I See Red (Split Enz song)

Last updated

"I See Red"
I See Red.jpg
Single by Split Enz
from the album Frenzy
B-side
  • "Hermit McDermitt"
  • "Message Boy"
ReleasedDecember 1978
Recorded Starling Studios, England, 1978
Genre New wave, punk rock, hard rock
Length3:15
Label Mushroom Records
Songwriter(s) Tim Finn
Producer(s) David Tickle
Split Enz singles chronology
"Bold as Brass"
(1977)		"I See Red"
(1978)		"Give It A Whirl"
(1979)
Alternative cover
I See Red 1989.jpg
Cover to the 1989 re-release.

"I See Red" is a 1978 song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz. It was released in December 1978 as the lead single from their studio album Frenzy .

Contents

"I See Red" was the second Split Enz song to achieve a top 20 chart position, peaking at #15 in Australia and #43 in the band's native New Zealand. [1]

Recording

Tim Finn said, "That's a one-off thing we did at Startling Studios which is Ringo Starr's studio - it used to be John Lennon's place. The engineer out there got to know us and liked us and gave us some free time when the studio wasn't being used." [2] Elsewhere, he said, "We were on the bones of our arse. Somebody suggested this young guy (David Tickle) that they thought would be worth trying. It was an experiment. We ended up at Startling Studios, which was John Lennon's house when he and Yoko were doing Imagine and all that. So, it had acres of legendary pathos and meaning for us to be there." [3]

Music video

The music video for "I See Red" begins with Tim Finn angrily ripping his hair out (the first line of the lyrics indicates "When my baby's walking down the street/I see red, I see red, I see red"). Finn returns to the band and sings the rest of the song with them. All are wearing grey suits with black markings, white shirts and red ties. The studio is low lit with a white or red spotlight on different members of the band, occasionally lighting up a backdrop completely but predominantly keeping to white and red light. At the very end of the song, musically, the song silences very suddenly instead of fading out or being ended at the end of a bar, because of the tape running out during recording. In the music video, the band members disappear from the performance area at the same moment, leaving only their instruments in place.

Track listing

All songs written by Tim Finn.

7" vinyl

Side A
  1. "I See Red" - 3:15
Side B
  1. "Hermit McDermitt" - 3:42
  2. "Message Boy" - 3:51

Coloured 7" vinyl reissue

Reissued in 1989 to coincide with the release of greatest hits album History Never Repeats - The Best Of Split Enz . Released with new artwork to match History Never Repeats. Live version recorded at Festival Hall, Melbourne, November 1984.

  1. "I See Red" - 3:15
  2. "I See Red" (live) - 4:15

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1979)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [4] 15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [5] 43

Year-end charts

Chart (1979)Rank
Australia (Kent Music Report) [6] 90

Cover versions

According to Mike Chunn, former Split Enz member and writer of the biography Stranger Than Fiction: The Life And Times Of Split Enz, Bette Midler approached them backstage at a 1980 concert in Los Angeles and expressed her fondness for the song and discussed with the band the idea of recording her own version, though this never materialized. [7] In 2012, the New Zealand Army Band covered the song as part of their performance for the Arrowtown 150th anniversary celebrations. [8]

Sources

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowded House</span> Australian pop rock band

Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in 1985. Its founding members were New Zealander Neil Finn and Australians Paul Hester (drums) and Nick Seymour (bass). Later band members include Neil Finn's brother, Tim Finn and sons Liam and Elroy, as well as Americans Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod, with Neil Finn and Seymour being the sole constant members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Split Enz</span> New Zealand rock band

Split Enz were a New Zealand band formed in 1972. Regarded as the first New Zealand band to gain significant recognition outside of Australasia, they were initially noted for their progressive/art rock sound, flamboyant visual style and theatrical performances. The band later moved toward a pop/new wave sound that yielded the breakthrough hit single "I Got You" (1980). Split Enz broke up in 1984. Since that time, the band has staged several brief reunions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Finn</span> New Zealand musician and founder of Split Enz (born 1952)

Brian Timothy Finn is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, musician, and composer. He is best known as a founding member of Split Enz. Finn founded the band in 1972 with Phil Judd and served as lead singer and principal songwriter. Following Judd's departure in 1977, he was joined by brother Neil. Finn wrote or co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs, including "I See Red" and "Six Months in a Leaky Boat". While still a member of Split Enz, he began a solo career, scoring the two hits "Fraction Too Much Friction" and "Made My Day" in 1983; he left the band in early 1984, briefly returning for their farewell tour later that year.

<i>Dizrythmia</i> 1977 studio album by Split Enz

Dizrythmia (1977) is the third studio album released by New Zealand new wave band Split Enz. It was the first Split Enz album without co-founding members Phil Judd and Mike Chunn. Neil Finn and Nigel Griggs, the first being the younger brother of band leader Tim Finn, replaced them respectively. Meanwhile, Nigel's old friend and former bandmate Malcolm Green took the place of Emlyn Crowther, who also left around this time. The album was released domestically by Mushroom Records, and overseas by Chrysalis Records.

<i>True Colours</i> (Split Enz album) 1980 studio album by Split Enz

True Colours is the sixth studio album released by New Zealand band Split Enz, and was their first major commercial success. Released on 21 January 1980, the album featured more pronounced contributions from co-lead singer and songwriter Neil Finn than previous releases. The album's New Zealand and Australian number 1 single, "I Got You", which also broke them internationally, is credited to him. 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.

<i>Mental Notes</i> (Split Enz album) 1975 studio album by Split Enz

Mental Notes is the debut studio album by New Zealand band Split Enz. The album cover was painted by band member Phil Judd. Original vinyl copies featured Judd saying "Make a mental note" in the runout groove of the record's second side, causing the phrase to be looped ad infinitum on manual turntables until the stylus is removed.

<i>Second Thoughts</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Split Enz

Second Thoughts is the second studio album by New Zealand art rock band Split Enz. It was recorded in London with Roxy Music's guitarist Phil Manzanera producing the album.

<i>Frenzy</i> (Split Enz album) 1979 studio album by Split Enz

Frenzy is the fourth studio album by New Zealand new wave band Split Enz. Frenzy ventured even further beyond the band's art rock roots to more of a pop sound.

<i>Conflicting Emotions</i> 1983 studio album by Split Enz

Conflicting Emotions is the ninth album by New Zealand band Split Enz.

<i>See Ya Round</i> 1984 studio album by Split Enz

See Ya 'Round is the tenth and final studio album by New Zealand's premier new wave band, Split Enz, and was released in 1984, following the departure of founding member Tim Finn, whose solo career had officially taken off the year before. Remaining songwriter Neil Finn, claiming to be a little daunted by the prospect of leading his older brother's band, subsequently announced that this would be the final Split Enz studio recording. Since he only had an EP's worth of material ready, the record was filled out by lightweight, experimental contributions from each of the other band members. In interviews, Neil has revealed that the original EP was to have been the first five tracks on the album.

<i>The Beginning of the Enz</i> 1979 compilation album by Split Enz

The Beginning of the Enz is the fifth studio album from New Zealand rock group Split Enz. The album is a collection of non-album singles and demos that pre-date the band's first album, 1975's Mental Notes. Three of these songs, "129", "Lovey Dovey" and "Spellbound", were later re-recorded and included on Mental Notes and Second Thoughts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Message to My Girl</span>

"Message to My Girl" is a song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz. It was released in January 1984 as the second single from their ninth studio album Conflicting Emotions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Got You (Split Enz song)</span> 1980 single by Split Enz

"I Got You" is a song by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. It was released as a single on 21 January 1980 by Mushroom Records in Australia and New Zealand, and August 1980 by A&M internationally, as the first single from their breakthrough album True Colours. Written by co-lead singer Neil Finn, who did not initially believe it to be a hit, it became the band's most commercially successful song, topping the charts in Australasia and placing in the top 20 of the British and Canadian charts. By July 1980, it had become the biggest selling single in Australian history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Mistake (Split Enz song)</span> 1977 single by Split Enz

"My Mistake" is a 1977 song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz. It was released in September 1977 as the lead single from their studio album Dizrythmia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Hope I Never</span> 1980 single by Split Enz

"I Hope I Never" is a 1980 song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz. It was released in May 1980 as the second single from their sixth studio album True Colours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Step Ahead (Split Enz song)</span> 1980 single by Split Enz

"One Step Ahead" is a 1980 song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz. It was released November 1980 as the lead single from their seventh studio album Waiata.

"Never Ceases to Amaze Me" is a song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz. It was released in September 1982 as the third single from the group's eighth studio album, Time and Tide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History Never Repeats</span> 1981 single by Split Enz

"History Never Repeats" is a single written by Neil Finn and recorded by Split Enz. It was released in March 1981 as the second single from their seventh studio album, Waiata. The song remains one of their most popular. It was also used as the title of two compilation albums by the band.

<i>Enz of an Era</i> 1982 compilation album by Split Enz

Enz of an Era was a compilation by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Released to mark the band's 10th anniversary, and composed of tracks selected by members of the band, the album was released in New Zealand and Australia only. The album was followed up by two "Enz Of An Era" 10th anniversary concerts in early 1983.

One Out Of The Bag is a DVD/CD live release by New Zealand Rock music band Split Enz. It was recorded during their 2006 tour of Australia. This is also the first Split Enz release since Waiata/Corroboree to feature drummer Malcolm Green, who was sacked shortly before Waiata/Corroboree's release. Green shares drum duties with percussionist Noel Crombie.

References

  1. ↑ I See Red by Split Enz : Reviews and Ratings. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  2. ↑ Milne, Bruce (March 1979). "Split Enz Blood n Guts Romantics". Roadrunner. Parkside, SA: 12–13.
  3. ↑ Dan Condon (29 July 2020). "'We wouldn't let the industry defeat us': How True Colours changed Split Enz forever". Double J.
  4. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 288. ISBN   0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
  5. ↑ "Split Enz – I See Red". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report . Retrieved 3 December 2020– via Imgur.com.
  7. ↑ Chunn 1992
  8. ↑ "New Zealand Army band 'See Red' with Split Enz classic". The New Zealand Herald . 26 October 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.