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The Boys Next Door evolved from a group formed with Nick Cave (vocals), Mick Harvey (guitar), Phill Calvert (drums), and several other students at Caulfield Grammar School in 1973. Tracy Pew joined on bass in 1975.

Rowland joined in 1978, when the Young Charlatans "disintegrated". He had previoulsy been hanging around the band during the recording of Door, Door. Before becoming a member, he even did a duet with Cave for the album, though that went unreleased. When Rowland joined, they re-recorded side B of the album. In 1980, the band relocated to London, at which point, Rowland has said, "it seemed a natural time to get a name we actually liked" (Mojo #180). By this point, they had already released the Hee Haw EP and Birthday Party LP, later to be credited to The Birthday Party.


 Shivers 7"
  1. Shivers
  2. Dive Position
Recorded at Richmond Recorders, January 1979. Engineered by Tony Cohen.

Mushroom Records (1979)


 Door, Door LP/CD
Door Door LP/CD
  1. The Nightwatchman
    (M. Harvey and N. Cave)
  2. Brave Exhibitions
    (N. Cave)
  3. Friends Of My World
    (N. Cave)
  4. The Voice
    (N. Cave)
  5. Roman Roman
    (N. Cave)
  6. Somebody's Watching
    (N. Cave)
  7. After A Fashion
    (R. S. Howard)
  8. Dive Position
    (N. Cave)
  9. I Mistake Myself
    (R. S. Howard)
  10. Shivers
    (R. S. Howard)
Chris Coyne - Saxophone
Henry Vynhal - Violin

Side A: Alan Eaton Studios (Melbourne) in June 1978.
Side B: Richmond Recorders in January 1979.

Mushroom Records (1979/1993)


 Hee Haw EP
Hee Haw EP
  1. A Catholic Skin
    (N. Cave)
  2. The Red Clock
    (R. S. Howard)
  3. Fain Heart
    (N. Cave)
  4. Death By Drowning
    (R. S. Howard)
  5. The Hair Shirt
    (N. Cave)

Missing Link (1979)


 Scatterbrain 7"
A gig give-away at the Crystal Ballroom, St Kilda. November 1979.

Crystal Ballroom Records (1979)


 The Birthday Party LP
  1. Mr. Clarinet
    (N. Cave)
  2. Hats On Wrong
    (N. Cave)
  3. The Hair Shirt
    (N. Cave)
  4. Guilt Parade
    (R. S. Howard)
  5. Riddle House
    (R. S. Howard)
  6. The Friend Catcher
    (N. Cave)
  7. Waving My Arms
    (R. S. Howard)
  8. The Red Clock
    (R. S. Howard)
  9. Cat Man
    (Vincent/Davis)
  10. Happy Birthday
    (M. Harvey, N. Cave, R. S. Howard)

Missing Link (1980)


 Happy Birthday 7"
"Happy Birthday"/"Riddle House"
A gig give-away. December 1980.

Missing Link (1980)