"Heyday" is the fourth album by the Australian alternative rock band The Church, released in November 1985. This album marked a significant shift in the band's creative process, as it was the first time that group compositions dominated one of their releases. Frontman Steve Kilbey explained that the band's previous approach—where he would write the songs on his eight-track demo and bring them to the band—was feeling too rigid. The group had developed a new energy level during live performances that far surpassed anything they had captured in the studio. They realized that the only way to translate this live energy into their recordings was for the whole band to collaborate more on songwriting.
During the recording of Heyday at Studios 301, it became clear that Kilbey's voice had undergone a dramatic transformation. Critics had previously pointed out that his sometimes dour vocal style was a weak point for the band, but during these sessions, his voice was much more relaxed, warm, and dynamic, with a wider range. Kilbey's newfound vocal strength became one of the band's defining features, and he not only sang all the lead vocals but also tracked multiple harmony parts for each song, sometimes singing in an octave higher than his usual register.
Musically, Heyday featured a more stripped-down approach to keyboards compared to previous albums, but there was greater embellishment with the inclusion of strings and brass. The album also emphasized guitar interplay, though solos were kept to a minimum. Critics likened the album to a more electrified version of Love's 1968 orchestral rock classic Forever Changes, with its blend of rich arrangements and melodic complexity.
Despite some criticisms from fans regarding the use of horns on certain tracks, Heyday is considered one of the band's fan favorites and has continued to be a part of their live shows. Songs like "Myrrh" and "Tantalized" have remained staples in the band's repertoire over the years. The album is also notable for being the last Church release to include printed lyrics, a feature that Kilbey chose not to continue with future albums.
However, the recording sessions were not without tension. During the band's 1986 tour in support of Heyday, guitarist Marty Willson-Piper quit mid-tour due to rising in-band tensions. The band performed as a three-piece for a brief period, but Willson-Piper returned after Kilbey agreed to include more group collaboration in future recordings.
In 2002, Heyday was remastered and reissued by EMI Australia with a bonus disc featuring promotional videos for the tracks "Already Yesterday," "Tantalized," and "Columbus." In 2010, Second Motion Records released a single-disc remaster as part of their 30th Anniversary Series.
The music video for "Already Yesterday" was filmed in Avalon and Hyde Park in Sydney, capturing some of the city's iconic locations.
