The Boys Light Up

The Boys Light Up is the debut album from Australian pub rock band Australian Crawl,^[2][3] which was released in 1980 and contains the title track, "The Boys Light Up", "Indisposed", "Downhearted" and their previously released debut single "Beautiful People". The album reached #4 on the Australian album charts and remained in the charts for an unbroken 101 weeks,^[4] eventually selling over 280 000 copies (five times platinum).^[5]

The Boys Light Up
Studio album by Australian Crawl
Released	April 1980
Recorded	August 1979 – February 1980
Studio	AAV Studios (Melbourne, Victoria)
Genre	Pop, rock
Length	38:25
Label	EMI
Producer	David Briggs
Australian Crawl chronology
The Boys Light Up (1980) Sirocco (1981)
Singles from The Boys Light Up
"Beautiful People" Released: August 1979 "The Boys Light Up" Released: March 1980 "Downhearted" Released: May 1980
The Boys Light Up 1992 Re-release
The Boys Light Up 1992 CD cover

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Various band members were involved in songwriting, often with relatives or former bandmates. Rhythm guitarist Brad Robinson's father James Robinson was a Federal Arbitration Court Justice and co-wrote two songs for this album.^[6] Reyne's bandmate from Spiff Rouch, Mark Hudson co-wrote their first single, "Beautiful People" (1979).^[7] "Downhearted" was written by Bill McDonough and his bandmates from The Flatheads, Guy McDonough (his brother, who later joined the Crawl) and Sean Higgins.^[7] Producer, David Briggs (Little River Band guitarist), co-wrote "Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama" with Reyne.^[7]

The album was re-released in 1992 in CD format (see cover right below), and as a 2-CD set with follow-up album Sirocco in 1996.^[3] In October 2010, Boys Light Up was listed in the top 50 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.^[8]

Track listing

1. "My Coffee's Gone Cold" (Simon Binks) – 3:29
2. "Man Crazy" (James Reyne) – 3:39
3. "Way I've Been" (Brad Robinson, James Robinson) – 2:17
4. "Chinese Eyes" (James Reyne, Simon Binks) – 3:01
5. "Downhearted" (Sean Higgins, Guy McDonough, William 'Bill' McDonough) – 3:09
6. "Beautiful People" (James Reyne, Mark Hudson) – 2:56
7. "Indisposed" (Brad Robinson, James Robinson, James Reyne, William 'Bill' McDonough) – 4:04
8. "Walk My Way" (James Reyne, Brad Robinson) – 2:44
9. "The Boys Light Up" (James Reyne) – 4:41
10. "Boot Hill" (James Reyne, Simon Binks) – 2:36
11. "Red Guitar" (Simon Binks) – 3:19
12. "Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama" (James Reyne, David Briggs) – 2:30

Songwriting credits from Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).^[7]

Personnel

Credited to:^[3][9]

Australian Crawl

• James Reyne – lead vocals, harmonica
• Simon Binks – lead and slide guitar, vocals
• Bill McDonough – drums, percussion, vocals
• Brad Robinson – rhythm guitar, vocals
• Paul Williams – bass, vocals

Additional musicians

• Mal Logan, Eddie Rayner, Peter Jones, Keith McKay – keyboards
• Bill Harrower – saxophone
• Derek Pellicci – percussion
• Mal Stainton – backing vocals

Additional credits

• Engineer — Ross Cockle
• Producer — David Briggs

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1980)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10]	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[11]	8

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[12]	Platinum	50,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.