| Gravy Train | ||||
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | 24 November 2014 | |||
| Label | Hoodoo Gurus, Sony | |||
| Hoodoo Gurus chronology | ||||
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Gravy Train is the second EP by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus and was released by Hoodoo Gurus/Sony in November 2014. This EP includes three tracks not included on their debut studio album as well as a re-recording of their debut single. [1]
Dave Faulkner commented: "So many songs lost to mankind forever, perhaps for the best. Three songs, however, always stood out as being short-changed by the restrictions of the vinyl L.P. format, 'Too Bad, She's Bad', 'I Love a Mystery' and 'Voodoo You'... I've always felt they would have held their own alongside their more celebrated siblings on Stoneage Romeos". [2] Faulkner added "When we got together in Sydney to rehearse for Splendour we took the opportunity to record the Gravy Train EP. Each line-up of the band was given its own track though the current, most long-lasting version of the band only appears as part of the all-in version of 'Leilani 2000', the Gurus’ first single and still one of the band's signature songs, this time featuring all eight current and ex-Gurus. The most amazing thing to me was how each re-grouped version of the Hoodoo Gurus captured the sound and spirit they had back in the day." [2]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Music |   [3] |
Ross Clelland from The Music said "From the tom-tom clatter of 'Too Bad, She's Bad', another couple of remade Stoneage Romeos outtakes from back when, to a magnificently chaotic big jungle rumble take on the eternal 'Leilani 2000' – with all eight past and present Gurus aboard – appreciate again what a great singer and songwriter is Dave Faulkner. And the Hoodoo Gurus as a brand name that – unlike a number of their contemporaries – honour their name and still do the business." [3]
Credits: [2]
Hoodoo Gurus are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1981, by the mainstay Dave Faulkner and later joined by Richard Grossman (bass), Mark Kingsmill (drums), and Brad Shepherd. Their popularity peaked in the mid- to late 1980s with albums Mars Needs Guitars!, Blow Your Cool! and Magnum Cum Louder.
Stoneage Romeos is the debut album by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus. Released in March 1984 by Big Time Records in Australia, the album's release saw them receive record sales to complement their already strong reputation for live performances. With radio and television support for their third single "My Girl" (1983), complete with a film clip about a greyhound of the same name, the band's following grew. The album's other singles were "Leilani", "Tojo" and "I Want You Back". The album peaked at number 29 on the Australian charts.
The Victims were an Australian punk band from Perth, Western Australia, active from 1977 to 1979. The founding mainstay members were James Baker on drums, Dave Flick on guitar and vocals, and Rudolph V on bass guitar. Their debut single, "Television Addict", was issued in April 1978 and was followed by a five-track extended play, The Victims, in August of that year. The group disbanded early in the next year. In 1989 Timberyard Records released a compilation album, All Loud on the Western Front, of their material. In late 2014 and early 2015 Baker and Faulkner were joined by Ray Ahn as the Television Addicts to perform the Victims material. The 2014 and '15 shows were so well received that the trio rightly assumed the band name The Victims and played sold-out shows at Rosemount Hotel and Mojo's Bar.
Mars Needs Guitars! is Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus' second album, released in Aguust 1985. The title is a reference to the 1967 science fiction film, Mars Needs Women. Singles from the album were "Bittersweet", "Like Wow – Wipeout", "Death Defying" and "Poison Pen". Mars Needs Guitars! reached No. 140 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart in 1986.
Blow Your Cool! is the third studio album by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus. It was released in April 1987 and peaked at number 2 on the Australian chart.
Magnum Cum Louder is the fourth studio album by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus' fourth album. The album was produced by the group, and released in Australia in May 1989 and peaked at number 13.
James Lawrence Baker is an Australian musician, best known as the drummer of various rock and punk rock groups, including the Victims, the Scientists, Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, and the Dubrovniks. In 2006 Baker was inducted into the West Australian Music Industry Hall of Fame. The following year, Hoodoo Gurus were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
David Jonathan Faulkner is an Australian rock musician who also performed as Dave Flick. Faulkner is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist; he has performed with several bands, but is best known as a member of Hoodoo Gurus. He wrote the band's best known single, 1987 hit "What's My Scene?", which reached No. 3 on the National charts.
Kinky is the fifth studio album by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus. It was released on 9 April 1991 by RCA Records and peaked at number 4 on the Australian charts and number 172 on the American Billboard charts.
Mach Schau is the eighth studio album by the Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus. It was recorded eight years after their previous studio studio album, Blue Cave, and released by EMI/Capitol Records on 15 March 2004. It was co-produced by the group with Kim Salmon. The album peaked at number 67 on the ARIA Charts.
Gorilla Biscuit a.k.a. Gorilla Biscuit: B Sides and Rarities is a compilation album by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus, released in August 1992.
Bite the Bullet is a compilation album by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus, released in July 1998.
"Leilani" is the debut single by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus when they were called Le Hoodoo Gurus, released on Phantom Records in October 1982. It had been written by all four Gurus: James Baker, Dave Faulkner, Roddy Radalj and Kimble Rendall. Rendall left shortly before its release and, not long after, the band dropped the 'Le' to become Hoodoo Gurus. Le Hoodoo Gurus were noted for having three guitars and no bass player, creating a distinctive, layered sound. This was captured on "Leilani", which told the story of a maiden sacrificed to the gods and an erupting volcano while her true love looked on helplessly. A re-recorded version of the song was later released on Hoodoo Gurus' first album Stoneage Romeos (1984).
"Astute listeners will note the absence of bass guitar in the band... "Leilani" was based on an old 50s movie, Bird of Paradise starring Jeff Chandler..." - Dave Faulkner.
"Tojo"a.k.a."Tojo Never Made it to Darwin" is a song by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus. It was released in June 1983 as the second single from their debut studio album, Stoneage Romeos. It was written by their lead singer-guitarist, Dave Faulkner. It was also featured on their first album Stoneage Romeos (1984), which was produced by Alan Thorne. Tojo in the title refers to the World War II Japanese General and Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō.
"My Girl" is a song by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus. It was released in October 1983 as the third single from the group's debut studio album, Stoneage Romeos and peaked at #35 on the Australian charts. It was written by Dave Faulkner
"I Want You Back" is a song by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus, released in March 1984 as the fourth and final single from their debut album Stoneage Romeos. "I Want You Back" was written by Dave Faulkner. Its B-side, "Who Do You Love?" was recorded live at 2JJJ.
Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus have released ten studio albums, thirty-seven singles, two extended plays, six compilation albums and 3 video albums. Formed in January 1981, the band was originally known as Le Hoodoo Gurus for the release of their first single, "Leilani", in October 1982. As Hoodoo Gurus, the band signed with Big Time Records and premiered their debut album, Stoneage Romeos, in March 1984. Also issued in the United States through A&M Records, the record remained atop the Alternative/College Albums Chart for four consecutive weeks, with it also becoming one of the most played albums of that year on the college network. The group's subsequent albums, Mars Needs Guitars!, Blow Your Cool! and Magnum Cum Louder, all reached the Billboard 200.
Rodney John "Roddy" Radalj is a Croatian-born Australian musician and singer-songwriter. He has provided guitar, bass guitar and vocals in several influential Australian bands starting with Perth punk bands in the late 1970s before relocating to Sydney to become a founder of the Hoodoo Gurus in 1981 and of Dubrovniks in 1988. Since 1989, as Roddy Ray'Da he has released a number of solo albums, including Guns Girls & Guitars in 2005.
Bradley Mark Shepherd is an Australian rock musician. Shepherd is a guitarist, singer-songwriter and harmonica player; he has performed with several bands, especially Hoodoo Gurus.
Mark Adrian Kingsmill is an Australian rock musician. He has drummed with several bands including the Hitmen (1979–84), New Christs (1983–84), the Screaming Tribesmen (1984) and Hoodoo Gurus. He is the older brother of Richard Kingsmill, music director and presenter on Triple J.