Bittersweet (Hoodoo Gurus song)

"Bittersweet" was a single by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus which reached #10 on the Melbourne Record Charts.[1] It was released on Big Time Records in June, 1985; and was written by Dave Faulkner.[2]

"Bittersweet"
Single by Hoodoo Gurus
from the album Mars Needs Guitars!
A-side"Bittersweet"
B-side"Mars Needs Guitars"
ReleasedJune 1985 (Australia)
GenreAlternative rock
Length3:46
LabelBig Time (Australia)
Chrysalis (United Kingdom)
Elektra (United States)
Songwriter(s)Dave Faulkner
Producer(s)Charles Fisher
Hoodoo Gurus singles chronology
"I Want You Back"
(1984)		 "Bittersweet"
(1985)		 "Like Wow - Wipeout!"
(1985)

"Mars Needs Guitars" (B side), was written by all five Gurus (James Baker, Clyde Bramley, Faulkner, Mark Kingsmill and Brad Shepherd)[2] and lead vocals were by Brad Shepherd.

It was also released in 1985 in the United States by Elektra with "Bring the Hoodoo Down" as the B-side, and in the United Kingdom as a 12" single by Chrysalis Records with two B-sides, "Bring the Hoodoo Down" & "Turkey Dinner".[3]

"... I vowed to myself that I would write less comic narratives and try to express my sentiments in a more forthright way. I feel I succeeded with "Bittersweet" though at the time I didn't think that a) the band would want to play it and b) our audience would want to hear it. I was happily wrong on both counts." - Dave Faulkner.[4]

Cover versions & others

Courtney Love provided lead vocals for her band Hole's version of "Bittersweet" with Brad Shepard playing guitar and contributing backing vocals at Hole's 1999 Big Day Out performance.[5]

The song "Bittersweet" was used in the video game MVP Baseball 2004.

Track listing

7" version
  1. "Bittersweet" (Dave Faulkner) — 3:46[6]
  2. "Mars Needs Guitars" (James Baker, Clyde Bramley, Faulkner, Mark Kingsmill and Brad Shepherd)[2] — 2:51

7" version (US)
  1. "Bittersweet" (Faulkner) — 3:46
  2. "Bring the Hoodoo Down" (Faulkner)- 3:00

12" version
  1. "Bittersweet" (Faulkner) — 3:44[3]
  2. "Bring the Hoodoo Down" (Faulkner)[2] - 3:09
  3. "Turkey Dinner" (Faulkner)[2] - 4:23

Personnel

Credited to:[7]

  • James Baker — drums
  • Clyde Bramley — bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Faulkner — lead vocals (track A), guitar
  • Mark Kingsmill — drums, cymbals
  • Brad Shepherd — guitar, lead vocals (track B), harmonica
  • Producer — Charles Fisher
  • Engineer — John Bee
  • Mastering — Don Bartley

References
  1. Guest, Thomas J. (1991). Thirty Years of Hits. Collingwood, Melbourne: M. J. Maloney. ISBN 0-646-04633-0.
  2. "Australasian Performing Right Association". APRA. Archived from the original on 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2007-12-15.
  3. "Rate Your Music - "Bittersweet" (12")". Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  4. Faulkner, Dave (June 2000). "Pop and punishment". juliat. Archived from the original on 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2007-12-15.
  5. "Discogs entry on Bittersweet (unofficial Hole album)". discogs.com. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  6. "Discogs entry on "Bittersweet" 7"". Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  7. "Discogs entry on Mars Needs Guitars!". Retrieved 2007-12-15.
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