CD - The Go-Betweens - Fountains of Youth (Live at the Town and Country Club) (Pre-Order)

1CD - released September 25

FOUNTAINS OF YOUTH (LIVE AT THE TOWN AND COUNTRY CLUB) was recorded professionally in May 1987 and captured right before the release of Tallulah. About it, Uncut said that it “provides detailed evidence of the band’s growing confidence and continuously refined songwriting”. Robert Forster noted that “This show is almost certainly the only performance of The Go-Betweens’ career that was captured on 24-track, 2-inch analog tape. The recording was made from a mobile recording truck parked beside the venue’s stage door….Our intentions for the recording heavily influenced the way we approached our performance. What you are hearing is not a typical Go-Betweens show. This is a one off - and it manifests itself in one big way. The set list. Given this opportunity to catalogue over four sides of vinyl, we took a more adventurous course regarding ‘the set’. What we have, is not only a one-off recording, but a one-off show. And some of the best moments comes from our wild intent.”

We are pleased to announce that their three Beggars Banquet albums will be made available individually on vinyl for the first time in over 30 years. The records were remastered in 2019 for the second volume of Domino’s G Stands For Go-Betweens Anthology, and will also be available on cd.

The albums were recorded in what could be called the band's ‘London Years' - when they lived and recorded in the city. Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express (1986) and Tallulah (1987) are studio albums, while Fountains Of Youth, catches the group in imperious form at the Town and Country Club in May 1987. Many of the songs for 16 Lovers Lane (1988) were written at this time, before the band returned to Sydney to record the album. The majestic sun-filled “Streets Of Your Town” was the first single off the record.

Formed in Brisbane in 1978, Grant McLennan and Robert Forster were two Queensland University students with a passion for films, mid-Sixties Bob Dylan and the New York punk scene. They both sang, played guitar, and wrote songs. The set up of the band with two independent singer-songwriters at the helm was an unusual one, but in this case, it worked beautifully. Robert's edgy, dark romantic compositions were perfectly balanced by Grant's highly melodic, pop poetic contributions.

Through a set of very strong singles, beginning in 1978 with John Peel favorite, "Lee Remick/Karen”, the band were signed to Rough Trade, beginning their London period with the post-punk opus Before Hollywood (1983). Lindy Morrison had joined the group on drums, and shortly after came Robert Vickers (bass) and Amanda Brown (violin, oboe, vocals) - creating a band that sounded and looked like no other on the planet. John Willsteed (bass, guitar) joined the band in 1988 for 16 Lovers Lane.

The Go-Betweens existed in and out of time - widespread fame may have alluded them, but the ability to make great records didn't. Their sound, songs, and image, have been a huge inspiration to generations of bands and fans alike. The Beggars Banquet albums lie at the heart of this appreciation.