Pleasure of your Company (album)
Encyclopedia
The Pleasure of Your Company is the third studio album by Australian New Wave
rock
band Models
, which peaked at #12 on the Australian albums chart. It was released in October 1983 on Mushroom Records
with Nick Launay
producing. The album provided three singles, "I Hear Motion" released in September, which peaked at #16. Neither "No Shoulders, No Head" released in December, nor "God Bless America" released in April 1984, peaked into the Australian Top 50 singles chart. The video for "God Bless America", from March 1984, featured backing singers Kate Ceberano
and Zan Abeyratne
(both members of I'm Talking
).
, Mark Ferrie on bass guitar
, Janis Friedenfelds (aka Johnny Crash) on drums
and percussion
, and Sean Kelly
on vocals and lead guitar
. In November 1980, Models released their first album, Alphabravocharliedeltaechofoxtrotgolf, on Mushroom Records
. It peaked at #43 on the Australian albums chart. The album was well received by audiences on the live pub circuit
. Early in 1981, Friedenfelds was replaced on drums by Mark Hough (aka Buster Stiggs) from New Zealand band The Swingers
. In June, Models released a 10" album, Cut Lunch, which consisted of demo tracks produced by Tony Cohen
and Models except "Atlantic Romantic" produced by Split Enz
keyboard player Eddie Rayner
and Models. After recording Cut Lunch, Models travelled to United Kingdom to record, Local &/or General, with Steve Tayler
producing.
During 1982, further line-up changes occurred with Ferrie and Hough leaving early in the year. James Freud
(ex-Teenage Radio Stars, James Freud & Berlin) joined the band on bass/vocals, with John Rowell (ex-Curse) on guitar, and Graham Scott (ex-Curse) on drums. Kelly and Freud had been in high school bands which developed into Teenage Radio Stars, Rowell and Scott left in May 1982, with Duffield following. New Zealand drummer, Barton Price (ex-Crocodiles, Sardine v
) joined. They recorded a single, "On", produced by veteran rocker Lobby Loyde
and released in August. It had no mainstream National singles chart success, but peaked at #1 on the independent charts. Gus Till (ex-Beargarden
) briefly joined on keyboards until Duffield rejoined the band in December.
The Duffield, Freud, Kelly and Price version of the group released the highly regarded 1983 LP The Pleasure of Your Company, produced by Nick Launay
. Its big drum sound and danceability, in particular, reflected Launay's influence, and Freud's more radio-friendly voice made the album more accessible. The album was critically acclaimed and peaked at #12 on the Australian albums chart, with the single "I Hear Motion" becoming a national #16 hit. Duffield later explained that the song's distinctive keyboard part had been inspired by the riff from the Stevie Wonder
classic "Superstition (song)
". The band also released two other singles, "God Bless America" and "No Shoulders, No Head", neither charted into the Top 50. The band scored the support slot for David Bowie
's 'Serious Moonlight
' tour of Australia. Kelly and Duffield were invited to sing backing vocals on the INXS
album, The Swing
. The video for "God Bless America", from March 1984, featured backing singers Kate Ceberano
and Zan Abeyratne
(both members of I'm Talking
). The music video was shot in 3D. Kelly appeared ready to disband Models and was even rehearsing with a new band. Mushroom Records convinced him to continue with Models and their next single, "Big on Love" produced by Reggie Lucas
, peaked at #24.
By late 1984, Models relocated to Sydney and Duffield - with his crucial influence on the band's sound - was forced out under acrimonious circumstances to be replaced by Roger Mason
(ex- James Freud's Berlin) on keyboards and James Valentine on saxophone
. In early 1985, Models started recording material for their next album, Out of Mind, Out of Sight
, produced by Mark Opitz
, Reggie Lucas and Nick Launay. In October 2010, The Pleasure of Your Company was listed in the top 50 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums
.
Side 2:
Models members
Additional musicians
Production details
Art work
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Models
Models (band)
Models were an alternative rock group formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1978 and went into hiatus in 1988. They are often incorrectly referred to as The Models. They re-formed in 2000, 2006 and 2008 to perform reunion concerts. "Out of Mind, Out of Sight", their only No. 1 hit,...
, which peaked at #12 on the Australian albums chart. It was released in October 1983 on Mushroom Records
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...
with Nick Launay
Nick Launay
Nick Launay is an English record producer and recording engineer. He is currently one of the most sought after producers in the world due to his current success with recent albums by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds...
producing. The album provided three singles, "I Hear Motion" released in September, which peaked at #16. Neither "No Shoulders, No Head" released in December, nor "God Bless America" released in April 1984, peaked into the Australian Top 50 singles chart. The video for "God Bless America", from March 1984, featured backing singers Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres as well as in her brief forays into musicals with Jesus Christ Superstar and film...
and Zan Abeyratne
Zan Abeyratne
Suzanne "Zan" Abeyratne or simply Zan is an Australian-raised singer born in London. Known for her beautifully soulful voice, Zan came to prominence as one of the female lead vocalists of the 1980s Australian band, I'm Talking, which included the equally powerful vocal skills of Kate Ceberano.Along...
(both members of I'm Talking
I'm Talking
I'm Talking was a 1980s Australian funk-pop rock band, which featured vocalists Kate Ceberano and Zan Abeyratne. They formed in 1983 in Melbourne and provided top ten hit singles "Trust Me", "Do You Wanna Be?" and "Holy Word" and a top fifteen album, Bear Witness, before disbanding in...
).
Background
Models had formed in Melbourne in 1978 by members from Teenage Radio Stars and JAM, after some line-up changes they were Andrew Duffield on keyboardsKeyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, Mark Ferrie on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Janis Friedenfelds (aka Johnny Crash) on drums
Drum kit
A 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 ....
and percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, and Sean Kelly
Sean Kelly (Australian musician)
Sean Patrick Kelly Born 9 November 1958, is an Australian singer, guitarist and song writer best known as a founding member of the bands Models, Absent Friends and The Dukes.-Biography:...
on vocals and lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
. In November 1980, Models released their first album, Alphabravocharliedeltaechofoxtrotgolf, on Mushroom Records
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...
. It peaked at #43 on the Australian albums chart. The album was well received by audiences on the live pub circuit
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....
. Early in 1981, Friedenfelds was replaced on drums by Mark Hough (aka Buster Stiggs) from New Zealand band The Swingers
The Swingers
The Swingers were a New Zealand rock band. Formed out of the remnants of The Suburban Reptiles, the founding members were Phil Judd , Wayne Stevens , and Mark Hough . Formed in 1979, the band released the single "One Good Reason" which was a top 20 hit in New Zealand...
. In June, Models released a 10" album, Cut Lunch, which consisted of demo tracks produced 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...
and Models except "Atlantic Romantic" produced by Split Enz
Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
keyboard player Eddie Rayner
Eddie Rayner
Eddie Rayner , is a New Zealand musician who has played in bands such as Split Enz, Space Waltz, Crowded House, The Makers and 801....
and Models. After recording Cut Lunch, Models travelled to United Kingdom to record, Local &/or General, with Steve Tayler
Stephen W Tayler
Stephen Tayler is a mixing and recording engineer, music producer, composer and sound designer who has contributed this collection of talents to hundreds of world-class albums for artists including Kate Bush, Suzanne Vega, Peter Gabriel, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, Howard Jones, Stevie Nicks, Rush,...
producing.
During 1982, further line-up changes occurred with Ferrie and Hough leaving early in the year. James Freud
James Freud
James Randall Freud was an Australian rock musician-songwriter. He was a member of Models during the 1980s and wrote their two most popular singles, "Barbados" and "Out of Mind, Out of Sight"....
(ex-Teenage Radio Stars, James Freud & Berlin) joined the band on bass/vocals, with John Rowell (ex-Curse) on guitar, and Graham Scott (ex-Curse) on drums. Kelly and Freud had been in high school bands which developed into Teenage Radio Stars, Rowell and Scott left in May 1982, with Duffield following. New Zealand drummer, Barton Price (ex-Crocodiles, Sardine v
Sardine v
Sardine v was an Australian post-punk band, formed by Ian Rilen , and Stephanie Rilen ....
) joined. They recorded a single, "On", produced by veteran rocker Lobby Loyde
Lobby Loyde
Lobby Loyde , also known as John Barrie Lyde or Barry Lyde, was an Australian rock music guitarist, songwriter and producer....
and released in August. It had no mainstream National singles chart success, but peaked at #1 on the independent charts. Gus Till (ex-Beargarden
Beargarden
The Beargarden was the facility for bear-baiting, bull-baiting, and other "animal sports" in the London area during the 16th and 17th centuries, from the Elizabethan era to the English Restoration period.-History:...
) briefly joined on keyboards until Duffield rejoined the band in December.
The Duffield, Freud, Kelly and Price version of the group released the highly regarded 1983 LP The Pleasure of Your Company, produced by Nick Launay
Nick Launay
Nick Launay is an English record producer and recording engineer. He is currently one of the most sought after producers in the world due to his current success with recent albums by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds...
. Its big drum sound and danceability, in particular, reflected Launay's influence, and Freud's more radio-friendly voice made the album more accessible. The album was critically acclaimed and peaked at #12 on the Australian albums chart, with the single "I Hear Motion" becoming a national #16 hit. Duffield later explained that the song's distinctive keyboard part had been inspired by the riff from the Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
classic "Superstition (song)
Superstition (song)
"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
". The band also released two other singles, "God Bless America" and "No Shoulders, No Head", neither charted into the Top 50. The band scored the support slot for David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's 'Serious Moonlight
Serious Moonlight Tour
The David Bowie Serious Moonlight Tour was thus far Bowie's longest, largest and most successful concert tour. The tour opened at the Vorst Forest Nationaal - Brussels on 18 May 1983 and ended in the Hong Kong Coliseum on 8 December 1983; 16 countries visited, 96 performances, 2,601,196 tickets...
' tour of Australia. Kelly and Duffield were invited to sing backing vocals on the INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
album, The Swing
The Swing
The Swing is Australian rock band INXS's fourth studio album, released in 1984. The lead single "Original Sin" was recorded in New York City with Nile Rodgers and featured Daryl Hall on backing vocals...
. The video for "God Bless America", from March 1984, featured backing singers Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres as well as in her brief forays into musicals with Jesus Christ Superstar and film...
and Zan Abeyratne
Zan Abeyratne
Suzanne "Zan" Abeyratne or simply Zan is an Australian-raised singer born in London. Known for her beautifully soulful voice, Zan came to prominence as one of the female lead vocalists of the 1980s Australian band, I'm Talking, which included the equally powerful vocal skills of Kate Ceberano.Along...
(both members of I'm Talking
I'm Talking
I'm Talking was a 1980s Australian funk-pop rock band, which featured vocalists Kate Ceberano and Zan Abeyratne. They formed in 1983 in Melbourne and provided top ten hit singles "Trust Me", "Do You Wanna Be?" and "Holy Word" and a top fifteen album, Bear Witness, before disbanding in...
). The music video was shot in 3D. Kelly appeared ready to disband Models and was even rehearsing with a new band. Mushroom Records convinced him to continue with Models and their next single, "Big on Love" produced by Reggie Lucas
Reggie Lucas
Reginald "Reggie" Lucas is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. Lucas is most famous for his production work with percussionist Mtume and for producing the majority of Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album.-Biography:...
, peaked at #24.
By late 1984, Models relocated to Sydney and Duffield - with his crucial influence on the band's sound - was forced out under acrimonious circumstances to be replaced by Roger Mason
Roger Mason
Roger Le Roy Mason is a retired American professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues primarily in relief from 1984–1987, 1989, and 1991–1994...
(ex- James Freud's Berlin) on keyboards and James Valentine on saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
. In early 1985, Models started recording material for their next album, Out of Mind, Out of Sight
Out of Mind, Out of Sight (album)
Out of Mind, Out of Sight is the fourth studio album by Australian New Wave rock band Models, it was their most successful album and peaked at #3 on the Australian albums chart...
, produced by Mark Opitz
Mark Opitz
Mark Opitz, started his career with ABC TV in Sydney in the 1970’s and has since gone on to work with many of the great Australian musicians that have graced both the Australian and international music charts for the past 25 years....
, Reggie Lucas and Nick Launay. In October 2010, The Pleasure of Your Company was listed in the top 50 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums
100 Best Australian Albums
100 Best Australian Albums is a compendium of rock and pop albums of the past 50 years as compiled by music journalists Toby Creswell, Craig Mathieson and John O'Donnell. The book was published on 25 October 2010 by Hardie Grant Books...
.
Track listing
Side 1:- "I Hear Motion" (Andrew Duffield, Sean KellySean Kelly (Australian musician)Sean Patrick Kelly Born 9 November 1958, is an Australian singer, guitarist and song writer best known as a founding member of the bands Models, Absent Friends and The Dukes.-Biography:...
, James FreudJames FreudJames Randall Freud was an Australian rock musician-songwriter. He was a member of Models during the 1980s and wrote their two most popular singles, "Barbados" and "Out of Mind, Out of Sight"....
, Barton Price) - 5:31 - "Facing the North Pole in August" (Duffield, Kelly, Freud, Price) - 3:31
- "God Bless America" (Duffield, Kelly, Freud, Price) - 3:41
- "Watch Your Mouth" (Duffield, Kelly, Freud, Price) - 3:30
- "No Shoulders, No Head" (Duffield, Kelly, Freud, Price) - 3:30
Side 2:
- "Holy Creation" (Duffield, Kelly, Freud, Price) - 4:44
- "79 A.D." (Duffield, Kelly, Freud, Price) - 4:51
- "Sang the Butcher" (Duffield, Kelly, Freud, Price) - 3:17
- "Our Atmosphere" (Duffield, Kelly, Freud, Price) - 3:50
- "A Rainy Day" (Duffield, Kelly, Freud, Price) - 3:43
Personnel
Credited to:Models members
- Andrew Duffield — keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals - James FreudJames FreudJames Randall Freud was an Australian rock musician-songwriter. He was a member of Models during the 1980s and wrote their two most popular singles, "Barbados" and "Out of Mind, Out of Sight"....
— bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, vocals - Sean KellySean Kelly (Australian musician)Sean Patrick Kelly Born 9 November 1958, is an Australian singer, guitarist and song writer best known as a founding member of the bands Models, Absent Friends and The Dukes.-Biography:...
— lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, vocals - Barton Price — 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 ....
, vocals
Additional musicians
- Zan AbeyratneZan AbeyratneSuzanne "Zan" Abeyratne or simply Zan is an Australian-raised singer born in London. Known for her beautifully soulful voice, Zan came to prominence as one of the female lead vocalists of the 1980s Australian band, I'm Talking, which included the equally powerful vocal skills of Kate Ceberano.Along...
— backing vocals ("God Bless America") also toured with Models - Nadia Anderson — vocals ("No Shoulders, No Head")
- Kate CeberanoKate CeberanoKate Ceberano is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres as well as in her brief forays into musicals with Jesus Christ Superstar and film...
— backing vocals ("God Bless America") also toured with Models - Deckchairs OverboardDeckchairs OverboardDeckchairs Overboard was an Australian Pop music band based in Sydney . They developed from Melbourne based Cheks with the addition of Cathy McQuade and had some minor hit singles "That's The Way" , with Ken Campbell on vocals, "Shout", with McQuade on vocals, "Walking In The Dark" and "Fight...
— vocals ("No Shoulders, No Head") - Eric 'Fire Hazard' Gradman — violin ("79 A.D.")
- Jenny Morris — vocals ("No Shoulders, No Head")
- Johanna PigottJohanna PigottJohanna Paton Pigott is an Australian musician, singer/songwriter and screenwriter. Her best known hit songs are Dragon's "Rain" which peaked at #2 on the Australia singles charts in 1983 and John Farnham's "Age of Reason". "Rain" was co-written with partner Dragon's Todd Hunter and his brother...
— vocals ("No Shoulders, No Head")
Production details
- Nick LaunayNick LaunayNick Launay is an English record producer and recording engineer. He is currently one of the most sought after producers in the world due to his current success with recent albums by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds...
— Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Art work
- Phillip Condingley — Photography
- Alan Scholz — Artwork