A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | December 1986 | |||
Recorded | August/September 1986 Alberts Studios, Sydney | |||
Genre | rock | |||
Length | 43:39 | |||
Label | WEA | |||
Producer | Leszek Karski | |||
V. Spy v. Spy chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. | ||||
|
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.
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]
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.
All tracks written by Craig Bloxom, Michael Weiley, Cliff Grigg and G Vasicek (aka Gary Morris).
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
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 |
v. Spy v. Spy members
Recording details
Chart (1986/87) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [4] | 12 |
Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalogue |
---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | December 1986 | Warner Music Group | LP, Cassette | 254458-1/ 254458-4 |
Japan | December 1986 | WEA | LP | P-13583 |
Australia | 1987 | Warner Music Group | CD | 254458-2 |
Head Injuries is the second studio album by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, 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 in Australia.
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.
Nicholas More Seymour is an Australian musician and record producer. He is the founding bass guitarist and a mainstay of the rock group Crowded House, and is the younger brother of Mark Seymour, singer-songwriter-guitarist in the rock band Hunters and Collectors.
Schnell Fenster were a New Zealand rock band formed in Melbourne, Australia 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.
The Swing is the fourth studio album by Australian rock band INXS, released on 21 March 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.
Underneath the Colours is the second studio album by Australian rock band INXS. It was released in Australia in 19 October 1981 on the Deluxe Records label and reached No 15 on the Australian album charts.
Flash and the Pan were an Australian new wave musical group formed in 1976 by Harry Vanda and George Young, both former members of the Easybeats, who formed a production and songwriting team known as Vanda & Young. The group's first chart success was their 1976 debut single, "Hey, St. Peter", which reached number five in the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The next single, "Down Among the Dead Men", peaked at number four in Australia in 1978. For international release, it was re-titled "And the Band Played On".
v.Spy v.Spy, also known as Spy vs Spy, SPY v SPY is an Australian 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.
The Allniters are a Sydney-based Australian ska pop band, founded in 1980. 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.
The Black Sorrows are an Australian blues rock band formed in 1983 by mainstay vocalist Joe Camilleri, who also plays saxophone and guitar. Camilleri has used various line-ups to record 17 albums, with five reaching the top 20 on the ARIA Albums Charts: Hold on to Me, Harley and Rose, Better Times, The Chosen Ones - Greatest Hits and Lucky Charm. Their top 40 singles are "Chained to the Wheel", "Harley + Rose" and "Snake Skin Shoes".
Michael Thomas Cocks, known professionally as Mick Cocks, was an Australian musician, most noted for his guitar and songwriting work with Rose Tattoo. His original sound and style heavily influenced Guns N' Roses, who recorded a cover of the Rose Tattoo song "Nice Boys". He was also a member of Heaven, The Headhunters, Illustrated Men, Doomfoxx, Pete Wells' Heart Attack, and the Ted Mulry Gang. On 16 August 2006, Rose Tattoo were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame.
"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" 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 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 is a song by Australian rock/pop group Do-Ré-Mi, released by Virgin Records in October 1987, as the lead single from the band's second studio album, The Happiest Place in Town. The song peaked at number 27 on the Australian charts.
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.
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.
Uncovered is a solo studio album by British-born 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 chart and was certified gold in 1981.
"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" is a cover of The Easybeats 1966 hit.
It's a Long Way There (Greatest Hits) is the first compilation album by the Australian group Little River Band, released in Australia and New Zealand in September 1978. The album peaked at No. 4 on the Australian Kent Music Report albums chart and No. 12 in New Zealand. The album sold over 200,000 copies in Australia. Retitled It's a Long Way There (1975–1979) it was re-issued in Germany for the European market in 1979.