Was There Anything I Could Do?

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"Was There Anything I Could Do?"
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Single by The Go-Betweens
from the album 16 Lovers Lane
A-side"Was There Anything I Can Do?"
B-side"Rock and Roll Friend"
Released3 October 1988 (1988-10-03)
Length3:06
LabelMushroom (AUS)
Beggars Banquet (UK)
SongwritersRobert Forster, Grant McLennan[1]
ProducerMark Wallis
The Go-Betweens singles chronology
"Streets of Your Town"
(1988) 		"Was There Anything I Could Do?"
(1988) 		"Love Goes On"
(1988)

"Was There Anything I Could Do?" is a song by Australian indie group the Go-Betweens that was issued as the second single from their 1988 album 16 Lovers Lane. The song was released 3 October 1988 by Beggars Banquet Records in the UK and Mushroom Records in Australia but failed to chart in either region. It was released as a promotional single in the US by Capitol Records and charted on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks charts in the United States, peaking at No. 16.[2]

"Was There Anything I Could Do?" was not necessarily the unanimous choice by all members of the band, with claims by some that they wanted Forster's "Clouds" whilst McLennan pushed for the song as it was more driving and anthemic.[3]

Cover versions

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The song was covered by Maxïmo Park and included on a limited edition compilation album, released in July 2008 to celebrate the launch of Independents Day.[4]

In 2010 a cover of the song by the Buzzards, was included on a Go-Betweens tribute album, Right Here.[5]

Franz Ferdinand in November 2013 covered the song on Triple J's Like a Version programme.[6]

In 2014 a cover of the song by Missy Higgins was included on her album, Oz.[7][8]

Track listing

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Original 7" Vinyl release

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  1. "Was There Anything I Could Do?" - 3:06
  2. "Rock and Roll Friend" - 3:30

Original 12" Vinyl release

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  1. "Was There Anything I Can Do?" - 3:06
  2. "Rock and Roll Friend" - 3:30
  3. "Mexican Postcard" - 2:13

Original CD single release

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  1. "Was There Anything I Can Do?" - 3:06
  2. "Rock and Roll Friend" - 3:30
  3. "Mexican Postcard" - 2:13
  4. "Bye Bye Pride" - 4:06

Release history

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Region Date Label Format Catalogue
United Kingdom October 1988 Beggars Banquet 7" vinyl BEG 219
12" vinyl BEG 219T
CD single BEG 219CD
Australia December 1988 Mushroom 7" vinyl K698
12" vinyl X14667
United States 1988 Capitol 12" vinyl SPRO-79427[A]

Notes

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A. ^ :The US release was a 12" promotional release with "Was There Anything I Could Do?" on each side.

Charts

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Chart (1988–89) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 159
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[10] 16

References

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  10. ^ "The Go-Betweens Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
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