The Boys Light Up | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 1980 | |||
Recorded | August 1979 – February 1980 | |||
Studio | AAV Studios (Melbourne, Victoria) | |||
Genre | Pop/Rock | |||
Length | 38:25 | |||
Label | EMI | |||
Producer | David Briggs | |||
Australian Crawl chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Boys Light Up | ||||
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The Boys Light Up 1992 Re-release | ||||
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
The Boys Light Up is the debut album from Australian pub rock band Australian Crawl, [2] [3] which was released in 1980 and contains the title track,"The Boys Light Up","Indisposed","Downhearted" and their previously released debut single "Beautiful People". The album reached #4 on the Australian album charts and remained in the charts for an unbroken 101 weeks, [4] eventually selling over 280 000 copies (five times platinum). [5]
Various band members were involved in songwriting,often with relatives or former bandmates. Rhythm guitarist Brad Robinson's father James Robinson was a Federal Arbitration Court Justice and co-wrote two songs for this album. [6] Reyne's bandmate from Spiff Rouch,Mark Hudson co-wrote their first single,"Beautiful People" (1979). [7] "Downhearted" was written by Bill McDonough and his bandmates from The Flatheads,Guy McDonough (his brother,who later joined the Crawl) and Sean Higgins. [7] Producer,David Briggs (Little River Band guitarist),co-wrote "Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama" with Reyne. [7]
The album was re-released in 1992 in CD format (see cover right below),and as a 2-CD set with follow-up album Sirocco in 1996. [3] In October 2010,Boys Light Up was listed in the top 50 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums . [8]
Songwriting credits from Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). [7]
Chart (1980) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report) [10] | 4 |
Chart (1980) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report) [11] | 8 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [12] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Australian Crawl were an Australian rock band founded by James Reyne,Brad Robinson,Paul Williams (bass),Simon Binks and David Reyne (drums) in Melbourne in 1978. David Reyne soon left and was replaced by Bill McDonough. They were later joined by his brother Guy McDonough. The band was named after the front crawl swimming style also known as the Australian crawl.
James Michael Nugent Reyne OAM is an Australian rock musician and singer-songwriter both in solo work and,until 1986,with the band Australian Crawl.
Sirocco is the second album from Australian rock band Australian Crawl. It was released in July 1981 and on 3 August,it topped the Australian charts where it remained for six weeks,the band's first of two albums to hit #1. It was released a year after their successful debut The Boys Light Up which had reached #4.
Simon John Binks is an Australian rock musician who was a guitarist and singer-songwriter for Australian Crawl from founding in 1978 to disbanding in 1986.
Guy Gillis McDonough was an Australian rock musician best known for rhythm guitar and singer-songwriter with the iconic band Australian Crawl. He provided rhythm guitar and lead vocals on two of their well-known songs,"Oh No Not You Again" and "Errol". McDonough's solo 1985 release,My Place,was produced by his brother,Bill McDonough.
Sons of Beaches is the third studio album from Australian rock band Australian Crawl,released in July 1982. It became the band's second #1 in the Australian albums charts. The album was recorded in Hawaii with ex-pat Mike Chapman,who had also produced Blondie and The Knack.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place was the final studio album from Australian rock band Australian Crawl. It was produced by English producer Adam Kidron.
Semantics was a 1983 EP by Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl. The album marked a change in the line-up of the band as Bill McDonough (drums) was replaced first by Graham Bidstrup to record the EP. The more permanent replacement,after the EP,was John Watson.
Phalanx is the first live album released by Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl. It was recorded live at concerts at Bombay Rock Gold Coast,Queensland and at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in October,1983,during the 'Semantics' tour. The album was initially released on vinyl in December 1983 and was re-released on CD in May 1995. The album reached #4 on the National Album Charts being released by EMI.
The Final Wave is the second live album released by Australian rock band Australian Crawl. It is a recording of the band's final Melbourne concert on 27 January 1986. The album reached #16 on the Australian album charts upon its release.
More Wharf:Greatest Hits is a compilation album of songs by Australian rock band Australian Crawl taken from their four studio albums and their EP,Semantics.
"Errol" is the second single by Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl taken from their 1981 album Sirocco. The song was written by James Reyne and Guy McDonough and sung by McDonough instead of Reyne,and is a lyrical biography about Australian-born actor Errol Flynn. It was produced by Peter Dawkins.
"Downhearted" is the third single released by Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl from their debut album The Boys Light Up. The song was written by Sean Higgins,Guy McDonough and Bill McDonough. All three songwriters had been bandmates in the Flatheads,but at the time only Bill McDonough was a member of Australian Crawl. It was produced by David Briggs.
"Shut Down" is the first single released by Australian rock band Australian Crawl from their third studio album Sons of Beaches. The song was written by drummer Bill McDonough and features lead vocals by James Reyne. The B-side was the non-album track "Creating Monsters". It was produced by Mike Chapman.
Bradford Leigh "Brad" Robinson was an Australian rock musician best known as lead and rhythm guitarist with the 1980s band Australian Crawl. He had a later career as a manager for musicians and sports personalities.
Australian Crawl was an Australian surf / pop rock band. The band released four studio albums,three live albums,six compilations,seventeen singles,one extended play,and three video albums. These include releases credited to Australian Crawl,Australian Crawl and James Reyne,and 'Members of Australian Crawl'.
"Reckless" was a 1983 song from the EP Semantics by Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl. The song showed a change in the line up of the band as drummer Bill McDonough was temporarily replaced by Graham Bidstrup. After the EP was released,Bidstrup was replaced by John Watson (drums).
Reckless:1979–1995 is a compilation album of songs by Australian rock band Australian Crawl and the band's lead singer,James Reyne,from his solo career. It was released in May 2000 by Raven Records,and included a twelve-page colour booklet with extensive liner notes and various images.
"Things Don't Seem" is the first single by Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl from their 1981 album Sirocco. It was produced by Peter Dawkins The song features one of the band's most complex pieces of lead guitar work,thanks to the skills of guitarist Simon Binks.
All the Hits Live is a live album by Australian singer songwriter James Reyne. The album was recorded live in Astor Theatre,Perth on 5 September 2015. The band consisted of Brett Kingman and Phil Ceberano on guitar,Andy McIvor on bass,and former Australian Crawl member John Watson on drums.