"Out of Mind, Out of Sight" by Models

Song#:  2703
Date:  04/26/1986
Debut:  90
Peak:  37
Weeks:  13
Genre:  Rock, New Wave



Pop Bits:  This Australian band was formed in 1978 by singer/guitarist Sean Kelly. Two years later they were signed to Mushroom Records and proceeded to release three albums with each one more successful than the last. When 1985 rolled around, they got their first Top 10 hit in Australia with "Barbados," the second single from their fourth album Out of Mind, Out of Sight. The title track was select as the follow-up single and it went straight to #1. The success of the songs and the LP led to an international distribution deal with Geffen Records. The title track was issued out as a single in the US and it gained some attention at Rock getting to #22. The tune was also able to cross over to the Pop chart where it got inside the Top 40. Another track from the LP, "Cold Fever," got to #29 at Rock as well. Unfortunately, the band's follow-up album, 1986's Models' Media, failed to produce similar results and by 1988 the band had split.

ReduxReview:  I remember liking the bluesy rock feel to this song and the honking synths. I ended up buying the single. At the time they kind of had an INXS feel to them and I thought this song would do better than it did. It was a major hit in their homeland and probably still gets airplay there, but in the US it became a lost Top 40 single. It's a hooky track that is still a fun listen.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  The band's first bass guitarist was Pierre Sutcliff, aka Pierre Voltaire. Sutcliff stayed with the band during its first six months, but then left due to creative differences and was replaced. Sutcliff played with other bands, but ultimately chose a different career path once the rock 'n' roll dream faded. Later in 2014, Sutcliff would become a celebrity in Australia thanks to a game show. As a contestant on Million Dollar Minute, Sutcliff would end up winning over $500,000 (somewhere around $440,000 in US money at the time). It was the largest amount won by a contestant on an Australian daytime game show. Sutcliff had the option of playing for the full million, but opted to take the money and run. Had he played on and answered incorrectly, he would have forfeited the $500,000 and only received $75,000. Three other contestants would follow in Sutcliff's footsteps and take home the half million. In 2015, a contestant became the first and only to win the full million. After three seasons, the show was cancelled (probably due to running out of prize money...).

_________________________________________________________________________________