PRIMITIVE CALCULATORS “THE BEAT GOES ON” (1979)
originally recorded by Sonny (Bono) & Cher (In Case You’re in Love, 1967)
cover version appears on Primitive Calculators (live recording, 1979)
Primitive Calculators are a Melbourne, Australia band, active since the late 70s. I first became acquainted with them through the Dogs in Space soundtrack, something I picked up at a Chicago record store many years ago, mostly for the Boys Next Door (pre-Birthday Party) song. Michael Hutchence from INXS features prominently, I believe he played the male lead in the film. Primitive Calculators were colleagues of The Birthday Party, and apart of a fascinating but lesser-known scene that included Severed Heads, Slugfuckers (a SW favorite), the Go-Betweens, and many many others. Primitive Calculators recently regrouped to play the Nick Cave “curated” All Tomorrow’s Party in Victoria, Australia.
Primitive Calculators official site
Amazing archive of Australian (post-)punk bands can be found here
Other reading material:
Ian McFarlane (1999). The encyclopedia of Australian rock and pop. St Leonards, N.S.W: Allen & Unwin.
Chris Spencer (1989). Who’s who of Australian rock. Fitzroy, Vic.: Five Mile Press.
Clinton Walker (1996). Stranded : the secret history of Australian independent music, 1977-1991. Sydney: Pan Macmillan.
