-  A  U S T R A L I A   1 9 8 2  - 

This is basically a follow up to last Wednesday's intro story (see here 🔽)

During the weeks that I was 'Down Under' something had been going on 'Up Here' ! 

Britain had acquired a new TV station. Channel 4 had launched on November 2nd, and by the time of my return Australia was happening in a big way. To begin with C4 had begun by showing The Paul Hogan Show. This had been on Australian Television for almost 10 years but was new to the UK and introduced a host of colourful characters and Aussie catchphrases. Paul Hogan would soon be 'Crocodile Dundee' and an international star. 

While the radio was continually playing a great new song by a band called Men At Work. The track had been a No.1 success the previously year 'Down Under' and would now top the charts in both the US and UK by January 1983. 

More colourful lyrics and Australian slang - so lets go "travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie" - with the official video > 

In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) celebrating its 75th anniversary named the 30 Best Australian Songs from 1926 to 2001, as decided by a hundred-strong industry panel. "Down Under" was ranked as the fourth song on the list.

Link to the full list. 

    H A P P Y    B I R T H D A Y   T O     

 -   M y   b r o t h e r   J I M   - 

7 0   t o d a y

Welcome to the Club "bruv" 

We have over the years shared many music memories, from numerous Fairport Convention gigs to Folk Festivals in the old VW camper. BBC radio recordings on a Sunday afternoon and local clubs and pubs, none more unusual than the one in Caines, Australia in 1982.

It was a Sunday evening at the end of October and my journal records it as follows:

We had walked around town for quite awhile before finding the advertised Folk Club. It was rather sad, at first, no wonder there are so few Folk Clubs here, people don't seem interested. Anyway the music began and we quite enjoyed the very casual feeling and listened to some good music. "Streets of London", "Mr. Bojangles", some Eric Bogle songs and nice dulcimer music from a Canadian traveller. Cairns Folk Club - it's a long way from Clare to Here ! (Someone did sing this Ralph McTell song). 

It was also on this occasion we first heard someone perform 'The Aussie Bar-B-Q song', written by Scottish born Eric Bogle (famous for his anti war songs, notably "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda". The 'barbie' was indeed a National Institution and the lyrics certainly struck a chord, many requiring translation. In fact there's a video of a 'Live on Michael Parkinson' Australian TV show, from 1982 in which the lyrics were changed from 'snags' to 'sausages' so as to not confuse an international audience! [Full lyrics here]. 

The song originally appeared on Bogle's second album "Plain & Simple" (with John Munro) the previous year. Sing along now:

Parkinson link fyi: 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cauE2CSCDyE&list=RDcauE2CSCDyE&start_radio=1

Eric Bogle did mix his more serious songs with plenty of humorous ones. In 1984 there was 'Do You Know Any Dylan' - well worth a read through of this story song [link]

   

It occurred to me, that during the 40 or so minutes* that the Artemis II Orion spacecraft and it’s crew were speeding (at 5632 km/h) through the darkness that is the far side of the Moon, they were actually in its shadow. The Moonlight’s Shadow ! Queue the song… 

Nothing to do with space travel or specifically the Moon, Mike Oldfield's 1983 release 'Moonlight Shadow' gets a 'live' full orchestra production with Miriam Stockley on vocals in this 2006 German 'Night of the Proms. 

The roar of the crowd in recognition and 'All together' in German: 'alle zusammen' >>>> 

* While this is also about the amount of time it takes to listen to the whole of the album ‘Dark Side of the Moon‘ by Pink Floyd. 

   

We begin today with a short introduction - a 30 second (TikTok) promotion video:

You may have seen this story in the news. History link here. 

No better way to celebrate than with a demonstration from one the Telecaster's finest exponents. 

Totally in the Groove [the master] playing 'live' in Boston in 1993. 'Eileen' by Mr Keith Richards and The X-Pensive Winos band. 

A YouTube comment:
"Some of the most electrifying rhythm guitar lines ever laid down have been done so by Keith Richards. This is one of the best examples. This is rock 'n' roll in all its raw power."

  

With over 500 Star Tracks listed on the Friday Music Spot, I'm often convinced we have had a band before only to discover we haven't. Today's band I was sure we'd had previously. It was along time ago, so I've excused myself, because while one of their songs has featured it turns out it was from a tribute concert for the late Phil Lynott with Gary Moore & Friends performing 'Don't Believe a Word'.

Fifty years ago tomorrow Thin Lizzy released their Jailbreak album. Full of great tracks, I've selected the 'Cowboy Song', a particular favourite. Phil Lynott wrote and sang the song, Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson share the guitar work with Brian Downey on drums. 

Presenting the official visualiser video for 'Cowboy Song' >

Want to see Thin Lizzy 'live' - there's a 1978 video from Sydney, Australia (great backdrop) with Gary Moore now in the band and a faster track than the original. Click here. 

Fans note: Opening very soon in London, before touring the country, a new musical called 'Moonlight'.
See this link. 

   

I've had this track lined up for awhile. Time for a love song from the head of The Cure's Robert Smith. 

One of those songs that had chart success at the time of its release in 1987, including being the band's breakthrough in America, though it wasn't huge. Subsequently it has received many nominations in 'Greatest Songs' lists, and in 2019 Billboard ranked it No.1 on their list of the 40 greatest The Cure songs. While Robert Smith said he considers "Just Like Heaven" to be one of the band's strongest works, and called it "the best pop song The Cure have ever done".

Today's Star Track, from the LP 'Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me', is 'Just Like Heaven' with its 50 second instrumental intro, a definite trademark of The Cure. 

Plus a Special Extra:

A Rick Beato: 'What makes this song great ?' - 13 minutes that adds a level of appreciation and insight into the song. Recommended. Watch it here. 

 

Last week we went to see a Pink Floyd tribute band in Hastings: called On Thin Ice.

While waiting for them to come on the music playing was British bands that fans of Pink Floyd would clearly approve of. So we had the Moody Blues, Led Zeppelin, Procol Harum and this track from Supertramp - 'Crime of the Century'.

Quite an appropriate choice of song, written by Rick Davies [on piano and vocals] and Roger Hodgson.
Don't you think ? 

Track Notes:

Title song from the band's 1974 album of the same name. 

The guitar solo from Roger Hodgson in the video is footage from a concert in Paris, part of the 'Breakfast in America' tour in 1979. John Helliwell plays the saxophone solo. 

Rick Davies sadly died last September, at his home on Long Island. 

  

I did have something different lined up for today. Then I changed my mind, only to think again... 

So here's an instrumental piece of music to allow you to forget the News for the next seven minutes and watch a video that reminds us of our wonderful world and the nature that made it so. 

The group is called Held By Trees and this track is 'The Tree of Life' >

Info:

Held By Trees is a project led by David Joseph featuring veterans from Talk Talk, Pink Floyd, and Dire Straits. Blending post-rock, ambient, and progressive styles, their debut album 'Solace' from April 2022 features organic, nature-inspired music.
The band on the LP is: Paul Beavis - Drums, James Grant - Bass, David Joseph - Guitar, Robbie McIntosh - Lead Guitar, Andy Panayi - Clarinet and Saxophone & Laurence Pendrous - Piano. 

 

Back end of last year I saw an article headline that read "The Best American band you've never heard of" - only on this occasion I had heard of them !

While sitting having a drink in the bar at a hotel last August, music was playing via a phone playlist and I was able to 'Shazam' a number of the tracks I liked. The Red Clay Strays 'Wondering Why’ was one of those tracks noted. A country music band formed in Mobile, Alabama, their 2022 single "Wondering Why" was successful in late 2023 after going viral on TikTok and exposure on Live AF (An independent country and Americana space, on YouTube channel Western AF). This song is very bluesy and lead singer Brandon Coleman's voice is quite something. 

More Red Clay Strays (and further religious references) check out: 'Devil in My Ear' > here

And I can recommend: 'Wanna Be Loved', ‘I’m Still Fine’ and 'Drowning’. 

  

To follow last time's Star Track it feels only right and proper to actually feature the Band. 

I came upon this particular track via a post entitled "Five songs to prove Robbie Robertson is an underrated guitar genius": (link).

The track is ‘It Makes No Difference’ from 1975. The video is combined footage from 'The Last Waltz' movie and a show at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco.

The Band were: Rick Danko (bass guitar, vocals, guitar, double bass, fiddle), Richard Manuel (piano, vocals, keyboards), Garth Hudson (organ, keyboards, saxophone, accordion, woodwinds, brass), guitarist Robbie Robertson and drummer & singer Levon Helm. They have now all passed away, to play Music from the Big Pink in the sky ! What a memory they leave. 

A sad song, some great guitar and a sax solo - written by Robbie Robertson and sung by Rick Danko >>>