| Under the Sun | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Paul Kelly |
| Cover: | Under_The_Sun.jpg |
| Released: | November 1987 |
| Genre: | Australian Rock |
| Length: | 45:14 |
| Label: | Mushroom/White (Australia) A&M (U.S.) |
| Producer: | Alan Thorne and Paul Kelly except Dumb Things, produced by Martin Armiger and Paul Kelly |
| Prev Title: | Gossip |
| Prev Year: | 1986 |
| Next Title: | So Much Water So Close to Home |
| Next Year: | 1989 |
Under the Sun is the second album by Australian rock group Paul Kelly & The Coloured Girls and was originally released in December 1987 by Mushroom Records.[1] [2] In the North American and European markets, it was released by A&M Records in 1988 with the band credited as Paul Kelly & The Messengers, with a different track order and listing.[2]
On the Australian albums charts, it peaked at #19, with the single "To Her Door" peaking at #14.[3] [4] Another single, "Dumb Things," peaked at #36 in early 1989 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) singles charts;[4] it reached #16 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.[5] The song was included in the soundtrack for the 1988 Yahoo Serious film Young Einstein.[6]
"To Her Door" won an ARIA Award in 1988 for 'Best Video' directed by Claudia Castle.[7] [8] In 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) listed the Top 30 Australian songs of all time,[9] including "To Her Door," written by Kelly.[10]
After relocating from Melbourne to Sydney in 1985, Paul Kelly began to play and record with a full-time band, which included Michael Armiger on bass guitar, Michael Barclay on drums, Steve Connolly on guitar, eventually bassist Jon Schofield, and keyboardist Peter Bull joined.[2] Through a joke based on Lou Reed's song "Walk on the Wild Side", the band became known as Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls.[1] [11] In September 1986 the band released their debut double LP Gossip.[2] Due to possible racist connotations the band changed its name, for international releases, to Paul Kelly and the Messengers.[1] [11] They made an American tour, initially supporting Crowded House and then head-lining, travelling across the United States by bus.[1] Jon Schofield replaced Armiger on bass guitar, Chris Coyne on tenor saxophone and Chris Wilson on harmonica
On the Australian albums charts, it peaked at #19 with the single "To Her Door" peaking at #14.[3] [4] First single from the album, "Bradman," had been released in January 1987 as a double-A side with "Leaps and Bounds" from Gossip but had little chart success.[3] [4] The third and fourth singles, "Forty Miles to Saturday Night" and "Don't Stand So Close to the Window" also had little chart success.[3] [4] Another single, "Dumb Things," peaked at #36 in early 1989 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) singles charts;[4] it reached #16 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.[5] The song was included in the soundtrack for the 1988 Yahoo Serious film Young Einstein.[6]
In 1988, "To Her Door" won an ARIA Award for 'Best Video' directed by Claudia Castle.[7] [8] In 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) listed the Top 30 Australian songs of all time,[9] including "To Her Door," written by Kelly.[10]
"Desdemona" was featured in an episode of the Australian TV show Packed To The Rafters.
All tracks written by Paul Kelly unless otherwise indicated.[10]
Original Australian LP/MC release
Bonus tracks for Australian CD release
North American/European release
(^^) The European release featured slightly different mixes of these tracks.
Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls
Additional musicians
Recording details
Art work
| Format | Country | Label | Catalogue No. | Year |
| LP/CD/Cassette | AUS | Mushroom | RML 53248 | November 1987 |
| LP/CD | USA | A&M Records | SP 5157 | 1988 |
| CD | Germany | A&M | 396979-1 | 1988 |
| CD | AUS | Mushroom/White | MUSH322812 | 1997 |