Chemistry (Mondo Rock album)

Chemistry is the second studio album by Australian rock band Mondo Rock, produced by Mark Moffatt, and released in July 1981.[1] It was released in the US in January 1982 on Atlantic Records.[2] The album was certified 2× Platinum in Australia.[3]

Chemistry
Original 1981 cover
Studio album by
Mondo Rock
Released10 July 1981
Recorded1980
StudioAAV Studios, Melbourne/Festival Records, Sydney
GenreRock
Length61:56
LabelAvenue Records, Atlantic
ProducerMark Moffatt
Mondo Rock chronology
Primal Park
(1979)		 Chemistry
(1981)		 Nuovo Mondo
(1982)
Singles from Chemistry
  1. "State of the Heart"
    Released: October 1980
  2. "Cool World"
    Released: March 1981
  3. "Chemistry"
    Released: July 1981
  4. "Summer of '81"
    Released: October 1981

At the 1981 Countdown Australian Music Awards the album won Best Australian Album.[4]

In 2014, the album was remastered and reissued with two bonus tracks, previously unreleased demos and came with a second disc of live tracks.

Reception

On its US release, Billboard described it as "state of the art rock that can be played on a variety of formats".[1] In 2014, Cream Magazine described it as "one of the better albums of its year of release".[5]

Chart performance and singles

Chemistry peaked at number 3 in Australia during a 33-week run beginning in July 1981.[6] It was released through the Avenue Records label. State Of The Heart first charted on November 17, 1980, peaked at 6th position and stayed in the charts for 26 weeks. Mondo Rock released the single "Cool World" in 1981. It was released through the Avenue Records label. Cool World first charted on April 13, 1981, peaked at 8th position and stayed in the charts for 20 weeks. Mondo Rock released the single "Summer Of '81" in 1981. "Summer Of '81" first charted on November 16, 1981, peaked at 31st position and stayed in the charts for 17 weeks. Their second album, Chemistry was issued in July 1981, which peaked at No. 2 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. Mondo Rock reached the top 10 on the related Kent Music Report Singles Chart with "State of the Heart" (October 1980) and "Cool World" (April 1981).

2014 live shows

In 2014 the band reformed to play the album live on its 331⁄3 anniversary.[6][7]

Track listing
Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Chemistry"Eric McCusker, Paul Christie4:20
2."Trash"Ross Wilson, Simon Gyllies3:13
3."The Popular View"Eric McCusker3:36
4."State of the Heart"Eric McCusker4:14
5."Moves"Eric McCusker3:44
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Step Up, Step Out"Eric McCusker3:23
2."Summer of '81"Eric McCusker3:50
3."Cool World"Ross Wilson3:30
4."Mondo Sexo"Ross Wilson2:57
5."We're No Angels"Ross Wilson5:28

Bonus tracks (Single B-sides)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Mona Lisa"Eric McCusker3:54
12."Back On The Outside"Eric McCusker, Ross Wilson2:31

Previously unreleased demos
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Step Up, Step Out"Eric McCusker4:03
14."Photographica"Eric McCusker3:27
15."We're No Angels"Ross Wilson5:37
16."The Popular View"Eric McCusker3:47

Disc 2 (Live)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Chemistry (Live)"Eric McCusker, Paul Christie5:18
2."Summer Of '81 (Live)"Eric McCusker4:36
3."Slice Of Life (Live)"Eric McCusker3:56
4."Tied Up In Knots (Live)"Eric McCusker4:49
5."Modified TV Version (Live)"Eric McCusker3:54
6."Crimes Of Passion (Live)"Eric McCusker, Ross Wilson5:19
7."It's Money That I Love (Live)"Randy Newman3:48
8."The Bop Is Back (Live)"Ross Wilson4:30
9."Getting Even (Live)"Eric McCusker4:13
10."Mondo Sexo (Live)"Ross Wilson3:11
11."Louie Louie/Do The Boomerang (Live)"Junior Walker, Richard Berry10:00
12."Living In The Land Of Oz (Live)"Ross Wilson4:56
13."Searching For My Baby (Live)"Ross Wilson4:37

Note

  • Compared to the LP version, the CD has switched "side A" and "side B" in its track order.

Personnel

Mondo Rock:

  • Ross Wilson – vocals
  • Eric McCusker – guitar, backing vocals
  • James Black – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Paul Christie – bass, backing vocals
  • John James Hackett – drums (on "We're No Angels" only)

According to the original liner notes, "these quasi-members also played drums"

  • Andrew Buchanan (tracks 3, 8, 12)
  • Gil Matthews (tracks 4, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16)
  • Graham "Buzz" Bidstrup (1, 2, 5, 6, 7)

On the live tracks on CD 2, the drummers are:

  • John James Hackett (1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 13)
  • Gil Matthews (tracks 5–11)

Production team:
Original album (except "State Of The Heart") + "Back On The Outside"

  • Producer, Engineer – Mark Moffatt
  • Engineers – Jim Barton, Ross Cockle, Scott Hemming

"State Of The Heart" + "Mona Lisa"

  • Producer, Engineer – Ern Rose
  • Re-mix Engineer ("State Of The Heart") – Gil Matthews

Previously Unreleased Demos

  • Engineer, Mixed by – Gil Matthews

Live tracks

  • Producer – Jim Barton and Mondo Rock
  • Engineers – Jim Barton, Keith Walker

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1981/82) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 3

Year-end charts
Chart (1981) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 24

References
  1. "Billboard's Top Album Picks: Mondo Rock Chemistry", Billboard, January 30, 1982, p. 74. Retrieved October 12, 2016
  2. "Aussie Visit", Billboard, January 16, 1982, p. 47. Retrieved October 12, 2016
  3. "LANDMARKS". Mark Moffatt. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  4. "Australian Music Awards". Ron Jeff. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  5. "Mondo Rock still rock it live". Cream Magazine. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  6. "Mondo Rock reunite for first tour in 24 years", Sydney Morning Herald, February 19, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2016
  7. O'Brien, John (2014) "Review: Mondo Rock, Eatons Hill Hotel, June 20, 2014", news.com.au, June 21, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2016
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 205. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 433. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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