Mushroom Records releases the first Split Enz album of the 1980s, True Colours. Produced by future Prince protege David Tickle, the album gives the band a new sound and includes what will become its signature worldwide hit, “I Got You” (written by Neil Finn, who now alternates songwriting and lead vocal duties with his older brother, Enz co-founder Tim Finn). The album is released with eight different color variations, and is the first laser-etched LP. The album also suddenly draws the attention of American labels, resulting in A&M signing up to issue the band’s future output in North America. 
This is the album which brought Split Enz their greatest hit in America, and as such seems to be the point of origin for many fans’ interest in the band, thus it becomes a default classic. But honestly, even in the 80s the band came up with better material than this. The Neil Finn hit “I Got You” and its very similar cousin “What’s The Matter With You” are memorable, as well as Tim’s classics “I Hope I Never” and “Poor Boy”, both of which were given orchestral treatment on the later ENZSO album. My personal favorite is the extremely silly “Nobody Takes Me Seriously”, an infrequently-remembered Tim tune. But much of the rest of the album, including a couple of bland instrumentals, is rather forgettable.
- I Got You (3:24)
- Shark Attack (2:52)
- What’s The Matter With You (3:02)
- Double Happy (3:15)
- I Wouldn’t Dream Of It (3:14)
- I Hope I Never (4:26)
- Nobody Takes Me Seriously (3:24)
- Missing Person (3:32)
- Poor Boy (3:19)
- How Can I Resist Her (3:26)
- The Choral Sea (4:29)
Released by: A&M
Release date: 1980
Total running time: 38:23
1992 music review by Earl Green