Australian Crawl – Boys Light Up

Australian Crawl Boys Light Up

Hi, my name is Helen and occasionally I’ll be presenting a brand new category of “Classic Australian Albums”. To start the ball rolling I’d like to present “Boys Light Up”, the debut album for Australian Crawl which was released in 1980 and went on to sell in excess of 280,000 copies. It reached a peak of No. 4 and was in the charts for a total of 101 weeks. In 1992 the album was re-released in CD format although I still have my vinyl copy in the garage!

My favourite song from this album was “Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama”, I’d love to hear your memories of this album in the comments below.

Tracks

  1. “My Coffee’s Gone Cold” (Simon Binks) – 3:29
  2. “Man Crazy” (James Reyne) – 3:39
  3. “Way I’ve Been” (Brad Robinson, James Robinson) – 2:17
  4. “Chinese Eyes” (James Reyne, Simon Binks) – 3:01
  5. “Downhearted” (Sean Higgins, Guy McDonough, William ‘Bill’ McDonough) – 3:09
  6. “Beautiful People” (James Reyne, Mark Hudson) – 2:56
  7. “Indisposed” (Brad Robinson, James Robinson, James Reyne, William ‘Bill’ McDonough) – 4:04
  8. “Walk My Way” (James Reyne, Brad Robinson)- 2:44
  9. “The Boys Light Up” (James Reyne) – 4:41
  10. “Boot Hill” (James Reyne, Simon Binks) – 2:36
  11. “Red Guitar” (Simon Binks) – 3:19
  12. “Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama” (James Reyne, David Briggs) – 2:30

General Information

Released April, 1980
Recorded August, 1979 – February, 1980
Genre Pop/Rock
Length 38:25
Label EMI
Producer David Briggs

18 Comments

  1. Australian Crawl on November 16, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    […] Boys Light Up – 1980 […]

  2. Richard on March 20, 2009 at 2:31 am

    I’ve bought this album three times now!
    No-one ever gives it back!

  3. Most popular posts from Nov 2008 on April 11, 2009 at 3:02 pm

    […] Australian Crawl – Boys Light Up Posted on Sunday, November 16th, 2008 in Albums – Comments: (1) Hi, my name is Helen and each week from now on I’ll be presenting a brand new category of “Classic Australian Albums”. To start the ball rolling I’d like to present “Boys Light Up”, the debut album for Australian Crawl which was released in 1980 and went on to sell in excess of 280,000 copies. It reached a peak of No. 4 and was in the charts for a total of 101 weeks. […]

  4. crow on July 11, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    Helien
    Thanks so mouch. Lake Side is my favorit song. I’v been listening since 83 but my casettes already starting going bad.

  5. Glenda on May 15, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    who is the girl on the cover of Australian crawls the boys light up album

    • Warren J. on February 12, 2012 at 10:49 am

      Olwyn New is the model on that album. A good friend of mine.

  6. James G on November 15, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    “The Boys Light Up’ was a good debut for Australian Crawl, but (in my opinion) was completely surpassed by “Sirocco” – the album’s sales also show this to be true.

    • David Briggs on October 1, 2011 at 4:01 am

      James G ..now thats a crock ..how many hit singles did sirocco deliver..I know that the boys light up delivered 4 and paid for EMI’s artist development for the next 5 years..your opinion is mis-guided on a creative and commercial perspective..I was there
      ..don’t re-write history..your opinion is worth diddley..

      • Mark Gibson on October 1, 2011 at 9:13 am

        A little manners please David.
        While I am tickled that such an esteemed Aussie Muso such as yourself would leave comments on my humble site, I’d like to remind you of your manners.
        James expressed a valid opinion, not a statement of fact. He is more than welcome to his opinion without being attacked. 🙂

        • Andy on January 4, 2018 at 8:12 pm

          FACT – Sirocco spent eight months in the Top 20[2] and was their most successful album.[5] 1981 Australian End of Year Album Charts has Sirocco at #2 behind Double Fantasy by John Lennon and ahead of AC/DC’s Back in Black making it the best charting album by an Australian act

  7. alfiesaden on January 4, 2012 at 10:02 pm

    hello – is it just me !! can any one explain why when i type in the bing browser “www.australianmusichistory.com” i get a different site yet whe i type it in google its ok? could this be a bug in my system or is any one else having same probs ?
    sadensy

  8. Stuart Kast on February 15, 2012 at 8:31 pm

    Their best album and one of the first album’s I bought. It’s a classic with no fillers. I even had the poster from the local record store. My favourite song is Beautiful People. The first concert I ever saw was at Dapto Showground with Australian Crawl, Charlie Daniels band and Little River Band, but I was really only there to see Oz Crawl. I agree with Briggsy.

  9. […] Australian Crawl – Boys Light Up […]

  10. Phil on May 6, 2015 at 6:08 pm

    Great to see James Reyne back on the circuit. That iconic voice can still send a shiver down your back. I have a vinyl copy of “The Boys Light Up” and still play it now and again although my favourite number is “Lakeside”. Saw James perform in 2014 in Melbourne and recommend anyone to go see him. Well worth a visit.
    Message for Glenda who wanted to know the girl on the front cover of the album – it is not listed but you may be able to find out if you contact Graeme Webber at Returb Studios (if it still exists) as the outer design concept and photography was completed by him or contact Wheatley Bros. Entertainment on (03) 6995366. 88 Richardson Street Albert Park, Vic. This information is on the inner sleeve – hope it helps.

  11. […] Australian Crawl – Boys Light Up Posted on Sunday, November 16th, 2008 in Albums – Comments: (1) Hi, my name is Helen and each week from now on I’ll be presenting a brand new category of “Classic Australian Albums”. To start the ball rolling I’d like to present “Boys Light Up”, the debut album for Australian Crawl which was released in 1980 and went on to sell in excess of 280,000 copies. It reached a peak of No. 4 and was in the charts for a total of 101 weeks. […]

  12. Australian Crawl - Australian Music History on July 31, 2019 at 12:59 pm

    […] Boys Light Up – 1980 […]

  13. marco on August 8, 2019 at 9:56 pm

    I am still living these memories with my tribute band called Reckless. The songs are timeless with very clever and quirky lyrics love it.

  14. Tony Quinn on August 10, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    I totally agree Helen, one of the best debut Aussie Albums ever and one of the most underrated ballads in Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama . Up there with The Sports’ Black Stockings For Chelsea.

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