16 Lovers Lane (1988) was the band’s sixth album, and Record Collector noted that it’s “almost universally acknowledged as The Go-Betweens finest hour” – and it’s been referred to as “the indie Rumours”. The ten beautiful songs on this album are all love songs and it’s been called a piece of “romantic artistry”. Legendary music critic Robert Christgau called it the straightest and catchiest bunch of love songs they've ever produced and the album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Forster described the album as, the perfect combination between London melancholy and Sydney sunshine.”
The Go-Betweens are one of the most beloved and influential Australian groups of all-time and were the quintessential cult band. Throughout their hugely acclaimed career they sustained an unparalleled artistic consistency which year by year matched the very best of their contemporaries.
We are pleased announce that their three Beggars Banquet albums will be made available individually on vinyl for the first time in over 30 years. The records were remastered in 2019 for the second volume of Domino’s G Stands For Go-Betweens Anthology, and will also be available on CD.
The albums were recorded in what could be called the band's ‘London Years' - when they lived and recorded in the city. Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express (1986) and Tallulah (1987) are studio albums, while Fountains Of Youth, catches the group in imperious form at the Town and Country Club in May 1987. Many of the songs for 16 Lovers Lane (1988) were written at this time, before the band returned to Sydney to record the album. The majestic sun-filled “Streets Of Your Town” was the first single off the record.
Formed in Brisbane in 1978, Grant McLennan and Robert Forster were two Queensland University students with a passion for films, mid-Sixties Bob Dylan and the New York punk scene. They both sang, played guitar, and wrote songs. The set up of the band with two independent singer-songwriters at the helm was an unusual one, but in this case, it worked beautifully. Robert's edgy, dark romantic compositions were perfectly balanced by Grant's highly melodic, pop poetic contributions.
Through a set of very strong singles, beginning in 1978 with John Peel favorite, Lee Remick/Karen”, the band were signed to Rough Trade, beginning their London period with the post-punk opus Before Hollywood (1983). Lindy Morrison had joined the group on drums, and shortly after came Robert Vickers (bass) and Amanda Brown (violin, oboe, vocals) - creating a band that sounded and looked like no other on the planet. John Willsteed (bass, guitar) joined the band in 1988 for 16 Lovers Lane.
The Go-Betweens existed in and out of time - widespread fame may have alluded them, but the ability to make great records didn't. Their sound, songs, and image, have been a huge inspiration to generations of bands and fans alike. The Beggars Banquet albums lie at the heart of this appreciation.
