Starfish (album)
| Starfish | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by The Church | ||||
| Released | 16 February 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1987 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, psychedelic rock, dream pop | |||
| Length | 46:07 | |||
| Label |
Mushroom (Australia) Arista (International) |
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| Producer | Greg Ladanyi, Waddy Wachtel & The Church | |||
| The Church chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Starfish | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Los Angeles Times |  |
| Rolling Stone | |
| The Village Voice | B |
Starfish is the fifth album by the Australian rock band The Church, released in February 1988. The band's breakthrough album, Starfish went gold in America and has remained their most commercially successful release. The album sold 600,000 copies in the United States alone. The first single, "Under the Milky Way", charted well in the American Top 40, peaking at No. 24 and No. 2 on Mainstream Rock Tracks, leading to significant exposure of the then relatively underground Australian act. In Australia "Under the Milky Way" climbed to No. 5, and Starfish reached No. 7 on the album charts, the band's highest positions ever in their home market.
The album was recorded/produced in Los Angeles by L.A. session musicians Waddy Wachtel and Greg Ladanyi. The recording is more sparse and open than its predecessor, Heyday, which featured orchestral arrangements with brass and strings. Many of its songs have seen heavy rotation in live set lists, and the album remains a favorite among many fans.
The song "Under the Milky Way" was co-written by Kilbey with his then-girlfriend Karin Jansson of Pink Champagne. When drummer Richard Ploog was unable to find the right feel for the song, the band played to a click track and session musician Russ Kunkel was brought in to add the drums and percussion later.
The album's title was taken from singer/bassist Steve Kilbey's nickname for friend/ musical partner Donnette Thayer, who signed herself that way on postcards she sent to Kilbey. Kilbey contributed a long untitled poem to the album's liner notes. "Hotel Womb" has dream-themed lyrics relating to an imagined wedding. Music videos were filmed for "Under The Milky Way" and "Reptile." The fifth season of the US TV show, Miami Vice, featured two songs from the album. "Under the Milky Way" was used in an episode called "Asian Cut" (aired 13 January 1989), and "Blood Money" was showcased throughout "Heart Of Night" (18 November 1988).
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