Woodface
Studio album by Crowded House
Released	July 2, 1991
Recorded	Melbourne Australia
Genre	Rock
Length	48:13
Label	Capitol
Producer	Mitchell Froom
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Insider's Guides 16/07/2007 Robert Christgau link
Crowded House chronology
Temple of Low Men (1988) Woodface (1991) Together Alone (1993)

Woodface is the critically acclaimed third studio album from New Zealand rock band Crowded House. Released in 1991, it features the singles "Chocolate Cake", "Fall At Your Feet", "Weather With You", "Four Seasons In One Day", and "It’s Only Natural". Woodface and the single "Weather With You" are notable for starting the band's run of success in the UK and parts of Europe. Image File history File links Crowded_House-Woodface_(album_cover). ... A studio album is a collection of studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... Crowded House is a rock group formed in Melbourne, Australia, and led by New Zealand musician and singer-songwriter Neil Finn. ... is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre (also known as The CBD). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Rock is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars, and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles, however saxophones have been omitted from newer subgenres of rock music since the 90s. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood, California. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Mitchell Froom is an American musician and record producer. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music, owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 4. ... Image File history File links Stars10080. ... Robert Christgau (born April 18, 1942), is an American essayist, music journalist, and the self-declared Dean of American Rock Critics.[1] In print, his name is sometimes abbreviated as Xgau. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Crowded House is a rock group formed in Melbourne, Australia, and led by New Zealand musician and singer-songwriter Neil Finn. ... Temple Of Low Men was Crowded Houses second studio album, released in 1988. ... Together Alone is the fourth and final studio album by Crowded House. ... An album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. ... Crowded House is a rock group formed in Melbourne, Australia, and led by New Zealand musician and singer-songwriter Neil Finn. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar. ... Weather With You is a 1991 song by rock group Crowded House. ...

History

Background

Following the Temple of Low Men tour, Crowded House decided to take some time off. In this time, the group's leader and key songwriter Neil Finn reconciled with his older brother Tim Finn, following years of being estranged after Tim departure from Split Enz. Upon this reconciliation, the two began writing songs for an album they were considering to release under the name Finn. The sessions yielded enough songs for an album and both brothers were happy with the result, but Neil was also faced with the task of writing a third Crowded House album. After recording with Seymour and Hester, the record company rejected most of the songs recorded for this album, Neil asked his brother if they could use some of the Finn songs for the next album. Tim agreed on the proviso that he be made a member, though in some interviews, he has indicated he meant this as a joke. Neil took this literally and the group with the newly appointed member Tim Finn returned to the studio to record these songs.^[1] Temple Of Low Men was Crowded Houses second studio album, released in 1988. ... Live in Dublin 2007 Brian Timothy “Tim” Finn OBE (born June 25, 1952) is a singer and songwriter. ... Split Enz was a successful New Zealand band during the late 1970s and the early 1980s featuring brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. ...

These recording sessions mixed with a few songs from the earlier sessions yielded Woodface, which was released in July 1991 featuring seven songs written jointly by Tim and Neil Finn together, most of which had the two performing harmonied vocals, and featured the sombre "All I Ask" performed solo by Tim, which was later featured on AIDS awareness commercials in Australia. The other tracks were primarily Neil compositions - with the exception of the exuberant Hester-written song "Italian Plastic", a commonly performed song on live concerts - mostly songs that were from the original rejected album. For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ...

The band was at the pinnacle of its creative output, and the songs "Weather With You" and "Fall at Your Feet" became signature songs for the band. During the first supporting tour for Woodface, Tim Finn was asked to leave part way through the UK leg (which was projected as the final leg but the success of the album dictated more dates be added). Mark Hart was flown in to play keyboards for the remaining dates. The final date of this first tour at the Town and Country Club in London was recorded and given a limited release in Australia, while excerpts were released as B-sides for the album's singles in other countries. Weather With You is a 1991 song by rock group Crowded House. ... Fall at Your Feet is a 1991 song by Australian rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album Woodface. ... Mark Hart (born July 2, 1953, Fort Scott, Kansas), is a multi instrumentalist best known for his stints as a member of Supertramp and Crowded House. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... In recorded music, the terms A-side and B-side refer to the two sides of 7 inch vinyl records on which singles have been released since the 1950s. ...

The Finn brothers had previously worked together musically in the 1970s and 1980s in the New Zealand band Split Enz, which Tim co-founded, and they later recorded two Finn Brothers albums, Finn (1995), and Everyone Is Here (2004). Split Enz was a successful New Zealand band during the late 1970s and the early 1980s featuring brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. ... The Finn Brothers is the name of the musical project of New Zealand brothers Neil and Tim Finn. ... Everyone Is Here is the second album by The Finn Brothers, a music project of New Zealand brothers Tim and Neil Finn. ...

Production

Woodface was produced by Mitchell Froom and Neil Finn, and mixed by Bob Clearmountain. An interesting fact is that while Paul Hester was the band's drummer at the time, Ricky Fataar is credited with playing the drums for some Finn Brothers songs recorded before the two projects merged. Mitchell Froom is an American musician and record producer. ... Bob Clearmountain is a legendary American music engineer, mixer and producer. ... Paul Newell Hester (January 8, 1959 – March 26, 2005) was the drummer with Split Enz and Crowded House. ... Ricky Fataar (born 5 September 1952 in Durban, South Africa) is a South African musician who is primarily a drummer. ...

The title of the album is a reference to the French-language expression "gueule de bois", which means "hangover".^{[citation needed]}

Album and single releases

"Chocolate Cake" was released as the first single, and it sealed the fate of the band in America. The song was a humorous comment on American excesses. It failed to make the US singles chart. The album's second single, "Fall At Your Feet" fared a little better, but with lost momentum for the band it only reached #75. Chocolate Cake is a 1991 song by Australian rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album Woodface. ...

The album sold well internationally. The immense success of this album particularly in the UK prompted the Queen in June 1993 to bestow the OBE upon Tim and Neil for their contribution to the music of New Zealand. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander...

Personnel

Neil Mullane Finn OBE (born May 27, 1958 in Te Awamutu, New Zealand) is a singer and songwriter and one of New Zealands foremost musicians. ... Live in Dublin 2007 Brian Timothy “Tim” Finn OBE (born June 25, 1952) is a singer and songwriter. ... Nick Seymour (born Nicholas More Seymour, 9 December 1958 in Benalla, Victoria, Australia) is a bass guitar player, painter, and record producer. ... Paul Newell Hester (January 8, 1959 – March 26, 2005) was the drummer with Split Enz and Crowded House. ... Chris Wilson is an Australian blues musician. ... Alejandro Acuña aka Alex Acuña (born December 12, 1944) is a Peruvian drummer and percussionist. ... David Hidalgo David Hidalgo (born October 6, 1954 in Los Angeles, California) is a singer-songwriter, best known for his work with the band Los Lobos. ... Mark Hart (born July 2, 1953, Fort Scott, Kansas), is a multi instrumentalist best known for his stints as a member of Supertramp and Crowded House. ... Tchad Blake (sometimes referred to as Tchad Blak) is a record producer, engineer and mixer who has worked with Crowded House, the Finn Brothers, Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel, Travis, Pearl Jam, Sheryl Crow, Los Lobos, Suzanne Vega, Stina Nordenstam, Phish, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waits, Al Green, Tracy Chapman, Phantom Planet... Bob Clearmountain is a legendary American music engineer, mixer and producer. ...

Track listing

All songs written by Neil Finn and Tim Finn unless noted otherwise. Neil Mullane Finn OBE (born May 27, 1958 in Te Awamutu, New Zealand) is a singer and songwriter and one of New Zealands foremost musicians. ... Live in Dublin 2007 Brian Timothy “Tim” Finn OBE (born June 25, 1952) is a singer and songwriter. ...

1. "Chocolate Cake" - 4:02
2. "It's Only Natural" - 3:32
3. "Fall at Your Feet" (N. Finn) - 3:18
4. "Tall Trees" - 2:19
5. "Weather With You" - 3:44
6. "Whispers and Moans" (N. Finn) - 3:39
7. "Four Seasons In One Day" - 2:50
8. "There Goes God" - 3:50
9. "Fame Is" (N. Finn) - 2:23
10. "All I Ask" - 3:56
11. "As Sure as I Am" (N. Finn) - 2:53
12. "Italian Plastic" (Paul Hester) - 3:39
13. "She Goes On" (N. Finn) - 3:15
14. "How Will You Go" - 3:05
    • "I'm Still Here" (hidden track) 1:07*

• * "I'm Still Here" on track #14 with "How Will You Go" at 3:37 (after 32 seconds' silence) as a hidden track.

Chocolate Cake is a 1991 song by Australian rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album Woodface. ... Its Only Natural is a 1991 song by Australian rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album Woodface. ... Fall at Your Feet is a 1991 song by Australian rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album Woodface. ... Weather With You is a 1991 song by rock group Crowded House. ... Four Seasons In One Day is a 1992 single released by rock group Crowded House. ... Paul Newell Hester (January 8, 1959 – March 26, 2005) was the drummer with Split Enz and Crowded House. ...

Discarded tracks

The following songs were originally recorded by Crowded House for the album before Tim Finn became involved. Most of them later appeared on the posthumous rarities album Afterglow, released in 1999, leaving only "Fields are Full of Your Kind" and "My Legs are Gone" off, and as of 2007, the tracks remain unreleased. Afterglow is a Crowded House compilation album, released in 1999. ... 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• "Anyone Can Tell"
• "Left Hand"
• "Dr. Livingstone"
• "Sacred Cow"
• "I Love You Dawn"
• "My Telly's Gone Bung"
• "Time Immemorial"
• "Fields are Full of Your Kind"
• "My Legs are Gone"

Influence

Gert Bettens, co-founder of Belgian band K's Choice, named his new band "Woodface" after this album. Gert Bettens-Wills (born March 18, 1972, Merksem) was the former guitarist of the Belgian band Ks Choice. ... Sarah and Gert Bettens on the cover of their album Almost Happy Ks Choice is a Belgian rock band from Antwerp. ...

Notes and references

External links

• Liner notes