Frenzy | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 19 February 1979 | |||
Recorded | The Manor Studios, England November–December 1978 Startling Studios, England July 1978 | |||
Genre | New wave | |||
Length | 45:24 | |||
Label | Mushroom Records (AUS/NZ) A&M Records (North America/Europe) | |||
Producer | Mallory Earl, David Tickle, Split Enz | |||
Split Enz chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
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.
The album is notable for being the first to feature Neil Finn on lead vocals – though the lyrics to "Give It a Whirl" and both music & lyrics to "Master Plan" were written by his brother Tim.
The album was primarily recorded at The Manor Studios in England between November and December in 1978; however, the song "I See Red" had already been recorded at Startling Studios (also in England) in July 1978.
There was a long delay between the writing of the songs and the recording. Tim Finn said, "We'd been waiting nearly a year to do it so we'd done all the demos, rehearsed it and written new songs. We'd been waiting too long. There's so much material. The album has twelve songs, but by the time we'd recorded it we'd written fifty more." [2]
The song "Abu Dhabi" created controversy due to the use of phrases such as "greedy westerners" and "oil barons", considered to be racist by some. As a result, the song's vocals were mixed softly, the offensive lyrics were not printed anywhere on the album and with the exception of a few shouts of 'Abu Dhabi' left in, completely mixed out of the 2006 remix of the track.
The cover artwork was done by the band's then lighting director, Raewyn Turner. Tim Finn said, "We deliberately wanted something of us without the costumes. There's no need to promote our image anymore – it's our music that needs to be promoted". [2]
Dissatisfaction with the original mix of the album led to Eddie Rayner remixing the album in 1981 for the North American and European releases. Side one comprised songs from the original release, while side two was a mix of songs recorded on the Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes from 1978. The sound of the original album apparently suffered from either bad tape stock used for the recording of the album, or misalignment of the tape machines used to record it – which limited what Rayner had to work with in the aforementioned 1981 remix. Release of the Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes finally eventuated in 2007 after many delays.
Subsequent developments in recording technology led to the remix of album track "Stuff and Nonsense" for the 1997 compilation Spellbound , and an entire remix of the album by Eddie Rayner released in 2006. Although the remix was available for a short while after its release in 2006, it is now a rarity – with fans having to pay large sums of money to obtain it. Mushroom Records did not make the remixed album available in digital format.
Reviewed in Roadrunner at the time of release, it was described as, "a very mature and subtle piece of vinyl ... although not as immediately stunning as the stark Mental Notes or as smoothly polished as the sleek Second Thoughts. This a creative work of appreciable depth." Particularly praised were "I See Red", "Give It A Whirl" and "Hermit McDermitt" (for its "unique demented hillbilly sound"). [3]
All tracks written by Tim Finn, except where noted. "I See Red" was not included on the first 10,000 copies of this album, having not been a part of the same sessions. It was added subsequently on 1 March 1979.
Side One
Side Two
Some bootleg versions of the A&M 1981 Frenzy also include B-sides "Message Boy", "Hypnotized" and rare "Next Exit" – all recorded during the Luton sessions. "Stuff & Nonsense" is preceded by a brief introduction by Tim Finn, who dedicates the song to the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team. The original version of "Next Exit" from the Luton tapes was released on the More Hits and Myths compilation.
All tracks remixed in 2005–2006 by Eddie Rayner. The track listing on the CD booklet and back cover is incorrect on most editions.
Split Enz
Chart (1979) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [4] | 24 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [5] | 13 |
Chart (1982) | Peak position |
Canada [6] | 49 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [7] | Gold | 50,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [8] | Gold | 7,500^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Date |
---|---|
Australia | 19 February 1979 |
New Zealand | |
Europe | 1981 |
North America |
Split Enz were a New Zealand band formed in Auckland in 1972. Regarded as the first New Zealand band to gain significant recognition outside of Australasia, they were noted for their flamboyant visual style and theatrical performances. Originally formed by university students Tim Finn and Phil Judd as an acoustic-based act, they built a strong regional reputation as an art rock band before moving to Australia in 1975, where they recorded and released their debut album Mental Notes. Their second and third albums, Second Thoughts (1976) and Dizrythmia (1977) were recorded in the UK. Judd left before the recording of the latter and was replaced by Tim Finn's brother Neil. This change, as well as Neil's increasing involvement in the songwriting process, signaled a shift away from the band's art rock roots and towards a new wave-influenced pop sound that culminated in the band's most commercial period in the early 1980s starting with the single "I Got You", whose breakthrough along with its parent album True Colours (1980) gained them significant international success.
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.
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.
Time and Tide is the eighth album by the New Zealand new wave band Split Enz, released in April 1982. It topped the album charts in New Zealand and Australia.
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.
The Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes is a collection of demos made by New Zealand band Split Enz in 1978. During their 2006 tour of Australia it was announced that these recordings would finally be released as an official album after lengthy pressure from the fan club Frenz of the 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.
"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.
"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.
"Next Exit" is a song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz. It was written by Tim Finn and released as a non-album single in Australia in March 1983.
"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.
Spellbound, very often subtitled on the cover as "The Very Best Of Split Enz", is a 1997 compilation album by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Apparently intended to be the final word on Split Enz compilations, it is the band's most comprehensive career survey. Featured amongst the album's 39 tracks are all the hits, live favourites, choice album tracks and a few rarities, all selected by members of the band.
History Never Repeats – The Best of Split Enz is a compilation of hits by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Initially released in the US in 1987, then in New Zealand and Australia in 1989, the album has been through many variations and reissues over the years.
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.
The Living Enz was the first live album released by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Primarily recorded in Melbourne, Australia during the band's 1984 Enz with a Bang farewell tour, it also includes some material from the Auckland shows of that tour, plus recordings from the band's 1982 Time and Tide tour.
Extravagenza is a live album by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Comprising recordings from the Palmerston North, New Plymouth and Auckland shows of the band's 1993 20th Anniversary Tour of New Zealand, the album is an expanded, remixed and remastered version of their 1994 live album Anniversary. The canned audience loop used on Anniversary was removed, giving the recordings a more natural feel.
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.
Forenzics is a New Zealand musical project formed by Tim Finn and Eddie Rayner in 2020. It's a project that includes 'shades & echoes' of early Split Enz repertoire. The songs are combinations of new and re-imagined lyrics and music.