| G Stands For Go-Betweens: The Go-Betweens Anthology – Volume 2, 1985 -1989
Includes 4 Albums Across 5 LPs, 5 CDs, and 112-page Book Out December 6, 2019 — Pre-order HERE |
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| Photo credit: Steve Double
Domino is honored to announce the second installment of the anthology series documenting The Go-Betweens, one of the most beloved and influential Australian groups of all time. G Stands For Go-Betweens: The Go-Betweens Anthology – Volume 2 will be released on December 6, 2019. It extensively documents the band’s creative output from 1985-1989, with an ambitious box containing five vinyl LPs, five CDs, and an extensive 112-page book. The book features a trove of archival photos and extensive historical liner notes from founding member Robert Forster, along with additional pieces from guest essayists, fans and contemporaries. Watch classic videos for “Spring Rain” and “Streets Of Your Town” The box set LPs include the first vinyl re-pressings in 30 years of The Go-Betweens’ studio albums, Liberty Belle And The Black Diamond Express, Tallulah, and 16 Lovers Lane, all re-mastered from the original analog tapes; plus an eighteen-song double LP of the band performing live at London’s legendary Town & Country Club on May 10th, 1987, on the cusp of Tallulah’s release. Additionally, the set comes with five CDs of The Go-Betweens’ B-sides, radio sessions, and rare, hard-to-find, unreleased demos—including a collection of 28 demos that McLennan and Forster recorded with old ally Tony Cohen. These were intended for what was supposed to be the group’s seventh album before their split at the end of the eighties, and though some of these songs would materialize on solo albums soon after, this will mark the first official release for many of these rare gems. For a complete tracklist and in-depth information: http://dominorecordco.com/gobetweens/ Pre-order this very special limited-edition release: Dom Mart G Stands For Go-Betweens Volume 2 is a deluxe limited package, which will only be pressed once. The first 400 orders will get a randomly selected book from the late Grant McLennan’s personal literary collection. Some of these books, collected by Grant through his lifetime, will have been signed and dated upon purchase. |
| The Go-Betweens were formed by Robert Forster and Grant McLennan in Brisbane, Australia in 1978 while studying at the University of Queensland. Augmented by various drummers and guests, they recorded a series of acclaimsingles and eventually were joined by drummer Lindy Morrison. After making a pair of seminal albums for Rough Trade (Send Me A Lullaby & Before Hollywood), the trio became a quartet, adding Robert Vickers on bass.
G Stands For Go-Betweens Volume 2 picks up the story from there, documenting the group’s middle period. After a brief dalliance with Sire Records on Spring Hill Fair, the band regrouped and secured a new deal with Beggars Banquet in the UK. Liberty Belle And The Black Diamond Express displays the band rising to challenge with a renewed swagger, and Forster and McLennan penning some of their finest tunes. Wanting to capitalize on the new momentum, the group stretched out literally and figuratively with the timely Tallulah, which saw them add multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Amanda Brown. Returning home to Australia, The Go-Betweens made what was to be the swansong for the first phase of the group, the graceful and gorgeous 16 Lovers Lane. Surely ours is the only parallel universe where “Streets Of Your Town”, the lead single from the album, wasn’t a worldwide smash. Regardless, the success of the album did see the band making their greatest commercial in-roads, including in America, where the album saw its release through Capitol Records. The campaign saw the band undertake a relentless touring schedule in support of the album, including multiple tours with R.E.M. The band, exhausted and fractured, parted ways at the end of 1989. Forster and McLennan went on to extensive solo careers before reuniting in 2000 and making three more Go-Betweens albums together (to be documented in G Stands For Go-Betweens Volume 3), including the ARIA-winning finalé, Oceans Apart. Sadly, the reunion came to a sudden end when McLennan passed away on May 6th, 2006 from a heart attack, and The Go-Betweens disbanded for good. In the time since the release of the last box set, Forster wrote Grant & I, a moving memoir that explores both their musical partnership and their lasting friendship. The Weekend Australia described it it as a “beautifully documented account… The heart of Forster’s story is deeper and more poetically drawn than simple band autobiography, however. It’s the unveiling of a friendship, a partnership, even a love affair, of sorts, that ended in tragic circumstances.” Both Mojo and Uncut magazines honored Grant & I as their book of the year. In addition, 2017 saw the cinematic release of Right Here, filmmaker Kriv Stenders’ documentary about the group. The Guardian gave Right Here four stars, opining, “Stenders has made an emotional, rolling thunder of a film, one this extraordinary band deserves.” Lastly, Forster released his seventh solo album, Inferno, this year, to wide acclaim and his greatest solo chart success this century. He will be touring throughout the year in support of Inferno, including his first US tour dates since 2008. Robert Forster Tour Dates It would be hard to overstate the shadows cast across the musical landscape of the last three decades by The Go-Betweens’ self-ascribed “striped sunlight sound”. The duo of McLennan and Forster ranks alongside the best of the best songwriting partnerships, influencing younger musicians both expected (such as Belle & Sebastian, who reference the group on “Shoot The Sexual Athlete”) and unexpected (as with the late, great Jay Reatard’s fiery cover of “Don’t Let Him Come Back”, and Courtney Barnett). This new anthology is sure to provide inspiration to a new generation of musicians while providing a very special personal experience for the existing fans. The Go-Betweens Online: |
