Almanac Music: So You’re Overseas And Suddenly….(Part 4)

 

 

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 of 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 starting 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. :)

 

 

36. ‘Reckless’ – Australian Crawl. I’m not sure James Reyne even knows what this song means but it doesn’t matter.

 

 

 

 

37. ‘Quasimodo’s Dream’ – The Reels. Dubbo’s finest had some fantastic songs. A wonderful synthesiser intro from Karen Ansel sets up a classic Australian song.

 

 

 

 

38. ‘Throw Your Arms Around Me’ – Hunters and Collectors. I remember singing this in a choir of drunken footballers on unnecessary repeat all the way from the Gold Coast to Brisbane in 1986. Instantly recognisable opening.

 

 

 

 

39. ‘A Tale They Won’t Believe’ – Weddings, Parties, Anything. This rollicking, sea shanty-like opening is embedded in me after four years in Tasmania and my youngest daughter Mia demanding I play it every time we went for a drive. It also set me on a quest to discover more about the convict Alexander Pearce, which has now bordered on obsession. Mick Thomas and WPA are a national treasure and an incredible live act as witnessed here.

 

 

 

 

40. ‘Don’t Fall in Love’ – The Ferrets. A #1 hit for Billy Miller who is still performing today. He had a very long residency at The Clifton Hill Hotel and is highly respected in the Melbourne music scene.

 

 

 

 

41. ‘Way Out West’ –  The Dingoes. Another long-time resident of The Clifton was the late Broderick Smith, one of the finest voices in our history. Led by Kerryn Tolhurst’s immaculate guitar and Smith’s harmonica, this song was covered by a couple of others and probably made more money for them than the Dingoes’ entire career which was dogged with bad luck.

 

 

 

 

42. ‘Suburban Boy’ –  Dave Warner From the Suburbs. When this was released I had lost the plot at school and would sing, “just a Kwinana Boy.” Mr Warner captured life as a teenager in what was the cultural wasteland of WA in the 70s.

 

 

 

 

43. ‘Take a Long Line’ –  The Angels. Impossible not to play air guitar to this intro surely?

 

 

 

 

44.  ‘Don’t Change’ –  INXS.  Released on the ‘Shabooh Shoobah’ album, this song gained the band plenty of attention prior to the international success of ‘Kick’.

 

 

 

 

45. ‘Took the Children Away’ –  Archie Roach. “This story’s right, this story’s true. I would not tell lies to you.” Such a great opening to what has become an anthem for The Stolen Generation.

 

 

 

 

46.  ‘The Loved One’ –  The Loved Ones. The unmistakable hand claps lead into the unique voice of the late Gerry Humphreys, an adopted Pom :). Another fantastic band that deserved more. Their other big single ‘Ever Lovin’ Man’ is a standout also.

 

 

 

 

47. ‘Eagle Rock’ –  Daddy Cool. I was reticent to add this. Not because of the song and the late great Ross Hannaford’s classic intro but because the West Coast Eagles FC use it after they win games in Perth. That hasn’t been the case for a few years and won’t be happening for a few more, so it’s in.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for popping in and all the best for 2025. Cheers.

 

 

More from Ian Wilson can be read Here.

 

 

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