The Boomtown Rats – In The Long Grass

In the Long Grass, the sixth studio album by the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats, was initially released in the UK in May 1984 and subsequently in the US in 1985. It marked a significant point in the band's history as their last studio album for over three decades, until the release of "Citizens of Boomtown" in 2020. This album was also the final one to feature keyboardist Johnnie Fingers and the last to be released by the band as a five-piece group.

The album's release faced initial hurdles, as the band's label rejected the first recording. By 1984, The Boomtown Rats were touring universities, struggling to secure bookings at mainstream venues. Despite this, "In the Long Grass" was eventually released in the UK in May 1984. However, it failed to chart in the UK. Two singles from the album, "Tonight" and "Drag Me Down," reached the lower positions on the UK singles chart, while "Dave" and "A Hold of Me" did not chart.

The band's participation in Band Aid in late 1984 raised their profile, leading to a revised version of "In the Long Grass" being released in the US in January 1985. This version included a reworked track called "Rain," which replaced "Dave." The album managed to reach number 188 on the US Billboard 200 chart. However, the associated singles did not make a significant impact on the charts or radio.

The album's lack of commercial success led to the end of The Boomtown Rats' recording contract. "In the Long Grass" is considered the band's least commercially successful effort, failing to chart in the UK and only reaching number 188 in the US.

Tracklist