Two Bit Monsters

Two Bit Monsters
Studio album by John Hiatt
Released	1980
Studio	International Automated Media, Irvine, California; Kitchen Sync Studios, Hollywood; Crystal Sound, Los Angeles
Genre	Rock
Length	34:43
Label	MCA
Producer	Denny 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

Two Bit Monsters is singer-songwriter John Hiatt's fourth album, released in 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.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Robert Christgau	B
Rolling Stone	(favorable)

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."

Track listing

All tracks written by John Hiatt, except where noted

1. "Back to Normal" – 3:18
2. "Down in Front" – 3:22
3. "I Spy (For the F.B.I.)" – 2:41 (Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, Herman Kelley)
4. "Pink Bedroom" – 2:53
5. "Good Girl, Bad World" – 3:14
6. "Face the Nation" – 3:07
7. "Cop Party" – 2:54
8. "Back to the War" – 3:28
9. "It Hasn't Happened Yet" – 3:22
10. "String Pull Job" – 3:22
11. "New Numbers" – 3:02

Personnel

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

Technical

• Denny Bruce - Producer
• Mark Howlett – recording, mixing
• John Van Hamersveld – photography, design