32 1982 European release
Carrere Records Carrere Records (french: Disques Carrère, link=no, ) was a French record label which specialized in Euro disco and rock music. The record company was sold to Warner Music Group in the early 1990s. Early days Claude Carrere started working with ...
CAL130 # "For a Moment We're Strangers"  – 3:53 # "Chrome Injury"  – 4:00 # "The Unguarded Moment" (Kilbey, Parker) – 4:12 # "Memories in Future Tense"  – 4:42 # "Bel-Air"  – 3:53 # "Is This Where You Live"  – 7:39 # "She Never Said"  – 3:16 # "Tear It All Away"  – 4:18 # "Don't Open the Door to Strangers" (Kilbey, Willson-Piper) – 3:27 1982 North American release
Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...
ST-12193 # "The Unguarded Moment" (Kilbey, Parker) – 4:17 # "Too Fast for You"  – 3:28 # "For a Moment We're Strangers"  – 3:52 # "Tear It All Away"  – 4:10 # "Don't Open the Door to Strangers" (Kilbey, Willson-Piper) – 3:24 # "Bel-Air"  – 3:56 # "Sisters" (Kilbey, Koppes, Willson-Piper, Ploog) – 4:05 # "Memories in Future Tense"  – 4:44 # "Is This Where You Live"  – 7:38 The album was re-sequenced and released internationally as ''The Church'' (1982) by Capitol Records in North America and Carrere Records in Europe. The 1989 CD release by
Arista Records Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...
included three extra tracks: "Too Fast for You", "Tear It All Away" and "Sisters", which originally appeared on the double 7" single/extended play ''Too Fast for You'' in 1981. 2002 Australian Remaster
EMI Records EMI Records (formerly EMI Records Ltd.) is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British flagship label by the music company of the same name in 1972, and launched in January 1973 as the succ ...
7243 5 39479 0 3 This remastered release contains all the tracks from the original Australian release in their original running order, plus a second disc containing the ''Too Fast for You'' EP and the promo videos for "The Unguarded Moment", "Bel-Air", "Too Fast for You" and "Tear It All Away". 2010 ''30th Anniversary Series'' Remaster Second Motion Records CD-SMR-024 This remastered release contains all the tracks from the original Australian release in their original running order, and adds two bonus tracks: "In a Heartbeat" (the B-side of "She Never Said") and "Busdriver" (the B-side of "The Unguarded Moment"), both written by Steve Kilbey.


Personnel

The Church members * Steve Kilbey – lead vocals, bass guitar, keyboards * Peter Koppes – lead guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals * Marty Willson-Piper – electric 6 and 12 string guitars, acoustic guitars, backing vocals *Nick Ward – drums, percussion, backing vocals * Richard Ploog – drums & percussion on "Too Fast for You", "Tear It All Away" & "Sisters" Production details *Producers –
Chris Gilbey Christopher John Gilbey (born 13 May 1946, Islington) is an English-born Australian entrepreneur and music industry identity. His more recent activities are in the field of materials science and signals processing from graphene-coated material ...
,
Bob Clearmountain Bob Clearmountain (born January 15, 1953) is an American recording engineer, mixer and record producer. He has worked with many major acts, including Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Toto, Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams, with whom he has a very ...
*Mixing – Bob Clearmountain *Engineers – Christo Curtis, John Bee, Steve Bywaters **Assistants – Dave Greenberg, Gary Rindfuss, Raymond Wilhard *Studio –
Studios 301 Studios 301 is an Australian recording studio and is both the longest-running professional recording studio in the southern hemisphere and the largest studio complex in Australia. History The studio was founded in 1926 under the Columbia Gra ...
, Sydney **Mixed – The Power Station, New York Art work *Cover illustration – Mikela Uniacke (''Of Skins and Heart''), Paul Pattie (''The Church'') *Photography – Gary Ede (''Of Skins and Heart''), Don Bruner (''The Church'')


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Of Skins And Heart 1981 debut albums The Church (band) albums Albums produced by Bob Clearmountain