The Church - Heyday

Import edition of the Aussie alternative act's 1986 album for Arista. 12 tracks including, 'Myrrh', 'Tristesse' & 'Already Yesterday'. Album Description

my Church primer

Fall of 1987 and I am a freshaman at Texas Tech University. In Lubbock, there used to be an independent record store called Ray's Records and Tapes. I went there to pick up another copy of the Cult's "Love" cassette. Located in the C section, the cover of Heyday stood out and so I picked it up. I thought to myself, cool band name, four dudes wearing the same kinds of shirts I was sporting, take a chance and pick it up. That is how it came to be that I began my musical relationship/journey with the Church. All I had been exposed to in high school was the typical hair band stuff and MTV pap. I was just beginning to learn about bands that operated outside the realm of popular music. I remember putting the cassette in and from the fading in intro to Myhrr to the closing notes of The View, I was hooked. Nothing that I was listening to at the time was as fresh, melodic, atmospheric or played so well. I wore out my cassette of Heyday and went back to Ray's to start picking up their back catalog. Unfortunately, there was nothing there, but only a few months after, Starfish was released. Many more were exposed to beautiful music of the Church. Unfortunately, many of those that jumped the band's bandwagon back in 88 fell off by 1990. Not me. I've still with them, and while they have released classic album, after classic album, I always come back to this one. The one that started it all. It worked for me, so I recommend it for you. If your interested in giving the band a chance (and I highly suggest you do) then this is a great jumping off point. (If not this one, try the Blurred Crusade) 1987, paisley shirts, pretty girls, great memories. My heyday. Fortunately for me, I have this album to transport me back anytime I feel like going back. October 15, 2008

Already Yesterday but never Disenchanted, and still Tantalized by traces of Myrrh in the Night Of Light

Anyway...

A definite keeper that I've often returned to over the years, The Church's HEYDAY is one of those rare albums that are pleasurable listening, from start to finish. The Church are an Australian group who were grossly underrated here in the United States. While the band did get some notice for 1988's STARFISH -and even made the Top 40 with "Under the Milky Way," it should have been 1986's HEYDAY which gave The Church the recognition and success they deserved. Produced by Peter Walsh (a major 80s producer who worked with everyone from Donovan and Stevie Wonder to The Simple Minds and Heaven 17), HEYDAY is a brilliant collection of songs, mixing the group's signature jangle-pop sound with horns, string arrangements, and Eastern themes.

"Myrrh" starts the CD off with guitarists Marty Wilson-Piper and Peter Koppes' steady build-up of an intro leading to a low-key chorus and surreal percussion. "Tristesse" is a dreamy effort of symbolist lyrics and crafty guitar lines, reminiscent of the early Byrds. Steve Kilby's accompanied-by-choir vocals of mythological and Byzantine imagery on "All Ready Yesterday" make it truly one of the most beautiful songs in pop music. Following the track "Columbus" is the Middle Eastern-tinged instrumentals "Happy Hunting Ground" and "As You Will." Then the instrumental-induced dreamy spell is suddenly broken by the aggressive bells and horns of "Tantalized."

After the sarcastic melancholy of "Disenchanted," the remaining songs ("Night of Light," "Youth Worshipper," "Roman," and "The View"), with their soaring horn and string arrangements in addition with The Church's trademark guitars and vocals, make HEYDAY an excellent album. One best listened to late at night, or while driving along lonely roads.

The Church, by the way, are still around. After 27 years and over 21 albums (their latest, EL MOMENTO SIGUIENTE, was released this year on Australia's Liberation label), the current lineup of Steve Kilby, Marty Wilson-Piper, Peter Koppes, and Tim Powles carry on. July 25, 2007

Hot trips across the Great Plains

I've loved the Church since 1981, and have never quite figured out the whole "Starfish" craze that happened in 1987...Heyday, quite frankly, was the last great Church album. Myrrh and Tristesse are among their very, very best songs - December 24, 2005

Together with "Starfish," the pinnacle of The Church

Back in the days when the L.P. reigned, FM classic radio stations use to play a "perfect album side." Side One of "Heyday" (the first five songs) clearly meets this criteria. The first song "Myrrh," is, in my opinion, one of the finest songs The Church has ever done, with its haunting swirling melodies. Considering the name of the band, it is also, curiously, one of their only songs that overtly refers to Christianity. Whether Steven Kilbey meant to write a parable reflecting part of the New Testament ("Nightmare descent into Jericho City/ Camel dust heralds our arrival/ New Christ beneath the drum kit moon"); or is simply relating a murky (drug induced?) dream ("We're interrupted by a telephone/ you didn't think they were invented then"); or even some sort of confessional ("Oh my Lord I trust your intentions/ but money strangles our love/ Struggling like a fool with my junk and my jewels/ You would of thought I had enough"), Myrrh is an extremely memorable and compelling song, both melodically and lyrically.

The other songs on side one are also excellent. From the meditative "Tristesse" (about a girlfriend or Goddess or both, with that memorable line "A gunfight in Dodge City, a murder in Bombay"), to the mellow "Already Yesterday," to the epochal sounding "Columbus," to the inspiring, ethereal instrumental "Happy Hunting Ground;" the entire side shimmers, with "Myrrh" as the flagship track.

Although not as high quality, the rest of the album is just fine. "Tantalized" is one of the band's most kinetic tracks. While I think the next three songs ("Disenchanted," "Night of Light," "Youth Worshipper") tend to meander a little bit, they are nevertheless quite enjoyable. The album concludes with one of the best tracks, the dramatic "Roman."

What's particularly interesting about Kilbey's lyrics in "Heyday," is the numerous oblique (and not so oblique) references to religion, God and Godesses on the one hand; and illicit drugs and hallucinatory states on the other. Kilbey's unfortunate addiction to heroin has been well-publicized (he once missed a concert I was attending in NYC because he was arrested purchasing this particular substance). Was "Heyday" perhaps a cry for help? In any event, there are many motivations that can inspire the creation of a superb album, which was obviously the case here for Kilbey and his bandmates. July 24, 2005

A treat, even 20 years later

I still remember buying this, my first Church recording, on vinyl. I listened to it for days from start to finish, taken with its great guitar cohesiveness and timeless melodies.

Twenty years later, it still sounds magical. Marty Wilson Piper and Peter Koppes are superb on guitar, Steven Kilbey's voice is fantastic, mellow and inviting.

"Disenchanted" is the highlight, meandering guitars, fluid bass, terrific vocals; a song that washes over you like a warm wave.

Of course the rest is brilliant too, hits like "Myrrh", the dreamy "Tristesse", the ever so wonderfully off "Already Yesterday", the great instrumental "Happy Hunting Ground", the punchy "Tantalized".

Peter Walsh guides perfectly in the production work.

One of the best CDs of the 80s, not to mention ever. July 20, 2005

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