Cold Chisel – Circus Animals 1982

There seems to be a lot of debate as to which is Cold Chisel’s best album, East or Circus Animals. It’s a tough call as both are great and it comes down to personal preference. I’d slightly favour Circus Animals as it has what is probably my favourite Cold Chisel song, ‘Bow River’, where Ian Moss takes the lead vocals and whilst Jimmy Barnes lends support, Moss shines and lets his guitar rip too. Moss is a brilliant guitarist but on East he seemed a bit restrained. Here though, he lets loose several times and the album is better for it. He also adds some sublime touches on the albums big hits ‘Forever Now’ and ‘When the War is Over’. Some big names have tried to cover the latter but just can not come close. It’s surely one of Chisel’s most beautiful and finest songs.

Just as Cold Chisel wrote some fine ballads and radio friendly songs, without being outwardly commercial, they were always capable of rocking it up. ‘You Got Nothing I Want’ is a great example in a stinging rebuke of a nation that failed to embrace them, or is it just sour grapes, as Barnes surely tried again for success in his solo career. The rawness also comes through in some of the lesser known tracks ‘Houndog’, ‘Wild Colonial Boy’ and ‘Letter to Alan’. Whilst this album may seem a bit Jeckyl and Hyde at times, it’s surely one of Chisel’s two finest and without them trying, this has something for everyone.

1. You Got Nothing I Want (3:13)
2. Bow River (4:17) (Moss)
3. Forever Now (4:20)
4. Taipan (3:51)
5. Houndog (4:58)
6. Wild Colonial Boy (4:46)
7. No Good for You (3:12)
8. Numbers Fall (4:39)
9. When the War Is Over (4:20)
10. Letter to Alan (5:38)
Bonus Tracks
11. Suicide Sal
12. Notion For You
13. F-111

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