Conflicting Emotions

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Conflicting Emotions
Conflicting Emotions.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 1983
StudioParadise Studios, Sydney
Genre New wave
Length42:15
Label Mushroom
Producer Hugh Padgham, Eddie Rayner
Split Enz chronology
Enz of an Era
(1982)
Conflicting Emotions
(1983)
See Ya 'Round
(1984)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Conflicting Emotions is the eighth studio album by New Zealand art-rock band Split Enz.

Contents

In contrast to the recording of their previous album Time and Tide (1982), which had been a happy time for Split Enz, the band have cited the sessions for Conflicting Emotions as the beginning of their breakup. [2] As recording began, Tim Finn had just released a successful solo album, Escapade , and was focused on promoting it. As a result, six of the ten songs on the album are written and sung by Neil Finn.

The rumored resentment over Tim Finn's successful solo career was worsened by his desire to downplay drummer/percussionist Noel Crombie during the sessions by bringing in former Beach Boy Ricky Fataar, who had played on Escapade, to play drums on "Message to My Girl", and using a drum machine on most other tracks. [2] Hence, although Crombie is credited as drummer/percussionist on the album liner notes, he actually contributed very little drumming. Neil Finn said at the time of recording, "These drum machine things that are going around at the moment. We thought it was high time we utilised one and we've been very careful with it." [3] Neil later expressed regret over the downplaying of Crombie during the sessions and grew to dislike the sound and feel of the drum machine on the album. [2]

Eddie Rayner at this point started to use the Yamaha DX7 synthesizer which can heard on many tracks. The "guitar" solo on "Straight Old Line" is actually Rayner on the DX7. [2]

Before taking to the road for the Conflicting Emotions tour, Crombie moved back to his original percussionist role in the band, and they advertised for a new drummer, hoping an injection of new blood would revitalize them. Paul Hester answered the call, joining Split Enz in time to feature in the video clip for "Message to My Girl".

The album cover art was created by former Split Enz frontman Phil Judd, while the back cover was painted by Noel Crombie.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Strait Old Line" Neil Finn 4:03
2."Bullet Brain and Cactus Head" Neil Finn 3:59
3."Message to My Girl" Neil Finn 4:04
4."Working Up an Appetite" Tim Finn 4:08
5."Our Day" Neil Finn 4:57
6."No Mischief" Neil Finn 4:15
7."The Devil You Know" Neil Finn 3:35
8."I Wake Up Every Night" Tim Finn 4:46
9."Conflicting Emotions" Tim Finn 4:30
10."Bon Voyage" Tim Finn 4:06

Personnel

Split Enz

Additional musician

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [9] Gold35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [10] Platinum15,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Allmusic review
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Enzology Part 9".
  3. Stuart Metchett (November 1983). "Allz Well that Enz Well". Countdown Magazine. Vol. 2, no. 3.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 288. 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. "Dutchcharts.nl – Split Enz – Conflicting Emotions" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  6. "Charts.nz – Split Enz – Conflicting Emotions". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  7. "Split Enz Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  8. "Top Selling Albums of 1984 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  9. "Split Enz to Tour in 2006" . Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  10. "Gold and platinum New Zealand albums to 2013". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 December 2021.