Watershed is the debut solo album by Grant McLennan, founding member of the Go-Betweens released under the name G. W. McLennan. The album was recorded nine months after the Go-Betweens called it quits and was released in 1991.
The album featured contributions by singer-songwriters Paul Kelly and Dave Dobbyn, ex-Go-Between Amanda Brown, and Phil Kakulas of Blackeyed Susans. The album peaked at No. 96 on the Australian album charts.
Singles from the album were "Haven't I Been a Fool" (Europe only), "When Word Gets Around" and "Easy Come Easy Go".
Critical reception
Robert Christgau noted that "the synthy guitar and hot drum programming put welcome glitz and steel into his romantic verse." Musicologist Ian McFarlane said it was an "ambitious and highly personalised collection of songs charted McLennan's emotions in the wake of The Go-Betweens' break-up... [it] revealed McLennan to be, in turns, the introspective singer/songwriter or the carefree and gregarious performer."McFarlane 'The Go-Betweens' entry. Archived from the original on 29 August 2004. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
Melody Maker said, "People bleat on about Bobby Dylan, but it's been a good 16 years since [he] delivered anything as evocative as the choice moments on this record. GW stands in the shadow of a volcano singing his blessed heart out. Indeed, this some of the loveliest literate pop music you've heard."
Track listing All tracks written by Grant McLennan.
Side A "When Word Gets Around" – 4:33 "Haven't I Been a Fool" – 3:23 "Haunted House" – 3:00 "Stones for You" – 3:20 "Easy Come Easy Go" – 4:00 "Black Mule" – 4:45
Side B "Putting the Wheels Back On" – 4:15 "You Can't Have Everything" – 3:09 "Sally's Revolution" – 3:57 "Broadway Bride" – 3:42 "Just Get That Straight" – 3:17 "Dream About Tomorrow" – 5:57
Personnel Grant McLennan – guitars, vocals Paul Kelly Amanda Brown Dave Dobbyn – guitars, keyboards Huey Benjamin Ian Belton – bass James Cruickshank Kenny Davis Jnr "Diamond Jim" Elliott Phil Hall Phil Kakulas Francine McDougall Astrid Munday Sarah Peet Stephen Philip Kit Quarry Tim Rollinson – guitar Kathy Wemyss
Charts + Chart performance for Watershed Chart (1991) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 96
References