Poor Boy (Split Enz song)

Last updated
"Poor Boy"
Single by Split Enz
from the album True Colours
B-side
  • "Missing Person (Live)"
Released1980 (1980)
RecordedMelbourne, 1979
Genre New wave
Length3:28
Label Mushroom Records
Songwriter(s) Tim Finn
Producer(s) David Tickle
Split Enz singles chronology
"What's the Matter with You"
(1980)
"Poor Boy"
(1980)
"One Step Ahead"
(1980)

"Poor Boy" was a song written by Tim Finn and recorded by Split Enz for their 1980 True Colours album. It was released as a single in the UK only. [1]

Contents

The song


The lyrics concerned a young man who had fallen in love with a girl on another planet, who he had only discovered existed when tuning his radio, and his regret that they will never meet face to face. In place of a sung chorus, the song made use of an ethereal keyboard solo by Eddie Rayner.

In 2009 a Melbourne Theatre Company production [2] of the same name redeveloped the song's themes, with the other-worldly character presented as the ghost of a car accident.

Track listing

Released in the United Kingdom only.

  1. "Poor Boy" 3:28
  2. "Missing Person (Live)" 3:39

Personnel

ENZSO version

"Poor Boy"
Poor Boy album cover.jpg
Single by Enzso
from the album Enzso
Released1995
Label Sony/Epic
Producer(s) Dave Woodcock
Eddie Rayner
Enzso singles chronology
"Poor Boy"
(1995)
"'Message to My Girl'"
(1995)
Dave Dobbyn singles chronology
"Naked Flame"
(1995)
"Poor Boy"
(1995)
"Beside You"
(1997)

"Poor Boy" is a song by Enzso, released as the first single from their album Enzso . With the B-sides "I See Red", which is available on the album, and "Albert of India".

Track listing

  1. "Poor Boy" - Dave Dobbyn
  2. "I See Red" - Tim Finn
  3. "Albert of India" - Eddie Rayner

Related Research Articles

Split Enz New Zealand band

Split Enz was a New Zealand rock band that was popular during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was founded in 1973 by Tim Finn and Phil Judd, and had a variety of other members during its existence. Split Enz had eight songs listed in the APRA Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time, more than any other band.

Anthony Edward Charles Rayner is a New Zealand musician who spent twelve years as a keyboardist in the band Split Enz. He has also played in the groups Orb, Space Waltz, Crowded House, The Makers and 801.

<i>Dizrythmia</i> 1977 studio album by Split Enz

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.

<i>True Colours</i> (Split Enz album) 1980 studio album by Split Enz

True Colours, the fifth studio album released by New Zealand band Split Enz, was their first major commercial success. Released in 1980, the album featured more mature songwriting from Neil Finn. Credited to him is the album's New Zealand and Australian #1 single, "I Got You", which also broke them internationally. 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.

<i>Waiata</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Split Enz

Waiata is the sixth studio album by New Zealand new wave band Split Enz, released in March 1981. Its Australian release was titled Corroboree. Waiata is the Māori term for song and singing, while corroboree is the Aboriginal term. According to Noel Crombie the intention was to name the album using a word from the natives of every country it was released in. This did not go ahead and the only country to adopt this change was Australia. The rest of the world kept the New Zealand title Waiata.

<i>Frenzy</i> (Split Enz album) 1979 studio album by Split Enz

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.

<i>See Ya Round</i> 1984 studio album by Split Enz

See Ya 'Round is the ninth and final 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.

<i>Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes</i> compilation album by Split Enz

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.

ENZSO was an orchestral project started by former Split Enz keyboardist Eddie Rayner. It combines the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra with contemporary pop singers to perform Split Enz songs.

<i>The Beginning of the Enz</i> 1979 compilation album by Split Enz

The Beginning of the Enz is a 1979 release from New Zealand rock group Split Enz. The album is a collection of songs from the early days of the band. Several of these songs, such as "129", "Lovey Dovey" and "Spellbound" were later re-recorded and included on albums such as Mental Notes and Second Thoughts.

Message to My Girl

"Message to My Girl" is a song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz. It was released in January 1984 as the second single from their eighth studio album Conflicting Emotions.

I See Red (Split Enz song)

"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.

I Hope I Never

"I Hope I Never" is a 1980 song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz. It was released in May 1980 as the second single from their fifth studio album True Colours.

"Never Ceases to Amaze Me" is a song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz. It was released in Septmebr 1982 as the third single from the group's seventh studio album, Time and Tide.

<i>Spellbound</i> (Split Enz album) 1997 compilation album by Split Enz

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.

<i>History Never Repeats – The Best of Split Enz</i> 1987 greatest hits album by Split Enz

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.

<i>The Living Enz</i> 1985 live album by Split Enz

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.

References

  1. "Poor Boy / Missing Person by Split Enz (Single, Art Pop): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list". Rate Your Music. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2013-03-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)