A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.

Last updated

A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.
Aomodtvvers.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 1986
RecordedAugust/September 1986
Alberts Studios, Sydney
Genre rock
Length43:39
Label WEA
Producer Leszek Karski
V. Spy v. Spy chronology
Harry's Reasons
(1986)
A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.
(1986)
Xenophobia
(1988)
Singles from A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.
  1. "Don't Tear It Down"
    Released: November 1986
  2. "Sallie-Anne"
    Released: March 1987
  3. "Credit Cards"
    Released: May 1987

A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. is the second studio album by Australian rock band Spy vs Spy, produced by Leszek Karski (Boys Next Door, Midnight Oil, Nauts) [1] [2] [3] and released through WEA in December 1986.

Contents

The title is an abbreviation of 'Adults Only Modified Television Version' which used to appear at the bottom of late night movies in Australia at the time. [1] The album peaked at No. 12 on the Kent Music Report and went gold. [1] [4] For this album Spy vs Spy recorded as v. Spy v. Spy, and the line-up was the original trio Craig Bloxom on bass guitar/lead vocals, Cliff Grigg on drums/percussion and Mike Weiley on lead guitar/vocals. [1] [5]

The album provided three singles – "Don't Tear it Down" inspired by the Department of Main Roads seeking to demolish the band's Darling Street squat, [6] "Sallie-Anne" about murdered prostitute/whistleblower Sallie-Anne Huckstepp and "Credit Cards" a commentary on spiralling debt and consumerism. [7] "Don't Tear It Down" was the band's most successful single, peaking at No. 31 on the Kent Music Report of the Australian singles charts [4] in February 1987, it stayed in the charts for 20 weeks and went platinum. [1] [4]

Background

Spy vs Spy had formed in 1981 in Sydney as a ska/pub rock band. [1] Their line-up was the trio Craig Bloxom on bass guitar/lead vocals, Cliff Grigg on drums/percussion and Mike Weiley on lead guitar/vocals. [1] [5] They became known for tackling political issues including racism, homelessness and contemporary drug culture. [1] [7] By 1984 they were using the name v. Spy v. Spy to avoid legal problems with Mad magazine. [1] [7] They were signed to Midnight Oil's label Powderworks and managed by Oils manager, Gary Morris. [1] [7] Their first full-length album Harry's Reasons was released in February 1986. [1] [2]

Spy vs Spy switched labels to WEA in 1986 and released the single "Don't Tear it Down" in November 1986.

Track listing

All tracks written by Craig Bloxom, Michael Weiley, Cliff Grigg and G Vasicek (aka Gary Morris).

No.TitleLength
1."Don't Tear it Down"4:05
2."Credit Cards"4:40
3."Mission Man"4:07
4."Pockets of Pride"4:00
5."Go to Work"5:12
6."Sallie-Anne"5:08
7."Snowblind"4:04
8."Use your Head"4:27
9."Peace and Quiet"3:11
10."Take Me Away"4:45

Personnel

v. Spy v. Spy members

Recording details

Charts

Chart (1986/87)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [4] 12

Release history

CountryDateLabelFormatCatalogue
AustraliaDecember 1986 Warner Music Group LP, Cassette254458-1/ 254458-4
JapanDecember 1986WEALPP-13583
Australia1987Warner Music GroupCD254458-2

Related Research Articles

<i>Head Injuries</i> 1979 studio album by Midnight Oil

Head Injuries is the second studio album by Australian pub rockers Midnight Oil, which was released in October 1979 on their own Powderworks label and distributed by Columbia Records. The album was produced by Leszek J. Karski, recorded at 'Trafalgar Studios' in Sydney. It was the last Midnight Oil album to feature founding bass guitarist Andrew James, who quit the band due to illness. It peaked at No. 36 on the Australian Kent Music Report and by mid-1980 had achieved gold status.

<i>Bird Noises</i> 1980 EP by Midnight Oil

Bird Noises is the first extended play by Australian rock group, Midnight Oil, which was released on 24 November 1980 under the band's own independent label, Powderworks Records / Sprint Music. It was produced by Leszek Karski and manufactured and distributed by CBS/Columbia. Bird Noises reached the Top 30 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, the EP "continued the development heard on [their previous album], with 'No Time for Games' and 'I'm the Cure' being particularly impressive. [The EP] also boasted the anomalous, but delightful Shadows-like instrumental 'Wedding Cake Island'".

Schnell Fenster were an Australian pop, rock band formed in 1986 by Noel Crombie on drums and percussion, Nigel Griggs on bass guitar and backing vocals, Phil Judd on lead vocals and guitar, and Eddie Rayner on keyboards and piano – who were all former members of New Zealand-formed rock group, Split Enz. Fellow founder, Michael den Elzen on lead guitar had worked with Tim Finn Band, another band formed by a Split Enz alumnus. Judd's band were briefly named The Wanx: but Rayner soon left and they changed their name to faux-German for "quick window", because it "appealed to [their] perversity". The group formed the core members of Noel's Cowards, a short-term ensemble, whose sole output was six tracks for the soundtrack of a feature film, Rikky and Pete, in 1988. Schnell Fenster released two studio albums, The Sound of Trees (1988) and Ok Alright a Huh Oh Yeah (1990), before disbanding in 1992. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1989 they were nominated for Breakthrough Artist – Album for The Sound of Trees, Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Whisper" and Best Cover Art for Judd's graphic art.

<i>The Swing</i> (INXS album) 1984 studio album by INXS

The Swing is Australian rock band INXS's fourth studio album, released in April 1984. It peaked at number one on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart for five non-consecutive weeks from early April to mid-May 1984. The lead single "Original Sin" was recorded in New York City with Nile Rodgers and featured Daryl Hall on backing vocals. Overall, the album featured a slightly harder-edged sound than their previous releases.

Spy v Spy, also known as v. Spy v. Spy, The Drug Grannies and The Spies, were an Australian ska/pub rock band from Sydney formed in 1981. They became known for tackling political issues through their music, including racism, homelessness and contemporary drug culture. They were named after a comic strip, "Spy vs. Spy" in the US Mad magazine.

The Allniters were an Australian ska pop band based in Sydney during 1980–1987. Original line-up was Ted Ayers on sax, Dave Bebb on drums, Stuart Crysell on guitar, Martin Fabok on guitar, Peter Hill-Travis on vocals, Graham Hood on bass guitar, Brett Pattinson on vocals and Mark Taylor on keyboards. Numerous changes occurred in band members with Fabok, Hill-Travis and Pattinson common to almost all line-ups.

Mississippi were an Australian soft rock band (1972–1975), which included Graham Goble on lead vocals and guitar, Beeb Birtles on lead vocals and guitar, and Derek Pellicci on drums. The band had started as Allison Gros in Adelaide in 1970 and moved to Melbourne in 1971 where they recorded as Allison Gros, Drummond and, early in 1972, became Mississippi. As Drummond they issued a cover version of "Daddy Cool", which peaked at No. 1 on the Go-Set National Top 40 for eight weeks. As Mississippi they reached No. 10 with "Kings of the World". In early 1975, with Birtles, Goble and Pellici aboard and the addition of Glenn Shorrock, the group were renamed, Little River Band.

<i>The Happiest Place in Town</i> 1988 studio album by Do-Ré-Mi

The Happiest Place in Town is the second and final studio album by Australian rock/pop group Do-Re-Mi and was released by Virgin Records in August 1988. The album has twelve tracks, which were written by lead vocalist Deborah Conway, drummer Dorland Bray, bass guitarist Helen Carter and guitarist Stephen Philip.

Warnings Moving Clockwise

"Warnings Moving Clockwise" is a song by Australian rock/pop group Do-Re-Mi released by Virgin Records in November 1985 as the third and final single from their debut studio album. The song peaked at number 72 in Australia.

King of Moomba (song)

"King of Moomba" is a song by Australian rock/pop group Do-Ré-Mi released by Virgin Records in January 1988 as the second single from the group's second second album The Happiest Place in Town. The song was written by lead vocalist Deborah Conway, drummerDorland Bray, bass guitarist Helen Carter and guitarist Stephen Philip. While the B-side "Tearing up the Carpet" was written by Carter and Philip. The song peaked at number 52 on the Australian charts.

Adultery (song)

Adultery is a song by Australian rock/pop group Do-Ré-Mi, released by Virgin Records in October 1987, as the lead singe from the band's second studio album, The Happiest Place in Town. The song peaked at number 27 on the Australian charts.

TimGaze is an Australian rock and blues guitarist, songwriter, singer and producer. He was a member of several Australian groups from the 1960s to 1990s including Tamam Shud, Kahvas Jute (1970), Ariel (1973–74) and Rose Tattoo (1985–87). He also had a solo music career and released the albums, Band on the Run, Rough Trade (1992), Blue Sierra (1996) and Blues Remedy (1998). In April 2008 he issued a retrospective compilation covering both his group and solo work, Reckless Love: the Tim Gaze Anthology.

Craig Bloxom

Craig Bloxom was the bass player/singer of Australian ska/rock band Spy vs. Spy. Bloxom was born in Los Angeles in 1959 and his family moved to Australia in 1965.

<i>Trash the Planet</i> 1989 studio album by Spy vs. Spy

Trash the Planet is the fourth studio album by Australian rock band Spy vs. Spy, produced by Craig Leon and released through WEA in November 1989.

<i>Xenophobia (Why?)</i> 1988 studio album by Spy vs. Spy

Xenophobia (Why?) is the third studio album by Australian rock band Spy vs. Spy, it was produced by Les Karski and Guy Gray, and released through WEA in March 1988. For this album Spy vs Spy were known as v. Spy v. Spy, and the line-up was the original trio Craig Bloxom on bass guitar/lead vocals, Cliff Grigg on drums/percussion and Mike Weiley on lead guitar/vocals.

<i>Rose Tattoo</i> (Rose Tattoo album) 1978 studio album by Rose Tattoo

Rose Tattoo is the debut self-titled album by Australian hard rock band Rose Tattoo released in November 1978 on the Albert Productions label. It was produced by the famous Vanda & Young team who have worked with AC/DC, The Angels and Stevie Wright. The album was released as Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw in some markets. Eight bonus tracks were added for the 1990 CD edition for Repertoire Records.

<i>Uncovered</i> (John Farnham album) 1980 studio album by John Farnham

Uncovered is a solo studio album by Australian singer John Farnham, produced by Little River Band's Graeham Goble, and released on 3 July 1980, which peaked at No. 20 on the Australian Kent Music Report Album Charts. Farnham's first single from the album was a reworking of The Beatles' song "Help!"; it peaked at No. 8 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The second single "Please Don't Ask Me" didn't chart, however it was re-released in 1991 as a live version as part of the Full House album and became a Number #22 on the Aria music chart. in 2000, to coincide with its 20th anniversary, Uncovered the album was re-mastered by Goble and re-released.

Science Fiction (song)

"Science Fiction" is a song by Australian rock/new wave group Divinyls, which was the lead single from their first studio album Desperate. Released in December 1982, "Science Fiction", peaked at No. 13 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The B-side, "I'll Make You Happy" was a cover of The Easybeats 1966 hit.

The Monitors were an Australian pop band of the early 1980s. They were primarily a studio group which involved a collaboration between Terry McCarthy on vocals and keyboards, and Mark Moffatt on guitar, bass guitar and keyboards. They used various guest vocalists. Their debut single, "Singin' in the '80s", was released in 1980 and reached No. 16 on the Kent Music Report singles chart. A second single, "Nobody Told Me", peaked in the top 40. The Monitors issued a sole album, Back from Their Recent Illness, for which Ricky Fataar had joined on drums, percussion, guitar and keyboards. The group disbanded in 1982.

Big on Love is a song by Australian new wave rock band Models. It was released as a single on 18 November 1984, well ahead of the album, Out of Mind, Out of Sight, which appeared in August the following year. It peaked at No. 24 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart in 1984. It was produced for Mushroom Records by Reggie Lucas, and was co-written by Sean Kelly, the group's lead guitarist and lead vocalist, and Lucas. For the single, Models line up was Kelly, James Freud on backing vocals and bass guitar, Andrew Duffield on keyboards, and Barton Price on drums.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'v. Spy v. Spy'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop . Allen & Unwin. ISBN   1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  2. 1 2 Holmgren, Magnus. "Les Karski". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  3. "Leszek Karski". Music Producer Database. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  5. 1 2 Holmgren, Magnus; Cuffe, Mark. "Spy v Spy". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  6. "Spy v Spy" (PDF). The Glebe Society Inc. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Nimmervoll, Ed. "Spy v Spy". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 21 February 2001. Retrieved 10 February 2014.