Was There Anything I Could Do?
| "Was There Anything I Could Do?" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Go-Betweens | ||||
| from the album 16 Lovers Lane | ||||
| A-side | "Was There Anything I Can Do?" | |||
| B-side | "Rock and Roll Friend" | |||
| Released | 3 October 1988 | |||
| Length | 3:06 | |||
| Label | Mushroom (AUS) Beggars Banquet (UK) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Robert Forster, Grant McLennan[1] | |||
| Producer(s) | Mark Wallis | |||
| The Go-Betweens singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Was There Anything I Could Do?" is a song by Australian indie group The Go-Betweens that was issued as the second single from their 1988 album 16 Lovers Lane. The song was released 3 October 1988 by Beggars Banquet Records in the UK and Mushroom Records in Australia but failed to chart in either region. It was released as a promotional single in the US by Capitol Records and charted on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks charts in the United States, peaking at No. 16.[2]
"Was There Anything I Could Do?" was not necessarily the unanimous choice by all members of the band, with claims by some that they wanted Forster's "Clouds" whilst McLennan pushed for the song as it was more driving and anthemic.[3]
Cover versions[edit]
The song was covered by Maxïmo Park and included on a limited edition compilation album, released in July 2008 to celebrate the launch of Independents Day.[4]
In 2010 a cover of the song by The Buzzards, was included on a Go-Betweens tribute album, Right Here.[5]
Franz Ferdinand in November 2013 covered the song on Triple J's Like a Version programme.[6]
In 2014 a cover of the song by Missy Higgins was included on her album, Oz.[7][8]
Track listing[edit]
Original 7" Vinyl release[edit]
- "Was There Anything I Could Do?" - 3:06
- "Rock and Roll Friend" - 3:30
Original 12" Vinyl release[edit]
- "Was There Anything I Can Do?" - 3:06
- "Rock and Roll Friend" - 3:30
- "Mexican Postcard" - 2:13
Original CD single release[edit]
- "Was There Anything I Can Do?" - 3:06
- "Rock and Roll Friend" - 3:30
- "Mexican Postcard" - 2:13
- "Bye Bye Pride" - 4:06
Release history[edit]
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | October 1988 | Beggars Banquet | 7" vinyl | BEG 219 |
| 12" vinyl | BEG 219T | |||
| CD single | BEG 219CD | |||
| Australia | December 1988 | Mushroom | 7" vinyl | K698 |
| 12" vinyl | X14667 | |||
| United States | 1988 | Capitol | 12" vinyl | SPRO-79427[A] |
Notes[edit]
- A. ^ :The US release was a 12" promotional release with "Was There Anything I Could Do?" on each side.
Charts[edit]
| Chart (1988–89) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[9] | 16 |
References[edit]
- ^ "'Was There Anything I Could Do' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015. Note: User may have to click on 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:', e.g. Was There Anything I Could Do; or at 'Performer:' The Go-Betweens.
- ^ "The Go-Betweens - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
- ^ Nichols, David (2003). The Go-Betweens. Verse Chorus Press. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-891241-16-1.
- ^ "Editors, Cribs and Prodigy on new covers compilation". NME. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- ^ "Right Here : A Go-Betweens Tribute". Amazon. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- ^ "Like a Version: Franz Ferdinand - Was There Anything I Could Do". Triple J. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- ^ Brandle, Lars (4 August 2014). "Missy Higgins Announces New Album, Book and a Baby". Billboard magazine. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- ^ "Missy Higgins gets seal of approval for her OZ covers but some artists hate other singers doing their songs". News.com.au. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- ^ "The Go-Betweens Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.