Two Bit Monsters is singer-songwriter John Hiatt's fourth album, released in 1980. It was his second of two albums with MCA Records. It failed to chart, and MCA dropped Hiatt. "It Hasn't Happened Yet" would be a minor country hit for Rosanne Cash, from her album Somewhere in the Stars. Cash also covered "Pink Bedroom", on Rhythm & Romance.

Two Bit Monsters
Studio album by
Released1980
StudioInternational Automated Media, Irvine, California; Kitchen Sync Studios, Hollywood; Crystal Sound, Los Angeles
GenreRock
Length34:43
LabelMCA
ProducerDenny Bruce, John Hiatt
John Hiatt chronology
Slug Line
(1979)
Two Bit Monsters
(1980)
All of a Sudden
(1982)
Alternative cover
Album cover from Slug Line/Two Bit Monsters combo CD

Critical reception

edit
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
Robert ChristgauB[2]
Rolling Stone(favorable)[3]

The Boston Globe wrote that "Hiatt's effort is strong, angry, and intelligent... He is not content to sneer, rather, Hiatt is one to ridicule and condemn."[4]

Track listing

edit

All tracks written by John Hiatt, except where noted

  1. "Back to Normal" – 3:18
  2. "Down in Front" – 3:22
  3. "I Spy (For the F.B.I.)" – 2:41 (Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, Herman Kelley)
  4. "Pink Bedroom" – 2:53
  5. "Good Girl, Bad World" – 3:14
  6. "Face the Nation" – 3:07
  7. "Cop Party" – 2:54
  8. "Back to the War" – 3:28
  9. "It Hasn't Happened Yet" – 3:22
  10. "String Pull Job" – 3:22
  11. "New Numbers" – 3:02

Personnel

edit
  • John Hiatt – guitar, vocals
  • Howard Epstein – bass guitar, background vocals
  • Shane Keister – keyboards, organ, piano
  • Darrell Verdusco – drums, background vocals
Technical

References

edit
  1. ^ Ruhlmann, William. Two Bit Monsters at AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  2. ^ "Consumer Guide, John Hiatt reviews". Robert Christgau. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  3. ^ Carson, Tom (October 2, 1980). "John Hiatt: Two Bit Monsters: Music review". Rolling Stone (RS 327). Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  4. ^ Allan, Marc (July 24, 1980). "Records/Reviews". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 1.