In the Long Grass [Extra tracks, Import, Limited Edition, Original recording remastered]

Boomtown Rats | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 1984
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import, Limited Edition, Original recording remastered
• Label: Ume Imports
• ASIN: B00076SJQY
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #329,864 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Boomtown's final bow, January 21, 2007

By 

Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: In the Long Grass (Audio CD)

The Rat's had had it. From their wild and wooly days as young bucks to this final statement, they'd weathered the highs and lows of rock stardom, including the triumph of Live Aid. And yet the record company hacks couldn't quit meddling. As "In The Long Grass" was being prepared for an American release, Columbia got nervous that the amazing "Dave" would appear "too gay" for general consumption and forced the band to re-cut it as "Rain." And the horns on "Drag Me Down?" Had to go...

So with one last indignity suffered, The Boomtown Rats issued "In The Long Grass"...to once again a totally indifferent USA. Yet, this is easily the most mature and consistent album Geldolf and the boys ever did. The urge to do mad style jumping is absent, the songs extend a pessimistic and cynical view (considering Geldolf's African/Live Aid experience, understandably so), and the songs hold a tightly hewed vision minus the theatrics. Geldolf had stared real horror in the eye during his trips to Ethiopia, and suddenly writing a sequel to "I Never Loved Eva Bruan" probably felt juvenile.

The band plays their tails off on "In The Long Grass." Johnnie Fingers had ditched the PJ's and gone through a divorce, and both "Another Sad Story" and "Lucky" bite deep. Geldolf's "Drag Me Down" and "Tonight" are among the best work he's ever done. Lest you think things are all dour and darkness, there's the absolutely funky "An Icicle In The Sun." And in my mind, "Dave" remains a classic just waiting its turn at rediscovery. Geldolf's exhortation to a suicidal friend to keep holding on is bloody brilliant:

Dave, I see you bleed,
I know you feel the squeeze.
But please, believe,
the view from on your knees deceives.
Keep going, Dave.

Geldolf and The Rats parted ways after "In The Long Grass," and he embarked on a solo career that grew more pedantic and preachy as it continued. He needed his mates more than he realized, but nonetheless, "In The Long Grass" (which is slang for keeping a low profile) gave the Boomtown Rats a powerful note to leave the stage with.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More difficult than it appears..., March 19, 2005

By 

eveoflove (North York, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Long Grass (Audio CD)

Made in EU in 2005, Serial# 982-677-7, Playing Time 58:52

ALL of the lyrics enclosed...

If you're like me, you've been waiting to "retire" your vinyl pressing of this as soon as a CD version was made available.

Like all 6 re-releases of their albums, the remastering job is excellent! If you're reading this, you probably don't need a description of the genre of music (and talent) included.

Instead, I'll focus this somewhat brief review on the differences in content between the North American vinyl pressing and this CD issue:

a) there was already a difference between the UK and US versions of this album ("Dave" from the UK pressing was re-recorded with new lyrics as well for the US release, and renamed "Rain")
b) track 11 ("Dave (Single Version)") was originally released on the single of the same name
c) track 12 ("Walking Downtown") was originally released on the "Tonight" single
d) track 13 ("Precious Time") was also originally released on the "Tonight" single
e) track 14 ("She's Not The Best") is a home demo that, quite frankly, could have stayed at home... but on the bright side, the only track I hadn't heard before

Because of its lack of "true" extra stuff, the least worthwhile purchase (then again, you can finally hear this music without all the surface noise of your vinyl!)

5.0 out of 5 stars Track Listing, April 18, 2008

By 

Dmitrirex (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Long Grass (Audio Cassette)

1. Dave
2. Over And Over
3. Drag Me Down
4. A Hold Of Me
5. Another Sad Story
6. Tonight
7. Hard Times
8. Lucky
9. An Icicle In The Sun
10. Up Or Down