The greatest pop group of the universe

[Thomas Eckhardt]

> I remember their "Right Here" from 1987, but must admit that most of their
> material escaped me. Can you provide a list of lps/cds?
>
> Otto
>

A good place to start would be the Beggars Banquet compilation "The
Go-Betweens 1978-1990", especially because you will find some B-sides here
that are at least as strong as the singles themselves. Perhaps, as this CD
will probably not be available anymore, the recently released "Bellavista
Terrace" compilation does a similarly good job. Personally, I would recommend
to start with "Tallulah" and then go back to the not quite as accessible but
even better "Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express" (my personal
favourite). If you like what you hear on those records you will want to listen
to the rest of their stuff anyway. This would be: "Send Me a Lullabye" from
1981, "Before Hollywood" from 1982 (their other perfect record, with the
haunting "Cattle and cane"), "Spring Hill Fair" from 1984 (a little uneven and
generally gloomier than most of their other stuff, but also more raw and
direct), "16 Lovers Lane" from 1989. Their new CD "The Friends of Rachel
Worth" is also very good. I might add that the Go-Betweens' first two singles
are available only on "78 'til 79 the lost album" now. This CD mainly consists
of bedroom recordings which are of interest for diehard fans like me only, I
assume. Every one of the four officially released songs, though, is worth the
price of admission alone.

Thomas, spreading the Gospel


"I just want some affection/
Wish I heard voices/
Wish I was a telephone"

The Go-Betweens, "Karen"