music.wikisort.org - Composition

Talking to a Stranger is the second single by Australian pub rock band Hunters & Collectors, released in 1982.[1] It was the only single to be released from Hunters & Collectors debut album. The song reached number 59 on the Australian chart.[2] "Talking to a Stranger", was released ahead of the album on 12 July, and was accompanied by a music video directed by film maker Richard Lowenstein,[3] but it did not reach the Top 50 on the related singles chart.[4]

"Talking to a Stranger"
Single by Hunters & Collectors
from the album Hunters & Collectors
A-side	"Talking To A Stranger (Michael's Version)"
B-side	"Talking To A Stranger (Our Version)"
Released	July 1982
Recorded	AAV
Genre	Rock
Length	4:39 (Michael's Version)
Label	Mushroom
Songwriter(s)	Mark Seymour, John Archer, Geoff Crosby, Doug Falconer, Robert Miles, Greg Perano, Ray Tosti-Guerra
Producer(s)	Hunters & Collectors
Hunters & Collectors singles chronology
"World of Stone" (1982) "Talking to a Stranger" (1982) "Lumps of Lead" (1982)

Background

Australian pub rockers Hunters & Collectors released "Talking to a Stranger" on 12 July 1982 ahead of their debut studio album,[5] Hunters & Collectors which appeared in July.[6] The track was co-written by band members John Archer on bass guitar, Doug Falconer on drums, Ray Tosti-Guerra on guitar, vocals, Robert Miles on live sound, Mark Seymour on lead vocals and guitar, Greg Perano on percussion, and Geoff Crosby on keyboards. In 2013 a cover version of "Talking to a Stranger" by Birds of Tokyo appeared on the tribute album, Crucible – The Songs of Hunters & Collectors.[7]

Reception

At the 1982 Countdown Music Awards, the song was nominated for Best Debut Single.[8][9]

Named by Double J as one of the best debut singles of all time, they said, "following in the footsteps of Germany's Krautrock pioneers. With huge horns and metallic percussion, Hunters & Collectors showed few signs of emerging beyond Melbourne's underground. With their debut single soon after, it appeared nothing would change. It was a seven-and-a-half-minute epic with jagged guitars, a thundering rhythm, a barking vocal, and an opening line nicked from Charles Baudelaire."[10]

Track listing

Personnel

Hunters & Collectors members

• John Archer – electric bass
• Geoff Crosby – keyboards
• Doug Falconer – drums
• Robert Miles – live sound, art director
• Greg Perano – percussion
• Mark Seymour – guitar, lead vocals
• Ray Tosti-Guerra – guitar, vocals

Charts

Chart (1982)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2]	59

References

External links

• Video of "Talking To A Stranger"

---