THE BOOMTOWN RATS – IN THE LONG GRASS LP – Nr MINT UK 1984 NEW WAVE BOB GELDOF

The Boomtown Rats – In The Long Grass
(Mercury Records  1984  MERL38)
Matrix No’s: A3/B3 – UK Pressing

Sleeve in Nr MINT- condition
– some slight wear to edges/corners – original hype sticker bottom right
Inner Sleeve has a few small foxing spots but no splits

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition
(there are a few light surface marks visible on the vinyl when held up to the light but they don’t affect the sound quality)

The Boomtown Rats are an Irish rock band that had a series of Irish and UK hits between 1977 and 1985. The group is led by vocalist Bob Geldof. The other members of the original line-up were Garry Roberts (lead guitar), Johnnie Fingers (keyboard), Pete Briquette (bass), Gerry Cott (rhythm guitar) and Simon Crowe (drums). The Boomtown Rats broke up in 1986, but reformed in 2013, without Johnnie Fingers or Gerry Cott.

In the Long Grass is the sixth studio album by The Boomtown Rats, released in 1984 in the UK and 1985 in the US. It was the band’s last studio material for well over three decades until 2020’s Citizens of Boomtown, and the last album to featured keyboardist Johnnie Fingers, as he didn’t return when the band was reunited in 2013, and the last to be released as five-piece band.

All songs written by Bob Geldof except where indicated.

1. “A Hold of Me” – 4:57
2. “Drag Me Down” – 4:31
3. “Dave” – 4:19
4. “Over Again” – 3:45
5. “Another Sad Story” (Johnny Fingers) – 3:42
6. “Tonight” – 3:53
7. “Hard Times” – 3:54
8. “Lucky” (J. Fingers) – 3:37
9. “An Icicle in the Sun” – 3:50
10. “Up or Down” (Simon Crowe, Pete Briquette) – 3:33

The Boomtown Rats

• Bob Geldof – vocals
• Pete Briquette – bass, vocals
• Johnnie Fingers – keyboards, vocals
• Simon Crowe – drums, vocals
• Garry Roberts – guitar, vocals

Additional personnel

• Peter Thoms – trombone (credited on the sleeve as Pete “Gidday” Thomas)
• Luke Tunney – trumpet
• Guy Barker – trumpet
• Gary Barnacle – saxophone
• Martin Dobson – saxophone
• Peter Claridge – guitar
• Molly and Polly – backing vocals on “Hard Times”
• Ian Ritchie – saxophone
• Bob Carter – arrangement on “Tonight”

Technical

• Martin Rex – engineer
• Bob Clearmountain – mixing
• Ashworth – photography