Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Two Bit Monsters

Two Bit Monsters is singer-songwriter John Hiatt's fourth album, released in June 1980. It was his second of two albums with MCA Records. It failed to chart, and MCA dropped Hiatt. "It Hasn't Happened Yet" would be a minor country hit for Rosanne Cash, from her album Somewhere in the Stars. Cash also covered "Pink Bedroom", on Rhythm & Romance.

Last revised
Jul 18, 2026
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Two Bit Monsters
Studio album by
John Hiatt
ReleasedJune 1980
StudioInternational Automated Media, Irvine, California; Kitchen Sync Studios, Hollywood; Crystal Sound, Los Angeles
GenreRock
Length34:43
LabelMCA
ProducerDenny Bruce, John Hiatt
John Hiatt chronology
Slug Line
(1979) 		Two Bit Monsters
(1980) 		All of a Sudden
(1982)
Alternative cover
Album cover from Slug Line/Two Bit Monsters combo CD
Singles from Two Bit Monsters
  1. "I Spy (For the F.B.I.)" / "Good Girl, Bad World"
    Released: 1980
  2. "Back to the War" / "Pink Bedroom"
    Released: 1980
  3. "Back to Normal"
    Released: 1981

Two Bit Monsters is singer-songwriter John Hiatt's fourth album, released in June 1980. It was his second of two albums with MCA Records.1 It failed to chart, and MCA dropped Hiatt. "It Hasn't Happened Yet" would be a minor country hit for Rosanne Cash, from her album Somewhere in the Stars. Cash also covered "Pink Bedroom", on Rhythm & Romance.

Release

Two Bit Monsters was released by MCA Records in June 1980.123 "I Spy (For the F.B.I.)" was released as a single,45 with "Good Girl, Bad World" as the B-Side.6 "Back to the War", c/w "Pink Bedroom",78 and "Back to Normal" were also released as singles.9 The album failed to chart everywhere but Sweden, where it peaked at No. 41 on the Sverigetopplistan chart.10

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar11
Cash Box(unrated)12
Robert ChristgauB13
Rolling Stone(favorable)14

The Boston Globe wrote that "Hiatt's effort is strong, angry, and intelligent... He is not content to sneer, rather, Hiatt is one to ridicule and condemn."15 Billboard wrote that the album "takes him [Hiatt] from the folk rock genre to the world of pop rock."16

Track listing

All tracks are written by John Hiatt, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Back to Normal" 3:18
2."Down in Front" 3:22
3."I Spy (For the F.B.I.)"Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, Herman Kelley2:41
4."Pink Bedroom" 2:53
5."Good Girl, Bad World" 3:14
6."Face the Nation" 3:07
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Cop Party"2:54
2."Back to the War"3:28
3."It Hasn't Happened Yet"3:22
4."String Pull Job"3:22
5."New Numbers"3:02
Total length:34:43

Personnel

  • John Hiatt – guitar, vocals
  • Howard Epstein – bass guitar, background vocals
  • Shane Keister – keyboards, organ, piano
  • Darrell Verdusco – drums, background vocals
Technical
References

References

  1. "MCA Plans Campaigns for June LPs" (PDF). Record World. June 14, 1980. p. 57 – via World Radio History.
  2. "MCA Releases Ten" (PDF). Record World. May 31, 1980. p. 14 – via World Radio History.
  3. "From Over The Rainbow" (PDF). Billboard. June 7, 1980. p. 2 – via World Radio History.
  4. "Record World Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. August 23, 1980. p. 14 – via World Radio History.
  5. Sutton, Martyn (August 23, 1980). "Single File" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 18 – via World Radio History.
  6. "Releases" (PDF). Music Week. July 26, 1980. p. 26 – via World Radio History.
  7. "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 18, 1980. p. 30 – via World Radio History.
  8. "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 25, 1980. p. 32 – via World Radio History.
  9. "Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. May 9, 1981. p. 14 – via World Radio History.
  10. "swedishcharts.com - John Hiatt - Two Bit Monsters". Sverigetopplistan.
  11. Ruhlmann, William. Two Bit Monsters at AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  12. "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 14, 1980. p. 26. ISSN 0006-2510 – via World Radio History.
  13. "Consumer Guide, John Hiatt reviews". Robert Christgau. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  14. Carson, Tom (October 2, 1980). "John Hiatt: Two Bit Monsters: Music review". Rolling Stone (RS 327). Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  15. Allan, Marc (July 24, 1980). "Records/Reviews". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
  16. "Billboard's Recommended LPs" (PDF). Billboard. June 14, 1980. p. 68 – via World Radio History.