Stoneage Romeos is the debut album by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus. Released in March 1984 by Big Time Records in Australia, the album's release saw them receive record sales to complement their already strong reputation for live performances. With radio and television support for their third single "My Girl" (1983), complete with a film clip about a greyhound of the same name, the band's following grew. The album's other singles were "Leilani", "Tojo" and "I Want You Back". The album peaked at number 29 on the Australian charts.
The band won "Best Debut Album" at the 1984 Countdown Awards.
A&M Records released the album in the United States on 7 September 1984.
Stoneage Romeos was re-released by Arcadia Records on 1 October 2002, with two additional tracks, "Hoodoo You Love" and "Be My Guru". EMI also re-released the album on 24 October 2005 with three bonus tracks, "Leilani Pt. 2", "Be My Guru" and "Hoodoo You Love", a fold-out poster and liner notes by Lindsay "The Doctor" McDougall of Frenzal Rhomb.
In October 2010, the album was listed in the top 30 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.
Release The title Stoneage Romeos is taken from a Three Stooges short film. The Australian LP, designed by Yanni Stumbles, sported a cartoonish nod to the 1966 caveman flick One Million Years B.C., all menacing dinosaurs and Day-Glo colors, whilst in America, consumers got a stylized sleeve featuring arty renditions of the giant reptiles. On the change of covers, the band's frontman Dave Faulkner would later recall:
Track listing Australian release
US release
Personnel Credited to:
James Baker – drums Clyde Bramley – bass, vocals Dave Faulkner – guitar, lead vocals, keyboards Brad Shepherd – lead guitar, vocals, harmonica, percussion Michael Farmer – additional percussion Alan Thorne – producer and engineer Bob Carbone – mastering Frank DeLuna – mastering Yanni Stumbles – artwork (cover concept and design) Tom Takacs – photography Stuart Thorne – other ("the boss")
Charts +Chart performance for Stoneage RomeosChart (1984)PeakpositionAustralian Albums (Kent Music Report)29 +2024 chart performance for Stoneage Romeos (40th anniversary edition)Chart (1984)Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 8
Certifications
See also Stoneage Cameos – a 2005 tribute album, featuring cover versions of all of Stoneage Romeos' songs by 14 other Australian bands
References