A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. is the second studio album by Australian rock band Spy vs Spy, produced by Leszek Karski (Boys Next Door, Midnight Oil, Nauts)[1][2][3] and released through WEA in December 1986.

A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 1986
RecordedAugust/September 1986
Alberts Studios, Sydney
Genrerock
Length43:39
LabelWEA
ProducerLeszek Karski
V. Spy v. Spy chronology
Harry's Reasons
(1986)
A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.
(1986)
Xenophobia
(1988)
Singles from A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.
  1. "Don't Tear It Down"
    Released: November 1986
  2. "Sallie-Anne"
    Released: March 1987
  3. "Credit Cards"
    Released: May 1987

The title is an abbreviation of 'Adults Only Modified Television Version' which used to appear at the bottom of late night movies in Australia at the time.[1] The album peaked at No. 12 on the Kent Music Report and went gold.[1][4] For this album Spy vs Spy recorded as v. Spy v. Spy, and the line-up was the original trio Craig Bloxom on bass guitar/lead vocals, Cliff Grigg on drums/percussion and Mike Weiley on lead guitar/vocals.[1][5]

The album provided three singles – "Don't Tear it Down" inspired by the Department of Main Roads seeking to demolish the band's Darling Street squat,[6] "Sallie-Anne" about murdered prostitute/whistleblower Sallie-Anne Huckstepp and "Credit Cards" a commentary on spiralling debt and consumerism.[7] "Don't Tear It Down" was the band's most successful single, peaking at No. 31 on the Kent Music Report of the Australian singles charts[4] in February 1987, it stayed in the charts for 20 weeks and went platinum.[1][4]

Background

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Spy vs Spy had formed in 1981 in Sydney as a ska/pub rock band.[1] Their line-up was the trio Craig Bloxom on bass guitar/lead vocals, Cliff Grigg on drums/percussion and Mike Weiley on lead guitar/vocals.[1][5] They became known for tackling political issues including racism, homelessness and contemporary drug culture.[1][7] By 1984 they were using the name v. Spy v. Spy to avoid legal problems with Mad magazine.[1][7] They were signed to Midnight Oil's label Powderworks and managed by Oils manager, Gary Morris.[1][7] Their first full-length album Harry's Reasons was released in February 1986.[1][2]

Spy vs Spy switched labels to WEA in 1986 and released the single "Don't Tear it Down" in November 1986.

Track listing

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All tracks written by Craig Bloxom, Michael Weiley, Cliff Grigg and G Vasicek (aka Gary Morris).

No.TitleLength
1."Don't Tear it Down"4:05
2."Credit Cards"4:40
3."Mission Man"4:07
4."Pockets of Pride"4:00
5."Go to Work"5:12
6."Sallie-Anne"5:08
7."Snowblind"4:04
8."Use your Head"4:27
9."Peace and Quiet"3:11
10."Take Me Away"4:45

Personnel

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v. Spy v. Spy members

  • Craig Bloxom – bass guitar, vocals
  • Cliff Grigg – drums, percussion
  • Michael Weiley – lead guitar

Recording details

  • Producer – Leszek Karski
  • Engineer – David Hemming
  • Mixer – Hemming, Karski
  • Studio – Alberts Studio, Sydney

Charts

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Chart (1986/87) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] 12

Release history

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Country Date Label Format Catalogue
Australia December 1986 Warner Music Group LP, Cassette 254458-1/ 254458-4
Japan December 1986 WEA LP P-13583
Australia 1987 Warner Music Group CD 254458-2

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'v. Spy v. Spy'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  2. ^ a b Holmgren, Magnus. "Les Karski". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Leszek Karski". Music Producer Database. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  5. ^ a b Holmgren, Magnus; Cuffe, Mark. "Spy v Spy". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Spy v Spy" (PDF). The Glebe Society Inc. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
  7. ^ a b c d Nimmervoll, Ed. "Spy v Spy". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 21 February 2001. Retrieved 10 February 2014.