"Walls" | ||||
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Single by Flowers | ||||
from the album Icehouse | ||||
B-side | "All the Way" | |||
Released | January 26, 1981 | |||
Genre | Rock, synthpop, new wave | |||
Length | 4:22 | |||
Label | Regular Chrysalis | |||
Songwriter(s) | Iva Davies | |||
Producer(s) | Cameron Allan, Iva Davies | |||
Flowers singles chronology | ||||
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"Walls" Alternative Cover | ||||
"Walls" is the third single released by the Australian rock band Flowers, later known as Icehouse. [1] [2] It was released in January 1981, on independent label Regular Records from their debut album, Icehouse , it peaked at #20 on the Australian Kent Music Reoport Singles Charts. [3] It was also released in New Zealand, with a different cover, which was the last release before the band was renamed as Icehouse.
Iva Davies has said that Walls was autobiographical for a period of his life. [4]
The music video was directed by Trevor Hawkins. [5]
In a single review Cash Box magazine said "Icehouse's Iva Davies entreats the listener to once again enter the Australian band's world of densely textured synth-rock... The title is appropriate enough, as the quartet bursts from a heartbeat rhythm in to wall-like keyboard and guitar hook." [6]
All tracks written by Iva Davies. [7]
Chart (1981) | Peak Position |
---|---|
Australian (Kent Music Report) [8] | 20 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [9] | 43 |
Midnight Oil is the debut album by Australian rock band Midnight Oil which was recorded in 1977 and released in November 1978 on the band's independent Powderworks label. It reached the top 50 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. The album was later distributed by CBS Records and issued as a CD. The LP has a blue cover, however, the CD has a black cover. Because of the blue cover, the former version is often referred to, by fans, as the "blue album" or "the Blue Meanie". The lead single, "Run by Night", became the band's first minor hit in Australia and appeared on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart Top 100. It also had a video clip.
Dekadance is the title of two different collections of remixes by Australian rock group INXS: a 1983 four-track 12" and cassette EP released in the United States of songs from Shabooh Shoobah; and a 1985 seven-track cassette released in Australia of songs from The Swing. The latter included a cover version of "Jackson" as a duet by INXS' Michael Hutchence with Jenny Morris, their backing singer. This compilation peaked at No. 2 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart in April 1985.
Primitive Man is the second studio album by Australian synthpop band Icehouse, released in September 1982. In January 1982, Icehouse founder Iva Davies started recording Primitive Man essentially as a solo project, it was co-produced with Keith Forsey who later worked with Simple Minds and Billy Idol. Forsey supplied additional percussion; Davies supplied vocals, lead guitar, keyboards, bass guitar and programmed the Linn drum machine. Released as an Icehouse album, Primitive Man reached number 3 on the National album charts and provided their international breakthrough single, "Hey Little Girl", which peaked at number 7 in Australia, number 2 in Switzerland, number 5 in Germany, the top 20 in UK, Sweden and Netherlands, and number 31 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Another single "Great Southern Land" made the Australian top 5, it was later featured in the 1988 Yahoo Serious film Young Einstein, and remains their most popular song according to listeners of Triple M in 2007. To promote Primitive Man on tour, Davies re-assembled Icehouse with Michael Hoste (keyboards) and John Lloyd (drums), and new members: Bob Kretschmer, Guy Pratt and Andy Qunta.
"Electric Blue" is a song by the Australian rock / synthpop band Icehouse. It was co-written by Iva Davies of Icehouse and John Oates of the U.S. band Hall & Oates. Oates became involved with Davies after contacting him to state he was a fan. The resulting collaboration produced this song and Oates has stated that if Davies had not released the song under the Icehouse name then it would have been a Hall and Oates track.
Icehouse is the debut album released by Australian rock/synthpop band Flowers, later known as Icehouse, on the independent label Regular Records in October 1980. The title and the artist are sometimes incorrectly swapped, because the band changed their name from Flowers to Icehouse after this album was released. Containing the Top 20 Australian hits "Can't Help Myself", "We Can Get Together" and "Walls"; the album made heavy use of synthesisers, which would continue to be used throughout the band's career. Founder Iva Davies wrote all the tracks including four co-written with keyboardist Michael Hoste, however Hoste was replaced during recording sessions by Anthony Smith.
"Great Southern Land" is a song by Australian rock band Icehouse. It was released in August 1982, as the lead single from their second studio album Primitive Man. It peaked at No. 5 on the Australian Singles Chart, it was later featured in the 1988 Yahoo Serious film Young Einstein, and remains their most popular song according to listeners of Triple M in 2007.
Sidewalk is the third studio album by Australian rock band Icehouse. It was originally released in June 1984, on the labels Chrysalis, Regular, and reached No. 8 on the National albums chart. Founding member Iva Davies used the Fairlight CMI digital sampling synthesizer on this more sombre and reflective album. This is the first album bassist Guy Pratt worked on as a member of the band. Pratt would later become a session musician, and go on to work with artists such as Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, David Bowie, Madonna and Michael Jackson.
Measure for Measure is the fifth studio album by Australian rock/synthpop band Icehouse and was the third album in the world to be recorded entirely digitally. The album's title refers to the Shakespearean play of the same name.
"Hey Little Girl" is a single released by Australian band Icehouse, the second single from the band's 1982 album, Primitive Man. The album and single were co-produced by band member and the track's writer, Iva Davies, and Keith Forsey. It was released in 1982 on Regular Records in 7" vinyl single and 12" vinyl single formats. UK and Europe releases by Chrysalis Records were also on 7" and 12" formats, but with different track listings. The single was then released in the US in 1983 on the same formats. On "Hey Little Girl", Iva Davies uses the Linn drum machine—the first for an Australian recording. It peaked at No. 7 on the Australian singles chart and No. 2 in Switzerland, No. 5 in Germany, Top 20 in UK, Sweden and Netherlands, and No. 31 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
Big Wheel is the eighth studio album by the Australian rock synthpop band, Icehouse, which was released by dIVA Records – founder Iva Davies' own label – and Massive Records. It was recorded at Davies' home in Whale Beach during 1993 with Davies on vocals, guitar, bass guitar and keyboards, David Chapman on guitar, keyboards and backing vocals, and Paul Wheeler on drums, percussion and backing vocals. Big Wheel peaked at #44 and was their first studio album not to reach the Top Ten on the Australian album charts. The album was digitally remastered by Davies and Ryan Scott with five bonus tracks added for the 2002 re-release by Warner Music Australia.
Man of Colours is the sixth studio album by Australian rock/synthpop band Icehouse, released locally on 21 September 1987 on Regular Records / Chrysalis Records.
"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.
Air Supply is the debut album by Australian soft rock band Air Supply which was released on CBS Records in December 1976. The album peaked at No. 17 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. It includes the single, "Love and Other Bruises" released ahead of the album in October which reached No. 6 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The second single, "Empty Pages", issued in February 1977 did not reach the Top 40. The album reached gold status in Australia. It wasn't until the album Lost in Love that the band broke through international charts. In Japan, the album was reissued as Strangers in Love to avoid confusion with the band's 1985 self-titled album.
"We Can Get Together" is the second single released by the Australian rock band Flowers, later known as Icehouse. It was released in September 1980, on the independent label Regular Records from their first album, Icehouse, two weeks before the album itself was released. It peaked at #16 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Charts.
The discography of Icehouse, an Australian rock and synthpop band, includes releases under the earlier band name, Flowers, which was formed in 1977 by the mainstay Iva Davies, and was renamed Icehouse in 1981; material was also released by "Iva Davies and Icehouse". Flowers or Icehouse have released nine major studio albums, as well as four remix albums, forty singles and twenty-six music videos. Icehouse and/or Iva Davies have also issued two film soundtracks and contributed to ballet scores.
"Can't Help Myself" is the first single released by the Australian synthpop/rock band Flowers, later known as Icehouse. It was released in May 1980 as a 7" vinyl single on independent label, Regular Records, five months ahead of debut album Icehouse. A 10" vinyl single was released in July and had a cover depicting individual images of band members diagonally across the band's name and the single's title. It peaked at #10 on the Australian Singles Charts.
"Love in Motion" is the first new material released by the Australian rock synthpop band Icehouse as a 7" vinyl single-only in October 1981 on Regular Records for the Australian market. The band had been known as Flowers until 27 June 1981 after which they changed their name to Icehouse, they had signed to Chrysalis Records and most of Flowers' material was released under the new name into Europe, UK and US markets. "Love in Motion" peaked at #10 on the Australian singles charts. The B-side, "Goodnight, Mr. Matthews" was included on the 1982 album Primitive Man with "Love in Motion" included on the Chrysalis Records US / European versions of the album, the UK 1983 version of the album was re-titled Love in Motion.
"Crazy" is a song by the Australian rock/synthpop band Icehouse, from the Man of Colours album, the single peaked at Number 4 on the Australian Kent Music Report. The song was written by band members Iva Davies, Robert Kretschmer and Andy Qunta, and produced by David Lord.
"Taking the Town" is a song by Australian rock band Icehouse, written by Iva Davies. It was released in April 1984 as the lead single from their third studio album Sidewalk. It peaked at No. 29 on the Australian chart.
"My Obsession" is a song by Australian rock band Icehouse, which was released in 1987 as the third single from their sixth studio album Man of Colours. The song was written by Iva Davies and Robert Kretschmer, and produced by David Lord. "My Obsession" peaked at No. 12 on Australia's Kent Music Report chart and No. 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100.