Crowded House

by Crowded House

Overview

Split Enz needed to end, particularly since founding member Tim Finn found his little brother Neil's growth spurt uncomfortable, but also because Neil was no longer writing tunes that made sense within the context of a band that ran the gamut from art rock to eccentric new wave. Neil was now writing songs that were undeniably totems of popcraft, but infused with the spirit and introspection of a singer/songwriter. This formula would later become quite popular with artists from Matthew Sweet to the legions of basement auteurs in the pop underground, but this sensibility was relatively unheard of in the mid-'80s -- hence the birth of Crowded House. Neil retained Paul Hester from Enz, added Nick Seymour for the trio, and recorded one abandoned attempt at an album before joining with Mitchell Froom for the band's eponymous debut. At the time, Froom's clean production seemed refreshing, almost rootsy, compared to the synth pop dominating the mainstream and college scenes at the time, but in retrospect it seems a little overreaching and fussy, particularly in its addition of echo and layers of keyboards during particularly inappropriate moments. But Finn at his best overshadowed this fairly stilted production with his expert songcraft. As it happened, the record was blessed by good timing, and the majestic ballad "Don't Dream It's Over" became an international hit, while its follow-up, the breezy "Something So Strong," also turned into a hit. Both revealed different sides of Finn's talents, with the first being lyrical and the second being effervescent, but perhaps the truest testaments to his talents are "Mean to Me," "World Where You Live," and "Now We're Getting Somewhere," songs where the lyrics meld with the melody in a way that is distinctive, affecting, and personal. If the rest of the record doesn't reach those heights, it's still good, well-constructed pop, and these aforementioned highlights point the way to Temple of Low Men, where Crowded House (and particularly Finn) came into its own. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	05/30/2025
Label:	Capitol
UPC:	0602475914358

Tracks

1. Mean To Me
2. World Where You Live
3. Now We're Getting Somewhere
4. Don't Dream It's Over
5. Love You 'Til The Day I Die
6. Something So Strong
7. Hole In The River
8. Can't Carry On
9. Tombstone
10. That's What I Call Love

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Crowded House   Primary Artist
Joe Satriani   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Eddie Rayner   Keyboards
Neil Finn   Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Mandolin
Mitchell Froom   Keyboards
Nick Seymour   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Tim Pierce   Guitar
Jorge Bermudez   Percussion
Paul Hester   Drums,Vocals (Background)
Jerry Scheff   Bass
Jim Gilstrap   Vocals (Background)
Jim Keltner   Drums
Andy Milton   Vocals (Background)
Nigel Griggs   Bass
Noel Crombie   Drums,Vocals
The Heart Attack Horns   Horn

Technical Credits

Tchad Blake   Engineer
Eddie Rayner   Composer,Producer
Wally Traugott   Mastering
Dennis Kirk   Engineer
Jim Barton   Mixing,Engineer
Neil Finn   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Michael Frondelli   Mixing
Mitchell Froom   Composer,Producer
Nick Seymour   Design,Composer
Paul Hester   Composer
Steve Himelfarb   Assistant Engineer
John O'Brien   Art Direction
Neil Baldock   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Dennis Keeley   Photography
Larry Hirsh   Engineer
Craig Hooper   Composer
Glen Holguin   Assistant Engineer
Kaj Dahlstrom   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Jeremy Ansell   Mixing
The Mullanes   Producer
Jeremy Angel   Mixing Engineer