Of Skins and Heart

Of Skins and Heart is the debut album by Australian alternative rock band The Church. It was released in April 1981 by EMI/Parlophone records and reached No. 22 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. It is the only album to feature founding member Nick Ward on drums and is largely dominated by simple-structured, post-punk songs. It was produced by Chris Gilbey and Bob Clearmountain. Seven songs were entirely written by lead singer and bass guitarist Steve Kilbey and two co-written with others. The first single, "She Never Said", did not chart on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The second single, "The Unguarded Moment", co-written with Mikella Parker, who was married to Steve Kilbey at the time. This song launched the band to success and has been their biggest hit to date. It brought early attention and significant radio play to the band, it peaked at No. 22 in Australia and No. 19 in New Zealand. The track "Is This Where You Live" became a live staple over the following years. By the time of the album's release, Ward was replaced by Richard Ploog on drums. The album was re-sequenced and released internationally as The Church (1982).