THE CRYSTAL SET

A DROP IN THE OCEAN (1984)

A Drop In The Ocean Set 001 Back Cover A Drop In The Ocean Red Eye RED 4 Back Cover

A Drop In The Ocean (3:36)
She Counts Up The Days (3:34)

The b-side was covered by Steve Kilbey on Remindlessness.

• 7" - SET 001 (Australia) - Back Cover
• 7" - Survival SRS 003 (Australia)
• 7" - Red Eye RED 4 (Australia) Reissue - Spring 1985 - Back Cover

BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT (1985)

 

Benefit Of The Doubt (4:08) [February 1986]
Don't Be Surprised (3:25) [November 1985]

Produced by Steve Kilbey and Guy Gray

• 7" - Red Eye RED 8 (Australia)

WHOLLY HOLY (1987)

 

Wholly Holy (3:51)
Hubble Bubble (4:26) 

A-side produced by Steve Kilbey

• 7" - Red Eye RED 12 (Australia)
• 7" - Red Eye RED 12 (Australia) - white label test pressing

Wholly Holy
From Now On

Produced by Steve Kilbey

• 7" - Red Eye RED PRO 2 (Australia Promo)

Vinyl Run-Out Groove Messages
  Side 1: HARPOONING!
  Side 2: HELLO SPACE....

WHO NEEDS WHO NOW / FROM NOW ON (1987)

 

Who Needs Who Now (3:58)
From Now On (3:51)

"From Now On" produced by Steve Kilbey

• 7" - Red Eye RED 16 (Australia)

Vinyl Run-Out Groove Messages
  Side A: ABSOLUTELY GRAY VOX!
  Side 1: POG!
  The sides really are labeled "Side A" and "Side 1".

Because of a strike at the printers, some early copies had silk-screened sleeves [ Front | Back ] which are missing the Red Eye logos.
Advance copies of the single were mailed to radio stations with a promo sheet with tour dates.

Review of "From Now On" in The Age, Melbourne, Dec. 11, 1987: "A meaningfully wafty and ambient possibly post-bomb piece. Almost-poetry sung with a hypnotic mat-regularity and a complete lack of aggro over a similarly unthreatening picked electric guitar theme and smoky synthesiser add up to a tormenting (if psychedelic) whole."

UNRELEASED 12" TWO-SIDED ACETATE

Tracks

A) Who Needs Who Now (test cut)
B) Stetsons or Gangajang (test cut)

Releases

• 12" - Acetate - Studios 301 (Australia) - 45 RPM

FROM NOW ON (1987)

 

Tracks

Side 1:

1. Wholly Holy (3:50) –  /
2. The Catwalk (4:14)
3. All Directions (3:54)
4. Hypatia (4:03) (instrumental)
5. Benefit Of The Doubt (4:42) – 

Side 2:

1. Walk Away (3:52)
2. The Flat Earth (4:25)
3. Sea Of Misconception (6:00) – 
4. From Now On (3:51) – 

Credits

Phil Maher - Guitar & Vocals
Davey Ray Moor - Keyboards & Vocals
Tim Seckold - Drums & Percussion
John Lloyd - Drums on "Benefit of the Doubt"
Russel Kilbey - bass & vocals

Recorded and mixed by John Harvey Produced by The Crystal Set and Rudolf Neuman (aka Steve Kilbey)
  except "Benefit of the Doubt" produced by Guy Gray
Recorded at Festival Studios, Sydney, Australia, Christmas 1986
  except "Benefit of the Doubt" Recorded at Studios 301, Autumn 1986
Originally Mastered by Don Bartley

Colour Photography - Kim Sandeman & Russell Paper (aka Russell Kilbey)
Band Photograph - Candy Le Guay
Art Direction - John Foy

Releases

• LP - Red Eye RED LP 3 (Australia)

Vinyl Run-Out Groove Messages
  Side 1: MYSTERIOUSNESS
  Side 2: WALLY FREE ZONE

Notes

• There is an untitled poem about Hypatia

  HER NAME WAS HYPATIA
  A WOMAN
  BORN IN 370 A.D.
  A GREAT BEAUTY
  A SCIENTIST AND PHILOSOPHER
  SHE KEPT THE LIBRARY
  THE LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA
  ALL THE WISDOM
  OF ANTIQUITY
  NESTLED AMONGST SLAVERY
  AND DECAY
  HYPATIA WAS A SYMBOL
  A SYMBOL OF SCIENCE
  AND LEARNING
  DISTRUSTED AS PAGAN HERESY
  BY THE IGNORANT
  AND THE JEALOUS
  THE SAME IGNORANCE
  THAT WOULD SEND GALILEO
  TO THE INQUISITION
  FOR NOTICING
  THE EARTH WAS ROUND
  SHE CONTINUED ON REGARDLESS
  REGARDLESS OF APPROACHING MARTYRDOM
  REGARDLESS OF THE APPROACHING MOB
  FANATICAL RELIGIOUS
  WHO PULLED HER DOWN
  AND PULLED HER APART
  AND WARMED THEIR HANDS
  BY HER BURNING REMAINS
  BURNING HER DREAMS
  AND HER LOVE OF LEARNING
  SCATTERING HER ASHES
  ON THE WINDS OF OBLIVION

  in the liner notes.

UNRELEASED 12" TWO-SIDED ACETATE

Tracks

A) Walk Away (longer)
B) The Catwalk (different guitar + vocal)

These are alternate outtakes from RED LP 3 "From Now On."

Credits

Produced by Rudolph Neuman (i.e. Steve Kilbey)

Releases

• 12" - Acetate - Studios 301 (Australia) - 33-1/3 RPM

CLUSTER (1988)

 

Tracks

Side 1:

1. A Furious Mess (3:51)
2. Who Needs Who Now (4:03)
3. 13 Days (Of Rain) (2:15) (instrumental)

Side 2:

1. Wild Wild Planet (4:12) – 
2. Charlatan (4:22)
3. The Fool (4:22)

Credits

Phil Maher - Guitar & Vocals
Russel Kilbey - Bass & Vocals
Tim Seckold - Drums & Percussion

Side One
  Produced and engineered by Guy Gray at Studio 301
  Except for "13 Days" which was recorded one dark, wet night at home
  David Moor - Keyboards & Backing Vocals
Side Two
  Produced by Craig Hooper & The Set at Electric Avenue Studios
  Engineered by Phil Punch & Craig Hooper
  Craig Hooper - Keyboards & Guitar

Cover Stars - Buster, Sequel and Arlo
Photography - Russell Paper (aka Russell Kilbey)
Band Photograph - Geoff Aitken
Art Direction - John Foy
Originally Mastered by Don Bartley

Releases

• 12" - Red Eye RED EP 4 (Australia)

Vinyl Run-Out Groove Messages
  Side 1: BLUSTER BUSTER
  Side 2: WHOOPING

UMBRELLA (1989)

Red Eye RED CD 9 (Australia)

Red Eye RED CD 9 (Germany)

Tracks

1. A Furious Mess (3:56) – 
2. Who Needs Who Now (4:10)
3. All Directions (3:56)
4. The Catwalk (4:12)
5. Wholly Holy(3:57) –  /
6. Benefit Of The Doubt (4:45) – 
7. Wild Wild Planet (4:19) – 
8. The Fool (4:28)
9. Charlatan (4:30)
10. Sea Of Misconception (5:00) * – 
11. From Now On (3:48) – 

* Bonus track on CD releases only (not listed on German CD release).

» Lyrics «

Credits

Tim Seckold - Drums & Percussion
Russel Kilbey - Bass & Vocals
Phil Maher - Guitar & Vocals

Thanks to:
David Moor - Keyboards & Backing Vocals
Craig Hooper - Keyboards & Guitar

Photography - Kim Sandeman
Photo-Finishing - Geoff Aitken
Art Direction - John Foy

Releases

• LP - Red Eye RED LP 9 (Australia)
• LP - Red Eye RED LP 9 / Rough Trade Germany RTD L5-609 (Europe)
• CD - Red Eye RED CD 9 / Polydor 843 533-2 (Australia)
• CD - Red Eye RED CD 9 (Germany) - Manufactured and marketed by NORMAL Records

A FURIOUS MESS (1990)

 

A Furious Mess (3:51) – 
Some Attention (5:25) – 

• 7" - Red Eye RED SP 22 (Australia)
• CD - Polydor RED CD SP 22 (Australia)

SHE SPITS OUT STARS (1990)

She Spits Out Stars – 
Gargoyle (Lighthouse Keepers song)

• 7" - Red Eye/Polydor 879302-7 (Australia)
• CASS - Red Eye/Polydor 879302-4 (Australia)

Cover Painting by Karen Casey.

THRIVE (1990)

 

Thrive –  /
Kicking Around

• 7" - Red Eye 879852-7 (Australia)
• CASS - Red Eye 879852-4 (Australia)
• CD - Red Eye 879852-2 (Australia)

Vinyl Run-Out Groove Messages
  Side A: ALL THIS AND PLANT FOOD?
  Side B: LOVEWAND IS IT.

ALMOST PURE (1991)

Tracks

1. Thrive (4:07) –  /
2. Miss Superlative (4:05)
3. She Spits Out Stars (4:26) – 
4. Almost Pure (5:06)
5. Siege Mentality (3:41)
6. Homeblind (3:27)
7. Like A Treasure (5:19) –  /
8. Gargoyle (3:29)
9. Spring Suicide (4:20) – 
10. Some Attention (5:45) – 

» Lyrics «

Credits

Phil Maher - Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Russel Kilbey - Bass, Keyboards, Vocals
Darren Ryan: Drums & Percussion

Additional Keyboards: Laurie Maddey
Viola & Biscuits: Jennifer McHutchen
Produced by The Crystal Set
Engineered by Simon Polinski
Mixed by Guy Gray
Cover by Dr. I. S. White
Photography by Ross Bird

Releases

• LP - Red Eye RED LP 22 / Polydor 849 199 1 (Australia)
• CD - Polydor 849 199 2/Red Eye Records RED CD 22 (Australia)
• CD - Polydor 849 199 2/Red Eye Records RED CD 22 (Germany) - Manufactured and marketed by NORMAL Records

First pressings of LP and CD came with a tour pass for free admission to a Crystal Set gig.

MIXED BAG E.P. (1991)

Tracks

1. Like A Treasure (Single Edit) (5:10) –  /
2. Thrive (Mr Jolly Mix) (3:58)
3. Gush (4:50)
4. This Town (3:48)

Credits

Phil Maher - Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Russel Kilbey - Bass, Keyboards, Vocals
Darren Ryan: Drums & Percussion

Additional Vocals by Jules
Management by Bruce Butler/Valis Management
Tracks 3 & 4 Recorded at Pigpen with John Phillips
Thrive Remix ... Featuring LINCON by David Thrussell & Ross Healey
Video Art by Julia Bourke
Design by Dr. I. Floppe

Releases

• CD - Red Eye Records/Polydor 867 964-2 (Australia)

 

COMPILATIONS FEATURING TRACKS BY THE CRYSTAL SET

ASIDES & BESIDES: THE FIRST FIVE YEARS (1990)

Tracks

1. I Can't Control Myself (2:54) - James Baker Experience
2. Two Lines (2:29) - Ya Ya Choral
3. Drop In The Ocean (3:29) - The Crystal Set
4. Psycho (3:56) - The Beasts Of Bourbon
5. King Street (4:01) - John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong
6. Benefit Of The Doubt (4:26) - The Crystal Set
7. This Asphalt Eden (3:57) - Steve Kilbey
8. Transparent Garden (3:53) - Curious (Yellow)
9. Just To Be Sure (3:49) - The Bhagavad Guitars
10. You Can't Run (2:52) - Mexican Spitfires
11. Down Below (3:14) - The Cruel Sea
12. Like A Ghost - Steve Kilbey *
13. Don't Be Surprised (3:30) - The Crystal Set
14. Awakening Earth (4:18) - The Bhagavad Guitars
15. Shell (3:47) - Steve Kilbey
16. Run Rudolph Run (3:26) - John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong
17. Isabella (5:23) - Curious (Blue)
18. Hubble Bubble (3:23) - The Crystal Set
19. Sydney Town (2:58) - Mexican Spitfires
20. Thought We'd Agreed - The Bhagavad Guitars *
21. The Big Sleep - The Beasts of Bourbon *
22. Elvis Impersonator Blues - The Beasts of Bourbon *
23. New Neighbour (2:45) - The Tall Shirts
24. Born To Be Punched (3:34) - James Baker Experience

* on lp release only

Releases

• 2LP - Red Eye RED LP 7 / 847 028-1 (Australia)
• CASS - Red Eye/Polydor 847 028-4 (Australia)
• CD - Red Eye RED CD 7 / Polydor 847 028-2 (Australia)
• CD - Red Eye RED CD 7 (Germany) - Manufactured and marketed by NORMAL Records

Vinyl Run-Out Groove Messages
  Side 1: HOW DO YOU KEEP A MOSSY FAN BUSY?.....(OVER)
  Side 2: HOW DO YOU KEEP A MOSSY FAN BUSY?.....(OVER)
  Side 3: LIVE STOCK!
  Side 4: BYE BYE B SIDES.....

Notes

Includes this photo of the band:

UP FROM DOWN BELOW (1990)

Tracks

1. A Furious Mess (3:55) - Crystal Set
2. Charlatan (4:28) - Crystal Set
3. Sylvia (3:46) - Curious (Yellow)
4. Taken by Surprise (3:21) - Curious (Yellow)
5. Down Below (3:13) - The Cruel Sea
6. Margarita (2:43) - The Cruel Sea
7. We Haven't Arrived (3:39) - The Bhagavad Guitars
8. Until You Came (4:11) - The Bhagavad Guitars
9. Bad Revisited (4:00) - The Beasts of Bourbon
10. The Hate Inside (3:31) - The Beasts of Bourbon

Releases

• CD - Red Eye PRO SAMP (Australia) - gatefold cardboard sleeve

Notes

Includes this write-up on The Crystal Set:

FIVE YEARS INTO THE FUTURE (1991)

Tracks

1. Thrive (4:07) - Crystal Set
2. She Spits Out Stars (4:24) - Crystal Set
3. Souleater (2:37) - Clouds
4. Sweetest Thing (2:52) - Clouds
5. This Is Not The Way Home (4:06) - The Cruel Sea
6. Cry For Me (5:22) - The Cruel Sea
7. I Can Plainly See (4:46) - The Bhagavad Guitars
8. Assassin (4:05) - The Bhagavad Guitars
9. Chase The Dragon (3:41) - The Beasts of Bourbon
10. Can't Say No (4:56) - The Beasts of Bourbon
11. Sea Anemone (2:54) - Kim Salmon & The Surrealists
12. 26 Good Words (4:04) - Kim Salmon & The Surrealists

Releases

• CD - Red Eye redpro2 (Australia) - gatefold cardboard sleeve

Notes

Includes this write-up on The Crystal Set:

KARMIC HIT PREVIEWS AND RARITIES VOLUME 2:
LIMITED EDITION 10TH ANNIVERSARY CD (2003)

Tracks

Appearing on the night...

1. * Citizens (Shaolin Wooden Men "Duty Now & Forever" remix) (5:13) - SNOG
2. * Fill My Hole (Byron Scullin featuring Marcel Borrack "He's the Real Deal" remix) (5:23) - SNOG
3. * A Means To An End (3:20) - Steve Kilbey
4. Mechanism (4:10) - Steve Kilbey (from "Freaky Conclusions")
5. Until the End (4:11) - Halogen (from "Save the Ones You Love")
6. Caught Me (3:59) - Halogen (from "Save the Ones You Love")
7. Rehash (3:19) - JLK (from "Nothing More Than Something to Wear")
8. Friend Among Friends (radio edit) (3:15) - JLK (from "Nothing More Than Something to Wear")
9. Compass (4:02) - David Lane (from Compass)
10. * Lucky Joe (radio edit) (4:18) - David Lane

Coming soon...

11. Monorail (2:32) - Pugwash
12. Hey Little (3:06) - Pluto
13. Gone For Good (2:12) - Steve Kilbey (featuring Sandi Chick) from "Kilbeyfilmusic"
14. Providence (5:12) - Jack Frost (from Jack Frost re-release)
15. Drop in the Ocean (3:31) - the Crystal Set (from "best of the Crystal Set")
16. We Haven't Arrived (3:43) - the Bhagavad Guitars (from "best of BG's)
17. The Mercury Cure (3:57) - Turkeyneck Lasso (from Turkeyneck Lasso re-release)
18. Transmigration (3:52) - Isidore

In case you haven't heard these...

19. My Ancient Vihmaana (5:24) - SOMA (from "My Ancient Vihmaana" EP)
20. Hurricane Lamp (3:38) - Warp Factor 9 (from "Five Days in a Photon Belt")

* denotes track doesn't appear on another official release.

Releases

• CD - Karmic Hit KHPRO 04 (Australia) - plastic sleeve with card insert - limited edition of about 500

Notes

These were originally released in conjunction with the Karmic Hit 10th Anniversary shows (Feb. 27, 2003 at The Roma Room in Sydney, and March 6, 2003 at The Corner Hotel in Melbourne). The first two hundred ticket buyers for each show received the CD free. In April, 2003, this CD was offered free to the first 100 Karmic Hit mailing list subscribers who placed an order with them (either by email or through their online Mall of Convenience).