Mars Needs Guitars!

Mars Needs Guitars! is Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus' second album, released in 1985.[2] The title is a reference to the 1967 science fiction film, Mars Needs Women. Singles from the album were "Bittersweet" (1985) (reached #10 on Melbourne record charts),[3] "Like Wow – Wipeout" (1985, #28[3]), "Death Defying" (1986) and "Poison Pen" (1986). Mars Needs Guitars! reached No. 140 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart in 1986.

Mars Needs Guitars!
Studio album by
Hoodoo Gurus
Released 8 March 1985
12 August 1985
7 July 1987
22 February 2005
Recorded1984
GenreRock
Length33:35
Label Big Time
Chrysalis
Elektra
EMI
ProducerCharles Fisher, Hoodoo Gurus
Hoodoo Gurus chronology
Stoneage Romeos
(1984)		 Mars Needs Guitars!
(1985)		 Blow Your Cool!
(1987)
Singles from Mars Needs Guitars!
  1. "Bittersweet"
    Released: June 1985
  2. "Like Wow – Wipeout"
    Released: October 1985
  3. "Death Defying"
    Released: February 1986
  4. "Poison Pen"
    Released: September 1986
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link
Robert ChristgauB−[1]
Rolling Stone link

The title track, "Mars Needs Guitars" (also the B-side of "Bittersweet" single), was written by all five Gurus[4] and lead vocals were by Brad Shepherd. All other tracks were written[4] and featured lead vocals by Dave Faulkner.[5] Hayride to Hell (1995) is a short film written and directed by former Gurus member Kimble Rendall.[6]

"When we commenced the sessions for Mars Needs Guitars! we had a brand new drummer, Mark Kingsmill who altered our lives forever with his distinctive explosive style." - Dave Faulkner.[7]

The song "Bittersweet" was used in the video game MVP Baseball 2004.

The album was re-released by EMI on 22 February 2005 with five bonus tracks, a fold out poster and liner tracks by Wally Kempton (Even/The Meanies). Three of the bonus tracks (13 to 15) were recorded live at Selina's, Sydney, in 1986.[5] In October 2010, it was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums, with their previous album, Stoneage Romeos at No. 28.[8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Dave Faulkner, except where noted[4].

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Bittersweet" 3:44
2."Poison Pen" 4:09
3."In the Wild" 3:07
4."Death Defying" 3:21
5."Like Wow – Wipeout" 3:09
6."Hayride to Hell" 3:15
7."Show Some Emotion" 2:56
8."Other Side of Paradise" 3:31
9."Mars Needs Guitars"James Baker, Clyde Bramley, Faulkner, Mark Kingsmill, Brad Shepherd2:52
10."She" 3:28
2005 re-release
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Bring the Hoodoo Down" 2:54
12."Turkey Dinner" 4:14
13."Death Ship" (live)Faulkner, Roddy Radalj, Alan Sharples2:42
14."In the Wild" (live) 3:29
15."Teenage Head" (live)Cyril Jordan, Roy Loney3:02

Personnel

Credited to:[2][5]

Hoodoo Gurus
  • Clyde Bramley – bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Faulkner – lead vocals (except track 9), guitar, keyboards
  • Mark Kingsmill – drums, cymbals
  • Brad Shepherd – lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (track 9), harmonica (mouth harp)

Technical
  • John Bee – engineer
  • Richard Allan – illustrations
  • Charles Fisher – producer (except track 11)
  • Don Bartley – mastering (remastering)
  • Hoodoo Gurus – producer (track 11)

References
  1. Christgau, Robert. "Mars Needs Guitars!". Robert Christgau.
  2. Holmgren, Magnus; Georgieff, Didier; Hartung, Stephan. "Hoodoo Gurus". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  3. Guest, Thomas J. (1991). Thirty Years of Hits. Collingwood, Melbourne: M. J. Maloney. ISBN 0-646-04633-0.
  4. "Australasian Performing Right Association". APRA. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2007.
  5. "Discogs entry on Mars Needs Guitars!". discogs.com. Retrieved 30 November 2007.
  6. "Internet Movie Database entry on Kimble Rendall". IMDb. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
  7. Faulkner, Dave (June 2000). "Pop and punishment". juliat. Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
  8. O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). 100 Best Australian Albums. Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-955-9.
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