| In The Pines | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 1986 | |||
| Recorded | April 14–18, 1986 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 34:28 / Reissue 55:40 | |||
| Label | Mushroom | |||
| Producer | Bruce Callaway / David McComb | |||
| The Triffids chronology | ||||
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In The Pines is an album by The Triffids, released in August 1986, which reached No. 69 on the Australian Album Charts. [1]
The album was produced by Bruce Callaway and David McComb, [2] recorded in a woolshed on a remote Western Australian farming property, owned by the McCombs' parents, on an eight-track machine for a grand total of $1190; the album notes record that $340 of this was spent on alcohol (beer, wine and vodka), which exceeded the $310 spent on food, the $300 on recording equipment hire and the $240 on petrol.
"It was just an idea that had been kicking around for some time. We had some time to do it and it was something that didn’t involve a huge effort to do. If it didn’t work, it didn’t work. It didn’t matter. It was something of a holiday really. At the very least we would have had a chance to play the songs and if it didn't work out have demoed some songs for the next album. It was just something that we did and which turned out to be releasable." - Graham Lee
Alsy MacDonald later noted, "Dave had the idea for a long time of doing something in a very basic setting, with very basic equipment. Like The Basement Tapes or Music From Big Pink , where by transplanting yourself to this unique location it creates a special sound. As far as the rest of us were concerned, it wouldn't have mattered if we continued recording in London or Sydney." [3]
As of 2010, David McComb's parents still owned the property; his ashes were scattered in the pine grove there.
The reissue by Domino Records released in February 2007 included three additional songs that had previously been held over for Calenture : "Trick Of The Light", "Blinder By The Hour" and "Jerdacuttup Man". It also included two other songs that were not on the original edition: "She's Sure The Girl I Love" and "Wish to See No More". The previous version of "Born Sandy Devotional" is expanded. The reissue was remixed by Bruce Callaway, the sound engineer of the original recordings.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
AllMusic said, "The stripped-down, communal feel of this record beautifully captures the essence of the Triffids' folk- and country-influenced rock and underscores frontman David McComb's musical and lyrical talent for translating the isolated mental and physical landscapes of western Australia." [4]
Mat Snow claimed it was, "probably the best Australian country and western album ever made, though the competition can hardly be called stiff." [5]
All songs written by David McComb, unless otherwise noted. [6]
Credited to: [2]
The Triffids were an Australian alternative rock and pop band, formed in Perth in Western Australia in May 1978 with David McComb as singer-songwriter, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboardist. They achieved some success in Australia, but greater success in the UK and in Scandinavia in the 1980s before disbanding in 1989. Some of their best-known songs include "Wide Open Road" and "Bury Me Deep in Love". SBS television featured their 1986 album, Born Sandy Devotional, on the Great Australian Albums series in 2007, and in 2010 it ranked 5th in the book The 100 Best Australian Albums by Toby Creswell, Craig Mathieson and John O'Donnell.
David Richard McComb was an Australian musician. He was the singer-songwriter and guitarist of the Australian bands, The Triffids (1976–89) and The Blackeyed Susans (1989–93). He also had a solo career including leading David McComb and The Red Ponies. Over his career McComb had bouts of alcoholism, and amphetamine and heroin abuse. He developed cardiomyopathy and in 1996 underwent a heart transplant. David McComb died on 2 February 1999 "due to heroin toxicity and mild acute rejection of his 1996 heart transplant", according to the coroner. In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "Wide Open Road" by The Triffids – written by McComb – as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. On 1 July 2008 The Triffids were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame with McComb's contribution acknowledged by a tribute performance.
Born Sandy Devotional is an album by The Triffids, released in March 1986. All the songs on the album were written by David McComb. The album was recorded at Mark Angelo Studios in London in August 1985 with Gil Norton co-producing with the band, and mixed at Amazon Studios in Liverpool in September 1985. The cover photo shows Mandurah, Western Australia – now a large urban centre – as it appeared in 1961.
When we finished Born Sandy Devotional I knew it was the best thing we’d ever done, there was no question about it. The writing was much more autobiographical than anything I’d done before, I felt quite close to the subject matter. I found myself almost following the idea of fidelity as a complete all-consuming faith, to give you some sort of direction or something.
And 'Born Sandy Devotional'? It was the name of a song which didn’t make it onto the record which is about someone called Sandy ... I like titles like those, they’re just a law unto themselves and they have a feeling unto themselves.
Born Sandy Devotional is the culmination of our efforts trying to capture our more considered lyrical approach with a physical intensity ... well not really, but that will have to do. David McComb -
Calenture is the fourth studio album by Australian rock group The Triffids, it was released in November 1987 and saw them explore themes of insanity, deception and rootlessness—the title refers to a fever suffered by sailors during long hot voyages. It reached No. 32 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. In November 1987, it reached No. 24 on the Swedish Albums Chart, in May 1988 it peaked at No. 25 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The album spawned three singles, "Bury Me Deep in Love" (1987), "Trick of the Light" and "Holy Water". The latter track was recorded with American producer Craig Leon.
Love In Bright Landscapes is an anthology by Australian folk rock group, The Triffids, which was released in 1986. The original LP had ten tracks compiled from their album, EP and single releases in the period from 1983 to 1985, during which time the group were resident in Perth, Sydney and London. Three additional tracks from the same sources were included on the later CD version of the album.
The Black Swan is the fifth and final studio album by The Triffids, released in April 1989 and peaking at No. 59 on the Australian Album Charts. The album was originally conceived as a double album.
Treeless Plain is the debut album by The Triffids, released in November, 1983. The album was recorded at Emerald City Studios, Sydney, Australia in twelve midnight to dawn sessions, during August through to September 1983. It was the band's first release after signing with Hot Records.
Stockholm is a live recording by Australian folk rock group, The Triffids, released in July 1990 and is the final official recording by the band. All tracks were recorded live in Stockholm in 1989 for Swedish National Radio, The Bommen Show. The album was produced by Lars Aldman, engineered by Michael Bergek, and mixed at Planet Sound Studios, Perth on 15, 16 and 17 September 1989 by James Hewgill and David McComb.
Lawson Square Infirmary was a 12" extended play released in November 1984 by the Triffids and James Paterson under the collaborative project of the same name. In 2008 all six tracks from the EP were included on the compilation Beautiful Waste and Other Songs.
Peel Sessions was recorded by Australian folk rock group The Triffids for The John Peel Show on BBC Radio 1. The three tracks were first transmitted on 14 May 1985. The 12" EP of the recordings was not released until 1987. The EP was issued in a "Special Metallic Finish Limited Edition" sleeve.
Alan MacDonald is an Australian musician and lawyer, best known as the drummer of the 1980s band The Triffids, where he performed under his nickname 'Alsy'.
Bury Me Deep in Love is a single released by Australian folk rock group The Triffids from their album Calenture. It appeared in October 1987 and reached No. 48 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. It was produced by Gil Norton and written by David McComb, the group's lead singer and guitarist. The B-sides "Baby Can I Walk You Home" and "Region Unknown" were produced by Victor Van Vugt and The Triffids. The single was released as 7", 12" & CD single versions.
"Wide Open Road" is a single released in 1986 by Australian folk rock band The Triffids from their album Born Sandy Devotional. It was produced by Gil Norton and written by David McComb on vocals, keyboards and guitar. The B-side "Time of Weakness" was recorded live at the Graphic Arts Club, Sydney, November 1985 by Mitch Jones, mixed by Rob Muir. "Dear Miss Lonely Hearts" was recorded at Planet Sound Studios, Perth and produced by the Triffids. "Wide Open Road" reached No. 26 on the UK Singles Chart in 1986, and No. 64 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "Wide Open Road" as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.
"Goodbye Little Boy" was the first single released in March 1989 by Australian group The Triffids ahead of their album The Black Swan. Lead vocals are provided by Jill Birt, their keyboardist, instead of David McComb, the group's usual lead singer. Birt is also featured on the single's front cover.
"Holy Water" was the third single taken from Australian folk rockers The Triffids' Calenture album, and was released in August 1988. It was produced by Craig Leon and was written by lead guitarist and lead singer David McComb. This was one of only two tracks that resulted from Leon's production of the band's fourth album. The production costs of Leon's efforts were more than the total costs of the band's break-through album, Born Sandy Devotional. The record sleeve however credits the production to Gil Norton who produced the remainder of the album with the band. The single was released as 7", 12" and CD single versions by Island Records but failed to chart in either Australia or the United Kingdom.
Love of Will is the debut album by David McComb, released in March 1994. The album was recorded and mixed between June and August, 1993, at Platinum Studios with additional mixing at Metropolis and Sing Sing Studios. McComb selected 13 songs out of a pile of 35 and recorded them at Platinum Studios, Melbourne with producer Nick Mainsbridge, together with freelance musical directors Graham Lee and David McComb, and assistant engineers Kalju Tonuma and Phil Jones.
"Falling Over You" was the second single, released in September 1989, by Australian folk rock group The Triffids from their album The Black Swan. It was produced by Stephen Street and co-written by David McComb and Adam Peters. The tracks were recorded between September and October 1988 at The Justice Room, Cathanger, Somerset and mixed at Fallout Shelter, London, November 1988. "You Minus Me" was written and produced by McComb. The single appeared as a 7", 12" and CD single version.
Jillian Margaret Birt is an Australian rock musician and architect. Birt was the keyboardist and vocalist of the alternative rock and pop band, The Triffids from 1983 to 1989. In 2008, The Triffids were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame.
Spanish Blue is the second single released by Australian folk rock group, The Triffids in 1982. The single was produced by Les Karski for the White Label Records imprint of Mushroom Records, owned by Michael Gudinski. The single was initially released independently by No Records but was re-released in October 1982 following the band's signing with White Label Records.
They'd recorded "Spanish Blue" when the spectre of the Gudinski organisation loomed, and they were summoned to the Mushroom/White Citadel. Gudinski liked "Spanish Blue". 'It was just that he wanted us to re-write it, and re-mix it,' McComb laughs. 'We ended up putting it out ourselves immediately they started dilly dallying because we said we wouldn't re-mix it. We thought that we couldn't just wait for people to decide what they wanted to do.'
The Triffids were an Australian rock band from Perth, Western Australia. They have released five studio albums, one live album, ten singles, six extended plays, nine cassette tapes, four compilation albums and a video album. The Triffids formed in 1978 by mainstay David McComb, his school friend Alsy MacDonald together with Phil Kakulas. Their first release was a cassette tape, Triffids 1st recorded in May, by September they had added Byron Sinclair and released, Triffids 2nd with four more cassette tapes released by 1981. Considerable line-up changes had occurred resulting in McComb and MacDonald with Will Akers, Margaret Gillard, Robert McComb and Mark Peters. "Stand Up", their first single, was released in July 1981 from Triffids 6th. Their first extended play, Reverie appeared in November 1982.
