Although this is the band’s 4th release, The Swing is the one that launched them into superstars due to the single Original Sin, with its funky/rock crossover appeal which they would exploit to the max with subsequent releases.
Other than playing at school in various bands, they started as the Farris Brothers as per John, Tim and Andrew and completed by Kirk Pengilly and Michael Hutchence as front man. Produced by Nile Rodgers, who gave every song that Chic groove appeal, as after opener Original Sin finishes the groove keeps on right the way through the whole record.
Dancing On The Jetty has an almost new romantic vibe to it interspersed again with Rodgers funk wisdom. The title track, The Swing, has an almost Stones like beginning – and that closes Side 1. Weird choice of song to open Side 2, Johnson’s Aeroplane, as its the weakest song on the album. Love Is What They Say is a very ordinary tune, which gives way to the very funky Face The Change. The album closes out with two very eighties sounding tracks, Burn For You, and All the Voices.
So not a bad record that was made a lot better by Nile Rodger’s production and who knew the monster that would come after this with Listen Like Thieves. Face The Change just scrapes fave song award.
6.5/10 from The Grooveman.
