Neil Finn and Paul Hester decided to form a new band during the Split Enz farewell tour 'Enz with a Bang'. Nick Seymour approached Finn during the after party for the Melbourne show and asked if he could try out for this new band. The first incarnation of the band, The Mullanes, formed in Melbourne in 1985 and also included guitarist Craig Hooper, formerly of The Reels. They secured a record contract with Capitol Records and moved to Los Angeles, at which time Hooper left the band. At the label's behest, the band changed its name to "Crowded House," which alluded to the cramped quarters the three members shared at an apartment in North Sycamore Street in West Hollywood during the recording of the album. They also invited former Split Enz keyboard player Eddie Rayner to join, and he produced the track "Can't Carry On" for the debut self-titled album. He initially joined them on tour in 1988 on keyboards, but had to leave for family reasons before he could be made a full member.
Bursting onto the international scene in 1987 with Don't Dream It's Over from the album Crowded House, the band seemed destined for greatness. However, despite eking out one more hit from the album, Something So Strong, the follow up Temple of Low Men failed to repeat its commercial success, despite critical acclaim. Radio had a hard time categorizing them, but within the industry they quickly gained a stellar reputation as "musicians' musicians", and outside the industry as one of the best live acts, featuring mixed setlists and improvisations. A set of three shows at one venue would often feature less than half the the songs being played more than once.
It wasn't until 1991's Woodface that the band hit international success again, specifically with the jointly written Finn brothers track Weather With You.
In fact, the album that emerged wasn't the one originally proposed. Neil had been working on a side project with his brother Tim Finn, a solo artist in his own right and former Split Enz frontman (in fact, several members had a history in Split Enz - Tim formed the band and Neil was responsible for their biggest hit I Got You, while Paul Hester was the drummer during their final days). When the record company rejected the material he'd composed for the third Crowded House album Neil asked his brother if he could use some of their songs in their place. Tim agreed, allegedly joking he would only do so if he could join the band. Whether or not Neil took this literally, Tim did indeed become the fourth member of Crowded House during the Woodface phase.
Whilst Weather With You became an international hit, particularly in the UK (where it was followed by smaller chart successes for Four Seasons in One Day and It's Only Natural), in the US, at least, history didn't repeat - a situation some put down to the choice of Chocolate Cake - a scathing attack on the American lifestyle - as the first single.
During touring in the UK, Tim was asked to leave the band. Mark Hart joined the band for their next album. Together Alone was a similar international success and the band even managed to score a minor hit in the US with Locked Out after it featured on the soundtrack for the Winona Ryder flick Reality Bites.
Shortly after, Paul Hester decided to leave, although he did return to record three new tracks for a Best Of... compilation, Recurring Dream. By 1996, however, Neil decided to fold the band, choosing instead to focus on a solo career. The band's final concert, on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, was an emotional and memorable event, and has been captured on the DVD / CD Farewell to the World.
A B-sides compilation, entitled Afterglow, was released in 1999.
Paul Hester died tragically in 2005 when he committed suicide in Melbourne, Australia.
January 2007 brought a surprise announcement that Crowded House would be re-forming. Frontman Neil Finn once again linked up with Nick Seymour and Mark Hart and, after picking up Beck's drummer Matt Sherrod to replace Paul Hester, produced a new album entitled Time on Earth.
Members of the band include frontman and guitarist Neil Finn, bassist Nick Seymour (brother of Hunters and Collectors frontman Mark Seymour), drummer Paul Hester (1986-1994), Tim Finn (1990-91), multi-instrumentalist and Supertramp recruit Mark Hart (1993-), session drummer Peter Jones (1994-1996) and new drummer Matt Sherrod (2007-).
The Frenz web site launched a new Crowded House portal in 2007 where old and new fans of the band can keep up to date with news of new releases and tour plans.
Eight Miles High
Crowded House Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'll find that it's stranger than known
Signs in the street that say where you're going
Are somewhere just being their own
Nowhere is there warmth to be found
Among those afraid of losing their ground
Rain gray town known for it's sound
Round the squares huddled in storms
Some laughing some just shapeless forms
Sidewalk scenes and black limousines
Some living some standing alone
The lyrics of Crowded House's song "Eight Miles High" depict a journey full of uncertainties and strange experiences. The title of the song itself is a reference to the altitude reached by a commercial jetliner, symbolizing a sense of soaring and transcendence. However, the song's opening lines set a different tone, suggesting that the destination is unknown and perhaps disorienting. The phrase "stranger than known" implies that the traveler has entered unfamiliar territory or is encountering something beyond their comfort zone. This may be why the "signs in the street" that would typically offer guidance are themselves "just being their own," suggesting confusion and ambiguity.
The second verse offers a more bleak and desolate image of the traveler's surroundings. The town he or she has reached is "nowhere" and lacks any sense of warmth or generosity. Instead, there are only "small faces unbound" and a pervasive sense of fear and insecurity. The "sound" of the town, which may once have represented vitality and creativity, is now associated with the "rainy gray" atmosphere and a sense of stagnation.
The final lines of the song depict two contrasting images: "sidewalk scenes" and "black limousines." Some people are "laughing" while others are "just shapeless forms" or "standing alone." This underscores the theme of isolation and disconnection, as well as the idea that the journey may have brought the traveler to a place where social or economic status is sharply divided.
Line by Line Meaning
Eight miles high and when you touch down
After a long journey and finally arriving, you'll realize that things are different than what you knew
You'll find that it's stranger than known
The place you arrive in is unfamiliar and unusual
Signs in the street that say where you're going
There are indications that show you the path to follow
Are somewhere just being their own
However, individuality and uniqueness is prevalent in the surroundings
Nowhere is there warmth to be found
In the cold environment, there is no friendliness or kindness
Among those afraid of losing their ground
People are scared of not having stability and security
Rain gray town known for it's sound
The town is famous for its gloominess and particular noise
In places small faces unbound
Everywhere there are unguarded, free spirits
Round the squares huddled in storms
People are gathered together in the centers and enduring difficult times
Some laughing some just shapeless forms
There are those that are happy and others who appear to have no defined identity
Sidewalk scenes and black limousines
The streets are full of diverse groups of people, ranging from those on foot to those in luxury vehicles
Some living some standing alone
Some people are in relationships or surrounded by company, while others are isolated
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: David Crosby, Gene Clark, Roger Mcguinn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ianmcgregorhart9354
This for me is one of the greatest songs of all time. Great jamming session Byrds original Roger McGuinn with Crowded House performing Eight Miles High.
@KeithSoremTeam
Great show at the Hollywood zpalladium in LA. The warm up act!
@guymichel101
Always loved this song. This version's too close though, kinda anal retentive, to the original. I mean why bother to put out this slavish recreation of an epochal song? Fun to play, sure, but lacking any creative re-creation. No difference really, just a little more of Roger's wrong-notes-on-purpose fret-to-next-fret cool psychedelic noodling. Voices here (except his) are not all that exceptional. This version just feels like a studio rehearsal for the recorded version. .
@stanmenshic2997
Finally C.H. have done something that isn't mainstream & totally predictable
@Formula-602
Have you ever heard anything besides the hits? play their second album not real predictable
@michaelmahoney7694
That's absurd... you obviously know very little about this band. Listen to the first four CH studio albums in their entirety, as well as the non-LP compilation "Afterglow"; you'll be singing a different tune.