Early albums (1986–1990) Crowded House

crowded house, san francisco, april 1987. l r: paul hester, neil finn, nick seymour.

thanks split enz connection, newly formed crowded house had established australasian fanbase. began playing @ festivals in australia , new zealand , released debut album, crowded house, in june 1986. capitol records failed see band s potential , gave them low-key promotion, forcing band play @ small venues try , gain attention. album s first single, mean me , reached australian kent music report singles chart top 30 in june. failed chart in us, moderate american airplay introduced listeners group.

a single, don t dream s on , released in december 1986 , proved international hit, reaching number 2 on billboard hot 100 , number 1 in canada. new zealand radio stations gave song little support until months later when became successful internationally. ultimately, song reached number 1 on new zealand singles chart , number 8 in australia. remains group s commercially successful song.

in march 1987, group awarded best new talent , along song of year , best video awards don t dream s on @ inaugural aria music awards. video earned group mtv video music award best new artist year. song has been covered other artists , gave paul young hit single in 1991. used new zealand tourism board advertisement in 100% pure new zealand worldwide promotion october 2005. in may 2001, don t dream s on voted seventh in poll of best australian songs of time australasian performing rights association.

the band @ montreux pop festival, may 1988. l r: seymour, finn, hester.

in june 1987, year after release, crowded house reached number 1 on kent music report album charts. reached number 3 in new zealand , number twelve on billboard album chart. follow-up don t dream s on , strong , global smash, reaching top 10 in new zealand, america, , canada. world live , re getting somewhere released singles chart success. band s primary songwriter, neil finn under pressure create second album match debut , band joked 1 potential title new release mediocre follow-up. titled temple of low men, second album released in july 1988 strong promotion capitol records. album did not fare debut in us, reaching number 40, achieved australasian success, reaching number 1 in australia , number 2 in new zealand. first single better home peaked @ number 2 on both australian , new zealand singles charts , reached top 50 in us, though following 4 singles less successful. crowded house undertook short tour of australia , canada promote album, eddie rayner on keyboards. multi-instrumentalist mark hart, become full band member, replaced rayner in january 1989. after tour, finn fired seymour band. music journalist ed nimmervoll claimed seymour s temporary departure because finn blamed him causing writer s block; however, finn cited artistic differences reason. seymour said after month contacted finn , agreed return band.