Try Whistling This Explained

Try Whistling This
Type:	studio
Artist:	Neil Finn
Cover:	Try Whistling This.jpg
Released:	15 June 1998
Recorded:	1997–1998
Length:	54:44
Label:	Parlophone Work (US/Canada)
Producer:	Neil Finn Tchad Blake Marius De Vries Jim Moginie
Next Title:	Sessions at West 54th
Next Year:	2000

Try Whistling This is the debut solo album by the New Zealand singer/songwriter Neil Finn, released in 1998. It was produced by Finn, Tchad Blake, Marius De Vries, and Jim Moginie.^[1] The Japanese version of the album has a bonus track called "Tokyo", which also appears on the UK release of the single "Sinner".^[2] Special editions of the Australian CD contained a bonus CD with six extra tracks which were used as the B-sides for the singles released from the album. The album topped the charts in Australia and New Zealand, and also reached the top five of the UK Albums Chart.

Critical reception

The Guardian wrote that Finn's "eternally yearning tones set him apart from other melodic late-thirtysomethings—though he also happens to write lovely, inexplicably underrated songs."^[3]

Awards

In 1999, Try Whistling This won the New Zealand Music Award for Best Cover Art. The cover was drawn by Neil's young son, Elroy.^[4]

Track listing

All songs were written by Neil Finn, except where noted.

1. "Last One Standing" – 3:04
2. "Souvenir" – 3:42
3. "King Tide" (Finn, Robert Moore) – 4:33
4. "Try Whistling This" (Finn, Jim Moginie) – 4:13
5. "She Will Have Her Way" – 3:56
6. "Sinner" (Finn, Marius De Vries) – 4:25
7. "Twisty Bass" – 5:09
8. "Loose Tongue" (Finn, Moginie) – 4:12
9. "Truth" (Finn, Moginie) – 4:03
10. "Astro" – 3:46
11. "Dream Date" – 4:51
12. "Faster Than Light" – 4:23
13. "Addicted" – 4:22

Australian edition bonus disc

1. "Tokyo" – 2:56
2. "Family Ties" – 3:11
3. "She Comes Scattered" – 3:36
4. "Identical Twin" – 3:30
5. "808 Song" – 3:30
6. "Log Drums" – 3:49

Personnel

• Tony Allen – drums (track 11)
• Michael Barker – drums (tracks 3, 5, 6, 10), percussion (tracks 5, 6, 7, 8, 11)
• Lyn Buchannan – additional drums (track 1)
• Marius De Vries – programming (tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13), keyboards (tracks 6 and 13)
• Liam Finn – drums (tracks 2, 8), guitar (track 5)
• Paddy Free – programming (track 7)
• Mitchell Froom – Hammond (tracks 10, 11, 12)
• Jim Moginie – guitars (tracks 4, 8, 10, 13), bass guitar (track 13), omnichord (track 13), percussion (track 13)
• Robert Moore – bass (track 8)
• Sebastian Steinberg – bass (tracks 1 to 6, 8, 9, 11)
• Pete Thomas – drums (tracks 1, 4, 9)
• Neil Finn – all other instruments

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[5]	44
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[6]	26

Notes and References

1. Reviews & Previews . Billboard . Jul 4, 1998 . 110 . 27 . 20.
2. Web site: neil finn . music. 22 September 2007. Frenz.com.
3. News: Sullivan . Caroline . Neil Finn Try Whistling This . The Guardian . 19 June 1998 . Features . 16.
4. Web site: 1999 Winners « Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards . 17 November 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140419131403/http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/1999-winners/ . 19 April 2014 .
5. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1998. Australian Recording Industry Association. 13 October 2021.
6. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 1998. Recorded Music NZ. 30 January 2022.