Circus Animals was a studio album released by Australian band Cold Chisel in 1982. It was recorded and mixed at Paradise Studios and EMI Studio 301, Sydney (Sep-Dec 1981). It spent 1 week at the top of the Australian album charts in 1982. Many of the album's songs were written as a direct reaction to the pop success of the previous LP East and feature unusual, experimental arrangements. The first single "You Got Nothing I Want" was written by singer Jimmy Barnes about the disinterest shown in them by their American label rep during the band's 1981 US tour. "Bow River" was a song by guitarist Ian Moss, written about a sheep station in the Northern Territory where his brother Peter had once worked. The song was included as the B-side to one of the album's singles but proved so popular that it was often played on radio in its own right. It is the one Cold Chisel song that Moss still plays live. "When the War Is Over" was written by drummer Steve Prestwich and has been covered numerous times by Little River Band, John Farnham, Uriah Heep, Cosima De Vito and Something for Kate. "Letter to Allan" was dedicated to a former member of the band's road crew, Allan Dallow, who died in a truck accident.

Five of the album's ten songs were later covered for the 2007 tribute album Standing on the Outside: "You Got Nothing I Want" (Alex Lloyd), "Bow River" (Troy Cassar-Daley), "Forever Now" (Pete Murray), "Houndog" (You Am I) and "When the War is Over" (Something for Kate).

Track listing

1. "You Got Nothing I Want"
2. "Bow River"
3. "Forever Now"
4. "Taipan"
5. "Houndog"
6. "Wild Colonial Boy"
7. "No Good for You"
8. "Numbers Fall"
9. "When the War Is Over"
10. "Letter to Allan"

Chart positions

Credits

• Jim Barnes - vocals
• Ian Moss - guitar, lead vocals tracks 2 and 9
• Don Walker - organ, keyboard
• Steve Prestwich - drums
• Phil Small - bass

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