Australian Crawl discography

The band was founded by James Reyne (lead vocals/piano), his younger brother David Reyne (drums), Brad Robinson (rhythm guitar), Paul Williams (bass guitar) and Simon Binks (lead guitar) in 1978.^[1][2] David Reyne left in 1979 and was replaced by Bill McDonough (drums, percussion),^[3] and in October 1980 the band was joined by his younger brother Guy McDonough (vocals, rhythm guitar).^[3][4] In 1979, Australian Crawl recorded their first single, "Beautiful People", produced by Little River Band's guitarist David Briggs.^[3] Briggs helped them gain a recording contract with EMI Records;^[1] he also produced their debut album The Boys Light Up in 1980,^[3][5] which peaked at number four on the Australian Kent Music Report album charts and remained on the charts for 101 consecutive weeks from 1981 to 1982.^[6]

The band's second album, Sirocco, was released in 1981 and achieved number one on the albums charts.^[3][6] On the 1981 Australian End of Year Album Charts, Sirocco is number two, behind Double Fantasy by John Lennon and ahead of AC/DC's Back in Black, making it the best-charting album by an Australian act for the year.^[6][7][8] Their third album, Sons of Beaches, was released in 1982; it also reached number one.^[6] Bill McDonough left before they recorded their extended play, Semantics, in 1983,^[3][6] which achieved number one on the Kent Music Report singles chart.^[1][6] Bill McDonough was replaced on drums, temporarily by Graham Bidstrup and permanently by John Watson.^[1][3] Semantics contained the track "Reckless (Don't Be So)", which is described as a number one-single in Music Australia's profile on James Reyne.^[4][8][9] The live album Phalanx was a stop-gap measure between studio albums; nevertheless, it reached number four on the albums charts during December 1983.^[1] In early 1984, the band signed with Geffen Records for international release of their material.^[1]

In 1984, the band released the best of their early material as a compilation titled Crawl File,^[4] which peaked at number two on the albums charts.^[6] Geffen released Semantics, internationally, as a long play album with six newly re-recorded tracks compiled from their first three studio albums.^[10] Promotion of the album and the subsequent tour was stalled when Guy McDonough died in June of viral pneumonia.^[1][2] Before Guy's death, he had recorded demos with his brother Bill McDonough, and ex-members of their earlier band, The Flatheads.^[3][11] Bill McDonough assembled the tapes and produced Guy McDonough's posthumous album My Place on Wheatley Records in April 1985.^[1][11][12] Tracks from these sessions were re-mastered and released on Lost & Found in 1996, credited under the 'Members of Australian Crawl' name.^[13] Meanwhile, remaining Australian Crawl members had recorded their fourth studio album, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, which was released in 1985 and achieved number 11 on the albums charts. This was followed by the announcement that they would disband after another tour.^[1] The live album, The Final Wave recorded their performance on 27 January 1986;^[1] it was released in October and peaked at number 16 on the albums charts.^[6]

Australian Crawl were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame on 30 September 1996.^[14] Two weeks later, on 13 October 1996, Robinson died of lymphoma.^[1][14][15] After Lost & Found, another compilation was released, More Wharf: Their Greatest Hits in 1998.^[3] This was followed by the compilation Reckless: 1979–1995, released in 2000 and credited to Australian Crawl and James Reyne. This was followed by the compilation Australian Crawl and James Reyne: The Definitive Collection, released in 2002.^[3]

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

Video albums

Specific