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Rating:
The band I am about to review is one of the best unknown garage bands, with almost mod attitudes and a penchant for well-crafted arrangements and sweet harmonies.
The group formed in 1965 in Sydney and was active until 1970, featuring George Young, brother of the famous Young brothers from ACDC, alongside Stevie Wright, Gordon "Snoowy" Henry Fleet, Harry Vanda, and Dick Diamonde. The Australian band, after a flash of success in 1966 with "Friday On My Mind", vanished from the scene and became a legend.
The album in question contains all the group's best tracks, including the aforementioned "Friday On My Mind", which opens with a splendid guitar arpeggio introducing a purely teenage yet brilliant singing, the choruses make you want to stand up and dance... together with the lads and lasses in the video. Yes indeed, it's the same piece that the Ribelli redid in Italy shortly after. Other great tracks include "Good Times", a typical Rock'n'blues piece, very similar to Cool Jerk for its evolutions but much more "toxic" in terms of hoarse and jazzy singing, the guitar solo provides a backdrop to the legendary piano. "Lovin Machine" is another scrappy piece, still characterized by a splendid guitar that gives it plenty of energy, the piece is often linked to "Batman" in almost all their concerts, bringing them somewhat close to the Who during the Quick One period. "Woman" starts with a tight drum rhythm and a very quirky accompaniment, making the track unique and distinctive. "River Deep Mountain High" is another particular and beautiful track from the group. It opens again with a splendid guitar, paving the way for delightful vocals, sweet yet gritty at the same time.
"The Music Goes Round My Head" is an orchestral song, very psychedelic in its intentions, one of the group's memorable moments (very Kinks-like). "Land Of Make Believe" is a slow and sad ballad, very particular and beautiful, splendid like the singing and the interludes where the piano plays a splendid arpeggio. "Happy Is The Man" is an incredibly modern piece melody-wise, classic in the arrangement of the choruses always at the forefront in the Easybeats, in this case prominently, creating almost a choral solo. "Falling Off The Edge Of The World" has a delightful and very Beatlesque chorus, once again tasteful arrangements for a great collection to own or at least to know. The very underrated band is a great example of a hidden gem, a jewel.
I take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas... and why not treat yourself to an Easybeats album? (clearly if you love beat and garage)
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Friday on My Mind (02:45)
Monday morning feels so bad,
Ev'rybody seems to nag me
Coming tuesday I feel better,
Even my old man looks good,
Wednesday just don't go,
Thursday goes too slow,
I'll have Friday on my mind
I'm Gonna have fun in the city,
Be with my girl she's so pretty,
She looks fine tonight,
She is out of sight to me,
Tonight....I'll spend my bread,
Tonight...I'll lose my head,
Tonight...I've got to get tonight
Monday I'll have Friday on my mind.
Do the five day drag once more,
Know of nothing else that bugs me
More than working for the rich man,
Hey I'll change that scene one day,
Today I might be mad,
Tomorrow I'll be glad,
'Cause I've got Friday on my mind,
I'm Gonna have fun in the city,
Be with my girl she's so pretty,
She looks fine tonight,
She is out of sight to me,
Tonight....I spend my bread,
Tonight...I lose my head,
Tonight...I got to get tonight
Monday I have Friday on my mind
I'm Gonna have fun in the city,
Be with my girl she's so pretty
+++
12 Hello How Are You (03:20)
EASYBEATS - HELLO, HOW ARE YOU
(H. Vanda; G. Young)
United Artists UA 25.756
The neon lights shine on the cars
And people rushing by
Through the fog in the chill of the night
And the rain comes pouring down
And suddenly I see her face
Coming through the crowd
Hello, how are you
It's good to see you here
Though you're late
I just wait like before
Hello, how are you
And ah, you're looking grand
With the way-ay you'll look evermore
The water-filled hole in my shoe
And the lonesome dollar in my hand
If I'd to stand here forever I'd stand
And the rain comes pouring down
Hello, how are you
It's good to see you here
Though you're late
I just wait like before
(Do you come in love or hate)
Hello, how are you
And ah, you're looking grand
(ohohohohohoh)
With the way that you'll look evermore
(do you, do you)
Hello, how are you
It's good to see you here
(ohohohohohoh)
Though you're late
I just wait like before
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