Listening (song)

"Listening" is the debut single from Australian pop group Pseudo Echo. The song was released in November 1983 as the lead single from their debut studio album, Autumnal Park (1984). The song peaked at number 4 on the Australian Kent Music Report. Following the international success of "Funky Town", a remixed version of "Listening" was released in 1987 for the movie "North Shore" starring Nia Peeples.

"Listening"
Single by Pseudo Echo
from the album Autumnal Park
ReleasedNovember 1983
Format7" single
StudioStudios 301, Sydney
GenrePop, Synth-pop
Length3:01
LabelEMI Music
Songwriter(s)Brian Canham and Tony Lugton
Producer(s)Peter Dawkins
Pseudo Echo singles chronology
"Listening"
(1983)		 "A Beat for You"
(1984)

Background and release

Pseudo Echo were formed in Melbourne in 1982 and were performing around Melbourne when music journalist Molly Meldrum attended one of their shows at Melbourne’s ‘Jump Club’. Meldrum was impressed, spoke highly of the group and convinced them to perform on the music TV show Countdown where they performed a demo version of "Listening" on 28 June 1983.[1][2] While it wasn't unusual for Meldrum to speak in glowing terms about an up-and-coming artist, Pseudo Echo were the first unsigned artist to perform live on the show.

Meldrum's introduction was: "We're about to present a group, a local group, who have got no record contract. We saw them at a gig. I think they have loads of potential, so all you record companies out there, have a look at them, and the public, you judge for yourselves. We think they're pretty good. A young group, they go under the name of Pseudo Echo. Here they are with "Listening". Go boys!"[3]

Shortly after, Pseudo Echo were signed by with EMI Music and producer Peter Dawkins (who had worked with Australian Crawl, Dragon) was at the helm at the studio to re-record "Listening". The single made an immediate impact upon its release in November 1983.[4]

Track listing

7": EMI / EMI-1158 (Australia)
Side one
  1. "Listening" - 3:01
Side two
  1. "In Their Time" - 5:40

7": EMI / EMI-5512 (UK)
Side one
  1. "Listening"
Side two
  1. "From the Shore"

1987 12": RCA / 6619-1-RD (US)
Side one
  1. "Listening (Dancing Koala Bear Mix)" - 4:20
  2. "Listening (7" Edit)" - 3:12
Side two
  1. "Lonely Without You" - 4:34
  2. "Listening (Instrumental)" - 3:06

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1983/84) Peak
position
Australian Kent Music Report [5] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] 37

Year-end charts
Chart (1984) Peak
position
Australian Kent Music Report [7] 39

References
  1. "An interview with Brian Canham by Jason". Countdown Memories. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  2. Warner, Dave (June 2006). Countdown: The Wonder Years 1974–1987. Sydney, NSW: ABC Books (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). pp. 61, 78. ISBN 0-7333-1401-5.
  3. Meldrum, Ian; Jenkins, Jeff (2014). The never, um, ever ending story: life, countdown and everything in between. Farnham, John (preface); Gudinski, Michael (introduction); Masterson, Lawrie (afterword). Crows Nest NSW Allen & Unwin. p. 359. ISBN 978-1-76011-205-9.
  4. "Listening For An Echo – A Pseudo Echo". Retro Universe. 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: 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.
  6. "Charts.nz – Pseudo Echo – Listening". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: 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.
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