Starfish (album)
Encyclopedia
The breakthrough 1988 album by The Church
, Starfish has remained the band's most commercially successful release. The first single, "Under the Milky Way
", charted well into the American Top 40
, peaking at #24 and #2 on Mainstream Rock Tracks leading to significant exposure of the then relatively underground Australian act.
by L.A. session musicians Waddy Wachtel
and Greg Ladanyi
, the recording is more sparse and open than its predecessor, Heyday. Many of its songs have seen heavy rotation in live setlists, and the album remains a favorite among many fans. Band members repeatedly noted how much they disliked being in Los Angeles during the recording sessions; "North, South, East And West" is an indictment of L.A.'s shallow aspects.
The album's title was taken from singer/bassist Steve Kilbey
's nickname for friend/ musical partner Donnette Thayer
. Kilbey also contributed a long untitled poem in the album's liner notes.
"Hotel Womb" has dream/nightmare-themed lyrics pertaining to cannibalism
.
Music videos were filmed for "Under The Milky Way" and "Reptile."
Two songs were used in episodes of the U.S. television show Miami Vice
. "Under the Milky Way" was used in an episode called "Asian Cut" (aired 13 Jan. 1989), and "Blood Money" was used in "Heart Of Night" (18 Nov. 1988).
"Under the Milky Way" was featured in 2001 film Donnie Darko
.
The song "Reptile" was used in Toy Machine
's skateboarding video Suffer the Joy.
A sheet music
/guitar tablature book was released for the entire album by Cherry Lane.
In October 2010, it was listed in the top 40 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums
. In 2011 the album, along with Priest=Aura and Untitled #23, was played in its entirety on the band's 30th Anniversary "Future, Past, Perfect" Tour.
Initial vinyl copies of the album came with a free bonus 12" EP. Tracklisting:
All except "Musk" later appeared on the band's 1991 rarities compilation, A Quick Smoke At Spot's. All five appeared on a 2005 double-CD remastered version of Starfish.
The Church (band)
The Church is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave and the neo-psychedelic sound of the mid 1980s, their music later became more reminiscent of progressive rock, featuring long instrumental jams and complex guitar interplay...
, Starfish has remained the band's most commercially successful release. The first single, "Under the Milky Way
Under the Milky Way
"Under the Milky Way" is a single by Australian alternative rock band The Church released in February 1988 with their album, Starfish. The song was written by bass guitarist and vocalist Steve Kilbey and his then-girlfriend, Karin Jansson...
", charted well into the American Top 40
American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
, peaking at #24 and #2 on Mainstream Rock Tracks leading to significant exposure of the then relatively underground Australian act.
Background
Recorded/produced in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
by L.A. session musicians Waddy Wachtel
Waddy Wachtel
Robert "Waddy" Wachtel is an American musician, composer and record producer, most notable for his guitar work...
and Greg Ladanyi
Greg Ladanyi
Greg Ladanyi was an American record producer and recording engineer, known for his work with many musicians, including Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Type O Negative, The Church, Anna Vissi, Toto, Fleetwood Mac, Hollywood Undead, Don Henley and Jeff Healey.-Biography:Ladanyi co-produced the Behind...
, the recording is more sparse and open than its predecessor, Heyday. Many of its songs have seen heavy rotation in live setlists, and the album remains a favorite among many fans. Band members repeatedly noted how much they disliked being in Los Angeles during the recording sessions; "North, South, East And West" is an indictment of L.A.'s shallow aspects.
The album's title was taken from singer/bassist Steve Kilbey
Steve Kilbey
Steven John Kilbey is the lead singer-songwriter and bass guitarist for The Church, an Australian rock band. He is also a music producer, poet, and painter....
's nickname for friend/ musical partner Donnette Thayer
Donnette Thayer
Donnette Thayer is a vocalist and guitarist most active in the 1980s and early 1990s underground rock scenes. Thayer has been described as "the enchantress" , "a suave successor to California flower-pop" , and "Gaea personified"...
. Kilbey also contributed a long untitled poem in the album's liner notes.
"Hotel Womb" has dream/nightmare-themed lyrics pertaining to cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
.
Music videos were filmed for "Under The Milky Way" and "Reptile."
Two songs were used in episodes of the U.S. television show Miami Vice
Miami Vice
Miami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
. "Under the Milky Way" was used in an episode called "Asian Cut" (aired 13 Jan. 1989), and "Blood Money" was used in "Heart Of Night" (18 Nov. 1988).
"Under the Milky Way" was featured in 2001 film Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko is a 2001 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Noah Wyle, Jena Malone, and Mary McDonnell...
.
The song "Reptile" was used in Toy Machine
Toy Machine
Toy Machine is a skateboarding company started by Ed Templeton in 1993. The Toy Machine brand is housed under the Tum Yeto distribution company...
's skateboarding video Suffer the Joy.
A sheet music
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
/guitar tablature book was released for the entire album by Cherry Lane.
In October 2010, it was listed in the top 40 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...
. In 2011 the album, along with Priest=Aura and Untitled #23, was played in its entirety on the band's 30th Anniversary "Future, Past, Perfect" Tour.
Track listing
- "Destination" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
- "Under the Milky WayUnder the Milky Way"Under the Milky Way" is a single by Australian alternative rock band The Church released in February 1988 with their album, Starfish. The song was written by bass guitarist and vocalist Steve Kilbey and his then-girlfriend, Karin Jansson...
" (Kilbey/Jansson) - "Blood Money" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
- "Lost" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
- "North, South, East And West" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
- "Spark" (Willson-Piper)
- "Antenna" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
- "Reptile" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
- "A New Season" (Koppes)
- "Hotel Womb" (Kilbey)
Initial vinyl copies of the album came with a free bonus 12" EP. Tracklisting:
- "Anna Miranda" (Kilbey/Jansson/The Church)
- "Musk" (Kilbey/The Church)
- "Perfect Child" (Kilbey/The Church)
- "Frozen And Distant" (Kilbey/The Church)
- "Texas Moon" (Kilbey/The Church)
All except "Musk" later appeared on the band's 1991 rarities compilation, A Quick Smoke At Spot's. All five appeared on a 2005 double-CD remastered version of Starfish.
Personnel
- Steve KilbeySteve KilbeySteven John Kilbey is the lead singer-songwriter and bass guitarist for The Church, an Australian rock band. He is also a music producer, poet, and painter....
: bass guitar, lead vocals - Peter KoppesPeter KoppesPeter Koppes is a guitarist and founding member of Australian independent rock band The Church. As well as his contributions to The Church, he has also released several solo albums....
: guitars, lead vocal on "A New Season" - Marty Willson-PiperMarty Willson-PiperMarty Willson-Piper is a guitarist and member of Australian independent rock band The Church.After busking his way around the world, he arrived in Australia...
: guitars, lead vocal on "Spark" - Richard Ploog: drums, percussion
Additional musicians
- Greg Kuehn - keyboards
- David LindleyDavid Lindley (musician)David Perry Lindley is an American musician who is notable for his work with Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, and other rock musicians. He has worked extensively in other genres as well, performing with artists as varied as Curtis Mayfield and Dolly Parton...
- mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
on "Antenna" - "Awesome Welles" - SynclavierSynclavierThe Synclavier System was an early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system, and music workstation, manufactured by New England Digital Corporation, Norwich, VT. The original design and development of the Synclavier prototype occurred at Dartmouth College with the collaboration of...
- Waddy WachtelWaddy WachtelRobert "Waddy" Wachtel is an American musician, composer and record producer, most notable for his guitar work...
- backing vocals
Charted singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
| US Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|||
| 1988 | Under the Milky Way | #24 | - | #2 | #90 | Starfish |