Was There Anything I Could Do?

"Was There Anything I Could Do?" is a song by the Australian alternative rock band The Go-Betweens that was issued as the second single from their sixth 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.[3]

"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"
Released3 October 1988 (1988-10-03)
Genre
Length3:06
LabelMushroom (AUS)
Beggars Banquet (UK)
Songwriter(s)Robert Forster, Grant McLennan[2]
Producer(s)Mark Wallis
The Go-Betweens singles chronology
"Streets of Your Town"
(1988)		 "Was There Anything I Could Do?"
(1988)		 "Love Goes On"
(1988)

"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.[4]

Cover versions

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.[5]

In 2010 a cover of the song by The Buzzards, was included on a Go-Betweens tribute album, Right Here.[6]

Franz Ferdinand in November 2013 covered the song on Triple J's Like a Version programme.[7]

In 2014 a cover of the song by Missy Higgins was included on her album, Oz.[8][9]

Track listing

Original 7" Vinyl release
  1. "Was There Anything I Could Do?" - 3:06
  2. "Rock and Roll Friend" - 3:30

Original 12" Vinyl release
  1. "Was There Anything I Can Do?" - 3:06
  2. "Rock and Roll Friend" - 3:30
  3. "Mexican Postcard" - 2:13

Original CD single release
  1. "Was There Anything I Can Do?" - 3:06
  2. "Rock and Roll Friend" - 3:30
  3. "Mexican Postcard" - 2:13
  4. "Bye Bye Pride" - 4:06

Release history
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
A. ^ :The US release was a 12" promotional release with "Was There Anything I Could Do?" on each side.

Charts
Chart (1988–89) Peak
position
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[10] 16

References
  2. "'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.
  3. "The Go-Betweens - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  4. Nichols, David (2003). The Go-Betweens. Verse Chorus Press. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-891241-16-1.
  5. "Editors, Cribs and Prodigy on new covers compilation". NME. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  6. "Right Here : A Go-Betweens Tribute". Amazon.com. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  7. "Like a Version: Franz Ferdinand - Was There Anything I Could Do". Triple J. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  8. Brandle, Lars (4 August 2014). "Missy Higgins Announces New Album, Book and a Baby". Billboard magazine. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  9. "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.
  10. "The Go-Betweens Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
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