Junkyard (album)

Untitled

Junkyard is a 1982 album by Australian deathrock group The Birthday Party. The album was recorded with Tony Cohen at Armstrong's Audio Visual (A.A.V.) Studios in Melbourne in December 1981 and January 1982. Additional tracks were recorded in London's Matrix Studios with punk producer Richard Mazda in May 1982. Mazda's previous work with ATV and The Fall had brought him to their attention. Later CD re-issues added the "Release the Bats/Blast Off!" single recorded at London's Townhouse Studio with Nick Launay in April 1981.

The album was a somewhat transitional record for a variety of reasons. On 16 February 1982 in Melbourne, Tracy Pew (the band's bass player) was arrested for drunk driving. For this and several other outstanding offences he served 2.5 months in Pentridge Prison in Australia, and so Barry Adamson was drafted in on bass duties for several tracks.

The cover art is by Ed Roth and Dave Christensen and features Roth's Junk Yard Kid character driving a hot rod hybrid featuring equal parts Caddy and garbage can, literally. Roth Studios' best known character, Rat Fink, makes a prominent cameo atop quad headlights next to the Edsel grille.

In October 2010, Junkyard was listed at No. 17 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.

Track listing

1. "Blast Off!" - 2:17 (CD only)
2. "She's Hit" - 6:06
3. "Dead Joe" - 3:08
4. "The Dim Locator" - 2:49
5. "Hamlet (Pow Pow Pow)" - 5:33
6. "Several Sins" - 2:56
7. "Big Jesus Trash Can" - 3:00
8. "Kiss Me Black" (Barry Adamson on bass) - 2:48
9. "6" Gold Blade" - 3:34
10. "Kewpie Doll" - 3:32
11. "Junkyard" - 5:49
12. "Dead Joe" (2nd version) (Barry Adamson on bass) - 3:07 (CD only)
13. "Release the Bats" - 2:09 (CD only)

Chart performance

Album

Chart	Peak
UK Albums Chart	73