Day two of our look at Aussie Beat has us spinning Australia's only international stars from the beat movement in the 60s, The Easybeats.
The Easybeats took the world by storm in November, 1966 after the quintet relocated to the UK and worked with American producer Shel Talmy. The release of their original number, Friday On My Mind, was so huge that it is largely the only thing The Easybeats are known for these days. But they did much more. The Easybeats' songwriters, guitarists Harry Vanda and George Young (the older brother of Malcolm and Angus of AC/DC fame) were very, very prolific. So prolific that they couldn't get their songs out fast enough.
Today we listen to a song that was recorded with Talmy at the controls in 1967, but failed to get released until 1977 when it was released on an odd and ends album of unreleased and hard to find songs. Today's SoTW, The Shame Just Drained, was one of those unreleased numbers. Beautifully written, beautifully produced, beautifully performed, it's amazing this never saw the light of day. The Shame Just Drained tells the story of a man who realizes, too late, that he had treated a woman badly. As he sees her, his shame drains the color from his face. Stevie Wright is NOT on vocals as this was only a demo. George Young is singing on this. Snowy Fleet on drums and Dick Diamonde on bass.
Enjoy. Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!
Did you know that George Young actually founded AC/DC and then decided to withdraw and insert his bros. in his place because he felt he was too old to pull off the hard rock concept he had in mind?
ReplyDeleteI did. He also produced all their early albums (up to but not including Back in Black?) and I think played bass on most of that stuff too.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, strange it would get buried. At times reminds me of Zombies ("aah aah ah ah") and at times like a tv crime series sound track segue (intro bass part :07 - :16).
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of this album. Apparently publishing rights and personnel changes scuttled a lot of the songs and sent them to the "where are they now" file.
DeleteWhat's it called, the album?
DeleteThe Shame Just Drained: The Vanda and Joung (sic) Collection. It's available on CD now with lots more songs than the ragged little LP
DeleteWho played piano on it?
DeleteI can't say for sure. It is simple enough that it could be either Vanda or Young. That would be my guess. That said, Nicky Hopkins was playing piano on much of The Easybeats material and a common session man for Shel Talmy.
DeleteI get your point, but for the most part I don't think they were rockers (ironic since George's creation of AC/DC was the archetype for hard rock). I think they were solid pop with better than average vocal harmonies. So to ask them to rock out (beyond their excellent SORRY) is to ask them to do something for which they were not built. Now the post after this...that is rockin' out. Dig.
ReplyDelete