# 1978–1990 (Go-Betweens album)

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | |
| Robert Christgau | A |
1978–1990 (sometimes The Go-Betweens 1978–1990) is a 1990 compilation album by Australian band The Go-Betweens. The album draws together music spanning the band's career from their beginnings in Brisbane to their 1989 breakup, including singles, B-sides, songs recorded for broadcast and previously unreleased material.

## Reception

Melody Maker said, "I find myself holding a package containing some of the most shockingly accurate songs about life and love I've ever heard. The fact the Go-Betweens never became massive is a disgusting injustice - but here's an opportunity to discover their dazzling brilliance." Robert Christgau said, "Half best-of, half collectorama, this gets you coming and going: you had no idea the album highlights would mesh into perfect pop, and you had no idea the 45-rpm obscurities would coalesce into imperfect pop."
NME noted the album, "spans their age, from the curiously unhinged art-pop of two Brisbane beatniks with a Phil Ochs/Patti Smith/Lee Remick obsession, to the smooth, accomplished craft of their last album."

## Track listing

(All songs by Grant McLennan and Robert Forster)
* "Karen" (1978) – 4:03 (Included on vinyl edition of album only)
** Recorded May 1978, Brisbane. Originally released as a single
* "Hammer the Hammer" (1982) – 2:50
** Recorded January 1982, Melbourne. Originally released as a single
* "Cattle and Cane" (1983) – 4:02
** Recorded October 1982, Eastbourne. Originally released on Before Hollywood
* "Man O'Sand to Girl O'Sea" (1983) – 3:26
** Recorded August 1983, Sussex. Originally released as a single
* "Bachelor Kisses" (1984) – 3:29
** Recorded July 1984, London. Originally released on Spring Hill Fair
* "Draining the Pool For You" (1984) – 4:16
** Recorded May 1984, France. Originally released on Spring Hill Fair
* "Spring Rain" (1986) – 3:06
** Recorded November 1985, London. Originally released on Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express
* "The Clarke Sisters" (1987) – 3:17
** Recorded January 1987, London. Originally released on Tallulah
* "Right Here" (1987) – 3:52
** Recorded December 1986, London. Originally released on Tallulah
* "Bye Bye Pride" (1987) – 4:03
** Recorded January 1987, London. Originally released on Tallulah
* "The House That Jack Kerouac Built" (1987) – 4:41
** Recorded January 1987, London. Originally released on Tallulah
* "Streets of Your Town" (1988) – 3:34
** Recorded May 1988, Sydney. Originally released on 16 Lovers Lane
* "Love is a Sign" (1988) – 4:13
** Recorded May 1988, Sydney. Originally released on 16 Lovers Lane
* "8 Pictures" (1981) – 4:49
** Recorded July 1981, Melbourne. Originally released on Send Me A Lullaby;– 4:49 (Included on vinyl edition of album only)
* "I Need Two Heads" (1980) – 2:33
** Recorded April 1980, Scotland. Originally released as a single
* "When People Are Dead" (1987) – 4:29
** Recorded January 1987, London. Originally released as a single B side
* "The Sound Of Rain" (1978) – 3:05 (Included on vinyl edition of album only)
** Recorded November 1978, Brisbane. Previously unreleased.
* "People Say" (1979) – 2:40
** Recorded May 1978, Brisbane. Originally released as a single
* "World Weary (1981) – 1:41
** Recorded April 1981, Sydney. Originally released as a single B side
* "Rock and Roll Friend" (1988) – 3:34
** Recorded August 1988, London. Originally released as a single B side
* "Dusty In Here" (1983) – 4:10
** Recorded August 1983, Eastbourne. Originally released on Before Hollywood
* "A King In Mirrors" (1984) – 2:58 (Included on vinyl edition of album only)
** Recorded December 1983, London, for David Jensen Show
* "Second-Hand Furniture" (1984) – 4:13
** Recorded October 1984, London, for John Peel Show
* "This Girl, Black Girl" (1983) – 2:31
** Recorded August 1983, Sussex. Originally released as a single B side
* "Don't Call Me Gone" (1987) – 2:17
** Recorded January 1987, London. Originally released as a single B side
* "Mexican Postcard" (1987) – 2:12 (Included on vinyl edition of album only)
** Recorded August 1988, London. Originally released as a single B side
* "You Won't Find It Again" (1988) – 3:21
** Recorded January 1988, Sydney. Previously unreleased