True Believers - Hunters & Collectors Online

Human Frailty Pty Ltd
2001 - 2006

Talking To A Stranger

Versions

Commentary

Lyrics

The Single

Released In: [Australia / NZ] [Europe] [USA]

Release Date: 1982. October 1998 (re-issue).

Australian Chart Position: 59.

Front Cover:

UK Back Cover:

[CD version] Front Cover:

[CD version] Back Cover:

[CD version] Disc:

Promotional video screen shots:

Single Availability: (1982 version) Extremely rare, (1998 version) Moderately rare.

Value: A$6-A$30.

Hunters and Collectors first single was originally issued in 1982 and was re-issued as part of Mushroom Records 25th anniversary celebrations in October 1998. The artwork on both versions is almost identical.

Original 7" Australian single had a remix of "Talking To A Stranger". 7" UK single includes "Alligator Engine". Original 12" UK and US singles contain a remix of "Run Run Run" and remixes of "Talking To A Stranger". B-sides on the CD reissue are remixes and videos (live and studio) of "Talking To A Stranger".

Versions

Version	Length	Source	Availability
Studio	7:31	Australian [self-titled] Hunters & Collectors album.	Extremely common. Available new in Australia on CD.
Studio	7:29	Natural Selection album.	Extremely common. Available new in Australia on CD.
Studio	7:31	UK/US Collection album.	Extremely rare.
Studio	7:30	US 1983 12" Talking To A Stranger single.	Extremely rare.
Studio [edit]	3:51	All except UK versions of the Collected Works album.	Extremely common.
Studio [edit]	3:56	UK 1983 7" Talking To A Stranger single.	Extremely rare.
Studio [edit]	3:56	US 1983 12" Talking To A Stranger single.	Extremely rare.
Studio (Our Version)	7:18	Australian 1982 7" Talking To A Stranger single.	Extremely rare.
Studio (Our Version)	7:21	UK 1983 12" Talking To A Stranger single.	Extremely rare.
Michael's Version Edit #4763	4:39	Australian 1982 7" Talking To A Stranger single.	Extremely rare.
Live Acoustic	3:06	Mark Seymour Titanic album.	Moderately common. Available new in Australia on CD.
Live [1]	6:10	Horn of Plenty box set component Spare Parts album.	Moderately common. Available new in Australia on CD.
Live [2]	4:52	Under One Roof album and video.	Extremely common. Available new in Australia on CD and DVD.
Live [2]	4:52	1998 Talking To A Stranger single.	Moderately rare.
Blue Singlet Mix	5:19	Horn of Plenty box set component Spare Parts album.	Moderately common. Available new in Australia on CD.
Filthy Lucre Mix	5:19	1998 Talking To A Stranger single.	Moderately rare.
Filthy Pub Dub	5:18	1998 Talking To A Stranger single.	Moderately rare.
Temple Mix	5:11	1998 Talking To A Stranger single.	Moderately rare.
Club Mix	6:33	1998 Talking To A Stranger single.	Moderately rare.
Dance Mix	6:32	1998 Talking To A Stranger single.	Moderately rare.
Video Version	6:23	The Way To Go Out video.	Moderately rare.
Video Version	6:23	Australian Collected Works video.	Moderately rare.
Video Version	6:23	1998 Talking To A Stranger single.	Moderately rare.

Exact times and versions vary over the many different printed articles with versions of "Talking To A Stranger" on them. There are more versions than those mentioned above, but the differences are subtle.

Recommended Version.

Commentary

Comments from the "Natural Selection" liner notes (by Mark Seymour):

Started with a bass line. Recorded it with a drum machine onto cassette and Geoff Crosby, the original synth player, noodled over it through the lounge room stereo. Much of the early Hunters 'sound' was consolidated with this song. Crosby's dying animal noises, Perano's wang, and Jack Howard's first major brass arrangement all intersected for the first time. The lyrics were loosely based on the 'The Albatross' by Charles Baudelaire. Lofty stuff. Apocalyptic dread. The end was nigh.

Lyrics

Souvent pour s'amuser les hommes d'equipage
And it's like talking to a stranger
Remember the panic in its delectable face, when I touched it
It was like talking to a stranger
Venetian candles penetrated its heart
It trembles like talking to a stranger
And Oh Miss Jesus tell me where are your black eyes?
Your baby was talking to a stranger, no no

Souvent pour s'amuser les hommes d'equipage
And it's like talking to a stranger
You tasted mustard when she painted your face
And it was like talking to a stranger
And Oh Miss Jesus tell me where are your black eyes?
Your baby was talking to a stranger
Souvent pour s'amuser les hommes d'equipage
And it's like talking to a stranger

Souvent pour s'amuser les hommes d'equipage
And it's like talking to a stranger
You tasted mustard when she painted your face
And it was like talking to a stranger
Remember the panic in its delectable face, when you touched it
It was like talking to a stranger
And Oh Miss Jesus tell me where are your black eyes?
Your baby was talking to a stranger

You're talking to a stranger, no no