Mouth to Mouth (Mental As Anything album)

Mouth to Mouth is the sixth studio album by Australian pop rock band Mental As Anything, released in July 1987, and the album was produced by Richard Gottehrer. The album peaked at number 14 on the Australian chart.

Recording Bassist O'Doherty said, "Gottehrer programmed all the drums and virtually all of the bass. So there was virtually no point in me and [drummer] Bird being there. I remember feeling pretty desolate, thinking 'I fucking hate this'. It wasn't fun anymore. I was programmed out, basically."

Reception Jane Gazzo said the album, "epitomised 80s keyboard experimentation. With spacy, ethereal synthesiser treatments and expansive gated drum sounds." She also noted of the title track "some felt marked the band's departure into overindulgence".

Trouser Press said, "There isn't an unlikable moment anywhere on the record, but the Mentals seem in danger of drifting into musical senility unless they find some collective personality and start showing a little more enthusiasm."

Track listing Australian release:

International releases: The US/Canada version of the album drops "Ruby Baby", and adds the band's cover of "Love Me Tender". Releases in the UK and continental Europe also drop "Ruby Baby", and add "Love Me Tender" and a new version of "If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?", which is remixed and overdubbed with some new vocals and instrumentation. Production of both these international tracks was by Mark Opitz.

Personnel Musicians Martin Plaza — lead vocals, guitar Greedy Smith — lead vocals, keyboards, harmonica Reg Mombassa — guitar, vocals Peter O'Doherty — bass, guitar, vocals Wayne de Lisle — drums

Additional personnel Martin Armiger — guitar Mary Bradfield-Taylor — vocals Rick Chadwick — keyboards Sandi Chick — vocals Andrew Farriss — keyboards Mark Kennedy — percussion

Recording details Producer — Richard Gottehrer Engineer, mixing — Thom Panunzio Assistant — Allan Wright

Art work Art direction — Jana Hartig, Ken Smith, Sue Woollard Design — Martin Plaza, Greedy Smith (and cover design) Photography — Paula Clarke (cover photo), Paul Clarke, Hugh Hamilton, Frank Lindner (and sleeve photo), Francine McDougall

Charts Chart (1987) Peakposition Australian (Kent Music Report)14

Release history Region Date Label Format CatalogueAustralia 27 July 1987 CBS RecordsLP, Cassette 450361 1 450361 4 21 September 1987 CBS Records CD CDCBS 450361 2 United States1987Columbia Cassette BFC 40299 Netherlands1987 Epic CD EPC 460049 2UK1987EpicLP, Vinyl 460049 1

References