10 Tracks From The Saints’ Chris Bailey You Need To Check Out

Spanning numerous solo efforts together with The Saints’ 14 studio albums, not to mention various collaborations, the catalogue of late Aussie icon Chris Bailey is as extensive as it is influential.

For those wondering, ‘Who is Chris Bailey?’, while he’s been named one of the co-creators of punk music, his work spans far greater than the band’s breakout hit (I’m) Stranded. In paying tribute to Bailey, who passed away over the weekend, we’ve put together a list of tracks you need to check out, chronicling some of his more well-known efforts with The Saints, to solo music, collaborations, covers and more.

(I’m) Stranded – The Saints (1976)

Okay, this one might be a little obvious, but the significance of The Saints’ debut single, co-written by Bailey and guitarist Ed Kuepper, cannot be understated. Its arrival in the mid-‘70s helped shape punk as we know it and its influence can still be felt across the globe today.

Know Your Product – The Saints (1978)

While Bailey has frequently been credited as one of the forefathers of punk, he wasn’t tied to the constraints of the genre, and shortly after The Saints’ ground-breaking first album, which borrowed its name from their acclaimed debut single, they unleashed a follow-up LP in Eternally Yours, which introduced a more R&B-driven sound. Know Your Product was the second single from the album and shook things up with prominent brass throughout, which confused a lot of people at the time.

Ghost Ships – The Saints (1984)

Again, with The Saints’ sixth album, A Little Madness To Be Free, Bailey continued to push the envelope, gravitating towards a sound that encompassed grand arrangements, with horns and strings heavily featured throughout – all of which can be heard in the album’s title track opener.

Just Like Fire Would – The Saints (1986)

What we didn’t mention about Know Your Product was that it was one of Kurt Cobain’s top tracks. Bailey's writing chops saw him garner a slew of big-name fans, including none other than The Boss. The band’s 1986 single, Just Like Fire Would, featured on album seven, All Fools Day, would eventually be covered by Bruce Springsteen, who first performed the track in Australia during his 2013 Wrecking Ball tour before featuring a recorded version on his 2014 album High Hopes.

It Doesn't Matter Anymore (Buddy Holly Cover) - Chris Bailey (1989)

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Buddy Holly’s passing, Bailey recorded a version of It Doesn't Matter Anymore, which was included on the Every Day Is A Holly Day compilation.

Everything I Need - Chris Bailey (1994)

Everything I Need is taken from Bailey’s eclectic fourth solo studio album, 54 Days At Sea, recorded Malmö, Sweden. While the album version dropped in 1994, we’d like to highlight this stunning performance from 1996 on Dutch music show 2 Meter Sessies.

Bring It On – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds featuring Chris Bailey (2003)

Not only did Bailey provide chorus vocals for Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ Bring It On, taken from Nocturama, but he also toured the US with them and appeared during their Late Show With David Letterman performance in 2003.

Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley Cover) – Chris Bailey (2004)

Among some of his final solo works was epic two-part compilation DM Blues, the second volume of which finishes with a cover of Elvis Presley’s Can't Help Falling In Love that will never get old.

Hey You! - Chris Bailey & H-Burns (2011)

One of Bailey’s many collaborative efforts, in 2011 he teamed with French country-folk troubadour H-Burns for an album, Stranger. Hey You! was featured on the album; a release that saw the duo tour France together.

King Of The Sun – The Saints (2012)

It’s hard to believe that The Saints’ fourteenth album, King Of The Sun, was released 10 years ago. It’s a concept album about a journey home after a hundred-year war, and its title track is proof that Bailey’s creativity hadn’t faltered since the band’s inception.