First posted in May 2008 over at the old place. Re-posted in May 2016. It’s appearing in a slightly adapted form today to celebrate that Comrade Colin is currently in Australia, combining work, a family holiday and a pilgrimage to various sites and locations that are part of the story of the Go-Betweens. I am, of course, insane with jealousy.
I think most people are surprised with my answer to the not-too-often posed question of ‘What’s Your Favourite Go-Betweens Song?’ It really is nigh-on impossible to ignore the merits of the genius, majesty and sheer beauty of Cattle and Cane – the track that is probably their best-known and best-loved song? Not to mention the gorgeous vocal delivery of the much-missed Grant McLennan. But the follow-up single just means an awful lot more to me.
It was at the age of 20, in August 1983, that I finally moved out from underneath my parents’ protection and branched out to a place of my own. It was a student residency flat on campus in Glasgow City Centre. It was a two-bedroom job, complete with kitchen, toilet and shower. I had the single room, while my two flatmates shared a larger space. The rent for each of us was £510 – for a full year including the summer months.
I had a reasonable record collection, but one of my other flatmates had a collection that I reckon was probably only second to that of John Peel (for instance, he had every single that had come out on Postcard Records). It was a time when my musical tastes broadened more than ever before, thanks to hearing some old stuff for the first time, but also on account of new and emerging bands throughout the early and mid 80s. This was where I first learned about, among others, The Go-Betweens.
The location of the flat was incredible, a mere stone’s throw from the student union where we seemed to spend most of our free time. We’d spend hours every weekend getting ready to go out, taking turns to play some of our favourite songs, often dissecting the lyrics and melodies in a way that seemed very important and meaningful.
Every Friday and Saturday, the set-lists for going out would change, but there was one single from October 1983 that always seemed to get played – as indeed was the b-side:-
mp3 : The Go-Betweens – Man O’ Sand To Girl O’ Sea
mp3 : The Go-Betweens – This Girl, Black Girl
Robert Forster’s manic delivery of the line ‘I feel so sure about our love I’ve wrote a song about us breaking up’ is one of the finest moments in pop history. As is the chorus that isn’t a chorus – ‘I want you baaaaaack.’ And don’t get me started in the great backing vocals.
But there’s something else…..
This was another 7” which was ‘lost’ in Edinburgh all those years ago, although I did still have copies of the songs on a double compilation LP called 1978-1990. However, by the early part of this century, it was all CDs or digital and I just couldn’t get my hands on a copy of the b-side.
But….there came a day when, after much humming and hawing, I plucked up the courage to ask a bloke called Colin who at the time (2006) had a great blog called Let’s Kiss And Make Up that had previously featured The Go-Betweens if he could post an mp3 of This Girl, Black Girl. He willingly obliged.
Colin also later replied to other e-mails from me in which I asked for advice in setting up my own blog – and without fail he was always courteous, charming, witty and hugely supportive, especially in the very early days when I was unsure of what I was doing and terrified that I was out of my depth, making a fool of myself and wasting my time.
Without him, and without this particular 45, I wouldn’t be doing this.
Thanks comrade. I’m proud to call you a mate. Real proud. And I hope you’re having the time of your life in Australia right now. Say hi to A & L from me if that part of the trip does come off.
JC
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
That’s a great post about a great memory, a great band, great songs, and an obviously great friend. Cheers.
Vaguely recall Grant saying This Girl was written quickly to play for his folks at a family gathering and he went for a catchy, simple folky singalong, because the rellies had been a bit underwhelmed by the arty brilliance of early Go-Betweens classics. Robert occasionally plays Man O Sand at solo shows, but more often doesn’t (which baffles me).
Great song indeed – give my regards to Colin, please, next time you contact him – he (and LKAMU) really was an inspiration back then!!
This 7″ is for me the absolute pinnacle of The Go-Betweens, maybe because this was also how I discovered them. I count the flip as one of the finest b-sides of all times. I’m lucky enough to still have my copy in the collection.
Nice piece of writing JC!
Great post. Deciding on the best Go-Betweens song is a never ending job.
Lucky enough to go to Brisbane when my daughter was out there and walk the streets of their town. Then went to Melbourne to see friends where we lucked upon tix for a Robert Forster gig which was marking the opening (closing?) of an Andy Warhol/Ai Weiwei exhibition. Brilliant.
This gave me an excuse to introduce the kid to The Go-Betweens and she was into it! Thanks!
I was late to the Go- Betweens, not getting into them until 87/ 88 but what a back catalogue to dive into. This pair of songs are as good as any they wrote.
My first and only single of theirs is the Postcard one…which I had the opportunity to have them sign…but I’d forgotten to grab it on the way out of the house to the gig. Ah, but how I regret that. The record store did have a copy of the first album on CD, so that had to do in its stead.
Hopefully Colin enjoys the trip, I was there about 8 years back, Spent most of my time south of Brisbane, and over on the west coast wandering the streets of the Triffids, but did convince my mate who was putting me up for a few days to take me by the “Go-Between” bridge, though he was hardly thrilled to do so. I will admit, it was a bit underwhelming.