A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.

A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. is the second studio album by Australian rock band Spy vs Spy, produced by Leszek Karski (Boys Next Door, Midnight Oil, Nauts)[1][2][3] and released through WEA on 8 December 1986.

A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.
Studio album by
v. Spy v. Spy
Released8 December 1986
RecordedAugust/September 1986
Alberts Studios, Sydney
Genrerock
Length43:39
LabelWEA
ProducerLeszek Karski
V. Spy v. Spy chronology
Harry's Reasons
(1986)		 A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.
(1986)		 Xenophobia
(1988)
Singles from A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.
  1. "Don't Tear It Down"
    Released: 8 December 1986
  2. "Sallie-Anne"
    Released: 30 March 1987
  3. "Credit Cards"
    Released: 1987

The title is an abbreviation of 'Adults Only Modified Television Version' which used to appear at the bottom of late night movies in Australia at the time.[1] The album peaked at No. 12 on the Kent Music Report and went gold.[1][4] For this album Spy vs Spy recorded as v. Spy v. Spy, and the line-up was the original trio Craig Bloxom on bass guitar/lead vocals, Cliff Grigg on drums/percussion and Mike Weiley on lead guitar/vocals.[1][5]

The album provided three singles – "Don't Tear it Down" inspired by the Department of Main Roads seeking to demolish the band's Darling Street squat,[6] "Sallie-Anne'" about murdered prostitute/whistleblower Sallie-Anne Huckstepp and "Credit Cards" a commentary on spiralling debt and consumerism.[7] "Don't Tear It Down" was the band's most successful single, peaking at No. 31 on the Kent Music Report of the Australian singles charts[4] in February 1987, it stayed in the charts for 20 weeks and went platinum.[1][4]

Background

Spy vs Spy had formed in 1981 in Sydney as a ska/pub rock band.[1] Their line-up was the trio Craig Bloxom on bass guitar/lead vocals, Cliff Grigg on drums/percussion and Mike Weiley on lead guitar/vocals.[1][5] They became known for tackling political issues including racism, homelessness and contemporary drug culture.[1][7] By 1984 they were using the name v. Spy v. Spy to avoid legal problems with Mad magazine.[1][7] They were signed to Midnight Oil's label Powderworks and managed by Oils manager, Gary Morris.[1][7] Their first full-length album Harry's Reasons was released in March 1986 and produced by Leszek Karski.[1][2]

Spy vs Spy switched labels to WEA and had their highest charting success in February 1987 with their single "Don't Tear it Down" on the Australian singles chart and the associated album A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. which peaked at No. 12 on the Australian albums chart.[4] The title is an abbreviation of 'Adults Only Modified Television Version' which used to appear at the bottom of late night movies in Australia at the time.[1] This album, produced by Karski again,[2] provided three singles – "Don't Tear It Down" inspired by the Department of Main Roads seeking to demolish the band's Darling Street squat,[6] "Sallie-Anne'" about murdered prostitute/whistleblower Sallie-Anne Huckstepp and "Credit Cards" a commentary on spiralling debt and consumerism.[7] Aside from managing, Morris (as G Vasicek) was also co-writer for many of their tracks.[8] Follow-up album, Xenophobia (Why?), was written and recorded in just six weeks, released in March 1988 it was produced by Karski[2] and Guy Gray.[1][5]

Track listing

All tracks written by Craig Bloxom, Michael Weiley, Cliff Grigg and G Vasicek (aka Gary Morris).[8]

No.TitleLength
1."Don't Tear it Down"4:05
2."Credit Cards"4:40
3."Mission Man"4:07
4."Pockets of Pride"4:00
5."Go to Work"5:12
6."Sallie-Anne"5:08
7."Snowblind"4:04
8."Use your Head"4:27
9."Peace and Quiet"3:11
10."Take Me Away"4:45

Personnel

v. Spy v. Spy members

  • Craig Bloxom – bass guitar, vocals
  • Cliff Grigg – drums, percussion
  • Michael Weiley – lead guitar

Recording details

  • Producer – Leszek Karski
  • Engineer – David Hemming
  • Mixer – Hemming, Karski
  • Studio – Alberts Studio, Sydney

Chart performance
Country Provider(s) Peak position[4]
Australia ARIA 12

Release history
Country Date Label Format Catalogue #
Australia December 1986 WEA LP #254458-1
Australia 1987 WEA CD #254458-2

References
  1. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'v. Spy v. Spy'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  2. Holmgren, Magnus. "Les Karski". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  3. "Leszek Karski". Music Producer Database. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  5. Holmgren, Magnus; Cuffe, Mark. "Spy v Spy". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  6. "Spy v Spy" (PDF). The Glebe Society Inc. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
  7. Nimmervoll, Ed. "Spy v Spy". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 21 February 2001. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  8. "Australasian Performing Right Association". APRA. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 14 November 2008. NOTE: Requires user to input track title e.g. DONT TEAR IT DOWN
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