Does anyone know if there is any ill-will harbored against the song 'Next Exit.' Sure, it wasn't a hit, but it's absence from a slew of Split Enz compilations seems suspicious. Do the guys in the band consider this a horrible song?
I know it is available on the bonus disc in the 80's box set, which I own. But with that bonus disc's hodgepodge feel, I think 'Next Exit' deserves proper attention on a compilation. Especially since there have been 2 released versions of this song. The Luton Tapes version appeared on the rare compilation 'Hits and Myths.' Actually, I'm dying to hear that version.
I was most surprised that either version was not included in the anthology 'Spellbound.' Just the fact that it wasn't included in some form breaks the rules of a proper anthology which should gather up any and all single-only releases. At 39 tracks, there was still room for either the Luton version or the single version of 'Next Exit.' Actually that would have made a perfectly comfortable, well-rounded 40 cuts. Although I love the selection of songs on 'Spellbound,' a substitution could have been made for the inclusion of 'Next Exit.' For example, a lot of people who bought 'Spellbound' probably also own 'True Colours,' so 'Nobody Takes Me Seriously' could have been left off with little worry.
I have been disappoined in the exclusion of 'Next Exit' way back when I purchased the video compilation 'History Never Repeats.' On the video, each album cover is shown with credits, followed by the corresponding videos to that album. The way the video is sequenced, 'Next Exit' immediately follows 'Never Ceases To Amaze Me,' making it seem that this song was included on 'Time and Tide.' After I got my Mushroom Mid- Price Masters version of 'Time and Tide' back in '92, I was disappointed (But that was before I knew the history of the song.)
O.K., fellow Enz lovers, be nice. I know many of you out there don't necessarily care for this song, but we all have our own favorite songs and albums, so please be kind, even though some of you may be quite happy that this song has been seemingly disregarded. What do you all think?

Well, I've heard both versions and didn't really enjoy either of them. Mike Chunn's book is quite disparaging about the 1983 "Next Exit", saying that re-recording the song was a mistake and the band still don't know why they let it happen.

I think "Next Exit" is cool, I haven't heard it in years (most of my Enz stuff is on vinyl and I haven't had a working record player since 1995) but I catch myself singing it every time I hit the highway! (Not literally hit the highway... you know what I mean...)

A little trivia - any other 1980's Melbourne residents recognise the sticker on the back window of the car Tim is driving in the video? Yep, Ripponlea Motors.

Actually that's more than trivia, that's total and utter minituae...

There were three studio-recorded versions of Next Exit. The first one, made with David Tickle, has never been released. It's got a slightly heavier feel than the other versions, but is otherwise quite similar.

I really like Next Exit, and was really pleased when I tracked down a 7" copy, as it has perhaps my fave Enz b-sides (Remember When and Two Of A Kind). Good vid, too.

Radiobug, Spence, I have to agree. When I think of some of the tracks that DID make it onto some Enz LPs, you have to wonder why this didn't get a guernsey (so to speak)... oh well...

quote:

Originally posted by Spence:
I really like Next Exit, and was really pleased when I tracked down a 7" copy, as it has perhaps my fave Enz b-sides (Remember When and Two Of A Kind). Good vid, too.

"Remember When" is the real lost classic. Tim recycles the piano line two decades later . . . But the original song itself is worth more than it's lowly "obscure b-side" status.

With you on Remember When Gph.
Its a beautiful song, sung fabulously by Tim. I would have liked it on Time and Tide.

You should hear Camus's segue of Remember When, Glide into Say it is So, bloody brillant.

quote:

You should hear Camus's segue of Remember When, Glide into Say it is So, bloody brillant.

Is that on his MySpace?

Next Exit has been included on the recent remaster of See Ya Round, which is kinda weird seeing as it's a Tim song and he had left the band by the time See Ya Round had come out.

Still I don't mind, I'm just glad that I've got it, for although IMO it's not a classic, it's still an enjoyable track.

quote:

Originally posted by Azzza:
Next Exit has been included on the recent remaster of See Ya Round, which is kinda weird seeing as it's a Tim song and he had left the band by the time See Ya Round had come out.

Still I don't mind, I'm just glad that I've got it, for although IMO it's not a classic, it's still an enjoyable track.

for those lucky enough to have it on their discs !!!

Good point! I *wanted* NE on my remaster when I bought it last year, but I got the one wit Mr. Catalyst. It's not a bad song, mind you, but not the song on the label and also not the song I wanted in particular.

quote:

Originally posted by aikakone:
Good point! I *wanted* NE on my remaster when I bought it last year, but I got the one wit Mr. Catalyst. It's not a bad song, mind you, but not the song on the label and also not the song I wanted in particular.

I complained to the record company, and eventually they replaced my CD.

At first they didn't know there was a misprint, and it took some persisting.

But they were very happy to replace the disc with the proper one.

What I'd really, really, really like is a remastered Luton version of "Next Exit" -- which is much better than the 1983 version IHMO. Extra verse too.

I LOVE the song Next Exit (and the video as well). I listen to it almost every day! I'm very pleased to have the song on CD! I'm suprised to hear that some people don't like this song-it's one of my favorites!

quote:

Originally posted by aikakone:
I got the one wit Mr. Catalyst. It's not a bad song, mind you, ...

Uh...where's the biting-one's-tongue smiley...?

quote:

You should hear Camus's segue of Remember When, Glide into Say it is So, bloody brillant.


Is that on his MySpace?

No, that would be copyright infringement. I just did it for fun to see how the three songs would work together, as they are all variations of the same musical theme. I forgot the Tamster had a copy of it.

If you listen to Tim's Can't Do Both I think the little riff makes an appearance somewhere in there too.

Shame there's no way you can get it out there, Camus. We'd all love to hear it.

I am a big supporter of "Next Exit" & to this day I still don't understand why some people don't like it. It was a minor hit in Australia & to me it was regarded as a catchy song. I am not a muso so I can't speak for all. I too have been disappointed with the lack of interest in the song when it comes to greatest hits compilations, especially the "Spellbound" Best Of.

It first appeared on the "History Never Repeats" Reject Cover issue (which was only on LP), then it was not included on the new cover version (which was on LP, Cass & CD) so I was rather delighted when it appeared on the "Oddz & Enz" cd from the first Split Enz box set in 1993.

In 1997 I was absolutely astonished when I noticed that "Next Exit" had again been left off the "Spellbound" best of considering that room could not be found within the 39 tracks for "Next Exit", even though there are a couple of songs on it that completely bore the hell out of me with those 2 songs being "Voices" & "Doctor Love".
Surely at least one of these two songs could have been left off as it looks like the 2nd cd is made up of tracks to fill the gaps.

If "Spellbound" was only released as one cd, I still would include "Next Exit" on it as I consider this song to be better than some that appeared on the "Conflicting Emotions" album so if the lads from Split Enz had been considering releasing "Next Exit" as a single, why was it not included on "Conflicting Emotions". I gather it was too late to do so.

So in my opinion "Next Exit" RULES !!!!!

I think it's a better song than its official recording.

If you ask me, we shouldn't be getting too depressed about "Next Exit" not appearing on most copies of the See Ya 'Round reissue. (I for one remain to be convinced it was ever on there in the first place). But for those of us lucky enough to have the 2-CD Luton Tapes we'll have "Next Exit" on there anyway. And the fact that we have "Mr. Catalyst" which we wouldn't be able to get anywhere else is an added bonus.