Breakfast at Sweethearts
Encyclopedia
Breakfast at Sweethearts was the second studio album by Australian pub rock
band Cold Chisel
, released in February 1979. It spent 32 weeks in the national charts, reaching a peak of number 4.
"Sweethearts" was a legendary Cafè in Kings Cross, Sydney
, Australia in the 1970s and 1980s, but has since been demolished. It was located where the present-day McDonald's
is now, in the middle of Kings Cross. The song "Plaza" refers to Sydney's Plaza Hotel, where Don Walker was living in Kings Cross at the time.
At the 1979 TV Week/Countdown Music Awards, "Breakfast at Sweethearts" was nominated for Best Australian Album, and won for Best Australian Record Cover Design. The cover photo was taken in the heritage-listed Marble Bar in the Sydney Hilton.
The first single, "Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)" preceded the album by some months, and was recorded when demos were being done for the album. Reaching number 65 on the national charts, the single is markedly different to the later album version.
Although reviews were generally positive and some of the songs were later live staples, the members of Cold Chisel were unhappy with sound of "Breakfast at Sweethearts" and the production methods of Richard Batchens. Don Walker said, "It was a very bad low point for the band. We were constantly touring and when we got a weekend off we were thrown into the studio and expected to be creative." Barnes said of the album, "'Breakfast at Sweethearts' stunk, and you can spell that f-u-c-k-e-d."
, except as noted
Pub rock (Australia)
Pub rock is a style of Australian rock and roll popular throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and still influencing contemporary Australian music today....
band Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
, released in February 1979. It spent 32 weeks in the national charts, reaching a peak of number 4.
"Sweethearts" was a legendary Cafè in Kings Cross, Sydney
Kings Cross, New South Wales
Kings Cross is an inner-city locality of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately 2 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Sydney...
, Australia in the 1970s and 1980s, but has since been demolished. It was located where the present-day McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
is now, in the middle of Kings Cross. The song "Plaza" refers to Sydney's Plaza Hotel, where Don Walker was living in Kings Cross at the time.
At the 1979 TV Week/Countdown Music Awards, "Breakfast at Sweethearts" was nominated for Best Australian Album, and won for Best Australian Record Cover Design. The cover photo was taken in the heritage-listed Marble Bar in the Sydney Hilton.
The first single, "Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)" preceded the album by some months, and was recorded when demos were being done for the album. Reaching number 65 on the national charts, the single is markedly different to the later album version.
Although reviews were generally positive and some of the songs were later live staples, the members of Cold Chisel were unhappy with sound of "Breakfast at Sweethearts" and the production methods of Richard Batchens. Don Walker said, "It was a very bad low point for the band. We were constantly touring and when we got a weekend off we were thrown into the studio and expected to be creative." Barnes said of the album, "'Breakfast at Sweethearts' stunk, and you can spell that f-u-c-k-e-d."
Track listing
All songs by Don WalkerDon Walker (musician)
Don Walker is an Australian musician and songwriter known for writing many of the hits for Australian pub rock band Cold Chisel. He played piano and keyboard with the band from 1973 to 1983, when they disbanded. He has since continued to record and tour, both solo and with Tex, Don and Charlie,...
, except as noted
- "Conversations"
- "Merry-Go-Round"
- "Dresden"
- "Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)" (Walker, Jim BarnesJimmy BarnesJames Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
) - "Plaza"
- "Shipping Steel"
- "I'm Gonna Roll Ya"
- "Showtime"
- "Breakfast at Sweethearts"
- "The Door"
Personnel
- Jim BarnesJimmy BarnesJames Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Don WalkerDon Walker (musician)Don Walker is an Australian musician and songwriter known for writing many of the hits for Australian pub rock band Cold Chisel. He played piano and keyboard with the band from 1973 to 1983, when they disbanded. He has since continued to record and tour, both solo and with Tex, Don and Charlie,...
- organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Ian MossIan MossIan Moss is an Australian rock musician, best known as the guitarist and occasional singer of Cold Chisel. In that group's initial ten year career, Moss recorded eight albums, three of which were No. 1 national hits. His solo career began with a No. 1 album and single and five ARIA Awards...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals, lead vocal track 5 - Steve PrestwichSteve Prestwich-External links:* *...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Phil SmallPhil SmallPhillip "Phil" James Small is an Australian bassist from pub rock band Cold Chisel. He has written songs for Cold Chisel including, "My Baby" for the 1980 album East, "Notion For You" off the Teenage Love album and "The Game"....
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - David Blight - HarmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
- Tony Faehse - slide guitar, track 6