Single:
Reckless was the lead track on a 4-song EP called Semantics which entered the Australian singles chart* on 10 October 1983 and reached #1. It was #10 on the Top 100 of 1983.
Albums:
For international release, Reckless was on an LP called Semantics that included the four tracks from the EP, as well as six newly recorded versions of songs from Australian Crawl’s earlier albums.
In Australia, live versions of Reckless were included on Phalanx which entered the Australian albums chart* on 19 December 1983 and peaked at #4. It was also on The Final Wave, a recording of the band’s final Melbourne concert on 27 January 1986. This album entered the Australian albums chart* on 15 September 1986 and peaked at #16.
Songwriter:
James Reyne
Producer:
Mark Opitz
Record label of Australian release:
EMI
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Live version from the Phalanx album:
Wikipedia:
The lyrics of Reckless refer to locations in Sydney such as Manly and Circular Quay.
It showed a change in the line-up of Australian Crawl, with drummer Bill McDonough temporarily replaced by Graham Bidstrup (also on keyboards). After the EP was released, Bidstrup was replaced by John Watson (drums).
Australian Crawl performed Reckless as one of their three songs for the Oz for Africa concert (1985). This was the Australian leg of the global Live Aid show organised by Midge Ure and Bob Geldof.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reckless_(Australian_Crawl_song)
Songfacts:
The subtext of this song deals with Robert Falcon Scott, known as “Scott of the Antarctic,” and his tragic expedition, actually reaching the South Pole only to discover that Roald Amundsen had just beaten him and then dying on the return. In a similar vein, Irish/English explorers Burke and Wills were the first to cross Australia from south to north only to starve, too weak to move, a few miles from salvation. They were actually camped by a tree that had buried provisions, but misunderstood the markings on the base camp tree.
The line, “Throw down your guns” means don’t show traits such as recklessness, aggressiveness, or extreme independence popularly associated with cowboys. For many a jilted lover, the song contains a hint of cosmic irony.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/australian-crawl/reckless
Lyrics:
Meet me down by the jetty landing
Where the pontoons bump and sway
I see the others reading, standing
As the Manly Ferry cuts its way to Circular Quay
Click for full lyrics
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
New to Bang a Gong? Click here to learn more about us