Careful (The Motels album)

Careful is the second studio album by new wave band The Motels. It was recorded between March and May 1980, and released in June 1980. The album was produced by John Carter who produced the group's 1979 debut.

Careful
Studio album by The Motels
Released	June 15, 1980[1]
Recorded	March–May 1980
Genre	New wave
Length	35:01
Label	Capitol
Producer	John Carter
The Motels chronology
Motels (1979) Careful (1980) All Four One (1982)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Smash Hits	5/10[3]

"Danger" was released as the disc's lead single and landed in the Top 20 in France. "Days Are O.K." and "Whose Problem?" became Top 50 songs (and their only chart hits) in the United Kingdom. None of the singles released from the album charted in the United States, but the disc reached #45 on the Billboard album chart in the summer of 1980. It eventually sold nearly 400,000 copies in America.

With the departure of Jeff Jourard as lead guitarist, Tim McGovern (from the group The Pop) was added as lead guitarist for the group. Recording for the second album began on the 4th of February 1980 and would be completed by May 1980.[4]

"Danger" was the second Motels single that was accompanied by a music video (following 1979's "Total Control").

Track listing

1. "Danger" (Martha Davis, Tim McGovern) – 3:26
2. "Envy" (McGovern) – 3:26
3. "Careful" (Marty Jourard, Michael Goodroe) – 3:30
4. "Bonjour Baby" (Jourard, Goodroe) – 3:25
5. "Party Professionals" (Davis) – 3:15
6. "Days Are O.K. (But the Nights Were Made for Love)" (McGovern) – 3:35
7. "Cry Baby" (Jourard, Goodroe) – 3:28
8. "Whose Problem?" (Davis) – 3:51
9. "People, Places and Things" (Davis) – 2:46
10. "Slow Town" (Davis) – 4:19

Charts

Chart (1980)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5]	26

Singles

• "Danger" (Capitol Records #4896) Released: 14 Jul 1980 Charts: Australia #88 / New Zealand #30 / France #15
• "Whose Problem?" (Capitol Records #4937) Released: 29 Sep 1980 Charts: Australia #43 / UK #42
• "Days Are O.K." (Capitol Records #10149) Released: Jan 1981 Charts: UK #41

Personnel

Credits are taken from the CD's liner notes.[6]

The Motels

• Martha Davis – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Tim McGovern – lead guitar
• Marty Jourard – keyboards, saxophone
• Michael Goodroe – bass
• Brian Glascock – drums

Production

Credits are taken from the CD's liner notes.[6]

• Produced & Engineered by John Carter
• Recorded by Warren Dewey
• Assistant Engineering by Richard McKernan
• Cover Painting by Duggie Fields - "Acquired Mannerisms"

References

1. The Motels Information Site - Albums
2. Careful at AllMusic
3. Hepworth, David. "Albums". Smash Hits (July 10–23, 1980): 31.
4. http://www.the-motels.info/history.html
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 209. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
6. Careful (CD liner). The Motels. Hollywood, California: Capitol Records. 1980. CDP 7 48444 2.CS1 maint: others (link)