Junkyard (album)

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Studio album by The Birthday Party
Released 10 May 1982
Recorded A.A.V. Studio 2, Melbourne and Matrix Studios, London 1981 & 1982
Genre Post-punk
Length 47:08
Label Missing Link (original Australian release)
Virgin (1990 Australian reissue)
Shock (1996 Australian reissue)
4AD (UK)
2.13.61 (1997 US release)
Buddha (2000 US reissue)
Drastic Plastic (2011 US LP reissue)
Propeller (New Zealand)
GeeBeeDee (Germany)
Expanded Music (Italy)
CNR (Netherlands)
Producer Richard Mazda, Tony Cohen and Nick Launay
The Birthday Party chronology
Drunk on the Pope's Blood
Mutiny/The Bad Seed
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars[1]

Junkyard is a 1982 album by Australian post-punk group The Birthday Party. The album was recorded with Tony Cohen at Armstrong's Audio Visual (A.A.V.) Studios in Melbourne in December 1981 and January 1982. Additional tracks were recorded in London's Matrix Studios with punk producer Richard Mazda in May 1982. Mazda's previous work with ATV and The Fall had brought him to their attention. Later CD re-issues added the "Release the Bats/Blast Off!" single recorded at London's Townhouse Studio with Nick Launay in April 1981. A 2nd version of Dead Joe also appears on the re-issue. Nick Cave's then-girlfriend Anita Lane co-wrote with him on two songs, "Dead Joe" and "Kiss me Black."

The album was a somewhat transitional record for a variety of reasons. On 16 February 1982 in Melbourne, Tracy Pew (the band's bass player) was arrested for drunk driving. For this and several other outstanding offences he served 2.5 months in Pentridge Prison in Australia, and so Barry Adamson was drafted in on bass duties for several tracks.

The cover art is by Ed Roth and Dave Christensen and features Roth's Junk Yard Kid character driving a hot rod hybrid featuring equal parts Caddy and garbage can, literally. Roth Studios' best known character, Rat Fink, makes a prominent cameo atop quad headlights next to the Edsel grille.

In October 2010, Junkyard was listed at No. 17 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.[2]

Track listing[edit]

Original LP release[edit]

Side A[edit]

  1. "She's Hit" (Nick Cave/Tracy Pew) - 6:06
  2. "Dead Joe" (Anita Lane/Cave) - 3:08
  3. "The Dim Locator"(Rowland S. Howard) - 2:49
  4. "Hamlet (Pow Pow Pow)" (Cave/Howard) - 5:33
  5. "Several Sins" (Howard/Harry Howard) - 2:56

Side B[edit]

  1. "Big Jesus Trash Can" (Cave/Mick Harvey) - 3:00
  2. "Kiss Me Black" (Barry Adamson on bass) (Lane/Cave)- 2:48
  3. "6" Gold Blade"(Cave/Harvey) - 3:34
  4. "Kewpie Doll" (Cave/Harvey) - 3:32
  5. "Junkyard" (Cave/Howard) - 5:49

CD Reissue[edit]

  1. "Blast Off!" (Howard) - 2:17 (CD bonus track)
  2. "She's Hit" - 6:06
  3. "Dead Joe" - 3:08
  4. "The Dim Locator" - 2:49
  5. "Hamlet (Pow Pow Pow)" - 5:33
  6. "Several Sins" - 2:56
  7. "Big Jesus Trash Can" - 3:00
  8. "Kiss Me Black" (Barry Adamson on bass) - 2:48
  9. "6" Gold Blade" - 3:34
  10. "Kewpie Doll" - 3:32
  11. "Junkyard" - 5:49
  12. "Dead Joe" (2nd version) (Barry Adamson on bass) - 3:07 (CD bonus track)
  13. "Release the Bats" (Harvey/Cave) - 2:09 (CD bonus track)


The Birthday Party[3][edit]

Additional Personnel[edit]

Chart positions[edit]

Chart (1982) Peak
UK Albums Chart[4] 73
UK Independent Albums Chart[5] 1


External links[edit]