Hot for the Orient

Hot for the Orient
Studio album by Skyhooks
Released	1980
Recorded	AAV Studios, Melbourne
Genre	Glam rock
Label	Mushroom Records
Skyhooks chronology
The Best of Skyhooks (1979) Hot for the Orient (1980) Live in the 80's (1983)

Hot for the Orient is a 1980 studio album from Australian glam rock band Skyhooks. This was the only album the band recorded without newly departed vocalist Graeme "Shirley" Strachan, instead with replacement vocalist Tony Williams as lead singer. 'Hot for the Orient' was recorded at AAV Studios (previously Armstrong Studios) in South Melbourne.

The album produced three singles: "Over the Border", "This Town Is Boring" and "Keep the Junk in America". The respective B-sides were "Wrong Number Right Girl", "Is This Too Much or What", and "Rolls Royce in the Swimming Pool". Only "Over the Border", a political statement about the state of the police force in Queensland at the time, managed to chart in Australia, peaking at number 32.^[1]

"White Skin and Black Sheets", backed with "Bondage on the Boulevarde", was released as a single in Canada, also in 1980, and failed to chart.

The album failed to chart in the top ten in Australia, only to reach #32, unlike their previous four studio albums which were all top 10 in Australia, and the band disbanded soon after. However, the band reformed in 1983 with their classic line-up of their early-mid-1970s success and began touring once again. The album spawned two film clips for the singles; "Over the Border" and "Keep the Junk in America", both of which were performed on Countdown along with "This Town Is Boring".

A live performance at the Bombay Rock was simulcast on television show Nightmoves and radio station 3RRR to debut the album.^[2]

The album was re-printed on CD and re-released as part of the Skyhooks Roadcase boxset in 1996.

For the first time on a Skyhooks album, more than one track was sung by a member of the band other than the lead vocalist. "Cars, Bars and Girls" is sung by bass player Greg Macainsh, "My Heart Gets Blown to Bits" is sung by drummer Imants "Fredie" Strauks, and "Keep the Junk in America" features vocals from guitarist Bob "Bongo" Starkie.

Track listing

All tracks by Greg Macainsh.

Side One

1. "Bondage on the Boulevarde" - 3:57 (lead singer: Tony Williams)
2. "This Town is Boring" - 4:02 (lead singer: Tony Williams)
3. "White Skin and Black Sheets" - 3:46 (lead singer: Tony Williams)
4. "She's Okay But She's Not You" - 4:43 (lead singer: Tony Williams)
5. "Cars, Bars and Girls" - 2:58 (lead singer: Greg Macainsh)

Side Two

1. "Red Fingernails" - 4:07 (lead singer: Tony Williams)
2. "My Heart Gets Blown to Bits" - 2:49 (lead singer: Freddie Strauks)
3. "Fathers and Daughters" - 4:40 (lead singer: Tony Williams)
4. "No Inspiration" - 3:14 (lead singer: Tony Williams)
5. "Keep the Junk in America" - 4:51 (lead singer: Bob "Bongo" Starkie)

Bonus tracks on reissue

1. "Over the Border" - 3:09
2. "Wrong Number Right Girl" - 3:34

Personnel

• Tony Williams - lead vocals
• Bob Spencer - guitar, backing vocals
• Bob "Bongo" Starkie - guitar, backing and lead vocals
• Greg Macainsh - bass, backing and lead vocals
• Imants Alfred Strauks - drums, backing and lead vocals, percussion

References