This is Really Something

This is Really Something
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedAugust 1997
Recorded1977–1981
GenreNew Wave, rock, pop
Length112:33
LabelMushroom
The Sports chronology
Missin' Your Kissin
(1987)
This is Really Something
(1997)
Alternate cover
The Definitive Collection (2004)

This is Really Something is a greatest hits album by Australian rock and pop band The Sports, released in August 1997. The album was re-released in August 2004 under the title The Definitive Collection.

Background and release

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The Sports formed in 1976 and were signed to Mushroom Records in 1977. Their first Australian hit was "Boys! (What Did the Detective Say?)" in 1978 but they cracked the UK chart with "Who Listens to the Radio" in 1979. They broke up in 1981 after just four albums, three of which peaked within the top 20 in Australia.[1][2]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Sydney Morning Herald[3]
AllMusic[4]

Bernard Zuel of Sydney Morning Herald believes if The Sports had been English they would have been huge. saying ""Boys! (What Did the Detective Say?)" and "Who Listens to the Radio" are classic new wave moments" adding "it's in the collection of could-have-been/should-have-been hits from 1979-81 that this compilation provides its worth. Great pop songs played well - rare enough at any time, a treasure all the time.

Jason Ankeny from AllMusic said "The two-disc, 36-track complete anthology paints a definitive portrait of the Sports' career; split between singles and album tracks (compiled on the first disc) and rare and unreleased material (found on the second), the set is a solid introduction to the work of a sadly underrecognized group, a kind of Australian counterpart to the music of Elvis Costello, Graham Parker or Joe Jackson."

An Amazon reviewer said "This definitive collection features 2CDs each containing the quintessential The Sports tunes including "Who Listens to the Radio", "Don't Throw Stones" and "Strangers on a Train".[5]

Track listing

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CD/Cassette(MUSH33011)
Disc One
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Boys! (What Did the Detective Say?)"Stephen Cummings, Ed Bates Andrew PendleburyReckless2:27
2."When You Walk in the Room"Jackie DeShannonReckless3:46
3."Reckless"Cummings, Bates Andrew PendleburyReckless2:32
4."I Put a Light On"Cummings, BatesReckless4:14
5."Who Listens to the Radio"Cummings, PendleburyDon't Throw Stones3:15
6."Suspicious Minds"Martin ArmigerDon't Throw Stones3:23
7."Don't Throw Stones"CummingsDon't Throw Stones3:37
8."Wedding Ring"Stevie Wright/George Young, Harry VandaO.K, U.K!2:04
9."Suddenly"Cummings, PendleburySuddenly2:35
10."Blue Hearts"Armiger, CummingsSuddenly4:05
11."Strangers on a Train"ArmigerSuddenly2:41
12."Perhaps"CummingsSuddenly3:18
13."Black Stockings (For Chelsea)"Armiger, CummingsSondra3:28
14."Lucky Shop"Armiger, CummingsSondra2:20
15."How Come"Armiger, CummingsSondra3:11
16."This is Really Something"Armiger, CummingsSondra2:45
17."Stop the Baby Talking"Cummings, PendleburySondra3:06
18."Passionette"Armiger, CummingsSondra2:12
Disc Two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Twist Senorita"Cummings, BatesFair Game2:26
2."Cruisin' in a Citroën"Cummings, Batesfrom various artists release Debutantes2:52
3."Reckless (1979 re-recorded version)"Cummings, Bates PendleburyDon't Throw Stones4:11
4."Sunshine Superman"DonovanThe Sports Play Dylan (and Donovan)3:11
5."Ballad of a Thin Man"Bob DylanThe Sports Play Dylan (and Donovan)4:46
6."You're a Big Girl Now"DylanThe Sports Play Dylan (and Donovan)4:02
7."Fourth Time Around"DylanThe Sports Play Dylan (and Donovan)2:58
8."All the Tired Horses"DylanThe Sports Play Dylan (and Donovan)1:58
9."Worst Kind"Cummings, Pendlebury, Joe CamilleriDon't Throw Stones2:48
10."Terror Hits"ArmigerDon't Throw Stones3:40
11."I Fought the Law"Sonny Curtispreviously unreleased2:00
12."When I Write This Book"Cummings, Pendleburypreviously unreleased3:48
13."Drug Sluts"Armiger, Cummingsb-side of "How Come" single2:54
14."O Narcissus"Armiger, Cummingspreviously unreleased2:32
15."All The Girls"Armiger, Cummingspreviously unreleased3:21
16."Can't Ever Decide"Cummings, PendleburyLive at Bombay Rock3:25
17."Hit Single"ArmigerLive at Bombay Rock3:38
18."Live Work and Play"Cummings, PendleburyLive at Bombay Rock3:04

References

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  1. ^ "The Definitive Collection by The Sports". JB HiFi. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  2. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 288. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. ^ "MEDIA: Reviews: "This Is Really Something", The Sports". Love Town. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  4. ^ "The Sports - Complete Anthology". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Definitive Collection by The Sports". amazon. Retrieved 21 October 2017.