Almanac Music: So, you’re overseas and suddenly…(Part 1)

 

 

 

 

Have you ever been a long way from home for a significant period when suddenly you hear the opening chords from an Australian band, a band you may not have even loved, just that song?

It could be in a café or a shop, but it shoots out of a speaker somewhere, and into your ears like a lightning bolt. You’re home!

Instantly you are taken back to your homeland, a place that has produced some of the greatest musicians and songs ever created and you unconsciously started singing aloud.

That is the power of a good Aussie opening riff. Here is a list of some of my favourites.

The opinions of the following are those of the author and him alone! Don’t shoot the messenger!!

 

1.  ‘Wide Open Road’ – The Triffids – As a Sandgroper by birth, this epitomises the landscape and isolation of WA like no other song I’ve heard.

 

 

 

2.  ‘Flame Tree’ – Cold Chisel – If you’ve driven long distances around and over the country, this is another track that evokes those lonely kilometres.

 

 

 

3.  ‘Cattle and Cane’ – The Go Betweens – Written and sung by the late Grant McClennan, this is an ode to his upbringing in North Queensland and has such a timeless, haunting melody.

 

 

 

4. ‘Bittersweet’ – The Hoodoo Gurus. – Hard to pick just one but I love the intro and steady build to this song. Apologies to My Girl, 1000 Miles and Death Defying.

 

 

 

5.  ‘Miracle Mile’ – Harem Scarem. – This was my intro to the late, great Chris Wilson whose harmonica sweeps through this classic song. Taken from one of my all time favourite debut albums, Pilgrims Progress. Still gives me goose-bumps.

 

 

 

6.  ‘Two Cabs to the Toucan’ – The Models. – Another ripper intro and fantastic film clip to boot.

 

 

 

7.  ‘Everybody Moves’ – Died Pretty. – Apologies to many more superb songs from their extensive catalogue and I’m still in mourning at the loss of Ron Peno.

 

 

 

8. ‘Under the Milky Way’ – The Church. – Plenty of fine memories come flooding back for many of us ‘middle agers’ when we hear this. Like Died Pretty, deserved more recognition.

 

 

 

9.  ‘At First Sight’ – The Stems. – Lead man Dom Mariani was responsible for most of the 60s garage-like gems this underrated Perth band has produced. Still touring today.

 

 

 

10.  ‘Short Note’ – Matt Finish. – Matt Moffit was a very talented Sydney songwriter who sadly passed away too young. This song was huge in the early eighties and still stands up today.

 

 

 

More from Ian Wilson can be read Here.

 

 

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Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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