I had a good time listening, and you had a good time reading (presumably) yesterday's post. So today, I'm just going to jump headlong into the Divinyls 1985 follow-up, What A Life!
Plagued by issues, recording their second studio album was no easy task. After their tour, the group returend to Australia, and began work on the recordings. However, after laying down three tracks with prior producer, Mark Opitz, Amphlett and McEntee were unhappy with the final results. Out of frustration, they returned to the road, and while out, continued to write. During this time, they would also replace drummer Richard Harvey with J.J. Harris.
After a year, they would return to the studio, this time with founding member of Art of Noise, Gary Langan, as producer, to try again. While they would lay down further tracks, once again, a full album failed to be completed. Finally, after two years of recording, What Life! would be released.
The band would head to Los Angelos, where they would meet with producer Mike Chapman. Chapman would return with them to Australia, but in doing so, only record two additional songs with them.
What's interesting to me, is that the final two songs, recorded with Chapman, Sleeping Beauty, and Pleasure and Pain, are actually my two favorites from the album. In fact, they're what initially drew me to the 80's era of Divinyls. I'm also quite the fan of Dear Diary, the album's closing track.
As a whole, the songs don't flow as smoothly as their debut. In retrospect, or rather knowing the history of the recording, it sounds like too many different creative inputs. It could also just simply be a product of being forced to completion. There's a mixture of commercial friendly, sprinkled with punk, and dabbled with synthpop. The end result isn't unenjoyable, it's just all over the place.
While What A Life! was highly successful in Australia, reaching number four, it didn't bring with it the international success the band needed. Their label, Chrysalis, would deem it a failure. By 1986, the group had been reduced to just Amphlett and McEntee, and they were on their last legs. Their label had already made it clear that their next album, 1988's Temperamental would be a "make-or-break" record. With the presure on, would the band deliver? Well, if you read yesterday's post, you know the answer to that question. Either way, let's (re)find out tomorrow!
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THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
May 5, 1984
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