THE BIRTHDAY PARTY – RELEASE THE BATS 7″ – Nr MINT UK 1981 PUNK NICK CAVE GOTH 4AD

The Birthday Party – Release The Bats
(4AD Records  1981  AD111)
UK Pressing

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

Sleeve in Nr MINT condition

The Birthday Party (originally known as The Boys Next Door) were an Australian post-punk band, active from 1978 to 1983.

In 1980, The Birthday Party moved from Melbourne to London, where they were championed by broadcaster John Peel. Disillusioned by their stay in London, the band’s sound and live shows became increasingly violent. They broke up soon after relocating to West Berlin in 1983. Despite limited commercial success, The Birthday Party’s influence has been far-reaching, and they have been called one of “the darkest and most challenging post-punk groups to emerge in the early ’80s.” Their music was classified by critic Simon Reynolds as gothic rock. In his lyrics, Nick Cave frequently used Old Testament imagery, combining “sacred and profane” themes. Their 1981 single “Release the Bats” was particularly influential on the emerging gothic scene.

The creative core of The Birthday Party – singer and songwriter Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mick Harvey, and singer, songwriter and guitarist Rowland S. Howard – later went on to acclaimed careers.

“Release the Bats” is a song by Australian post-punk band The Birthday Party. Written by Nick Cave and Mick Harvey, the song was released as a single on 31 July 1981 through 4AD record label, with the B-side “Blast Off”. The recordings were produced by the band and Nick Launay. The single charted on UK Indie Chart, peaking at number 3.

A-side

1. “Release the Bats” (Cave, Harvey) – 2:32

B-side

1. “Blast Off” (Howard) – 2:19

The Birthday Party

• Nick Cave – vocals
• Mick Harvey – guitar, keyboards
• Tracy Pew – bass guitar
• Phill Calvert – drums
• Rowland S. Howard – guitar

Technical personnel

• The Birthday Party – production
• Nick Launay – production
• Bilbo – mastering