Hee Haw (EP)
Encyclopedia
Hee Haw is the second release and first EP
by the Australian post-punk
band The Boys Next Door (later re-named The Birthday Party
). The Hee Haw EP was released in 1979 by the independent label, Missing Link Records
.
’s punk
and post-punk
bands. The core members – Nick Cave
, Mick Harvey
, Phill Calvert
and Tracy Pew
– had been joined by Rowland S. Howard
on guitar in 1978. The Boys Next Door released an album (Door, Door
) on the Mushroom
label in 1979 (recorded in separate sessions in mid-1978 and early 1979).
After the release of Door Door, The Boys Next Door transferred to the independent label, Missing Link Records, and took on Keith Glass as their manager. The tracks for the Hee Haw EP were recorded during July and August 1979 at Richmond Recorders in Melbourne, engineered by Tony Cohen
. The five-track EP was released in December 1979. The artwork on the cover and insert sheet was done by Marcus Bergner.
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
by the Australian post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band The Boys Next Door (later re-named The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party (band)
The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career...
). The Hee Haw EP was released in 1979 by the independent label, Missing Link Records
Missing Link Records
Missing Link Records is a record store in Melbourne, Australia. The shop first opened in 1971, but was then called Archie and Jughead's, named after the comic. The shop's co-founders, David Pepperell and Keith Glass, established the shop as a much-needed rock record shop...
.
Background
By 1978-9 The Boys Next Door were the most experienced and musically-mature of MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
’s punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
bands. The core members – Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
, Mick Harvey
Mick Harvey
Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
, Phill Calvert
Phill Calvert
Phill Calvert is an Australian rock drummer and producer best known for his playing in the influential post-punk band The Birthday Party with Nick Cave. His playing with the Birthday Party was noted for its use of tom-toms...
and Tracy Pew
Tracy Pew
Tracy Pew was an Australian musician, best known as the bass player for The Birthday Party.Born in Australia, Pew moved with his family to New Zealand in 1959, returning in May 1964...
– had been joined by Rowland S. Howard
Rowland S. Howard
Rowland Stuart Howard was an Australian rock musician, guitarist and songwriter, he played electric guitar in the post-punk group The Birthday Party. Howard died of liver cancer in December 2009, aged 50 years....
on guitar in 1978. The Boys Next Door released an album (Door, Door
Door, Door (album)
Door, Door was the debut album by Australian rock band The Birthday Party, released under the name "The Boys Next Door" in 1979. The Album was recorded before the band left Australia for London in 1980, at which point they changed their name to The Birthday Party and created the body of work for...
) on the Mushroom
Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
label in 1979 (recorded in separate sessions in mid-1978 and early 1979).
After the release of Door Door, The Boys Next Door transferred to the independent label, Missing Link Records, and took on Keith Glass as their manager. The tracks for the Hee Haw EP were recorded during July and August 1979 at Richmond Recorders in Melbourne, engineered by Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen is an acclaimed Australian record producer and sound engineer based in Melbourne, best known for his work with The Birthday Party and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in the 1980s...
. The five-track EP was released in December 1979. The artwork on the cover and insert sheet was done by Marcus Bergner.
The music
The Hee Haw EP represents a musical departure from the relatively conventional punk/pop songs on Door Door. The EP introduces a more abrasive, rhythmic and exploratory sound that was further developed when the band re-located to the UK (and changed their name to The Birthday Party).Track listing
- "A Catholic Skin" (Nick CaveNick CaveNicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
) - "The Red Clock" (Rowland S. HowardRowland S. HowardRowland Stuart Howard was an Australian rock musician, guitarist and songwriter, he played electric guitar in the post-punk group The Birthday Party. Howard died of liver cancer in December 2009, aged 50 years....
) - "Faint Heart" (Nick Cave)
- "Death By Drowning" (Rowland S. Howard)
- "The Hair Shirt" (Nick Cave)