Two Bit Monsters
| Two Bit Monsters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 1980 | |||
| Studio | International Automated Media, Irvine, California; Kitchen Sync Studios, Hollywood; Crystal Sound, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 34:43 | |||
| Label | MCA | |||
| Producer | Denny Bruce, John Hiatt | |||
| John Hiatt chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 Album cover from Slug Line/Two Bit Monsters combo CD | ||||
| Singles from Two Bit Monsters | ||||
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Two Bit Monsters is singer-songwriter John Hiatt's fourth album, released in June 1980. It was his second of two albums with MCA Records.[1] 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.
Release
[edit]Two Bit Monsters was released by MCA Records in June 1980.[1][2][3] "I Spy (For the F.B.I.)" was released as a single in August 1980.[4] The album failed to chart everywhere but Sweden, where it peaked at No. 41 on the Sverigetopplistan chart.[5]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| Cash Box | (unrated)[7] |
| Robert Christgau | B[8] |
| Rolling Stone | (favorable)[9] |
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."[10] Billboard wrote that the album "takes him [Hiatt] from the folk rock genre to the world of pop rock."[11]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by John Hiatt, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Back to Normal" | 3:18 | |
| 2. | "Down in Front" | 3:22 | |
| 3. | "I Spy (For the F.B.I.)" | Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, Herman Kelley | 2:41 |
| 4. | "Pink Bedroom" | 2:53 | |
| 5. | "Good Girl, Bad World" | 3:14 | |
| 6. | "Face the Nation" | 3:07 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cop Party" | 2:54 |
| 2. | "Back to the War" | 3:28 |
| 3. | "It Hasn't Happened Yet" | 3:22 |
| 4. | "String Pull Job" | 3:22 |
| 5. | "New Numbers" | 3:02 |
| Total length: | 34:43 | |
Personnel
[edit]- John Hiatt – guitar, vocals
- Howard Epstein – bass guitar, background vocals
- Shane Keister – keyboards, organ, piano
- Darrell Verdusco – drums, background vocals
- Technical
- Denny Bruce – producer
- Mark Howlett – recording, mixing
- John Van Hamersveld – photography, design
References
[edit]- ^ a b "MCA Plans Campaigns for June LPs" (PDF). Record World. June 14, 1980. p. 57 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "MCA Releases Ten" (PDF). Record World. May 31, 1980. p. 14 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "From Over The Rainbow" (PDF). Billboard. June 7, 1980. p. 2 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Record World Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. August 23, 1980. p. 14 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "swedishcharts.com - John Hiatt - Two Bit Monsters". Sverigetopplistan.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. Two Bit Monsters at AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
- ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 14, 1980. p. 26. ISSN 0006-2510 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Consumer Guide, John Hiatt reviews". Robert Christgau. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Allan, Marc (July 24, 1980). "Records/Reviews". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
- ^ "Billboard's Recommended LPs" (PDF). Billboard. June 14, 1980. p. 68 – via World Radio History.
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