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Cabin Fever

by Ups and Downs

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about

Written by Greg Atkinson

Recorded by Anthony and Geoff at Sun Studios, Surry Hills, NSW: 12-15 June 1989

Additional production by Darren Atkinson and Peter Shaw in May 2020

Artwork by Ultra Vivid Design. Photo source: Excerpt from Stanthorpe Border Post image

BasketCase Records. Catalogue number: BC006

‘Cabin Fever’ was performed by: Greg Atkinson: lead vocals; Darren Atkinson: drums, backing vocals; John Flade: electric guitar; Trevor O’Neil: bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals; and Peter Shaw: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards.

According to Greg:…”Recently, in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown, a family member, friend and fan of the band, yes all three, suggested it would be an appropriate time to release a song we recorded as a single many moons ago, but never released. Appropriate because back then we were all living a kind of isolated, claustrophobic and fearful life with no way of knowing how long it would last. The song was Cabin Fever. It’s probably the closest thing I’ve ever written to a song directly about Brisbane - specifically the political climate then, and our awakening, through the light that the likes of 4ZZZ-FM shone on the corrupt Queensland Government”.

This previously unreleased song is the missing link between Ups and Downs' album ‘Underneath The Watchful Eye’ (Mushroom Records, 1988) and the band’s final output in the early nineties before they broke up. ‘Cabin Fever’ was intended to be the lead song on a four track EP but it was never released. Instead, Mushroom Records dropped the band from the label on 30 October, 1989.

This is the demo version of ‘Cabin Fever’. It was recorded alongside the band’s re-recording of early b-side ‘Never Ending’, later included on ‘Out Of The Darkness: Sleepless, Singles and Other Stories’ (Feel Presents, 2010) and two other songs, ‘Gangway’ and ‘Beat the Brain’, that remain unreleased.

John Flade decided to leave Ups and Downs following the recording, playing two final shows before his departure: at the Dee Why Hotel, NSW where the band supported Sunnyboys (23 June 1989) and Selinas, Coogee Bay Hotel, NSW where they played with The Reels, The Honeys and “comedian” George Smilovici (22 July 1989).

On 4 July 1989, the remaining members of Ups and Downs entered Rhinoceros Studios in Surry Hills, NSW to re-record ‘Cabin Fever’, ‘Never Ending’ and ‘Gangway’, but with an additional song, ‘She Burns The House Down’ replacing ‘Beat The Brain’ on the planned EP. These recordings remain unreleased and release-quality versions are not currently available.

Ups and Downs went on to release the EP ‘Rash’ and single ‘Untie Ian’ b/w ‘Safer (remix)’ (Volition Records, 1990 and 1991), before disbanding later in 1991. They reformed in 2003 and continue to play live and release new material to this day.

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released June 5, 2020

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