Jump to content

Mars Needs Guitars!: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
| name = Mars Needs Guitars!
| name = Mars Needs Guitars!
| type = Studio
| type = Studio
| artist = [[Hoodoo Gurus]]
| artist = [[Hoodoo Gurus]]
| cover = Mars Needs Guitars.jpg
| cover = Mars Needs Guitars.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| released = 8 March 1985
| released = {{flagicon|Australia}} 8 March 1985<br />{{flagicon|UK}} 12 August 1985<br />{{flagicon|USA}} 7 July 1987<br />{{flagicon|Australia}} 22 February 2005
| recorded = 1984
| recorded = 1984
| venue =
| venue =
| studio =
| studio =
| genre = [[Rock music|Rock]]
| genre = [[Rock music|Rock]]
| length = 33:35
| length = 33:35
| label = {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Big Time Records (label)|Big Time]]<br />{{flagicon|UK}} [[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]]<br />{{flagicon|USA}} [[Elektra Records|Elektra]]<br />{{flagicon|Australia}} [[EMI]]
| label = [[Big Time Records (label)|Big Time]], [[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]], [[Elektra Records|Elektra]]
| producer = Charles Fisher, Hoodoo Gurus
| producer = Charles Fisher, Hoodoo Gurus
| prev_title = [[Stoneage Romeos]]
| prev_title = [[Stoneage Romeos]]
| prev_year = 1984
| prev_year = 1984
| next_title = [[Blow Your Cool!]]
| next_title = [[Blow Your Cool!]]
| next_year = 1987
| next_year = 1987
| misc = {{Singles
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Mars Needs Guitars!
| name = Mars Needs Guitars!
| type = studio
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Bittersweet (Hoodoo Gurus song)|Bittersweet]]
| single1 = [[Bittersweet (Hoodoo Gurus song)|Bittersweet]]
| single1date = June 1985
| single1date = June 1985
| single2 = [[Like Wow – Wipeout]]
| single2 = [[Like Wow – Wipeout]]
| single2date = October 1985
| single2date = October 1985
| single3 = [[Death Defying]]
| single3 = [[Death Defying]]
| single3date = February 1986
| single3date = February 1986
| single4 = [[Poison Pen (song)|Poison Pen]]
| single4 = [[Poison Pen (song)|Poison Pen]]
| single4date = September 1986
| single4date = September 1986
}}
}}
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
{{Album reviews
| rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mars-needs-guitars!-mw0000190232|title=Mars Needs Guitars! - Hoodoo Gurus &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits &#124; AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}</ref>
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}} [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r73480|pure_url=yes}} link]
| rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
| rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
| rev2score = {{Rating-Christgau|B-}}<ref name="Christgau">{{cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=4973 |title=Mars Needs Guitars! |publisher=[[Robert Christgau]] }}</ref>
| rev2score = {{Rating-Christgau|B-}}<ref name="Christgau">{{cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=4973 |title=Mars Needs Guitars! |publisher=[[Robert Christgau]] }}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev3 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=326}}</ref>
| rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|5}} [https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/232754/review/5944555 link]
| noprose = yes
| noprose = yes
}}
}}
'''''Mars Needs Guitars!''''' is [[Australia]]n [[Rock music|rock]] group [[Hoodoo Gurus]]' second album, released in 1985.<ref name="Holmgren">{{cite web | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131022063218/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/h/hoodoogurus.html | title = Hoodoo Gurus | work = Passagen.se | publisher = [[Australian Rock Database]] (Magnus Holmgren) | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/h/hoodoogurus.html | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | first2 = Didier | last2 = Georgieff | first3 = Stephan | last3 = Hartung | archivedate = 22 October 2013 | accessdate = 24 March 2014 }}</ref> The title is a reference to the 1967 [[science fiction film]], ''[[Mars Needs Women]]''. Singles from the album were "[[Bittersweet (Hoodoo Gurus song)|Bittersweet]]" (1985) (reached #10 on [[Melbourne]] record charts),<ref name="Melb">{{cite book |last=Guest |first=Thomas J. |title=Thirty Years of Hits |publisher=M. J. Maloney |year=1991 |location=Collingwood, Melbourne |isbn=0-646-04633-0 }}</ref> "[[Like Wow – Wipeout]]" (1985, #28<ref name="Melb" />), "[[Death Defying]]" (1986) and "[[Poison Pen (song)|Poison Pen]]" (1986). ''Mars Needs Guitars!'' reached No. 140 on the American [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] albums chart in 1986.
'''''Mars Needs Guitars!''''' is [[Australia]]n [[Rock music|rock]] group [[Hoodoo Gurus]]' second album, released in March 1985.<ref name="Holmgren">{{cite web | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131022063218/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/h/hoodoogurus.html | title = Hoodoo Gurus | work = Passagen.se | publisher = [[Australian Rock Database]] (Magnus Holmgren) | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/h/hoodoogurus.html | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | first2 = Didier | last2 = Georgieff | first3 = Stephan | last3 = Hartung | archivedate = 22 October 2013 | accessdate = 24 March 2014 }}</ref> The title is a reference to the 1967 [[science fiction film]], ''[[Mars Needs Women]]''. Singles from the album were "[[Bittersweet (Hoodoo Gurus song)|Bittersweet]]", "[[Like Wow – Wipeout]]", "[[Death Defying]]" and "[[Poison Pen (song)|Poison Pen]]". ''Mars Needs Guitars!'' reached No. 140 on the American [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] albums chart in 1986.


The title track, "Mars Needs Guitars" (also the B-side of "Bittersweet" single), was written by all five Gurus<ref name="APRA">{{cite web|title=Australasian Performing Right Association |accessdate=30 November 2007 |publisher=[[Australasian Performing Right Association|APRA]] |url=http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch&switchDet=Y |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505235657/http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch&switchDet=Y |archivedate=5 May 2008 }}</ref> and lead vocals were by [[Brad Shepherd]]. All other tracks were written<ref name="APRA" /> and featured lead vocals by [[Dave Faulkner (musician)|Dave Faulkner]].<ref name="Discogs">{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/release/867102 |title=Discogs entry on ''Mars Needs Guitars!'' |publisher=discogs.com |accessdate=30 November 2007 }}</ref> ''[[Hayride to Hell]]'' (1995) is a short film written and directed by former Gurus member [[Kimble Rendall]].<ref name="IMDb">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0719320/ |title=Internet Movie Database entry on Kimble Rendall |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database|IMDb]] |accessdate=10 January 2008 }}</ref>
The title track, "Mars Needs Guitars" (also the B-side of "Bittersweet" single), was written by all five Gurus<ref name="APRA">{{cite web|title=Australasian Performing Right Association |accessdate=30 November 2007 |publisher=[[Australasian Performing Right Association|APRA]] |url=http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch&switchDet=Y |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505235657/http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch&switchDet=Y |archivedate=5 May 2008 }}</ref> and lead vocals were by [[Brad Shepherd]]. All other tracks were written<ref name="APRA" /> and featured lead vocals by [[Dave Faulkner (musician)|Dave Faulkner]]. ''[[Hayride to Hell]]'' (1995) is a short film written and directed by former Gurus member [[Kimble Rendall]].


<blockquote>"When we commenced the sessions for ''Mars Needs Guitars!'' we had a brand new drummer, Mark Kingsmill who altered our lives forever with his distinctive explosive style." - Dave Faulkner.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 2000 |last=Faulkner |first=Dave |url=http://www-personal.umich.edu/~juliat/hg/popandpunishment.html |publisher=juliat |title=Pop and punishment |accessdate=27 January 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808085453/http://www-personal.umich.edu/~juliat/hg/popandpunishment.html |archivedate=8 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref></blockquote> The song "Bittersweet" was used in the video game ''[[MVP Baseball 2004]]''.
In 2000, Dave Faulkner said "When we commenced the sessions for ''Mars Needs Guitars!'' we had a brand new drummer, Mark Kingsmill who altered our lives forever with his distinctive explosive style."<ref>{{cite web|date=June 2000 |last=Faulkner |first=Dave |url=http://www-personal.umich.edu/~juliat/hg/popandpunishment.html |publisher=juliat |title=Pop and punishment |accessdate=27 January 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808085453/http://www-personal.umich.edu/~juliat/hg/popandpunishment.html |archivedate=8 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


The album was re-released by [[EMI]] on 22 February 2005 with five bonus tracks, a fold out poster and liner tracks by Wally Kempton ([[Even (band)|Even]]/[[The Meanies]]). Three of the bonus tracks (13 to 15) were recorded live at Selina's, [[Sydney]], in 1986.<ref name="Discogs" /> In October 2010, it was listed in the book, ''[[100 Best Australian Albums]]'', with their previous album, ''[[Stoneage Romeos]]'' at No.&nbsp;28.<ref name="ODonnell">{{Cite book | title = [[100 Best Australian Albums]] | last1 = O'Donnell | first1 = John | authorlink1 = John O'Donnell (music journalist) | last2 = Creswell | first2=Toby | authorlink2 = Toby Creswell | last3 = Mathieson | first3 = Craig | authorlink3 = Craig Mathieson | publisher = Hardie Grant Books | date = October 2010 | location = [[Prahran, Victoria|Prahran, Vic]] | isbn = 978-1-74066-955-9 }}</ref>
In October 2010, it was listed in the book, ''[[100 Best Australian Albums]]'', with their previous album, ''[[Stoneage Romeos]]'' at No.&nbsp;28.<ref name="ODonnell">{{Cite book | title = [[100 Best Australian Albums]] | last1 = O'Donnell | first1 = John | authorlink1 = John O'Donnell (music journalist) | last2 = Creswell | first2=Toby | authorlink2 = Toby Creswell | last3 = Mathieson | first3 = Craig | authorlink3 = Craig Mathieson | publisher = Hardie Grant Books | date = October 2010 | location = [[Prahran, Victoria|Prahran, Vic]] | isbn = 978-1-74066-955-9 }}</ref>

==Reception==
''[[Cash Box magazine]]'' said "Excellent dynamics and songwriting shine through on nearly every cut."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1985/CB-1985-11-09.pdf|title=Album Releases|magazine=[[Cash Box magazine|Cash Box]]|via=World Radio History|page=10|date=9 November 1985|access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
Line 74: Line 77:
}}
}}
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
|collapsed = yes
|headline = 2005 re-release
|headline = 2005 re-release
|title11 = Bring the Hoodoo Down
|title11 = Bring the Hoodoo Down
Line 94: Line 96:


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
Credited to:<ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="Discogs" />
Credited to:<ref name="Holmgren"/>


===Hoodoo Gurus===
===Hoodoo Gurus===
* [[Clyde Bramley]] – bass, backing vocals
* Clyde Bramley – bass, backing vocals
* [[Dave Faulkner (musician)|Dave Faulkner]] – lead vocals (except track 9), guitar, keyboards
* [[Dave Faulkner (musician)|Dave Faulkner]] – lead vocals (except track 9), guitar, keyboards
* [[Mark Kingsmill]] – drums, cymbals
* [[Mark Kingsmill]] – drums, cymbals
Line 108: Line 110:
* Don Bartley – mastering (remastering)
* Don Bartley – mastering (remastering)
* Hoodoo Gurus – producer (track 11)
* Hoodoo Gurus – producer (track 11)

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1985/86)
!Peak<br>position
|-
|Australian ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=141}}</ref>
|align="center"|5
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|18|artist=Mars Needs Guitars!|album=Stoneage Romeos|access-date=9 December 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|47|artist=Mars Needs Guitars!|album=Stoneage Romeos|access-date=9 December 2021}}
|-
|United States ([[Billboard 200]])<ref>{{cite magazine|title=''Billboard'' Artist Chart History – Hoodoo Gurus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704043657/http://www.billboard.com/artist/303589/hoodoo%2Bgurus/chart |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/303589/hoodoo+gurus/chart |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard Magazine]] |archive-date=4 July 2013 |access-date=6 March 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|align="center"|140
|}

==Certifications==
{{certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|artist=Hoodoo Gurus|title=Mars Needs Guitars!|type=album|relyear=1985|certyear=1986|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=3|certref=<ref name="Bell">{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211209030226/https://themusic.com.au/news/all/2015/05/18/30-years-ago-hoodoo-gurus-mars-needs-guitars-steve-bell/?fb_comment_id=810670179018795_810706832348463#f37517137332f6 | url = http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2015/05/18/30-years-ago-hoodoo-gurus-mars-needs-guitars-steve-bell/?fb_comment_id=810670179018795_810706832348463#f37517137332f6 | title = How Hoodoo Gurus' Slump-Defying Second Album Became An Accidental Classic | last = Bell | first = Steve | work = theMusic.com.au | archive-date = 9 December 2021 | date = 18 May 2015 | access-date = 21 March 2016 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Fisher">{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160406031949/http://charlesfisherproducer.com/discog/ | url = http://charlesfisherproducer.com/discog/ | title = Charles Fisher – Music Producer : Discography | publisher = [[Charles Fisher (producer)|Charles Fisher]] | archive-date = 6 April 2016 | url-status = dead | access-date = 31 March 2016 }}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}


==References==
==References==
Line 113: Line 136:


{{Hoodoo Gurus}}
{{Hoodoo Gurus}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Hoodoo Gurus albums]]
[[Category:Hoodoo Gurus albums]]

Latest revision as of 14:14, 13 August 2024

Mars Needs Guitars!
Studio album by
Hoodoo Gurus
Released8 March 1985
Recorded1984
GenreRock
Length33:35
LabelBig Time, Chrysalis, Elektra
ProducerCharles Fisher, Hoodoo Gurus
Hoodoo Gurus chronology
Stoneage Romeos
(1984) 		Mars Needs Guitars!
(1985) 		Blow Your Cool!
(1987)
Singles from Mars Needs Guitars!
  1. "Bittersweet"
    Released: June 1985
  2. "Like Wow – Wipeout"
    Released: October 1985
  3. "Death Defying"
    Released: February 1986
  4. "Poison Pen"
    Released: September 1986
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB−[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

Mars Needs Guitars! is Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus' second album, released in March 1985.[4] The title is a reference to the 1967 science fiction film, Mars Needs Women. Singles from the album were "Bittersweet", "Like Wow – Wipeout", "Death Defying" and "Poison Pen". Mars Needs Guitars! reached No. 140 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart in 1986.

The title track, "Mars Needs Guitars" (also the B-side of "Bittersweet" single), was written by all five Gurus[5] and lead vocals were by Brad Shepherd. All other tracks were written[5] and featured lead vocals by Dave Faulkner. Hayride to Hell (1995) is a short film written and directed by former Gurus member Kimble Rendall.

In 2000, Dave Faulkner said "When we commenced the sessions for Mars Needs Guitars! we had a brand new drummer, Mark Kingsmill who altered our lives forever with his distinctive explosive style."[6]

In October 2010, it was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums, with their previous album, Stoneage Romeos at No. 28.[7]

Reception

[edit]

Cash Box magazine said "Excellent dynamics and songwriting shine through on nearly every cut."[8]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Dave Faulkner, except where noted[5]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Bittersweet" 3:44
2."Poison Pen" 4:09
3."In the Wild" 3:07
4."Death Defying" 3:21
5."Like Wow – Wipeout" 3:09
6."Hayride to Hell" 3:15
7."Show Some Emotion" 2:56
8."Other Side of Paradise" 3:31
9."Mars Needs Guitars"James Baker, Clyde Bramley, Faulkner, Mark Kingsmill, Brad Shepherd2:52
10."She" 3:28
2005 re-release
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Bring the Hoodoo Down" 2:54
12."Turkey Dinner" 4:14
13."Death Ship" (live)Faulkner, Roddy Radalj, Alan Sharples2:42
14."In the Wild" (live) 3:29
15."Teenage Head" (live)Cyril Jordan, Roy Loney3:02

Personnel

[edit]

Credited to:[4]

Hoodoo Gurus

[edit]
  • Clyde Bramley – bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Faulkner – lead vocals (except track 9), guitar, keyboards
  • Mark Kingsmill – drums, cymbals
  • Brad Shepherd – lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (track 9), harmonica (mouth harp)

Technical

[edit]
  • John Bee – engineer
  • Richard Allan – illustrations
  • Charles Fisher – producer (except track 11)
  • Don Bartley – mastering (remastering)
  • Hoodoo Gurus – producer (track 11)

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1985/86) Peak
position
Australian (Kent Music Report)[9] 5
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[10] 18
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 47
United States (Billboard 200)[12] 140

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[13][14] 3× Platinum 210,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Mars Needs Guitars! - Hoodoo Gurus | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Mars Needs Guitars!". Robert Christgau.
  3. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 326.
  4. ^ a b Holmgren, Magnus; Georgieff, Didier; Hartung, Stephan. "Hoodoo Gurus". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Australasian Performing Right Association". APRA. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2007.
  6. ^ Faulkner, Dave (June 2000). "Pop and punishment". juliat. Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
  7. ^ O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). 100 Best Australian Albums. Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-955-9.
  8. ^ "Album Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 9 November 1985. p. 10. Retrieved 8 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
  9. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 141. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. ^ "Charts.nz – Mars Needs Guitars! – Stoneage Romeos". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Mars Needs Guitars! – Stoneage Romeos". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Billboard Artist Chart History – Hoodoo Gurus". Billboard Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  13. ^ Bell, Steve (18 May 2015). "How Hoodoo Gurus' Slump-Defying Second Album Became An Accidental Classic". theMusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Charles Fisher – Music Producer : Discography". Charles Fisher. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Mars_Needs_Guitars!&oldid=1240095322"