Flash and the Pan is the debut album by Australian musical group Flash and the Pan, released in 1978. It was released by Albert Productions in Australia, Ensign Records in Europe, and Epic CBS/Sony in the United States.
The album covers differed between the Australian, the international and United States, and United Kingdom releases (UK pictured). The track "And the Band Played On (Down Among the Dead Men)" — about the sinking of the Titanic — was released as a UK single, reaching No. 54 in September 1978. "Hey, St. Peter" was released as a single in the United States in 1979, and reached number 76 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Walking in the Rain" was later covered by Grace Jones on her 1981 album Nightclubbing. The song was also recorded by South African icon Johannes Kerkorrel, who included it on his album Die Ander Kant in 2000.
"California" is the only song ever released by Flash and the Pan that was not written by Harry Vanda and George Young. It was written by George's brother Alex, under the pseudonym of his wife Monika James.
Reviews of Flash and the PanâÂÂs 1978 self-titled album are ambivalent about the vocal style and lyrics, fascinated by the weirdness, but upbeat and sometimes glowing in their overall assessment. Alan Niester in The Globe and Mail calls the album âÂÂsurrealistic in its detachment at timesâÂÂ, and âÂÂone of the strangest but ultimately finest records to surface in the seventiesâÂÂ. Niester concludes that the album is "the closest thing to a masterpiece we're likely to get this year, and you have to have it". David Fricke in Rolling Stone notes unfavourably the âÂÂrampant punningâ and âÂÂmind gamesâ of the lyrics, but says that the songwriters, Vanda & Young, âÂÂnever underestimate the simple joy of a good hummable tuneâÂÂ. The same reviewer goes on to say that the album is a âÂÂflawlessly executed operetta of applied rock & roll knowledgeâÂÂ. Steve Simels in Stereo Review calls the album a âÂÂminor pop masterpieceâ but says that the synthesiser sound âÂÂverges on Eurodisco, with some tacky New Wave organâÂÂ. Simels describes the lyrics as âÂÂfrankly melodramatic [â¦] declaimed (in the verses) more often than sungâÂÂ. But Simels gives up trying to pigeonhole the record with, âÂÂLetâÂÂs just say that itâÂÂs excellent music and let it go at that.â Jon Pareles, writing for Creem says Flash and the PanâÂÂs songs are âÂÂincorrigibly catchyâ but he earlier notes the detachment of the vocal style and the insincerity of lyrics; like Simels, he counters his own criticism, saying, âÂÂ[If] You want sincerity, go watch Merv Griffin.â Simon Frith in Melody Maker factors the experience of Vanda & Young into the albumâÂÂs âÂÂpop mastery, [which is] evident in the hooks, the minor chords, the insidious orchestrationsâÂÂ. When Frith goes on to express doubts about the âÂÂbland monotoneâ of the vocals, saying that it âÂÂadds to the joke, but IâÂÂm not sure it adds to the pleasureâÂÂ, he later adds, âÂÂBut then IâÂÂm still listening to this LP, and Vanda and Young may be cleverer than I think, and make easy listening out of this robotic sound".
Reviews compared Flash and the PanâÂÂs debut album to the group 10CC, albeit âÂÂearly 10CC, before they took themselves seriouslyâÂÂ, and âÂÂ10CC gone maniacâÂÂ. Alan Niester adds more comparisons: âÂÂa hungover Lou Reedâ and âÂÂTom Waits with a Jack the Ripper fetishâÂÂ. Jon Pareles says the music is arranged âÂÂBrian Eno-styleâÂÂ. David Fricke notes the âÂÂshameless piratingâ of The Kinks' You Really Got Me on the song, âÂÂThe Man Who Knew the AnswerâÂÂ, and compares the vocal narrative in âÂÂCaliforniaâ to that in The Beach Boysâ âÂÂSloop John Bâ â the result sounding like âÂÂan outtake from David BowieâÂÂs Low".
All songs written by Harry Vanda and George Young except where noted.
Note: The Renaissance edition does not preserve the segue between "The African Shuffle" and "California", fading out and in instead.
Both remastered editions on Repertoire and Renaissance use the US "frisbee" cover and the international track order. The first CD releases from the late 1980s, on the other hand, use the Australian tracklist and cover.