Waking Hours

It followed a 1986 US tour and intense songwriting, with influences shifting from post-punk to American classic rock and country. The 1987 sessions with Gil Norton led to the A&M signing; the 1988 attempts with David Kershenbaum in London and Los Angeles failed, Hugh Jones put it back on track and Mark Freegard finished the production. Stephen Irvine of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions drummed on five tracks. Singles were "Kiss This Thing Goodbye", "Stone Cold Sober", "Nothing Ever Happens" and "Move Away Jimmy Blue". It reached 8 in Australia, 40 in Sweden and 66 in Canada, and went Platinum in the UK and Australia; AllMusic gave 4.5 stars. A 2014 expanded edition adds a B-sides disc with "Spit in the Rain" (UK 21).