G Stands For Go-Betweens – Anthology Volume 1

Wow get a load of this
4 vinyl LPs including their 1st3 studio albums and a compilation
of their first five non-LP singles.
4 compact discs of rare, hard-to-find and unreleased demos,
recordings, radio sessions and complete live concert broadcast from 1982.

112-page book featuring a trove of archival photos and extensive
historical liner notes from founding member Robert Forster,
along with additional pieces from guest essayists, fans and contemporaries.

1 silkscreen reproduction of the promotional poster for their debut single,
‘Lee Remick’.

1 reproduction of the very first Go-Betweens press release from their own Able Label.

All encased in hard “clamshell” box with gold debossing!

http://thego-betweens.umusic.com.au/store/

Robert Forster - WASSERMUSIK Festival Berlin 03.08.13

Another wonderful Robert Forster recording thanks to Ron
in Berlin, this time one of his own from the 2013
Wassermusic  Festival organised by Dietrich Diederichsen who
once was a guitar player in Forsters band (Danger In The Past)
Also a few photos from Ron as well.

Just Robert with a new german band playing through
the highlights of his Go-Between and solo back catalog
some 19 songs that include songs from the start of the
Gobs to the end
And an appreciative German audience
that can really understand a song like here comes the city!

Thanks Ron for all the wonderful music!

                                                               
                                                 Track List

01 Baby Stones

02 Spirit

03 I Can Do

03 RF Welcome

04 Surfing Magazines

05 German Farmhouse

06 Your Turn My Turn

07 I'm Alright

08 Head Full Of Steam

09 121

10 Rock and Roll Friend

11 People Say

12 Draining The Pool For You

13 Heart Out To Tender

14 Here Comes A City

15 Dive For Your Memory

16 Too Much Of One Thing

17 Born To A Family

18 Spring Rain

19 Darlinghurst Nights

Download Here

Robert Forster with String Quartet conducted by Jherek Bischoff

Robert Forster with String Quartet conducted by Jherek Bischoff
Köln-Mülheim, Germany
Stadthalle
14. Dezember 2013

Ronnie from wonderful Berlin has sent me two Robert boots
and they are both exceptional.
Thanks Ronnie!!

This the first is from a festival in Cologne last year you can see
the program here

The tracks with the String Quartet are just sublime,
hand picked track from across Roberts career spanning
from early Gobs days to the last album it really needs
to be heard to be believed. I so hope to see a show
like this one day in Brisbane.

Robert Forster and Jherek Bischof back stage

Track List
01. Rock'N'Roll Friend
02.I've Been Looking For Somebody
03.I Can Do
04.Surfing Magazines
05. He Lives My Life
06.The House That Jack Kerouac Built
07.Here Comes A City
08.In Her Diary
09.Draining The Pool For You
10.People Say
11.From Ghost Town
12.Dear Black Dream
13.The Clarke Sisters
Encore:
14. Spring Rain
15. Here Comes A City

1,2,14 : Robert solo
3,4 : with Jherek Bischoff
5 -13, 15: with Jherek Bischoff & String Quartet

Download Here

Tims Surprise Visit.

Well a fantastic and big surprise last night, Tim aka Mona who runs
the greatest blog in blogworld, flew up from Melbourne for our
wedding which is tomorrow. Both Tim and Carmen have been
planning this for months and keeping it a secret.
We all when to Fortitude Valley to Chinatown and I showed Tim
the sights such as they are in the Valley, ending up at the walk of
fame the the Brunswick mall at the Go-Betweens plaque.
Its all shaping up for a very exciting time!

You can all follow our travel adventures on our travel blog

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Bobandcarmen/

Or on face book.

Robert Forster Interview part 2 - Andrew McMillien

In the next installment of a three-part interview with
Robert Forster, ANDREW MCMILLEN talks to the Go-Betweens
legend about rock star auras,
music criticism and making Lou Reed sound like Pavarotti


Find the interview at Mess and Noise Here

Robert Forster Interview - Part 1 - Andrew McMillen

Andrew has posted part 1 of his recent inteview with Robert Forster
Spanning his years in The Go-Betweens, his solo career
and his new life as a producer and rock critic.
He chats to the Brisbane icon about his early years in The Gap,
the Bjelke-Peterson regime and meeting longtime collaborator
Grant McLennan.
Fantastic interview can't wait for the rest.
Find it on Mess and Noise
here

Right Here, A Tribute To The Go-Betweens. 2010 Remastered Version

Well it must be about time for a Go-Betweens post,
I have sat on this since February, actually I forgot about it.
DOH, anyway here it is. Craig who put out this fantastic
tribute has, in his own words

managed to tweak the GOB tribute I put out a few years ago..
I had a person request it and ended up just doing a complete
revamp on the whole track listing..
even tweaked the coverart (kinda)

Thanks Craig

Track Listing
01:(Intro) Go Between
02. Bachelor Kisses - Pray TV
03. Love Goes On - Flat Stanley
04. I Just Get Caught Out - Smudge
05. Draining The Pool For You - The Steinbecks
06. Lee Remick - The Meanies
07. Karen - Snout
08. Clouds - Frente
09. Devil's Eye - Killjoys
10. Right Here - Ashtray Boy
11. The House Jack Keroac Built - The Earthmen
12. Dive For Your Memory - Blackeyed Susans
13. Rock 'N' Roll Friend - The Drunk, The Monk & The Spunk

BONUS TRACKS

14. Hammer The Hammer - Free Moving Curtis
15. This Girl, Black Girl - Tender Engines
16. Spring Rain - Holocene
17. Apology Accepted/Part Company - Lust In Space
18. Bye Bye Pride - Sunglass
19. Don't Call Me Gone - Sean Sennett & Friends
20. Was There Anything I Could Do? - The Buzzards
21. Core Of A Flame - Headache

The Original Track Listing

1. Bachelor Kisses - Pray TV
2. Love Goes On - Flat Stanley
3. I Just Get Caught Out - Smudge
4. Was There Anything I Could Do? - The Buzzards
5. Lee Remick - The Meanies
6. Don't Call Me Gone - Sean Sennett & Friends
7. Draining The Pool For You - The Steinbecks
8. The House Jack Keroac Built - The Earthmen
9. This Girl, Black Girl - Tender Engines
10. Clouds - Frente
11. Karen - Snout
12. Go Between - Go-Betweens
13. Core Of A Flame - Headache
14. Hammer The Hammer - Free Moving Curtis
15. Spring Rain - Holocene
BONUS TRACKS
16. Devil's Eye - Killjoys
17. Apology Accepted/Part Company - Lust In Space
18. Right Here - Ashtray Boy
19. Bye Bye Pride - Sunglass
20. Dive For Your Memory - Blackeyed Susans
21. Rock 'N' Roll Friend - The Drunk, The Monk & The Spunk

Download Here

Brisbane's Hale St Link is named Go Between Bridge

I was rather surprised yesterday while watching the news
to see Robert Forster wearing a hard hat.
Not something you see every day.
It was the announcement that the latest Bridge to span
the Brisbane river shall be named in honour of the
fabulous band that started here some 30 years ago.
There's a great little interview with Robert
to be found here
And this article from the Courier Mail.


BRISBANE'S Hale Street Link is now the Go Between Bridge
with ratepayers voting to honour one of the city's most
famous rock bands.
Ratepayers overwhelmingly voted for the name from 11
short-listed suggestions.
Robert Forster, who founded The Go-Betweens with the
late Grant McLennan in 1978, was thrilled with the
unexpected surprise and the tribute.
"My thoughts are that bridges are romantic and poetic,"
Forster said yesterday.
"If The Go-Betweens name is going to be lent to anything
then I think a bridge is perfect."

Write Your Adventures Down - A Tribute to the Go-betweens - VA

I like to have a soundtrack to my life and perhaps this is the
best fit for me at the moment.
The Go-Betweens are this band that takes everyday life
and turns it into something special, an adventure.
And of course there's plenty of adventure here on this tribute
album, I've added Ed Kuepper's version of Grants most hauntingly
beautiful tune Finding You, which he transforms to something
very special.
So for me and anyone else who feels they are embarking on a new
adventure, try this wonderful record.

Finding You - Grant McLennan

What would you do if you turned around
And saw me beside you
Not in a dream but in a song?
Would you float like a phantom
Or would you sing along?

Don't know where I'm going
Don't know where it's flowing
But I know it's finding you

What would you do
If you saw me driving by in a car
The quickest you've ever seen me spin?
Would you smile and wave
Or would you bow and get in?

Don't know where I'm going
Don't know where it's flowing
But I know it's finding you

But then the lightning finds us
Burns away our kindness
We can't find a place to hide
Come the rainy season
Surrender to our treason
Can we even find our tears?

Don't know where I'm going
Don't know where it's flowing
But I know it's finding you


Track List
01-Lee Remick - Patience Hodgson
02-Bye Bye Pride - Sarah Blasko
03-Head Full Of Steam - Dan Kelly
04-Dusty In Here - Youth Group
05-The House That Jack Kerouac Built - Glenn Richards
06-Streets Of Your Town - Bob Evans
07-Right Here - Darren Hanlon
08-Bachelor Kisses - Josh Pyke
09-Draining The Pool For You - Andrew Cox
10-Hold Your Horses - Sarah Blasko
and Darren Hanlon
11-No Reason To Cry - New Buffalo
12-Finding You - Adele Pickvance
13-Spring Rain - David McCormack
14-Dive For Your Memory - Glenn Thompson
15-Finding You - Ed Kuepper

Download Here

Go-Betweens - Live On SNAP/KCRW

Released as a 2nd disc as part of
Bellavista Terrace: Best Of The Go-Betweens
as a limited edition 2 cd release, this is a wonderful
collection of tracks both acoustic and electric.

Track List
Acoustic Set 10/11/88
01 Introduction
02 Rock 'n' Roll Friend
03 Dive for Your Memory
04 Quiet Heart
05 Clouds
06 Love Goes On
Electric Session 11/09/87
07 Introduction
08 Bye Bye Pride
09 Bow Down
10 Right Here
11 The Clarke Sisters
12 I Just Get Caught Out
13 Twin Layers Of Lightning
14 Cattle And Cane
15 Apology Accepted

Download Here

Go-Betweens - 1980.06. Bungalow Bar, Paisley, Scotland.

"Any country that can except Jilted John,
X-ray Spex and the Only Ones,
there is a place for the Go-Betweens"
1979 Robert Foster

Lets start the new year up with a bit of Go-Betweens.
I was sent this recording from a not well represented
era of the Gob's. It was sent to me from Joe who's
a Gobs fan over in the UK. Thanks Joe
Joe's fav period of the band is its 3 piece period,
so if anyone got the postcard demos, which I
can't find, or anything interesting from the early
days, send a link in the comments or contact me
via myspace.
Here's what Joe says about the recording.

i'm afraid the recording quality is not amazing,
but it's still worth a listen -
i guess it's from the trip to scotland when the
band hooked up with postcard?
Could be Orange Juice's drummer on this!

By all accounts Joe's right, this is
a very interesting document. From
their first trip to the UK , a trip that
they had been well considering since 79.
Having seen the English scene as one
they where they would be able to make
an impact

1980.06. Bungalow Bar, Paisley, Scotland.
With Orange Juice, Josef K

Track List
01 Hope
02 I Need Two Heads
03 Eight Pictures
04 People Say
05 Stop Before You Say It
06 Don't Let Him Come Back
07 Karen

Download Here

Right here - a go-betweens tribute - va

Another tribute album more in keeping with the theme around
here.

01 - Pray TV - Bachelor Kisses
02 - Flat Stanley - Love Goes On
03 - Smudge - I Just Get Caught Out
04 - The Buzzards - Was There Anything I Could Do
05 - The Meanies - Lee Remick
06 - Sean Sennett and Friends - Dont Call Me Gone
07 - The Steinbecks - Draining The Pool For You
08 - The Earthmen - The House Jack Kerouac Built
09 - Tender Engines - This Girl Black Girl.
10 - Frente - Clouds
11 - Snout - Karen
12 - Go Between - Go-Betweens
13 - Headache - Core Of A Flame.
14 - Free Moving Curtis - Hammer The Hammer.
15 - Holocene - Spring Rain
16 - Killjoys - Devils Eye
17 - Lust In Space - Apology Accepted - Part Company
18 - Ashtray Boy - Right Here
19 - Sunglass - Bye Bye Pride
20 - The Blackeyed Susans - Dive For Your Memory.
21 - The Drunk The Monk and The Spunk - Rock n Roll Friend

Download Here

Far Out Corporation - Far Out Corporation

A request from Matt.

Far Out Corporation was a band led by late singer-guitarist
Grant McLennan, mostly known as a singer, songwriter
and guitarist for the Go-Betweens. McLennan started the
group with Ross McLennan on drums, Dave Graney's bass player
Adele Pickvance and Powderfinger's guitarist Ian Haug.
The band was formed as a side project for all its members
other than Ross McLennan, as they all were members of
larger rock bands than Far Out Corporation.
The group's name is a reference to the rock supergroup
Far Corporation, which was also comprised of various
musicians. In 1998, the group recorded their first and
only album, which was named FOC after the initials of
the band's name.In late 1999, McLennan's old band
The Go-Betweens unexpectedly reformed.

Track List
01 Don't Blame The Beam
02 Hold
03 Sick Bed
04 Montreal
05 Shadow Overload
06 If You Want Release
07 Sketch
08 The Shower Song
09 Suicide At Home
10 Parachute
11 Still Burn Down

Download Here

Go-Betweens J-File broadcast 31-08-2000.

I feel as a Gobetweens fan a bit spoilt lately with all
this Gobs material surfacing.
Many Thanks to Robert from Melbourne who has uploaded
3 hours of Gobetweens on the J-files for us,
it sounds fantastic.

I'm not sure if this is in wide circulation -
It's the JJJ Go-Betweens J-File broadcast on 31.08.2000.
It really is wonderful. It was a week before the release of Friends
of Rachel Worth(or close to that). Grant and Robert sit in on the
show and they talk through the new album and the history of the
band - old JJJ interviews also cut through the show between
old and new songs.

It's three hours long, so I've split it into 3 CD-length files.

It's great to hear them talk about their "come-back",
knowing now how successful it was.

Robert.

Download Here
Part1
Part2
Part3

Great Australian Albums The Go-Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane

The first Album in the 2nd series of Great Australian Albums
aired in Australia this weekend and I managed to record it.
I'm going to upload the hour long broadcast in 4 parts to
make it a manageable download from the blog and the 1st
part is up, with the rest as I find time this week.
So all you overseas fans who couldn't watch and those
here who missed the show heres your opportunity.

The 1st series had some fantastic albums but the Triffids Born sandy
devotional and the Saints I'm Stranded were the highlights for me
and I have recordings of those 2 shows if theres heaps of interest
cause this takes a bit of work.
The series has held exceptionally high standards, with its interviews
and insight and this was no exception. 16 Lovers has always been an
album close to my heart, I cut my wedding cake to" love is a sign",
and it was the cumulation of everything the Gobs had achieved, it
should have been their breakthrough album. It hasn't a weak song
on it and many exceptional songs.
The hour in which they delve into the making of the album and
the collapse of the original band is fascinating, the way they
operated, the relationships which were very convoluted and the
disappointments which came after, had me glued to the Tv.
All the band members talk with candor and humor, with Grants
input made with footage from old interviews done in such a way
that he was truly part of it.
I hope to hear many comments from you guys about things that
stuck you or touched you.
I've included a few screen shots from this wonderful document.






The Go-Between's started in the late 1970s when Robert Forster
persuaded his friend Grant McLennan to form a band.
They began writing songs and were soon in London where they
made their base for most of the 1980s.
Lindy joined around 1980 and she and Robert became lovers.
Shortly after they broke up, violinist Amanda Brown joined and
became involved with Grant.





Through it all were a series of brilliant and critically
acclaimed albums. In 1988, they returned to Australia without
longtime bass player Robert Vickers and was replaced by fellow
Brisbane expatriate John Willsteed.
It was this line-up of the Go-Betweens that recorded 16 Lovers
Lane, their most musically accomplished album.
The band then embarked on a year-long world tour.
Then, on the 29th of December at 6pm Robert met with Lindy
and Grant met with Amanda and sacked them.







Download
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Great Australian Albums - 16 Lovers Lane

Just a quick post to let all the Australian readers and
remind me so I don't forget to record it.
I recorded 2 of the last series, I'm Stranded and
Born Sandy Devotional, both were fantastic.

This is from www.go-betweens.org.uk

The Go-Betweens' 1988 album 16 Lovers Lane is the subject
of the first episode of the new series of Great Australian Albums.
It airs on SBS on Saturday 6th September 2008
and features contributions from Amanda Brown, Robert Forster,
Ben Lee, Lindy Morrison, David Nichols, Sean Sennett,
Mark Wallis and John Willsteed.
A preview of the show can be seen on the SBS website.
Other episodes in the series will feature albums by
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Powderfinger and Hunters &
Collectors.

And from the Tv guide

The Go Betweens (16 Lovers Lane) -
All new episodes of the documentary series which examines
the all-time classic Australian albums.
With the budget to make a breakthrough album,
the Go-Betweens began work on what would become 16 Lovers
Lane. The songwriters, Grant McLennan and Robert Forster
were at a creative peak. With a new bass player,
John Willsteed they made an album of light and bright pop
tunes underneath lyrics of rare poetic beauty.
As well as exploring the unique dynamics of the band,
which was integral to their work, the film also investigates the
individual songs; especially the melodic chemistry which has
made songs like Streets of Your Town classics.
Despite the unanimous critical acclaim for the band, its most
accessible album was not a hit and the lack of success spelt
the end of the group. Each of the players recounts the final,
emotional end.
16 Lovers Lane encapsulates all those
qualities that made the Go-Betweens great:
love, adventure, courage, idiosyncrasy and honesty.

Features Amanda Brown, Robert Forster, Ben Lee,
Lindy Morrison, David Nichols, Sean Sennett,
Mark Wallis and John Willsteed.

The Go-Betweens - Caroline & I

When I saw Robert play the last night of his monumental
4 night return to performing, "The 4 ages of Robert Forster"
this song was one of the highlights.
He put down the guitar and took the mike
in hand , strutting the stage like he was at home again.
He also opened the night with "A Girl Lying On A Beach"
just him and the acoustic, before being joined on stage
by the band.
You can see a video of the performance below.
This is the wonderful 4 track cd single for
Caroline and I, a small post but very tasty.


Caroline & I - Robert Forster

Born in the very same year
Alive at a similar time

It gave me something small that I could feel
That maybe as you grew you knew how I'd feel
And Caroline & I knew how you'd feel

Rattled through our teenage years
Battled and loved who we fought

The first time you left home on your own I knew
A little bit of you is gone when you do
And Caroline & I well we grew, well that's true

Caroline & I


01 Caroline & I
02 Instant Replay
03 Taxi Taxee
04 A Girl Lying On A Beach







The Four Ages of Robert Forster - Girl Lying On A Beach

Download Here

The Go-Betweens: Live In London

Must be time for a Go-Betweens post.
Recorded live at the Barbican Hall, London on 27th June 2004,
this out of print, but absolutely fantastic live recording is very
special indeed. Robert Grant, Adele and Glenn take us on a
journey back through the Go- Betweens recording career,
right to the start and up until 2004.



Songs that rarely are heard live are dusted off and played
with gusto. The band is on fire, the recording impeccable.
What more could you ask for, they begin with the sound of
rain, a very old track they recorded with Peter Walsh back
at the start. Theres plenty more old tracks, a couple of
obscure B-sides, including my fav "When people are dead"
Theres also a heap of there best tracks, only they didn't
do "Head full of steam", Oh well You can't have everything.

Track List
CD1
1 The Sound of Rain
02 It Could be Anyone
03 Your Turn, My Turn
04 Hammer the Hammer
05 People Say
06 This Girl, Black Girl
07 Make Her Day
08 Karen
09 Magic in Here
10 Poison in the Walls
11 Surfing Magazines
12 Baby Stones
13 Cattle and Cane
14 The Clock

CD2
01 Too Much of one Thing
02 He Lives My Life
03 The Wrong Road
04 Right Here
05 Spring Rain
06 Here Comes a City
07 Love Goes On!
08 The House That Jack Kerouac Built
09 Spirit
10 German Farmhouse
11 Bye Bye Pride
12 When People Are Dead
13 Streets of Your Town
14 In The core of the Flame

Download Here
CD1

CD2

Go-Betweens Live 1982-83, radio broadcasts

Steve aka duckdogtwo has with outstanding generosity shared
with us these two excellent Go-Betweens live radio
broadcasts from 1982 and 1983.
These are excellent quality, balanced soundboards from an
excellent period of Gobs history, back when they were
still a 3 piece.
They also come with artwork which is always good.
I'm listening to this stuff now and its really very
good, it reminds me of the band I saw for the first
time, which was around the same time as these
recordings, quite unlike anything else I'd ever
heard and I suppose its true to say that never
changed.
Don't forget to thank Steve for his outstanding
generosity in the comments.

Mosman Hotel, Sydney, Australia, April 22, 1982

1 Heaven Says
2 Ride
3 Metal And Shells (early version of Before Hollywood)
4 Your Turn, My Turn
5 Careless
6 Distant Hands
7 Hammer The Hammer
8 People Know
9 I Need Two Heads
10 One Thing Can Hold Us
11 Near The Chimney
12 Undo What You Did
13 By Chance
14 Stop Before You Say It(studio)

SOURCE: Radio broadcast

TIME: 41:32

Download Here



Rote Fabrik, Zürich, Switzerland, March 13, 1983

1 People Say
2 Karen
3 A Bad Debt Follows You
4 Two Steps, Step Out
5 Before Hollywood
6 Your Turn, My Turn
7 Cattle And Cane
8 By Chance
9 On My Block
10 Hammer The Hammer

SOURCE: Radio broadcast

TIME: 33:51

Download Here

The Go-Betweens - The Cassette Releases 1981 - 5 New Songs, other rare early songs & interviews

For a very special treat many thanks to Steve aka duckdogtwo who
compiled this wonderful collection of rare and early Go-Betweens.
This is what Steve says about these recordings.

I was going to tart these up and compile them but they
sounded pretty good anyway.
These are from my tapes done four or five years ago,
my first transfers.
A couple of these tracks are on the remastered
Send Me A Lullaby,
but I'm not sure which ones.
The second 3PBS interview cuts off abruptly,
not sure if there was more.
The Distant Violins scan is mine, the rest I found on the net.
Couldn't find a decent one of Fast Forward.

I've been listening to this today and its fantastic.
Theres songs I haven't heard before,
some great live and demos of well known songs and
the interviews are amazing. Especially the 1/2 hour 4zzz one,
its amazing to hear these guys talk in depth when they are
right at the start of it all, like 19 years old.
Theres quite a lot of talk about Peter Milton Walsh's brief
membership in the band, why He joined and why He left,
record deals, other Brisbane bands round that time
and songwriting, it really is fantastic.
You'll just have to download it and have a listen.
And don't forget to thank Steve in the comments.

Track List
01 - Five New Songs - Heaven Says.
02 - Five New Songs - Undo What You Did.
03 - Five New Songs - Cracked Wheat.
04 - Five New Songs - People Know.
05 - Five New Songs - A Peaceful Wreck.
06 - Missing Link Demo - One Word.
07 - Missing Link Demo - Hope.
08 - Missing Link Live - I Need Two Heads.
09 - 3PBS 1981 - Karen.
10 - 3PBS 1981 - One Word.
11 - 3PBS 1981 - One Thing Can Hold Us.
12 - 3PBS 1981 - Interview Pt1.
13 - 3PBS 1981 - Interview Pt2.
14 - 4ZZZ Interview 1979.

See in the comments for more information
about the original cassette releases.

Part 1

Part 2