The Fine Art of Surfacing
Encyclopedia
The Fine Art of Surfacing was The Boomtown Rats
' third album and contained the hit-single releases, "I Don't Like Mondays", "Diamond Smiles
" and "Someone's Looking at You
." "I Don't Like Mondays" b/w "It's All the Rage" was released in June 1979, and hit #1 in late July in the UK in the same year (the song refers to Brenda Ann Spencer
's killing spree on Monday, January 29, 1979 in San Diego, California
).
Following the release of their very successful LP, A Tonic For The Troops, in 1978, the Boomtown Rats embarked upon a tour around England that became a hit and was called the "third best live rock gig" by Billboard
behind only Queen
and ELO
.
Bob Geldof
also went around America leading up to The Fine Art of Surfacing, drumming up publicity for the band in the States. During this time the Rats learned much about both American life and breaking into the American music market. This is a recurring theme on the album, sometimes taking a serious approach in looking at American society, in songs like "I Don't Like Mondays" and "Diamond Smiles," while other times looking at it in a downright silly and mocking manner in songs like "Nothing Happened Today" and "Having My Picture Taken," the LP takes aim at 1979 life in classic punk style.
Musically, however, this album is, for the most part, quite a departure from the Rats' punk influences that came across so clearly in their debut LP and Tonic for the Troops. The Rats display many styles in this album from a wide range of influences.
In 2005, this album was re-released (it had previously been released but fell out of print quickly), digitally remastered by Bob Geldof and Pete Briquette
with bonus tracks, mostly B-side tracks from various eras, that delve more deeply into the Rats' musical influences.
unless otherwise indicated.
Singles
The Boomtown Rats
The Boomtown Rats were an Irish punk rock band that had a series of Irish and UK hits between 1977 and 1985. They were led by vocalist Bob Geldof.-Biography:All six members were originally from Dún Laoghaire, Ireland...
' third album and contained the hit-single releases, "I Don't Like Mondays", "Diamond Smiles
Diamond Smiles
"Diamond Smiles" was the second single from The Boomtown Rats' album The Fine Art of Surfacing. It was the follow-up to their vastly successful single "I Don't Like Mondays" and also peaked at a respectable Number 13 in the UK Charts...
" and "Someone's Looking at You
Someone's Looking at You
"Someone's Looking at You" was the third and final single from the The Boomtown Rats' album The Fine Art of Surfacing. It peaked at number two on the Irish charts and number 4 in the UK. It is an organ-based song that paints a humid picture of 1984-style government surveillance and has been...
." "I Don't Like Mondays" b/w "It's All the Rage" was released in June 1979, and hit #1 in late July in the UK in the same year (the song refers to Brenda Ann Spencer
Brenda Ann Spencer
Brenda Ann Spencer is a convicted American murderer who carried out a shooting spree from her home in San Diego, California, on January 29, 1979. During the shooting spree, she killed two people and injured nine others at Cleveland Elementary School, which was located across the street from her home...
's killing spree on Monday, January 29, 1979 in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
).
Following the release of their very successful LP, A Tonic For The Troops, in 1978, the Boomtown Rats embarked upon a tour around England that became a hit and was called the "third best live rock gig" by Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
behind only Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
and ELO
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...
.
Bob Geldof
Bob Geldof
Robert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
also went around America leading up to The Fine Art of Surfacing, drumming up publicity for the band in the States. During this time the Rats learned much about both American life and breaking into the American music market. This is a recurring theme on the album, sometimes taking a serious approach in looking at American society, in songs like "I Don't Like Mondays" and "Diamond Smiles," while other times looking at it in a downright silly and mocking manner in songs like "Nothing Happened Today" and "Having My Picture Taken," the LP takes aim at 1979 life in classic punk style.
Musically, however, this album is, for the most part, quite a departure from the Rats' punk influences that came across so clearly in their debut LP and Tonic for the Troops. The Rats display many styles in this album from a wide range of influences.
In 2005, this album was re-released (it had previously been released but fell out of print quickly), digitally remastered by Bob Geldof and Pete Briquette
Pete Briquette
Pete Briquette is the stage name of Patrick Cusack . His pseudonym refers to the fact that he hails from the Irish countryside; peat briquettes are a type of refined turf burned in fires instead of coal.-Boomtown Rats:He was the bass guitarist, backing vocalist, occasional songwriter, and sometime...
with bonus tracks, mostly B-side tracks from various eras, that delve more deeply into the Rats' musical influences.
Track listing
All songs written by Bob GeldofBob Geldof
Robert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
unless otherwise indicated.
- "Someone's Looking at YouSomeone's Looking at You"Someone's Looking at You" was the third and final single from the The Boomtown Rats' album The Fine Art of Surfacing. It peaked at number two on the Irish charts and number 4 in the UK. It is an organ-based song that paints a humid picture of 1984-style government surveillance and has been...
" – 4:22 - "Diamond SmilesDiamond Smiles"Diamond Smiles" was the second single from The Boomtown Rats' album The Fine Art of Surfacing. It was the follow-up to their vastly successful single "I Don't Like Mondays" and also peaked at a respectable Number 13 in the UK Charts...
" – 3:49 - "Wind Chill Factor (Minus Zero)" – 4:35
- "Having My Picture Taken" (Geldof, Pete BriquettePete BriquettePete Briquette is the stage name of Patrick Cusack . His pseudonym refers to the fact that he hails from the Irish countryside; peat briquettes are a type of refined turf burned in fires instead of coal.-Boomtown Rats:He was the bass guitarist, backing vocalist, occasional songwriter, and sometime...
) – 3:18 - "Sleep (Fingers' Lullaby)" (Johnnie Fingers) – 5:30
- "I Don't Like Mondays" – 4:16
- "Nothing Happened Today" – 3:18
- "Keep It Up" (Geldof, Gerry CottGerry CottGerry Cott was a guitarist and songwriter with the Irish new wave band, The Boomtown Rats.He started playing flamenco guitar when he was 11 years old....
) – 3:39 - "Nice N Neat" – 2:50
- "When the Night Comes" – 5:00
- A hidden trackHidden trackIn the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener...
(with lyrics including "that's not funny, I'm not laughing"), also included as a named track ("Episode #3") on the 2005 re-release – 1:10
2005 re-release bonus tracks
- "Real Different" (b-side of Elephant's Graveyard) – 2:39
- "How Do You Do?" (b-side of Like Clockwork) – 2:39
- "Late Last Night" (b-side of Diamond SmilesDiamond Smiles"Diamond Smiles" was the second single from The Boomtown Rats' album The Fine Art of Surfacing. It was the follow-up to their vastly successful single "I Don't Like Mondays" and also peaked at a respectable Number 13 in the UK Charts...
) – 2:43 - "Nothing Happened Today" (Live in Cardiff) – 3:44
Personnel
- Bob GeldofBob GeldofRobert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
– 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...
, 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... - Pete BriquettePete BriquettePete Briquette is the stage name of Patrick Cusack . His pseudonym refers to the fact that he hails from the Irish countryside; peat briquettes are a type of refined turf burned in fires instead of coal.-Boomtown Rats:He was the bass guitarist, backing vocalist, occasional songwriter, and sometime...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Gerry CottGerry CottGerry Cott was a guitarist and songwriter with the Irish new wave band, The Boomtown Rats.He started playing flamenco guitar when he was 11 years old....
– 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... - Johnnie Fingers – 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 - Simon CroweSimon CroweSimon Crowe was the drummer for the Irish new wave bandThe Boomtown Rats.The original name of the Boomtown Rats was the "Nightlife Thugs". The name Boomtown Rats was taken from a novel entitled Bound for Glory by Woody Guthrie.The Boomtown Rats had eighteen hit singles in the UK, including "Rat...
– 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 - Garry RobertsGarry RobertsGarry Roberts is the former lead guitarist with the Irish band, The Boomtown Rats, which came into being in 1976...
– guitar, vocals
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Pop Albums |
103 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | "I Don't Like Mondays" | Billboard Hot 100 | 73 |
Certifications
| Organization | Gold Certification | Platinum Certification |
|---|---|---|
| CRIA – Canada | November 1, 1979 | February 1, 1980 |
| BPI – UK | February 13, 1980 | March 3, 1980 |