"Great Southern Land" is a compilation album by Australian rock/synthpop band Icehouse, released by Chrysalis Records / Regular Records in October 1989. It peaked at #2 on the ARIA albums chart and spent a massive cumulative total of 47 weeks in the top 50, proving to be a successful album for the band. The album includes singles, album tracks, B-sides, and two new songs "Touch the Fire" and "Jimmy Dean", displaying the wide variety of their musical styles, from synthpop to new wave and post-punk.
The title track, "Great Southern Land," was the first single released for the album, becoming one of Icehouse's most famous songs. It has been recognized as a poignant anthem of Australia, encapsulating the vastness and isolation of the country. Other notable singles from the album include "Hey, Little Girl," "Crazy," and "Electric Blue," testifying to the band's impact on the 80s and 90s music scene.
One of the most innovative and distinctive bands in their genre, Icehouse is fronted by Iva Davies, who formed the band originally named Flowers, in Sydney, in 1977. The band had success in the Australian and international charts and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006.
The Great Southern Land album is considered some of their finest work, offering a comprehensive overview of their careerup until the late 80s and capturing the essence of their poetic and experimental music style.
