True Colours
Encyclopedia
True Colours, the fifth album released by New Zealand
band Split Enz
, was their first major commercial success. Released in 1980, the album featured more mature songwriting from Neil Finn
. Credited to him is the album's New Zealand and Australian #1 single, "I Got You," which also broke them internationally. The US release of the album featured "Shark Attack" and "I Got You" in reversed positions due to the latter's success on the single charts.
Originally, the band thought "Missing Person" to be the album's standout track, not realizing "I Got You" would become the hit. "I Hope I Never" was mixed differently for the Australian single release, with strengthened percussion. "Nobody Takes Me Seriously," "What's the Matter With You" and "Poor Boy" were released as singles in the northern hemisphere.
The album was initially released in four colour combinations – yellow and blue, red and green, purple and yellow, and blue and orange – but would ultimately be given another four makeovers with releases in lime green and pink, hot purple and burnt orange, gold and platinum (to mark its sales milestones), and finally yellow, blue and red.
When it was later released on the A&M
label, wild, imaginative shapes and patterns covered the vinyl using a technique known as "laser-etching". When light hit the record, these designs would protrude and spin about the room. The album was the first to ever use this technique, originally designed to discourage the creation of counterfeit
copies.
A synthesizer melody played in "I Wouldn't Dream of It" was first introduced in an early Split Enz recording, aptly titled "The Instrumental".
True Colours was remastered by Eddie Rayner and re-released on two occasions. Firstly in 2003, and yet again with the rest of the Split Enz catalogue on the 20 May 2006 with the bonus tracks: Things and Two Of a Kind. In October 2010, the album was listed at number 22 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums
, despite being a New Zealand production.
All songs were written by Tim Finn, except where noted.
NOTE: On the A&M version, tracks 1 & 2 are inverted. The listing above is the original Mushroom (AUS) / Polydor (NZ) listing.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
band 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...
, was their first major commercial success. Released in 1980, the album featured more mature songwriting from Neil Finn
Neil Finn
Neil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
. Credited to him is the album's New Zealand and Australian #1 single, "I Got You," which also broke them internationally. The US release of the album featured "Shark Attack" and "I Got You" in reversed positions due to the latter's success on the single charts.
Originally, the band thought "Missing Person" to be the album's standout track, not realizing "I Got You" would become the hit. "I Hope I Never" was mixed differently for the Australian single release, with strengthened percussion. "Nobody Takes Me Seriously," "What's the Matter With You" and "Poor Boy" were released as singles in the northern hemisphere.
The album was initially released in four colour combinations – yellow and blue, red and green, purple and yellow, and blue and orange – but would ultimately be given another four makeovers with releases in lime green and pink, hot purple and burnt orange, gold and platinum (to mark its sales milestones), and finally yellow, blue and red.
When it was later released on the A&M
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
label, wild, imaginative shapes and patterns covered the vinyl using a technique known as "laser-etching". When light hit the record, these designs would protrude and spin about the room. The album was the first to ever use this technique, originally designed to discourage the creation of counterfeit
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
copies.
A synthesizer melody played in "I Wouldn't Dream of It" was first introduced in an early Split Enz recording, aptly titled "The Instrumental".
True Colours was remastered by Eddie Rayner and re-released on two occasions. Firstly in 2003, and yet again with the rest of the Split Enz catalogue on the 20 May 2006 with the bonus tracks: Things and Two Of a Kind. In October 2010, the album was listed at number 22 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...
, despite being a New Zealand production.
Track listing
- "Shark Attack"
- "I Got YouI Got You (Split Enz song)"I Got You" is a 1980 song by New Zealand rock group Split Enz from their studio album True Colours. Split Enz's most commercially successful single, "I Got You" was written by Neil Finn and released in January 1980.-Music video:...
" (Neil FinnNeil FinnNeil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
) - "What's the Matter with YouWhat's The Matter With You"What's the Matter with You" was a single written by Neil Finn and recorded by Split Enz for their 1980 True Colours album. The single was only released in the US and Canada, probably due to their previous single only being released in the UK, given the similar track listings.It is notable for...
" (N. Finn) - "Double Happy" [Instrumental] (Eddie RaynerEddie RaynerEddie Rayner , is a New Zealand musician who has played in bands such as Split Enz, Space Waltz, Crowded House, The Makers and 801....
) - "I Wouldn't Dream of It"
- "I Hope I NeverI Hope I Never"I Hope I Never" is a 1980 song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz from their studio album True Colours. The album version of the song goes for 4:36, forty seconds longer than the single version. The song was later covered by ENZSO, a collaboration between Split Enz's Eddie Rayner and the New...
" - "Nobody Takes Me SeriouslyNobody Takes Me Seriously"Nobody Takes Me Seriously" was a single written by Tim Finn and recorded by Split Enz for their 1980 True Colours album. The song was only released in the UK.- Track listing :Released in the United Kingdom only.#"Nobody Takes Me Seriously" 3:30...
" - "Missing Person" (N. Finn)
- "Poor BoyPoor Boy (Split Enz song)"Poor Boy" was a song written by Tim Finn and recorded by Split Enz for their 1980 True Colours album. It was released as a single in the UK only.- The song :...
" - "How Can I Resist Her"
- "The Choral Sea" [Instrumental] (T. Finn, N. Finn, Rayner, Noel CrombieNoel CrombieNoel Crombie is a New Zealand singer and former member of the band Split Enz. He fulfilled multiple roles including costume and hair designer, percussionist, album cover designer, and music video director...
, Malcolm GreenMalcolm Green (musician)Malcolm Green is an English-born drummer best known as a member of New Zealand band Split Enz from 1976 to 1981.Green was recruited by Split Enz in Britain, where he had formerly played with Love Affair, The Honeycombs -- both of them long after their run of '60s hits -- and Octopus...
, Nigel GriggsNigel GriggsNigel Griggs is a musician who played bass guitar in Split Enz. He is the brother of Paul Griggs from the 1970s vocal group Guys 'n' Dolls...
)
NOTE: On the A&M version, tracks 1 & 2 are inverted. The listing above is the original Mushroom (AUS) / Polydor (NZ) listing.
2006 Re-release
- Songs written by Tim Finn, except where noted.
- "Shark Attack" – 3:00
- "I Got YouI Got You (Split Enz song)"I Got You" is a 1980 song by New Zealand rock group Split Enz from their studio album True Colours. Split Enz's most commercially successful single, "I Got You" was written by Neil Finn and released in January 1980.-Music video:...
" (N. FinnNeil FinnNeil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
) – 3:29 - "What's the Matter with YouWhat's The Matter With You"What's the Matter with You" was a single written by Neil Finn and recorded by Split Enz for their 1980 True Colours album. The single was only released in the US and Canada, probably due to their previous single only being released in the UK, given the similar track listings.It is notable for...
" (N. Finn) – 3:09 - "Double Happy" [Instrumental] (RaynerEddie RaynerEddie Rayner , is a New Zealand musician who has played in bands such as Split Enz, Space Waltz, Crowded House, The Makers and 801....
) – 3:27 - "I Wouldn't Dream of It" – 3:22
- "I Hope I NeverI Hope I Never"I Hope I Never" is a 1980 song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz from their studio album True Colours. The album version of the song goes for 4:36, forty seconds longer than the single version. The song was later covered by ENZSO, a collaboration between Split Enz's Eddie Rayner and the New...
" – 4:34 - "Nobody Takes Me SeriouslyNobody Takes Me Seriously"Nobody Takes Me Seriously" was a single written by Tim Finn and recorded by Split Enz for their 1980 True Colours album. The song was only released in the UK.- Track listing :Released in the United Kingdom only.#"Nobody Takes Me Seriously" 3:30...
" – 3:30 - "Missing Person" (N. Finn) – 3:39
- "Poor BoyPoor Boy (Split Enz song)"Poor Boy" was a song written by Tim Finn and recorded by Split Enz for their 1980 True Colours album. It was released as a single in the UK only.- The song :...
" – 3:28 - "How Can I Resist Her" – 3:33
- "The Choral Sea" [Instrumental] (Split EnzSplit EnzSplit 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...
) – 4:51 - "Things" (N.Finn) (Single, released October 1979) – 2:48
- "Two of a Kind" (Recorded at Harlequin Studios, AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, June 1979) – 3:41
Chart positions
| Country | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia | 1 |
| New Zealand | 1 |
| USA | 40 |
| UK | 38 |
| Canada | 10 |
Split Enz
- Tim FinnTim FinnBrian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
: vocals, acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitarA steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound... - Neil FinnNeil FinnNeil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
: vocals, guitar - Noel CrombieNoel CrombieNoel Crombie is a New Zealand singer and former member of the band Split Enz. He fulfilled multiple roles including costume and hair designer, percussionist, album cover designer, and music video director...
: vocals, percussion - Malcolm GreenMalcolm Green (musician)Malcolm Green is an English-born drummer best known as a member of New Zealand band Split Enz from 1976 to 1981.Green was recruited by Split Enz in Britain, where he had formerly played with Love Affair, The Honeycombs -- both of them long after their run of '60s hits -- and Octopus...
: drums - Nigel GriggsNigel GriggsNigel Griggs is a musician who played bass guitar in Split Enz. He is the brother of Paul Griggs from the 1970s vocal group Guys 'n' Dolls...
: bass guitar - Eddie RaynerEddie RaynerEddie Rayner , is a New Zealand musician who has played in bands such as Split Enz, Space Waltz, Crowded House, The Makers and 801....
: keyboards
Technical
- Produced and engineered by David Tickle
- Assistant Engineer: Scott Hemmings
- Recorded at Armstrongs, Melbourne 1979
- "Two Of A Kind" Produced by Tim Finn and engineered by Doug Rogers
- Recorded at Harlequin Studios, Auckland 1979
- Cover Art: Noel Crombie
- Design and layout: Traffic Design Studios
- International Management – Nathan D. Brenner
- Project Coordinators: Dean McLachlan, Peter Green