Talk (Paul Kelly album)
Encyclopedia
Talk is the debut album by Australian rock
group Paul Kelly and the Dots
and was originally released on 30 March 1981 by Mushroom Records
and re-released in 1990. Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons
leader Joe Camilleri
produced seven of the eleven tracks with the rest produced by either Martin Armiger
(The Sports
) or Trevor Lucas
(ex-Fairport Convention
, Fotheringay
). The album contains the singles, "Recognition", "Billy Baxter" and "Lowdown" with only "Billy Baxter" having chart success by peaking at No. 38 on the Kent Music Report
Singles Chart. The album peaked at No. 44 on the related Albums Chart. All tracks were written by Kelly, including two co-written with guitar
ist Chris Langman.
had formed in August 1978 in Melbourne from the remains of High Rise Bombers, which included Martin Armiger
, the Dots underwent line-up changes prior to the album's release. Their debut single "Recognition" was issued in 1979 on an independent label, but had no chart success. "Recognition" line-up were Kelly (vocals
), Chris Langman (guitar
s), Chris Worrall (guitars), Paul Gadsby (bass guitar
) and John Lloyd (drums
). More changes occurred, they signed to Mushroom Records
and released "Billy Baxter" in 1980, which peaked at No. 38 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The album release followed in March 1981 and peaked at No. 44 on the related albums chart. "Lowdown" was released as a single in May but had no chart success. The group then travelled to The Philippines capital
to record their second album Manila
during July and August 1981, but further line-up changes delayed its release until August 1982. Kelly was later dissatisfied with both of these albums:
The album's liner notes quote the opening stanzas of Charles Baudelaire
's 1857 poem, "Les Foules" (see "The Crowds" for English translation).
Recording details
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...
group Paul Kelly and the Dots
Paul Kelly (musician)
Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
and was originally released on 30 March 1981 by 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...
and re-released in 1990. Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons
Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons
Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons were an Australian blues and rock music band which featured singer, songwriter and saxophonist, Joe Camilleri . The band was active in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and had several Australian chart hits, including "Hit and Run", "Shape I'm In" and "All I Wanna Do"...
leader Joe Camilleri
Joe Camilleri
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Camilleri, aka Jo Jo Zep or Joey Vincent, is an Australian vocalist, songwriter and saxophonist. Camilleri has recorded as a solo artist and as a member of Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows...
produced seven of the eleven tracks with the rest produced by either Martin Armiger
Martin Armiger
John Martin Armiger is an Australian musician, record producer and film/TV composer. He was singer-songwriter and guitarist with Melbourne-based rock band, The Sports during 1978–1981, which had Top 30 hits on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart with, "Don't Throw Stones" , "Strangers on a...
(The Sports
The Sports
The Sports were a popular Australian rock group that performed and recorded between 1976 and 1981.Based in Melbourne, Victoria, the group released a number of successful singles and albums. Their sound fitted well with both 1970s British pub rock bands and British New Wave...
) or Trevor Lucas
Trevor Lucas
Trevor George Lucas was an influential folk artist, a member of Fairport Convention and one of the founders of Fotheringay...
(ex-Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
, Fotheringay
Fotheringay
Fotheringay was a short-lived British folk rock group, formed in 1970 by singer Sandy Denny on her departure from Fairport Convention. The band drew its name from her 1968 composition "Fotheringay" about Fotheringhay Castle, in which Mary, Queen of Scots had been imprisoned...
). The album contains the singles, "Recognition", "Billy Baxter" and "Lowdown" with only "Billy Baxter" having chart success by peaking at No. 38 on the Kent Music Report
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 1998...
Singles Chart. The album peaked at No. 44 on the related Albums Chart. All tracks were written by Kelly, including two co-written with guitar
Guitar
The 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...
ist Chris Langman.
Background
Paul Kelly and the DotsPaul Kelly (musician)
Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
had formed in August 1978 in Melbourne from the remains of High Rise Bombers, which included Martin Armiger
Martin Armiger
John Martin Armiger is an Australian musician, record producer and film/TV composer. He was singer-songwriter and guitarist with Melbourne-based rock band, The Sports during 1978–1981, which had Top 30 hits on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart with, "Don't Throw Stones" , "Strangers on a...
, the Dots underwent line-up changes prior to the album's release. Their debut single "Recognition" was issued in 1979 on an independent label, but had no chart success. "Recognition" line-up were Kelly (vocals
Singing
Singing 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...
), Chris Langman (guitar
Guitar
The 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...
s), Chris Worrall (guitars), Paul Gadsby (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) and John Lloyd (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 ....
). More changes occurred, they signed to 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...
and released "Billy Baxter" in 1980, which peaked at No. 38 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The album release followed in March 1981 and peaked at No. 44 on the related albums chart. "Lowdown" was released as a single in May but had no chart success. The group then travelled to The Philippines capital
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
to record their second album Manila
Manila (album)
-Chart positions and releases:-Track listing:All tracks written by Paul Kelly, except where noted.# "Forbidden Street" – 7:30# "Clean this House" – 4:46# "Alive and Well" – 3:10# "Skidding Hearts" – 3:32...
during July and August 1981, but further line-up changes delayed its release until August 1982. Kelly was later dissatisfied with both of these albums:
The album's liner notes quote the opening stanzas of Charles Baudelaire
Charles Baudelaire
Charles Baudelaire was a French poet who produced notable work as an essayist, art critic, and pioneering translator of Edgar Allan Poe. His most famous work, Les Fleurs du mal expresses the changing nature of beauty in modern, industrializing Paris during the nineteenth century...
's 1857 poem, "Les Foules" (see "The Crowds" for English translation).
Professional reviews
Allmusic has rated Talk.Chart positions and releases
| Year | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australian Albums Chart Kent Music Report 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 1998... |
44 |
| Format | Country | Label | Catalogue No. | Year |
| LP | AUS | Mushroom | L37512 | 1981 |
| LP | AUS | Mushroom | L19465 | 1990 |
| CD | AUS | Mushroom | D19465 | 1990 |
Track listing
All tracks written by Paul Kelly, except where noted.- "Promise Not to Tell" – 3:24
- "Lowdown" – 3:36
- "Want You Back" - 3:12
- "Fall Guy" (Kelly, Chris Langman) – 3:39
- "Hard Knocks" – 3:57
- "Billy Baxter" (Kelly, Langman) – 2:47
- "Recognition" – 3:08
- "Cherry" – 4:35
- "The Way Love Used to Be" – 3:11
- "I Hate to Watch You Loving Him" – 3:22
- "Please Send Me" – 2:53
Personnel
Paul Kelly and the Dots members- Paul KellyPaul Kelly (musician)Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
– 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... - Paul Gadsby – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Chris Langman – 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...
s - John Lloyd – 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 ....
- Chris Worrall – guitars
- Chris Dyson – guitar, vocals
- Tony Thornton – drums
- Alan Brooker – bass guitar
- Tim Brosnan – guitar
- Michael Holmes – guitar
Recording details
- Producer – Martin ArmigerMartin ArmigerJohn Martin Armiger is an Australian musician, record producer and film/TV composer. He was singer-songwriter and guitarist with Melbourne-based rock band, The Sports during 1978–1981, which had Top 30 hits on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart with, "Don't Throw Stones" , "Strangers on a...
(tracks 1, 2, 3), Joe CamilleriJoe CamilleriJoseph Vincent "Joe" Camilleri, aka Jo Jo Zep or Joey Vincent, is an Australian vocalist, songwriter and saxophonist. Camilleri has recorded as a solo artist and as a member of Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows...
(tracks 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), Trevor LucasTrevor LucasTrevor George Lucas was an influential folk artist, a member of Fairport Convention and one of the founders of Fotheringay...
(track 5)- Remixer – Kelly (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10), Barry Earl (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10), Camilleri (track 5), Jim Barton (track 5)
- Engineer – Jim Barton
- Remix engineer – Michael Lesso (track 5)