CROWDED HOUSE (ALBUM)

'''Crowded House''' is Crowded House's debut studio album, released in 1986. It was produced by Mitchell Froom. The album is known for launching the group and the first album the group's frontman Neil Finn and drummer Paul Hester had recorded since Finn ended their prior group, New Zealand oriented Split Enz. The album was noted for its stronger rock influences than those apparent in much of Split Enz's music, despite Finn being a main songwriter for each group. The album spawned hit singles "Don't Dream It's Over," "Something So Strong," "Mean To Me," "World Where You Live" and "Now We're Getting Somewhere," four of which were included on the group's greatest hits album ''Recurring Dream''.

Contents

Background and recording

Release and reception

Singles

Personnel

Crowded House

Additional musicians

Production

Track listings

Original release

Original international release

International & DVD-A release

References and notes

Background and recording

Following the demise of New Zealand supergroup Split Enz in 1984, Neil Finn and drummer Paul Hester decided to put a band of their own together. Originally, they named the group The Mullanes and performed in small venues and pubs with keyboardist Eddie Rayner and Tim Finn, (frontman for Split Enz) and in 1985, at the recommendation of Hunters and Collectors frontman Mark Seymour, the group enlisted his brother Nick Seymour as the bass player. Following this, the group continued to perform new songs written by Finn. In late 1985, they signed to Capitol Records and were requested to record immediately. At the label's request, the group changed their name from The Mullanes. Subsequently, at Hester's suggestion, the group used the name Largest Living Things, however the studio declined this name also.
The trio flew to Los Angeles to record the album. While there, they were provided a very small apartment to live in while recording, prompting the name ''Crowded House'', which was finally accepted by the record label.
The album was produced by Mitchell Froom who, since the album's release, has become a highly respected producer, a reputation that began with producing ''Crowded House''. The album's initial rhythm tracks were recorded in Los Angeles' Capitol Recording Studios with Larry Hirsh as engineer. The main sessions for the album were at the famed Sunset Sound studios, where the group first collaborated with engineer Tchad Blake who later produced the group's 1993 album ''Together Alone''.
Seymour and Hester do not appear on "Now We're Getting Somewhere," which was recorded early on in the sessions with drummer Jim Keltner and bass player Jerry Scheff. This is because Froom had doubts about the rhythm section's abilities at the time, but these doubts were dismissed the next day with the sombre recording of "Don't Dream It's Over."
The last song on the album, "That's What I Call Love," was written by Hester and has often been mistaken as a song written by Finn (though Hester is credited on the inlay of the album). This misconception is likely due to the fact that most of the album's songs are written by Finn.

Release and reception

Initially, the album was released in New Zealand and Australia with ten tracks all originally written and recorded for ''Crowded House'', however when the album was being prepared for export internationally, it was decided to re-record the song "I Walk Away", previously a Split Enz song (written by Finn), and re-order the track listing. With the re-ordering, the song "Can't Carry On" was removed from the listing. After recording the following album ''Temple of Low Men'', EMI decided to re-release ''Crowded House'' internationally, but used the original Australian/New Zealand track listing but with the addition of "I Walk Away." This is now considered the "standard" track listing of ''Crowded House''.
The album's single "Something So Strong" lent its title to a biography of Crowded House in 1997 by Chris Bourke, telling the story of the career of Crowded House from inception until the disbanding that occurred in 1996. Since the band's reunion, there have been no plans announced to re-write or re-release the book with further up-to-date details, filling the gap of the ten years since its initial printing.
A DualDisc version of this album was made available in 2005, 19 years after the albums initial release. The DVD side features a DVD-A version of the album and also lyrics, a discography, and music videos for "Don't Dream It's Over" and "Something So Strong."
The album has reached #1 on the Australian ARIA charts and #12 on the US charts in 1987. The album has been certified 6x platinum in Australia.

Singles

The single "Don't Dream It's Over" was an international hit that made it to #2 on the US ''Billboard'' charts on April 25, 1987. Its success has continued as 18 years later in 2005 was used in TV commercials by the New Zealand Tourism Commission. Its follow-up, "Something So Strong," peaked at #7 on the ARIA charts. "Mean to Me", "World Where You Live", and "Now We're Getting Somewhere" were also released as singles.

Personnel

Crowded House ★ Neil Finn - Vocals, guitar and piano ★ Nick Seymour - Bass guitar ★ Paul Hester - Drums and backing vocals Additional musicians ★ Tim Pierce - Guitar ★ Jim Keltner - Drums ("Now We're Getting Somewhere") ★ Jerry Scheff - Bass guitar ("Now We're Getting Somewhere") ★ Noel Crombie - Background vocals ★ Jim Gilstrap - Background vocals ★ Andy Milton - Background vocals ★ Joe Satriani - Background vocals ★ George Bermudez - Percussion ★ Heart Attack Horns - Horns ★ Mitchell Froom - Keyboards

Production ★ Mitchell Froom - Producer ★ Larry Hirsh - Engineer (Capitol Recording Studios sessions) ★ Steve Himelfarb - Assistant engineer (Capitol Recording Studios sessions) ★ Tchad Blake - Engineer (Sunset Sound Factory sessions) ★ Dennis Kirk - Engineer (Sunset Sound Factory sessions) ★ Michael Frondelli - Mixer (Studio 55) ★ Glen Golguin - Assistant mixing engineer ★ Wally Traugott - Mastering (Capitol Recording Studios) ★ John O'Brien - Art Direction ★ Nick Seymour - Design/Cover Painting ★ Dennis Keeley - Photography

Track listings

Original release :''Released in Australia and New Zealand only.'' # "Mean to Me" (Neil Finn) – 3:15 # "World Where You Live" (Finn) – 3:07 # "Now We're Getting Somewhere" (Finn) – 4:09 # "Don't Dream It's Over" (Finn) – 4:03 # "Love You 'Til the Day I Die" (Finn) – 3:31 # "Something So Strong" (Finn, Mitchell Froom) – 2:51 # "Hole in the River" (Finn, Eddie Rayner) – 4:02 # "Can't Carry On" (Finn) – 3:57 # "Tombstone" (Finn) – 4:29 # "That's What I Call Love" (Finn, Paul Hester) – 4:22

Original international release # "World Where You Live" (Finn) – 3:07 # "Now We're Getting Somewhere" (Finn) – 4:09 # "Don't Dream It's Over" (Finn) – 4:03 # "Mean to Me" (Finn) – 3:15 # "Love You 'Til the Day I Die" (Finn) – 3:31 # "Something So Strong" (Finn, Froom) – 2:51 # "Hole in the River" (Finn, Rayner) – 4:02 # "I Walk Away" (Finn) – 3:06 # "Tombstone" (Finn) – 4:29 # "That's What I Call Love" (Finn, Hester) – 4:22

International & DVD-A release

# "Mean to Me" (Finn) – 3:15
# "World Where You Live" (Finn) – 3:07
# "Now We're Getting Somewhere" (Finn) – 4:09
# "Don't Dream It's Over" (Finn) – 4:03
# "Love You 'Til the Day I Die" (Finn) – 3:31
# "Something So Strong" (Finn, Froom) – 2:51
# "Hole in the River" (Finn, Rayner) – 4:02
# "Can't Carry On" (Finn) – 3:57
# "I Walk Away" (Finn) – 3:06
# "Tombstone" (Finn) – 4:29
# "That's What I Call Love" (Finn, Hester) – 4:22

References and notes

★ "Don't Dream It's Over" music video with lyrics

★ Screen captures from the DVD-A

★ Liner notes