Crowded House: The memories are “Something So Strong”

The band Crowded House in the '80s.

Source: https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/crowded-house-30th-anniversary-reissues-album-review

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We were having show and tell in Grade 6 at St. Joseph’s School in Coaldale. Meriel Kingston brought a record she was excited about, and our teacher even agreed to play a bit of the song on it she really liked. When she picked up the album, the record went rolling out the end of it, continuing until it hit a cinder block wall and came to a stop.

I noticed the record wasn’t like any of the black vinyl my brother had in his record collection or like any record my Mom had. It had this geometric diamond like pattern cut into it by lasers. When Meriel picked it up and light hit those patterns, you could see little rainbows. It was so cool.

That was my introduction to Split Enz, a band that became Crowded House, who I quite like.

They recently announced they are reuniting and going back on tour.

I was glad to hear that because I have some fond memories of Crowded House and its members.

Split Enz
Split Enz formed in 1972 in New Zealand. It is credited as the first New Zealand band to gain substantial recognition outside Australasia.

Their big hit came in 1980 with “I Got You”, from the album “True Colours”. It was that record that had the laser etching. It was designed so when light hit the record, the designs etched in the vinyl would protrude and spin about the room.

“I Got You” went all the way to number one in New Zealand and Australia, number 12 in the United Kingdom, and number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Split Enz was back with another big hit in 1982 with the album “Time and Tide”, which reached number one in New Zealand and Australia. It also yielded the hit single “Six Months in a Leaky Boat”, which peaked at number two in Australia, and number seven in Canada and New Zealand.

Let’s start a band
In 1984, Neil Finn, vocalist, guitar and piano, and Paul Hester on drums, decided to form a new band as Split Enz was ending. They were joined by Nick Seymour on bass and guitarist Craig Hooper, to form the Mullanes, which quickly morphed into Crowded House.

They released their debut album, the self-titled “Crowded House” in 1986. I did not know their first single was actually “Mean to Me”, which failed to chart in the United States.

That was not the case with the second single, “Don’t Dream It’s Over”, which remains one of my favourite songs. Released in October of 1986, it went all the way to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It really is a cool song that, at times, tries to stuff as many words as possible into a line of verse.

The third single was another hit, “Something So Strong”, which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1987. The album also contained two other songs that hit the radio – “World Where You Live” and “Now We’re Getting Somewhere”.

I ended up buying the album “Crowded House” on tape at a garage sale in Edmonton. However, as it turned out, I actually already had a good chunk of it already. My friend Bruce Freadrich had lent me a tape he made that contained the songs “Heat of the Moment” and “Only Time Will Tell” by Asia. I played them quite a bit, but only those two songs. Then, one day, I left the tape running because I was in the middle of something. Suddenly “World Where You Love” then “Now We’re Getting Somewhere” played back to back. That’s when I realized how much I liked the sound of Crowded House.

What’s next?
Crowded House released their second album, “Temple of Low Men” in 1988. It did not match the success of their debut album, but the first single from “Temple of Low Men” did get some good air play on the radio. “Better be Home Soon” was another great ballad that went all the way to number one in Canada; number two in New Zealand and Australia: and number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

None of the other singles from “Temple of Low Men” charted – not “When You Come”; “Into Temptation”; “Never be the Same”; “Sister Madly”; or “I Feel Possessed.”

The years after
Crowded House kept on writing, recording and performing. Tim Finn, who was one of the founding members of Split Enz and Neil’s brother, joined Crowded House in 1990. The Finn brothers had been writing songs together for their own album , and ended up using them for Crowded House’s third album “Woodface”, which came out in 1991.

This was my last exposure to Crowded House. I think it was on “The Journal” on CBC, but I saw a profile on the band. They focused on how Tim Finn joined the band; his brother; and their first single called “Chocolate Cake”. It didn’t chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but did peak at number two on Billboard’s Modern Rock Charts.

Crowded House has continued to write, record and perform on and off to this day. That includes releasing a new single earlier this year in February of 2024, from their eighth album “Gravity Stairs”, which was released on May 31, 2024.

Up close, in person
So many bands from the ‘80s have disbanded, had members die, or just faded away. Gone with them are any opportunity to hear them perform their songs in person.

I was lucky enough a few years ago to capitalize on a unique experience. Neil Finn joined Fleetwood Mac, replacing Lindsey Buckingham. When we went to see them at the Calgary Saddledome, they actually played two songs from Finn’s former bands – “I Got You” by Crowded House and “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House

It was amazing.

Parting thoughts
Crowded House holds a special place in my heart. “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and “Something So Strong” came out in the last half of Grade 12, which was an eventful time in my life. It was a time of change, looking back and looking ahead.

Every time I hear either of those two songs, it brings back all those memories of that period in time.

They really are something so strong.