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Eurogliders are a band formed in 1980 in Perth, Western Australia, which included Grace Knight on vocals, Bernie Lynch on guitar and vocals, and Amanda Vincent on keyboards. In 1984, Eurogliders released an Australian top ten album, This Island, which spawned their No. 2 hit single, “Heaven (Must Be There)“. “Heaven” also peaked at No. 21 on the United States BillboardMainstream Rock charts and appeared on the Hot 100.
This Island is the second studio album by Australian rock band Eurogliders, and was released in May 1984 on Columbia Records.
The second album by Australian Perth band Eurogliders remains their best, with an exceptional array of tuneful pop, although it shines more on the first half than the second.
As before, the vocals are shared by Grace Knight and songwriter Bernie Lynch, and Lynch again brings us songs where the verses are simply gradual build ups to some irresistible choruses that usually dominate the songs, benefiting from a nice balance of guitars and keyboards, as well as some imaginative vocal arrangements.
“Heaven” was the big hit at the time, and the chimes are a nice touch, but there are better songs which follow, such as the punchy “No Action”, charming “Never Say” and, especially, the disarming “Maybe Only I Dream”, while “Cold Comfort” finishes off Side One with effective moodiness.
The second half veers a bit towards mediocrity, no more so than the weakest song here, “Judy’s World”, but “Nothing To Say” is a winner with its call-and-response hook, while “Another Day In The Big World” is bright and bubbly, before the concluding “It’s The Way” really finishes things impressively with its relentless rhythmic chanting and peculiar crowd effects.
This Island is a record I bought at the time of its release, before I even knew the band had already released an album before, and I now know it back to front. It remains a favourite of mine, and is certainly one of a number of very impressive and enjoyable Australian pop albums which appeared during this period of the eighties.
Track listing
- Heaven (Must Be There) – 3:43
- Someone – 3:38
- No Action – 3:25
- Never Say – 3:35
- Maybe Only I Dream – 3:17
- Cold Comfort – 3:35
- Another Day in the Big World – 3:02
- Keep it Quiet – 2:52
- Nothing to Say – 3:42
- Judy’s World – 3:53
- Waiting for You – 4:25
- It’s the Way – 3:33
Eurogliders
- Crispin Akerman — guitar
- John Bennetts — drums, percussion, cymbals
- Ron François — synthesiser, bass guitar, backing vocals
- Grace Knight — vocals, tenor saxophone, keyboards
- Bernie Lynch — vocals, synthesiser
- Amanda Vincent — synthesiser, keyboards, glockenspiel
Additional musicians
- Mark Bhan — trumpet
- Mark Isham — trumpet
- Gary Kettel — percussion
- Sam McNally — bass synth on “No Action”
- Mark Moffatt — drums, drum programming
- Giselle Scales — violin
Notes
Released: May 7, 1984 (Australia)
Recorded: March, July–December 1983
Genre: Rock, new wave
Length: 42:58
Record-facts... 