Rain, Steam and Speed is the fourth and final studio album by the New Zealand band, The Mutton Birds. It was released in 1999.

Rain, Steam and Speed
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 1999
RecordedJuly–August 1998
StudioBlackwing Studios, London, Metropolis Studios, London
GenreRock
Length50:47
Labelshhh! Records
ProducerThe Mutton Birds
The Mutton Birds chronology
Too Hard Basket
(1998)
Rain, Steam and Speed
(1999)
Live in Manchester
(2000)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
The Age[2]
Sunday Herald Sun[3]
The Australian[4]
Sunday Telegraph[5]

The album coincided with the departure of the bass guitarist, vocalist and sometime song contributor Alan Gregg, and also the guitarist David Long. It was released as the Mutton Birds remained based in London seeking a breakthrough on the UK market.[6]

Track listing edit

(All songs by Don McGlashan)

  1. "As Close as This" — 4:21
  2. "Winning Numbers" — 3:46
  3. "Small Mercies" — 4:37
  4. "Green Lantern" — 4:02
  5. "The Falls" — 5:05
  6. "Last Year's Shoes" — 4:27
  7. "Jackie's Song" — 3:43
  8. "Pulled Along by Love" — 4:30
  9. "Goodbye Drug" — 6:19
  10. "Hands Full" — 3:28
  11. "Ray" — 6:24

Personnel edit

Additional personnel edit

  • Tony Fisher — backing vocals
  • David Mitchell — Ebow guitar
  • Stuart Nesbit — pedal steel
  • Tony Kiley — congas

References edit

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ Jo Roberts, The Age, 17 September 1999.
  3. ^ Graeme Hammond, Sunday Herald Sun, 3 October 1999.
  4. ^ Iain Shedden, The Australian, 6 November 1999.
  5. ^ Kate Parsons, Sunday Telegraph, 19 September 1999.
  6. ^ Margot Denny, "Mutton music", The Sunday Telegraph, 5 September 1999, page 181.