Moving Pictures – Days of Innocence
Moving Pictures is one of my all time favourite bands. I remember seeing them, probably in 1981/82 at the Sylvania Hotel and I was just blown away. It was one of the most memorable nights of my young life, I was 19/20. Of course after seeing them live I just had to buy their debut album, “Days of Innocence”. I can remember asking my mum to buy if for me for Easter instead of an Easter egg. It was better than chocolate… well almost. When I first got the album I loved “Bustin’ loose” but once I got to know all of the songs, off by heart, it was “What about me” that stuck in my mind the most and of course lead the band to no.1 in 1982. One of the most exciting things for me, later in life, was when my husband was working with James Blundell and I met two of James’ band members, Charlie Cole and Ian Lees… wow, two of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet and they were from Moving Pictures. Life’s alright you know. So here’s a track from the album. No not “What about me”. I think that thanks to Moving Pictures and Shannon Noll it has had its fair share of airplay. I’d like to play “Bustin’ Loose” for you. Please enjoy… I know I did when I heard it again for the first time in years.
Tracks
1. Nothing to Do
2. The Angel and the Madman – Moving Pictures, Cole, Charlie
3. Sweet Cherie
4. Round Again
5. Wings
6. What About Me? – Moving Pictures, Frost, Garry
7. So Tired
8. Joni and Romeo
9. Bustin’ Loose
10. Street Heart
11. Winners – Moving Pictures, Frost, Garry
12. Back to the Streets
13. Where They Belong – Moving Pictures, Frost, Garry
14. Never – Moving Pictures, Gore, M.
15. Back to the Blues and Booze
16. Saturday Love
17. Spies
18. Pleasure and Pain
19. Sisters of Mercy
General Information
Released : 1981 (Australia), 1982 (USA)
Recorded : ?
Genre : Rock
I remember seeing Moving Pictures for the first time supporting Midnight Oil at the Royal Antler Hotel. Alex Smith saw me in the audience lapping up the music and handed me a beer as he walked off the stage after finishing his set. Apart from having great music, was a way to win a fan for life. I would have been about 18 or 19 when I first saw them. I now feel compelled to go and buy the Days of Innocence album on vinyl (of course). I enjoyed your article Helen
I was 11 years old when this song was a smash hit. I was so jealous of the 18/19 year old kids like Henry who were just old enough to really enjoy the decade and the gigs. We had a cool music teacher who got our class to sing this song at assembly. Such an amazing decade for both Australian music as well as an impressionable music addict teenager like me. Bands like Moving Pictures who were real musicians and who earned their cred in the pub scenes just seem non-existant these days. Such an amazing era for music. I miss the 80s 🙁 Catherine
what has happened to them since then? can’t seem to find any information
Still going strong, covid has put a hold on things. Saw 2 of their gigs 2 nights in a row earlier this year, they have a new single ready to release, love em
What About Me became an iconic song for many as it did me also. I first heard the song in the early 80’s and immediately attached it to my teenage search for identity. Had numerous cassette singles of it but never the album. The song resurfaced again in the US in 1987 and once again searched for the album. It was released for 1 single day and then recalled because the record company folded (so the story was told to me, so if wrong I appologize). So the search was on. I finally found Days of Innocence in an old record store in Detroit, Michigan (I live in Indiana, so I searched and searched) oddly named Desireable Discs. Yes i did desire this disc! It was a promotional Album not for resale but it became mine for $3.99. I had $150.00 in my pocket and was willing to pay that and more for the album. Brand new wrapped in plastic and still in awesome condition. I later found it on CD out of Canada and still enjoy it often. Would love to find and still searching for the album Matinee. A song like What About Me has kept me a humble man and the reason I write and perform songs today (at a local level). Thx guys for the memories and wish I would have got to meet you.
I remember we supported these guys at The Vicar of Wakefield. They were great live and a great bunch of blokes too. I even got a hands on lesson in how to get the best from the PA by their very friendly and helpful FOH guy. I can’t remember his name unfortunately.
Hi Mo, I saw them for the first time at the Vicar of Wakefield as well. The night I saw them there was a power failure and they came on late. They ended up playing a long gig to make up for it. It was around early 81 or so. Then I saw them in 1982 in Brisbane in a pub there. My next catch up with them was at a venue in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. It was the first night of their Australia tour in around 2005 maybe. Alex Smith had not changed at all. It was a bit of a sad night as Katoomba made a terrible showing and only 8 people showed up but the guys were very gracious. Alex came out and joined my friend and I for a drink and chatted with us for a couple of hours after the gig. He said he was living in England at that time and was working with mentally disabled children. It was some kind of music program he was involved in. He signed the covers of both vinyl albums that I brought along. It was only a year or so later that I saw they toured with the Countdown Spectacular and the audience was a little larger. I treasure my autographed albums. Such lovely guys and very down to earth. I remember he was standing on stage in that room with that tiny audience and he said ‘Back in the day when I was a rock god’ and I yelled out ‘You still are!’. He looked down at me (I was right at the front sitting nearly under him) gave me a rather wry smile and said ‘Thank you’. Nice memories!
Just had a think and it was early 82 at the Vicar. Must have been. Such a long time ago ….
I was in the audience the night they played at the Vicar. The power went out and they came on late. Played for longer as a result. I saw the boys years later as they started a national tour and sat with Alex having a chat and he raised the Vicar and the power blackout. Fun times!
Nice write up Helen. I too have been a massive fan since i was a kid. I saw their final 3 shows at the Espy in Melbourne way back then. And was lucky enough to see them last August in Melbourne and again in Sydney a week later. Here’s the link to Bustin’ Loose in Melbourne on 23 August.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAYhk9Q4FPI
And here are my photos from the gig at The Concourse in Sydney on the 30th of August.. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.479947128767796.1073741849.140708176025028&type=3
Enjoy! And remember… always Bust Loose!!
cheers
james
Luv Luv Luv Moving Pictures.
One of the Best Aussie bands Ever. Saw them countless times and they were even Better Live.
I loved Moving Pictures back in the 80’s and still do.
My greatest wish at 15 was to see them live and I finally did at Sandstone Point about 4 years ago. A very long wait but they certainly didn’t disappoint. Alex Smith has such a fantastic voice.
Bustin’ Loose, What About Me, Joni and the Romeo, Never. All amazings songs.
Thank you for ypur post Helen.
I loved Moving Pictures back in the 80’s and still do.
My greatest wish at 15 was to see them live and I finally did at Sandstone Point about 4 years ago. A very long wait but they certainly didn’t disappoint. Alex Smith has such a fantastic voice. Alex also did ‘Born To Run’ at the Sandstone Point concert and it was awesome. The crowd loved it.
Bustin’ Loose, What About Me, Joni and the Romeo, Never. All amazings songs. I have both the albums on vinyl. I also love Alex’s single ‘This Time Tomorrow’.
Thank you for your post Helen.
Fantastic review.
I used to try and see this band every time they played in Melbourne in the early 80’s.
They were an awesome band to see live.
Days of Innocence is one of my all time favourite albums, and busting loose is my favourite track on it, (partly because I used to have a Sandman – panel van at the time, lol).
That said – all the tracks are so beautifully produced, and performed, that I feel they still stand up today, and probably don’t get the recognition that they deserve. I love having it blasting away even while I drive today.
Now here is a very scary, and confronting thought – If I am correct, the girl on the album cover was 12 at the time, and if correct – she would be celebrating her 50th birthday this year 2020!!!
Happy 50th birthday to you, and thank you to Moving Pictures for making my informative years – good ones.
I will never forget this album, i bought in 1982 when i was 15, and to top it off i bought the moving pictures “the ultimate collection cd” appx. 15 years ago, and i still love this album, and another of there songs which did okay was “winners” which i think was in the “street hero” movie as a soundtrack. Top album
So interesting to read all of the comments. I played this for my wife yesterday, she had never heard it before, and she was transfixed by it. There area some real nuggets from the early 80’s. This song was frequently played during rollerskating nights at the local Saint’s Roller Rink in Bloomington, MN.