True Colours (Split Enz album)

Last updated

True Colours
Split Enz - True Colours.jpg
Studio album by
Split Enz
Released21 January 1980
RecordedJune − November 1979
Studio Armstrong Studios, Melbourne
Genre New wave
Length39:48
Label Mushroom (AUS)
Polydor (NZL)
A&M (International)
Producer David Tickle
Split Enz chronology
The Beginning of the Enz
(1979)		True Colours
(1980)		 Beginning of the Enz
(1980)

True Colours is the sixth studio album released by New Zealand band Split Enz, and was their first major commercial success. Released on 21 January 1980, the album featured more pronounced contributions from co-lead singer and songwriter Neil Finn than previous releases. The album's New Zealand and Australian number 1 single, "I Got You", which also broke them internationally, is credited to him. 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.

Contents

Details

Tim Finn said, "We had been playing so many shows, so the band were very tight. It was like everything was starting to line up to make a really powerful record." Crombie added, "We'd had a rough time up to that in England, and I think we're really just raring to go. We came back to Melbourne and recorded the album and it just felt it was a new beginning." [1]

Finn later said of recording, "David Tickle was supremely confident, almost arrogant, but he gave us something to bounce off. Half the time we didn't even like him. He wasn't some svengali who sprinkled the fairy dust. He was mostly a good engineer." [2]

Originally, the band thought "Missing Person" to be the album's standout track, not realizing "I Got You" would become the hit. "I Hope I Never" was mixed differently for the Australian single release, with strengthened percussion. "Nobody Takes Me Seriously", "What's the Matter with You" and "Poor Boy" were released as singles in the northern hemisphere.

A synthesizer melody played in "I Wouldn't Dream of It" was first introduced in an early Split Enz recording, aptly titled "The Instrumental".

Cover

The album cover was initially released in four colour combinations – yellow and blue, red and green, purple and yellow, and blue and orange – but would ultimately be given another four makeovers with releases in lime green and pink, hot purple and burnt orange, gold and platinum (to mark its sales milestones), and finally yellow, blue and red.

Crombie later said, "There was a lot of resistance initially. For some reason they thought people would get confused. It was just playing with it really. Why not? In the end there were 11 covers. The rarest one is the black and white one that got sent out to the press. There's about 100 of them, with Textas to colour your own. So, if you're really keen, you'll have 11." [1]

When it was later released on the A&M label, imaginative shapes and patterns covered the vinyl using a technique known as "laser-etching". When light hit the record, these designs would protrude and spin about the room. The album was the first to ever use this technique, originally designed to discourage the creation of counterfeit copies.

Reissues

True Colours was remastered by Eddie Rayner and re-released on two occasions. Firstly in 2003, and yet again with the rest of the Split Enz catalogue on 20 May 2006 with the bonus tracks "Things" and "Two of a Kind". In October 2010, the album was listed at number 22 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums , despite Split Enz being a New Zealand group. [3]

On the 40th anniversary of the release in 2020, the album was remixed by Rayner, reissued as True Colours: 40th Anniversary Mix and reached number one on the New Zealand Albums chart again.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The New Rolling Stone Record Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Smash Hits 5/10 [6]

Reviewed in Roadrunner at the time of release, it was described as, "a thoughtful, reflective album. The approach to songs is more straight forward, more serious, than the Split Enz we are all used to." [7]

Crombie later said, "I think we split our audience to some extent. It seemed like a real sort of dividing point. Suddenly we had a lot of teenage girls in our audience and it moved into a different kind of vibe in terms of live performance.” Tim Finn agreed, "If you were a Mental Notes freak, you might have taken a step back at that point." [1]

Track listing

Close up of the laser-etched A&M release Splitenz etchedvinyl.png
Close up of the laser-etched A&M release

All tracks are written by Tim Finn unless noted

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Shark Attack"2:52
2."I Got You" (Neil Finn)3:24
3."What's the Matter with You" (N. Finn)3:02
4."Double Happy" (Instrumental) (Eddie Rayner)3:15
5."I Wouldn't Dream of It"3:14
6."I Hope I Never"3:24
Side B
No.TitleLength
7."Nobody Takes Me Seriously"3:32
8."Missing Person" (N. Finn)3:32
9."Poor Boy"3:19
10."How Can I Resist Her"3:26
11."The Choral Sea" (Instrumental (T. Finn, N. Finn, Rayner, Noel Crombie, Malcolm Green, Nigel Griggs))4:29

NOTE: On the A&M version (SP-4822), tracks 1 and 2 are inverted. The listing above is the original Mushroom (AUS) / Polydor (NZ) listing.

2006 re-release

True Colours Tour, Commodore Ballroom. Split enz.jpeg
True Colours Tour, Commodore Ballroom.

All tracks are written by Tim Finn unless noted

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Shark Attack"3:00
2."I Got You" (Neil Finn)3:29
3."What's the Matter with You" (N. Finn)3:09
4."Double Happy" (Eddie Rayner; instrumental)3:27
5."I Wouldn't Dream of It"3:22
6."I Hope I Never"4:34
7."Nobody Takes Me Seriously"3:30
8."Missing Person" (N. Finn)3:39
9."Poor Boy"3:28
10."How Can I Resist Her"3:33
11."The Choral Sea [Instrumental]" (Split Enz)4:51
12."Things" (N.Finn; single, released October 1979)2:48
13."Two of a Kind" (recorded at Harlequin Studios, Auckland, June 1979)3:41

40th anniversary remix edition (2020)

All tracks are written by Tim Finn unless noted

No.TitleLength
1."Shark Attack"2:58
2."I Got You" (Neil Finn)3:28
3."What's the Matter with You" (N. Finn)3:19
4."Double Happy" (Eddie Rayner; instrumental)3:31
5."I Wouldn't Dream of It"3:26
6."I Hope I Never"4:34
7."Nobody Takes Me Seriously"3:30
8."Missing Person" (N. Finn)3:37
9."Poor Boy"3:25
10."How Can I Resist Her"3:31
11."The Choral Sea [Instrumental]" (Split Enz)4:41
12."Firedrill" (live from the Capitol Theatre Sydney, July 1982)4:43
13."Hard Act to Follow" (live from Logan Campbell Centre Auckland, December 1984)4:00
14."I Walk Away" (N. Finn; live from Festival Hall Melbourne, November, 1984)3:40
15."Log Cabin Fever" (N. Finn; live from the Capitol Theatre Sydney, July 1982)4:31
16."Lost for Words" (Nigel Griggs; live from the Capitol Theatre Sydney, July 1982)3:41
17."Ninnee Neez Up" (Noel Crombie; live from Festival Hall Melbourne, November, 1984)4:10
18."Wail [Instrumental]" (Rayner; live from the Regent Theatre Sydney, March 1981)2:57

12–18 are CD bonus tracks.

Personnel

Split Enz

Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for True Colours
Chart (1980–1981)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [8] 1
Canadian Albums ( RPM ) [9] 10
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [10] 1
UK Albums (OCC) [11] 38
US Billboard 200 [12] 40

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for True Colours
Chart (1980)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [13] 3
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [14] 2
Chart (1981)Position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [15] 20

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for True Colours
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [16] 4× Platinum280,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [17] 2× Platinum200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Split Enz</span> New Zealand new wave band

Split Enz were a New Zealand band formed in 1972. Regarded as the first New Zealand band to gain significant recognition outside of Australasia, they were initially noted for their progressive/art rock sound, flamboyant visual style and theatrical performances. The band later moved toward a pop/new wave sound that yielded the breakthrough hit single "I Got You" (1980). Split Enz broke up in 1984. Since that time, the band has staged several brief reunions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Finn</span> New Zealand musician and founder of Split Enz (born 1952)

Brian Timothy Finn is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, musician, and composer. He is best known as a founding member of Split Enz. Finn founded the band in 1972 with Phil Judd and served as lead singer and principal songwriter. Following Judd's departure in 1977, he was joined by brother Neil. Finn wrote or co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs, including "I See Red" and "Six Months in a Leaky Boat". While still a member of Split Enz, he began a solo career, scoring the two hits "Fraction Too Much Friction" and "Made My Day" in 1983; he left the band in early 1984, briefly returning for their farewell tour later that year.

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

Waiata is the seventh 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 an 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>Time and Tide</i> (Split Enz album) 1982 studio album by Split Enz

Time and Tide is the eighth album by the New Zealand new wave band Split Enz, released in April 1982. It topped the album charts in New Zealand and Australia.

<i>Conflicting Emotions</i> 1983 studio album by Split Enz

Conflicting Emotions is the ninth album by New Zealand band Split Enz.

David Tickle is a British record producer and engineer. As a producer, he is noted for his work with Split Enz, and in Canada, for his mid-1980s work with Red Rider, Platinum Blonde and Gowan. He later produced Joe Cocker, The Divinyls "I Touch Myself", and was signed to produce the international hit for 4 Non Blondes "What's Up?". As an engineer or mixer, Tickle worked on best-selling albums by Blondie and U2. As a mixing engineer, he worked on several hit 1980s releases by Prince.

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

See Ya 'Round is the tenth and final studio 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Got You (Split Enz song)</span> 1980 single by Split Enz

"I Got You" is a song by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. It was released as a single on 21 January 1980 by Mushroom Records in Australia and New Zealand, and August 1980 by A&M internationally, as the first single from their breakthrough album True Colours. Written by co-lead singer Neil Finn, who did not initially believe it to be a hit, it became the band's most commercially successful song, topping the charts in Australasia and placing in the top 20 of the British and Canadian charts. By July 1980, it had become the biggest selling single in Australian history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I See Red (Split Enz song)</span> 1978 single by Split Enz

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Hope I Never</span> 1980 single by Split Enz

"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 sixth studio album True Colours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Step Ahead (Split Enz song)</span> 1980 single by Split Enz

"One Step Ahead" is a 1980 song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz. It was released November 1980 as the lead single from their seventh studio album Waiata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History Never Repeats</span> 1981 single by Split Enz

"History Never Repeats" is a single written by Neil Finn and recorded by Split Enz. It was released in March 1981 as the second single from their seventh studio album, Waiata. The song remains one of their most popular. It was also used as the title of two compilation albums by the band.

<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.

<i>Enz of an Era</i> 1982 compilation album by Split Enz

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forenzics</span> New Zealand band

Forenzics is a New Zealand musical project formed by Tim Finn and Eddie Rayner in 2020. It's a project that includes 'shades & echoes' of early Split Enz repertoire. The songs are combinations of new and re-imagined lyrics and music.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dan Condon. "'We wouldn't let the industry defeat us': How True Colours changed Split Enz forever". Double J.
  2. ↑ Peter Holmes (1 November 1998). "Rock of Ages". The Sun-Herald .
  3. ↑ O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). 100 Best Australian Albums . Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN   978-1-74066-955-9.
  4. ↑ Allmusic review
  5. ↑ Marsh, Dave; Swenson, John, eds. (1983). The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. New York: Random House/Rolling Stone Press. p. 480. ISBN   978-0-394-72107-1.
  6. ↑ Hepworth, David. "Albums". Smash Hits . No. 7–20 August 1980. p. 28.
  7. ↑ Robertson, Donald (8 February 1980). "Albums". Roadrunner. Parkside, SA: 21.
  8. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 288. ISBN   0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  9. ↑ "RPM Canadian Charts" . Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Charts.nz – Split Enz – True Colours". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  11. ↑ "The Official Charts Company" . Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  12. ↑ "Split Enz Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  13. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 432. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  14. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1980 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  15. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1981 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  16. ↑ "New Faces to Watch" (PDF). Cash Box . 25 October 1980. p. 10. Retrieved 3 December 2021– via World Radio History.
  17. ↑ "Split Enz Bio". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  18. ↑ "Split Enz and True Colours". August 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "Great NZ Album: Split Enz True Colours". RNZ. August 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.