| "He's on the Beach" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Kirsty MacColl | ||||
| B-side | "Please, Go to Sleep" | |||
| Released | 10 June 1985 [1] | |||
| Length | 3:32 | |||
| Label | Stiff | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Kirsty MacColl Gavin Povey | |||
| Producer(s) | Steve Lillywhite | |||
| Kirsty MacColl singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "He's on the Beach" on YouTube | ||||
"He's on the Beach" is a song by British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1985 as a non-album single by Stiff Records. It was written by MacColl and Gavin Povey, and produced by Steve Lillywhite.
"He's on the Beach" was inspired by a friend of MacColl's named Terry, who emigrated to Australia and sent postcards to her. [2] [3] Speaking of the song, MacColl told Record Mirror in 1985, "A bit of sunshine would do the single a lot of good. It's a summer single and I'm sure people will rush out and buy it if the clouds cleared. The single has no hidden depths, it's just about a bloke out in Australia enjoying himself." [4]
Although MacColl's previous single "A New England" reached the UK top ten earlier in the year, "He's on the Beach" did not repeat the same commercial success. [5] It failed to make an appearance in the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart, stalling outside at number 109. [6] The song received airplay on BBC Radio 1 and was added to many A or B lists across Independent Local Radio. [7] [8] After its failure, MacColl primarily worked as a session backing singer and also recorded the UK number two hit "Fairytale of New York" with The Pogues in 1987. She returned as a solo artist with her album Kite in 1989. [9]
In 1995, MacColl performed an acoustic version of "He's on the Beach" as part of a four-track session for BBC Radio 1. It was later included on her compilation album What Do Pretty Girls Do? , released in 1998. [10]
The song's music video was directed by Nick Morris and produced by Fiona O'Mahoney. [11] It received "heavy action" on the pan-European Music Box channel. [12] MacColl also performed the song on Wogan , which was broadcast on 24 June 1985. [13] [4]
On its release, Graham K. Smith of Record Mirror wrote, "All [MacColl's] usual ingredients are here - sometime bittersweet but ultimately optimistic lyric, hefty, pacey backbeat, just the right amount of memorable jangling and those trebly harmonised vocals. A tribute to lost love? A yearning for sunnier climes? A summer hit? All these, and more..." [14] Anne Lambert of Number One commented, "It's even better than "A New England", more bouncy and with a chorus that stays in your brain after just one listen." [15] Chris Heath of Smash Hits wrote, "Even though Kirsty wrote this herself it sounds very much like "A New England" - lots of shiny guitars above which a million Kirsty MacColls breathlessly sing the tune." [16]
Jerry Smith of Music Week wrote, "Bright summery guitars and distinctive Kirsty vocals mark this driving pop song. In a similar style to her massive hit "A New England", although lacking such memorable hook, it should be a minor hit." [17] Paul Massey of Aberdeen Evening Express commented, "Snazzy pop, but much too like "A New England" I'm afraid. A disappointment from someone as talented as Kirsty." [18] Frank Edmonds of the Bury Free Press gave the song a 6 out of 10 rating and stated, "This sounds almost exactly like "A New England" - the only difference being it doesn't have Bragg's masterful lyrics." [19]
In a review of MacColl's 1995 compilation album Galore , Larry Printz of The Morning Call described the song as "Spector-esque". [20] Steve Pick of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote: "This is the first time I've heard her version of "Chip Shop" or any version of "He's on the Beach". These songs turn on her youthful enthusiasm at a time when she made everything gallop along at a rapid, rhythmically simple clip." [21] Patrick Davitt of The Leader-Post described the song as "excellent pop", "whose jangly guitar pop supports one of many crystal sweet vocals and the lovely harmony vocals that are all over this album." [22]
In a 2001 career retrospective on MacColl, No Depression stated: "[MacColl] could also multi-track her crystal-clear voice into gorgeous cushions of pop perfection (check out the harmonies on her own "He's on the Beach")." [23] In a retrospective review of the song, Stewart Mason of AllMusic described it as "a minor classic" and one of MacColl's "very best singles" and "finest performances". He described the lyrics as "a wistful but ultimately uplifting story", which MacColl "sings with a mix of joy and resignation that's sublime." [24] In 2017, Kevin Wuench of the Tampa Bay Times commented: "The single did not chart even if her home country, but that doesn't diminish the great pop song and its scenic video." [25]
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart [6] | 109 |
"Perfect Day" is a song written by American musician Lou Reed in 1972. It was originally featured on Transformer, Reed's second post–Velvet Underground solo album, and as a double A-side with his major hit, "Walk on the Wild Side". Its fame was given a boost in the 1990s when it was featured in the 1996 film Trainspotting and after a star-studded version was released as a BBC charity single in 1997, reaching number one in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Norway. Reed re-recorded the song for his 2003 album The Raven.
Stephen Alan Lillywhite, is a British record producer. Since he began his career in 1977, Lillywhite has been credited on over 500 records, and has collaborated with a variety of musicians including new wave acts XTC, Big Country, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Simple Minds, the Psychedelic Furs, Toyah, David Byrne, Talking Heads and Kirsty MacColl, as well as U2, the Rolling Stones, the Pogues, Blue October, Steel Pulse, the La's, Peter Gabriel, Morrissey, the Killers, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Counting Crows and Joan Armatrading. He has won six Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year, Non-Classical in 2006. In 2012, he was made a Commander of the Order of The British Empire (CBE) for his contributions to music.
"Fairytale of New York" is a song written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan and recorded by their London-based band the Pogues, featuring singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl on vocals. The song is an Irish folk-style ballad and was written as a duet, with the Pogues' singer MacGowan taking the role of the male character and MacColl the female character. It was originally released as a single on 23 November 1987 and later featured on the Pogues' 1988 album If I Should Fall from Grace with God.
Kite is the breakthrough second album by Kirsty MacColl, released in 1989. Produced by her then-husband Steve Lillywhite, it was her first album for Virgin Records. The album included MacColl's hit cover of the Kinks' "Days", as well as two tracks written with Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. On 6 October 1989 it was certified silver by the BPI.
Tropical Brainstorm is the fifth and final studio album by Kirsty MacColl, released in 2000. It was inspired by her trips to Cuba, and many tracks include Spanish or Portuguese lyrics. The album was released with three extra tracks in the US.
Galore is a compilation album released by Kirsty MacColl in 1995. It features material previously released on the albums Desperate Character, Kite, Electric Landlady and Titanic Days, among other tracks by MacColl, totalling eighteen songs. Some of the tracks differ from their original releases; a couple of songs, such as "Innocence", are alternate takes, while "Miss Otis Regrets" is a different edit that omits the second half, "Just One of Those Things", performed by The Pogues. On release the album peaked at No. 6, MacColl's highest ever charting album.
"They Don't Know" is a song composed and first recorded in 1979 by Kirsty MacColl, which became a Top Ten hit via a 1983 recording by Tracey Ullman.
"Days" is a song by the Kinks, written by lead singer Ray Davies, released as a single in 1968. It also appeared on an early version of the album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. It now appears as a bonus track of the remastered CD. On the original Pye 7N 17573 label, the name of the song is "Day's" due to a grammatical error.
"A New England" is a song written and recorded by Billy Bragg, included on his album Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy, released in 1983. It remains a signature song from the early years of Bragg's recording career.
"There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" is a song by British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released as the lead single from her debut studio album Desperate Character. The song was written by MacColl and Philip Rambow, and produced by Barry Farmer. It reached No. 14 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the charts for nine weeks. In the US, the song's British chip shop reference was changed to truck stop.
"Terry" is a song by Kirsty MacColl, released as a single in October 1983, and charting at No. 82 in the UK the following month. It was her first release after returning to Stiff Records, and was the last in a run of poorly selling singles released between "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" and "A New England". The music video featured an appearance from actor and comedian Ade Edmondson who played MacColl's rejected boyfriend who got her back after fighting off a rival man. The photo on the front sleeve features MacColl and Chris Heester.
"Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1990 as the fourth and final single from her second studio album Kite. It was written by MacColl and produced by Steve Lillywhite. The song reached No. 82 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks. A music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by Sarah Tuft.
Kirsty Anna MacColl was a British singer and songwriter, daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl. She recorded several pop hits in the 1980s and 1990s, including "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" and cover versions of Billy Bragg's "A New England" and The Kinks' "Days." Her song "They Don't Know" was covered with great success by Tracey Ullman. MacColl also sang on recordings produced by her then-husband Steve Lillywhite, most notably "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues. Her death in 2000 has led to the Justice for Kirsty campaign.
"Walking Down Madison" is a 1991 song by Kirsty MacColl featuring Aniff Cousins. It charted at #23 on the UK Singles Chart and impacted a number of Billboard charts.
"Free World" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1989 as the lead single from her second studio album Kite. It was written by MacColl and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "Free World" reached number 43 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for seven weeks.
"Innocence" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1989 as the third single from her second studio album Kite. It was written by MacColl and Pete Glenister, and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "Innocence" reached No. 80 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks. The song's music video was filmed in the back garden of MacColl's home in Ealing. It was directed by Sarah Tuft and features a cameo appearance from Edward Tudor-Pole.
"Caroline" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released in 1995 as a single from her compilation album Galore. The song was written by MacColl, and produced by Victor Van Vugt and MacColl. "Caroline" reached number 58 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for two weeks.
"All I Ever Wanted" is a song by British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1991 as the third and final single from her third studio album Electric Landlady. It was written by MacColl and Marshall Crenshaw, and produced by Steve Lillywhite.
"You Caught Me Out" is a song written by Kirsty MacColl, Pete Briquette and Simon Crowe. It was originally recorded by MacColl in 1979 but the intended single release was shelved. Versions have also been recorded by Australian singer Christie Allen and British-American singer/actress Tracey Ullman.
"I Want Out" is a song by English rockabilly band Matchbox featuring Kirsty MacColl. It was released in 1983 as the third and final single from the band's sixth studio album Crossed Line (1982). It was written by Brian Hodgson, Ray Peters and Tony Colton, and produced by Hodgson.
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