Description
Little River Band – First Under The Wire – Vinyl Record
First Under the Wire is the fifth studio album by Australian rock band Little River Band, released in July 1979. The album is notable for its blend of rock, pop, and soft rock elements, and it helped cement Little River Band’s status as an internationally successful group.
First Under the Wire features a mix of polished rock and pop with smooth vocal harmonies, characteristic of Little River Band’s style. The album’s themes include love, relationships, and personal introspection, delivered through catchy melodies and well-crafted arrangements.
Key Tracks:
“Lonesome Loser” – One of the band’s most famous songs, it features a memorable chorus and a theme of overcoming personal defeat.
“Cool Change” – A reflective ballad that became a hit single, praised for its serene melody and introspective lyrics about a desire for personal transformation and solitude.
“By My Side” – A track showcasing the band’s harmonies and melodic sensibilities.
“It’s Not a Wonder” – Known for its upbeat tempo and catchy hooks.
When Little River Band formed in 1975, Australia immediately took notice. The key band members were already well-known to Australians. Lead singer Glenn Shorrock had made his name in mid-’60s group the Twilights, a Beatles-sounding pop group who scored a national number one record with their version of the Velvelettes’ “Needle in a Haystack.”
When that group broke up in 1969 Shorrock became lead singer of Axiom, whose “A Little Ray of Sunshine” is still an Australian classic rock staple. LRB’s Beeb Birtles had been the bass player for a popular Twilights-era pop group called Zoot (Rick Springfield was a latter member).
When that group broke up, in search of musical credibility, Birtles auditioned as the bass player, but was instantly elevated to a front-line position alongside Graham Goble. Even LRB’s manager was well-known. Glenn Wheatley had been the bassist with another of Australia’s bands, and possibly its most legendary, the Masters Apprentices. Given all that background, when Shorrock and Birtles revealed they were forming a group with Goble, managed by Wheatley, it was major event in Australian music.
First Under the Wire was well-received both commercially and critically. It reached No. 10 on the US Billboard 200 and produced two top 10 singles, “Lonesome Loser” and “Cool Change.” The album’s success solidified Little River Band’s presence in the American music market.
The album remains a significant part of Little River Band’s discography, showcasing their ability to blend rock and pop with sophisticated harmonies and production. “First Under the Wire” is often cited as one of the band’s best works, contributing to their lasting legacy in the soft rock and adult contemporary genres.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic seal with promo slit in the jacket
Capitol / EMI Records 1979
Track Listing
Lonesome Loser
The Rumor
By My Side
Cool Change
It’s Not A Wonder
Hard Life (Prelude)
Hard Life
Middle Man
Man On the run
Mistress Of Mine
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