Twist (album) explained

Twist
Type:	Album
Artist:	Dave Dobbyn
Cover:	Dave Dobbyn Twist.jpg
Released:	November 1994 (NZ) 8 August 1995 (US)
Genre:	Rock
Label:	Sony BMG (NZ) Tristar (US)
Producer:	Neil Finn
Prev Title:	Lament for the Numb
Prev Year:	1993
Next Title:	The Islander
Next Year:	1998

Twist (1994) is the third solo album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Dave Dobbyn, his first recorded in New Zealand after almost a decade living overseas. It was produced by Neil Finn and featured Finn and two members of The Mutton Birds on guitars, bass and drums, as well as contributions by Tim Finn, Don McGlashan and US record producer Tchad Blake. The album was released in the United States with a slightly altered track listing, and some tracks replaced by songs from his previous album.^[1] First single "Language" reached number four on the New Zealand charts.

Background

After the struggle to release his previous album Lament For The Numb, Dobbyn returned to New Zealand. Fellow New Zealand musician Neil Finn had also just returned to the country with the ending of Crowded House and was happy to have the opportunity to work on another artists' album. Dobbyn credits Finn for giving the album much of its sound.^[2]

Track listing

The US release featured an altered track list, and three songs from Dobbyn's previous album Lament for the Numb.

Personnel

• Dave Dobbyn — vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards
• Neil Finn — guitars, backing vocals, piano, optigan, keyboards
• Alan Gregg — bass
• Ross Burge — drums
• Tchad Blake — noise
• Tim Finn — backing vocal, percussion, drums ("Language")
• Don McGlashan — euphonium ("It Dawned On Me")
• Emma Paki — backing vocals ("Naked Flame")
• Robert Issell — violin
• Christine Bowie — viola
• Ashley Hopkins — bass clarinet
• Miguel Fuentes — percussion ("Naked Flame", "I Can't Change My Name")
• Nathan Haines — tenor sax ("P.C.")
• Liam Finn — backing vocals ("P.C.")
• Cameron Lindsay — backing vocals ("P.C.")
• Lindsay and Elroy Finn — backing vocals ("P.C.")

Critical reception

Reception was positive. In 2009, New Zealand rock journalist Graham Reid described Twist as "the album of Dobbyn's career."^[3]

External links

• 1994 Nick Bollanger review of 'Twist', NZ Listener
• 1994 Chris Bourke interview with Dobbyn, NZ Listener
• Sydney Morning Herald interview

Notes and References

1. Web site: Twist (US Version).
2. Web site: Dave Dobbyn: Homegrown. Documentary. NZ On Screen. 23 September 2012.
3. Web site: Reid. Graham. Dave Dobbyn: Twist (1994). 9 October 2012.