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SLICE OF HEAVEN
David S. emails:
Wondering if you could help me out here: My family’s living in Istanbul, and we’re going to have, as it turns out, a house full of Aussie expats here for Boxing Day — I’m American and my wife’s Kiwi. I’d really like to do it right. We’re all fortysomething; what’s some good Aussie pop rock music from when they were all in school I could download from iTunes for the party?
Cheers,
David
You can’t go wrong with the Hoodoo Gurus, David. Like Creedence, they’re beloved by people of all political/social/gender categories. And your Kiwi wife will rejoice upon hearing Dave Dobbyn’s Slice of Heaven. Further recommendations to follow in comments.
Try early Acca Dacca (eg. High Voltage), Cold Chisel’s East and a Skyhooks Best Of album.
Posted by Blithering Bunny on 2006 12 23 at 12:04 PM • permalinkAre you crazy Tim?
Cold Chisel. Cheap Wine. Period.
That is all.Cheap Wine
Posted by Jamie-Reardon on 2006 12 23 at 12:13 PM • permalinkI’m a Yank, too, but Aussie punk/pop was very big in my crowd back in the ‘80’s. Oz was representin’ big time.
“(Let’s All) Turn On” by the Hoodoo Gurus is their best song, IMHO. Definitely get that one. The Triffids were good pop. Midnight Oil’s “Power and the Passion” was very danceable, The Church “Under The Milky Way” is a classic, The DiVinyls were voted best new band of the 1970’s, 1980’s, and 1990’s because people always forgot about them (man, was she hot!), and Radio Birdman is still revered by US punks. Save that for when you are all drunk and dancing like maniacs.
The Celibate Rifles (it was a play on the Sex Pistols name) were also a great party band.
For the hard stuff, unfortunately, there isn’t enough Cosmic Psychos or Rose Tattoo on iTunes and (gasp!) no Angel City but also check for The Birthday Party and/or Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds if you want some darker, edgier goth stuff.
Have a great party and Happy New Year!
Barnesy!
Just bloody Barnesy!
The bloke even rocked R&B! Too Much Ain’t Enough Love!
Posted by Jamie-Reardon on 2006 12 23 at 01:22 PM • permalinkBarnesy was our Elvis. He could drink him under the table too. Elvis just popped pills. Barnesy wasn’t a woggo pussy.
Posted by Jamie-Reardon on 2006 12 23 at 01:31 PM • permalinkI know some of you suss cunts are thinking, hey! Wait a minute! Barnesy was Anti-IR! But hey, don’t hold it against him, Barnesy cannot tarnish his legacy, neither can Johnnie Farnham. Okay that’s another thing Elvis has on Barnesy, Elvis wanted to ban The Beatles from the US for their hippie ways.
Elvis was an all the way patriot though, even to the point of telling fans to remove ‘The King’ banners, cause as he said, he wasn’t The King, he was just a singer.
Posted by Jamie-Reardon on 2006 12 23 at 01:36 PM • permalinkGangajang’s Sounds of Then (This is Australia). Sample clip backing a coke ad. Lyrics.
The Angels, Am I ever going to see your face again (No way, get fucked, fuck off !)
Well, for an American that listened to Australian music in the Seventies and Eighties, it would have to include:
- Little River Band ("haaaaaaave youuuuuu heard about the lonesome loser?")
- Air Supply ("I’m lost in love and I don’t know the words, but I’ll keep on humming, until it begins to hurt")
- Men at Work ("something something down under")
And I don’t want to hear any mean crap from you Aussies about these great bands. Classic songs.
Posted by wronwright on 2006 12 23 at 02:04 PM • permalinkI fell in love with a girl when i was 16 to “Slice of Heaven” 1987 was a good year.
When I hear that song I always remember her EJVPosted by artful-dodger on 2006 12 23 at 02:17 PM • permalinkwhat about “The Models” they were a good Aussie Band
Posted by artful-dodger on 2006 12 23 at 03:00 PM • permalinkWay O/T:
Does anyone know how the Orgasm For Peace event went on the 22nd.
I was in a plane and the lady next to me seemed approving, when I suggesteed we should protest; or at least that’s how I interpreted her “Oh yeah?”.
So comes 2400 hours 21st December and I’m all of a tremble when, wham!. The bloody international dateline. The shortest non-orgasm I’ve ever had.
Did the lady know something?
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2006 12 23 at 03:12 PM • permalinkSurely some Split Enz/Crowded House ought to be in the mix?
Posted by Frogwhistle on 2006 12 23 at 03:46 PM • permalinkI suppose Status Quo doesn’t count? Not even if Allan Lancaster lives in Castle Hill now?
Posted by AlburyShifton on 2006 12 23 at 04:07 PM • permalinkSome great recommendations!
I’d add INXS and the (wonderful) Icehouse.
Posted by boxofmatches on 2006 12 23 at 04:16 PM • permalinkNothing says aussie like a bunch of drunken blokes screaming out to the hunnas “You don’t make me feel like I"m a woman, anymore!”
A good mate of mine reckons it’s the best male bonding experience. Ever.
(Say Goodbye, by Hunters and Collectors)
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 12 23 at 04:24 PM • permalink’And your Kiwi wife will rejoice upon hearing Dave Dobbyn’s Slice of Heaven.’
Tim’s setting a record for the world’s longest typo, surely.
Chisel’s what the guy needs
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2006 12 23 at 04:30 PM • permalinkY’all are lifesavers—okay, I bought some Hoodoo Gurus, INXS, Midnight Oil and Split Enz, got some Slim Dusty then got a lot more Slim Dusty after I listened to it, checking into Triffids, DiVinyls and Cold Chisel now—The Saints had a great single off their first album to hit the States, wasn’t “Stranded,” can’t remember what it was now. Song titles are great, especially something an Aussie hasn’t heard on international radio. Keep suggestions coming, many thanks—any Kiwi bands besides Split Enz/Finn Bros. projects or Dave Dobbyn’d be great too. It’s a good idea to pleasantly surprise one’s wife once in a while… I seem to remember a great Kiwi proto-punk band, Garage or Garbage, something like that?
Again, thanks, I appreciate Tim posting the e-mail and your help.
David S. (a.k.a. Clubbeaux)
Quick cruise through my itunes selection (although one or two of these are a bit embarrassing). These are some that non-aussies may recognise, or likely to generate a sing along by expats....three stars are compulsory.
Am I ever going to see you face again? - the Angels***
Power and the Passion - Midnight Oil
Run by Night - Midnight OIl***
The Nips are getting bigger- Mental as Anything***
If you leave me, can I come too? - Mental as anything
LIve it up - Mental as Anything
Down Under - Men at Work***
Bedroom eyes - Kate Ceberano
Don’t change - INXS***
Burn for you - INXS
Need you tonight - INXS
original Sin - INXS
Great Southern Land - Icehouse***
Street Cafe - Icehouse
What’s a few men? - Hunters and collectors - (particularly pertinent for someone in Turkey)
I want you back - Hoodoo Gurus***
Tojo - Hoodoo Gurus
Khe Sanh - Cold Chisel*** (not sure if it’s available on itunes)
The Unguarded Moment - The Church***
Things don’t seem - Australian Crawl
Errol - Australian Crawl***
No aphrodisiac - the WhitlamsThe best Aussie band name was “Beasts of Bourbon” but I can’t find any of their stuff on iTunes (US).
There was a punk record label in Minneapolis, MN, in the ‘80’s-’90’s called Amphetamine-Reptile (AmRep) Records that put out lots of Aussie stuff and even had some of the bands over to tour the Midwest. That’s how I became aware of them. In fact, Midwest bands would do cover versions of Aussie punk tunes because they were so fun and clever.
Search around for anything by The Onyas and I recall The Lime Spiders had their moments, too.
the avalanches ‘Frontier Psychiatrist’
mondo rock- ‘cool world’
‘come said the boy’dave graney- (anything)
nick cave and the bad seeds (anything)
paul kelly ‘to her door’
‘dumb things’
‘before too long’damien lovelock ‘the dalai lama’
peter allen ‘tenterfield saddler’
‘ i still call australia home’wa wa nee/ peter andre/danii minogue (always good to have a few house clearers)
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2006 12 23 at 06:28 PM • permalinkoh forgot my all time aussie fave- the church ‘unguarded moment’
i don’t know who sings it or even if its australian but for a generation nothing says meat pie n sauce like ‘hot stuff’
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2006 12 23 at 06:40 PM • permalinkSome Kiwi that you wife will know if she has been to a Kiwi do anytime within the last 20 years involving lots of beer.
The Exponents ‘Victoria’ ‘I’ll Say Goodbye’ ‘Christchurch’ ‘Great Hopes’ ‘Why Does Love Do This’ ‘Like She Said’ ‘Erotica’ - some if not most of these are virtually anthems
Fair chance the Aussies will be unfamiliar unless they have been to NZ, but they will like it.Other Kiwi slightly more subdued- The Mutton Birds, Straw People and of course anything by Split Enz Crowded House and specifically Neil Finn
For a bit of fun Fred Dagg’s or more correctly John Clarke’s ‘You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are (New Zealand)’Modern Kiwi performers that may also appeal to the aging are Bic Runga and SalmonellaDub
Some Aussie that I can’t see mentioned above.
Ed Kuepper which is a little along the lines of Paul Kelly. The song ‘Maria Peripateticia’ is a good example.
And maybe for a bit of a laugh one of the 22 covers by Australian performers of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ from Andrew Dentons ‘Money or the Gun’ show in the early ‘90’s.
For instance Rolf Harris does one with a wobble board and Leonard Teale reads it out as a poem.#46 - Kylie - how could we forget! Most people grew up with Kylie, starting a bundle of teased up hair as Charlene in Neighbours. The earlier, the better.
Good pick up for The Church - great great band! How about Australian Crawl/James Reyne?
Posted by boxofmatches on 2006 12 23 at 07:34 PM • permalinkMy dear friend is watching my Countdown DVD. She sent me this email which I thought I might share:
Subject: there’ll be no more running to paradise
and while dancing alone in the lounge room to a song that was one of her favourites in her early 20’s (the choirboys - run to paradise) the realisation came upon Debbie that whilst mentally she may still be in her early 20’s physically she’s probably in her mid 60’s (and that was only after half a song) - I’ll be getting to paradise via a slow crawl in future I think, there’ll be no running
I asked if she wanted to borrow my Zimmer frame…
For the Americans: Jack Black did a great extended rendition of ‘Long Way to the Top’ at the closing credits of ‘School of Rock’.
David S ... make sure you get plenty of piss ... don’t skimp on the bira ... I believe you can get Fosters quite readily in Istanbul ... personally I think it is a crap beer ... Aussies tend to like their beers in quantity, not quality ... you must provide feedback on how the Boxing Day party went ... watching the Boxing Day Test would be more traditional than listening to iTunes IMO ...
#29 Nilk: That’s my favourite song of all time! And as for a bunch of drunken blokes singing it at each other, I think someone’s been spying on me. :)
I would also like to add to the list: Johnny Diesel and The Injectors, Spy Vs Spy, Weddings Parties Anything (just for the song “Fathers Day"), Area 51 ("Unsung Hero” - second fave of all time). Mate there are just so many. You bastard Dave, now I have to go and listen to all of my old CDs again. :)this is way off topic and newbie that i am i’m always nervous of attracting the attention of andrea and her legendary banfinger.
the times has published an extraordinary attack on m.e. policy by archbishop rowan williams.
as an anglican i should’nt be surprised that the spiritual head of the church is a dhimmi but this piece really needs a good fisking.
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2006 12 23 at 09:07 PM • permalinkOh, and for the drunken male bonding, Cold Chisel’s “Khe Sanh” - every male over 18 should know that song, I know that for soldiers it’s mandatory, and Hunters and Collectors “What’s a few men” always makes me feel like crying. But to make this lil’ Aussie heart skip a beat, Redgum “I was only 19”, and to make me smile, “I’ve been to Bali too”. Damn, but I’m getting flashbacks from the nineties and certain establishments in Flinders street in Townsville with one or two close mates (entire Company on the turps). Brings a tear to my eye, I tell ya. :)
#66 Kae: My dep date got put back to 2 Jan, so Dirty Harriet and I are spending Christmas with the family, I can’t tell you how happy I am about that. :) So far she’s survived meeting the family, although after being attacked by all of my nieces and nephews (savage little buggers) wanting her to chase them around, is having some doubt about us ever having kids. :)
Thanks for asking mate, and yes, ‘Fathers Day’ is a favourite of mine, because although I don’t have kids, I have always wanted to. One day, perhaps. :)Hmmm.
Some Aussies coming over?
Don’t worry about tunes, just keep the beer flowing.
Posted by memomachine on 2006 12 23 at 09:29 PM • permalinkWhat a bunch of cornhuskers! You guys are strictly rubesville! You shoulda been down at Machados with Detective Paco and the other hep cats to catch this performance.
#73 Kae
Sorry to hear about your dad, I worry that mine won’t be around much longer, he’s had a tough life, and it’s starting to tell. I do worry about having kids, if I ever will, if it’s fair to, with work taking me away all the time. Not to mention the fact that I don’t know if I’d be a good father? When my first nephew was a few weeks old my sister handed him to me and I just felt scared I’d hurt him, I was shaking so bad. :)
If I ever did have kids, it’d probably go like this: Children all lined up in the hallway, father pacing up and down in front of them:
“Okay, for those of you who haven’t met me yet, I’m your father, and probably will be for some time. I just want to say from the get go that I’m a hard man, but fair. You - number two - pull that nappy up! Chest out! No slouching there number three!.”You’ve got to pop in some oz country at some stage. So why not Lee Kernaghan’s signature song?
Hmmm. You are mixing Aussies and Kiwis together? On Boxing Day? You are about to learn a valuable cultural lesson my friend.
You need ice packs, mercurochrome and plenty of heavy gauze.
The best way to distract the Aussies until the police arrive, is to pipe the cricket in over the web.
Godspeed, brave soul.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2006 12 23 at 10:14 PM • permalinkDave S ... a BBQ is good to have on Boxing Day, especially if you don’t want to serve Christmas Day leftover ham and turkey ... snags and steak take about 5 stubbies to cook, give or take a stubby ... it allows the women to toss the salad and get tipsy on wine and cocktails in the kitchen ... and always turn the food frequently, as if each snag and steak is on it’s own imaginary rotisserie ... that one is a group effort ... whilst listening to your Christmas Day present The Twelfth Man by Billy Birmingham ... enjoy ...
You can’t go wrong with:
Midnight Oil - Blue Sky Mine, Forgotten Years, Beds Are Burning, Power & The Passion, US Forces
Cold Chisel - Choir Girl, Cheap Wine, When The War Is Over, Khe Sanh
Mental As Anything - Live It Up
Dragon - Young Years, April Sun In Cuba, Are You Old Enough?, Dreams Of Ordinary Men, Rain, Magic, Cry, Wilderworld, Speak No Evil, Western Girls
Jimmy Barnes - Working Class Man, Higher & Higher
John Farnham - You’re The Voice, Pressure Down, That’s Freedom
GANGgajang - Sounds Of Then (This Is Australia)
Men At Work - Down Under, Who Can It Be Now?
Icehouse - Great Southern Land, Electric Blue, Hey Little Girl, Touch The Fire
Richard Clapton - Girls On The Avenue, Down In The Lucky Country, I Am An Island
1927 - That’s When I Think Of You, If I Could, You Never Know
INXS - Original Sin, Dancing On The Jetty
Noiseworks - Take Me Back, Reach Out
This should keep you going. Enjoy the riches of Aussie rock music :-)
Posted by The Best Infidel on 2006 12 23 at 11:08 PM • permalinkI know from my above list that Dragon does strictly have Kiwi roots although they have considered themselves Australian in some respect. Either way, you and your wife should both love them. They are absolutely brilliant.
Posted by The Best Infidel on 2006 12 23 at 11:10 PM • permalinkNick Cave - Into my arms
Crowded House - Fall at your feet, What about me?
Khe San - Cold Chisel
John Farnham - When the war is over
Paul Kelly - To her door, Dumb things, Before too long
Oils - Power and the passion
AC/DC - Long way to the top
Redgum - I was only 19And of course, ‘I still call Australia home’ (the Kiwis will understand)
Merry Christmas Tim and all posters, and a happy New Year to all. Thanks for the many laughs.
trivia: christie amphlett is a cousin of little pattie
‘He’s My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy’ now there’s an aussie classic!
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2006 12 23 at 11:34 PM • permalink#65 185, I am a huge Weddos fan - first saw them when I was 18. Half a lifetime ago. I cried when they broke up.
You know you’re a groupie when you see a band up in Wodonga and the lead singers says, “You’re a long way from Melton, wtf are you doing here?” then buys you and your mate drinks for the rest of the night lol.
As for the Hunnas, The Slab is also a fantastic song. AKA Betty’s Worry it’s fantastic to drink to and scream along with.
Someone mentioned Kevin Bloody Wilson, but I’ve not seen TISM on the list yet.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 12 23 at 11:55 PM • permalink#90 Nilk: I saw them as well, in my youth, at Paul’s Tavern in the Valley in Brisvegas. Good days. Ah TISM, “Greg the Stopsign”, “I’m on the Drug That Killed River Phoenix”. I notice no-one has mentioned Lubricated Goat yet either, although, for the life of me I don’t know why I did. :)
Damn, this topic is as addictive as a heroin tim-tam.#77 185, if you are waiting for the right time to have kids, you’ll be waiting forever. If you and Dirty Harriet are serious, no sense in hanging around.
My mum never got to see my daughter - I fell pregnant 3 months after she died - but her being sick and on the way out was a consideration when it happened.
There are lots of things to think about, but if you definitely want them, then go for it.
Your life will never be the same but it will be so much richer.
Hehehe. Even if you don’t think so at times.
But bringing it back on topic, why hasn’t anyone yet mentioned the ultimate 80s aussie band?
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 12 24 at 12:16 AM • permalinkDavid,
Daniel spotted Tim’s post about you and we knew it could only be from you. I
was glad, because I am actually headed to Istanbul soon and have not got an
up to date email address for you.It has to be Khe Sanh by Cold Chisel all the way, although I really don’t know how you can listen to any music from the 1980s without
being at a party full of drunk Bogans who reek of VB!See you in Istanbul, email me through my profile here at Tim Blair’s to catch up!
Joel
Posted by Joel Parsons on 2006 12 24 at 12:25 AM • permalinkNilk, Kae, you are both probably right, I guess it’s really up to Dirty Harriet though. I don’t want to push her on it (I like being able to smile without missing teeth). We spoke about it last night, sort of, I think it was “If I get pregnant tonight it’s all your fault”. :)
She says she knows when she’ll be ready, and she’s normally right about everything:)#99 Kae: I don’t really have a choice. :)
Back on topic, I know he’s not Aussie, but David Grey put out a song which always makes me smile,
THE ONE I LOVEGonna close my eyes
Girl and watch you go
Running through this life darling
Like a field of snow
As the tracer glides
In its graceful arc
I send a little prayer out to ya
‘cross the falling darkTell the reaper man
And the stars above
That you’re the one I lovePerfect summers night
Not a wind that breathes
Just the bullets whispering gentle
amongst the new green leaves
There’s things I might have said
Only wish I could
Now I’m leaking life faster
Than I’m leaking bloodTell the reaper man
And the stars above
That you’re the one I love
You’re the one I love
The one I loveDon’t see Elysium
Don’t see no fiery hell
Just the lights up bright baby
In the Bay hotel
Next wave coming in
Like an ocean roar
Won’t you take my hand darling
On that old dancefloorWe can twist and shout
You’re the turtle dove
And you’re the one I love
You’re the one I love
The one I loveApologies for the length of this comment, but I can’t get the words out of my head. :)
Australian Crawl.
Skyhooks.
The Church’s Under the Milky Way (you read my mind JDB!)
The Angels. “Am I Ever Gonna see Your Face Again” (chorus everyone yells:no way get
f-d, f- off!)”
Birthday Party.
AC/DC
Uncanny X-Men.Have a great party Dave!
Posted by carpefraise on 2006 12 24 at 03:04 AM • permalinkKhe Sanh (the lyrics still top the Google search):
You know the last plane out of Sydney’s almost gone
Only seven flying hours, and I’ll be landing in Hong Kong
There ain’t nothing like the kisses
From a jaded Chinese princess
I’m gonna hit some Hong Kong mattress all night longPosted by Geoffrey MG on 2006 12 24 at 03:10 AM • permalink#90, TISM, I can’t believe I forgot them!!
Hot Dogma (album)
great song “Defecate on my Face!”, all about Hitler and German sex and SO very danceable!I was so fortunate as to participate in two gigs as a backup dance/prop/operagoer person - great experience!!
Thanks for reminding me, Ms Nilknarf!Posted by carpefraise on 2006 12 24 at 03:19 AM • permalink*madly scribbling and jotting down all the names of the Aussie bands*
Considering my exposure in the 80s to Aussie music (that I wanted to listen to more than once) was fairly limited to Men At Work - and you have to understand, I wasnt of the Oh-I-Listen-Because-They-Are-Top-Ten - I was a FAN(atic) - I STILL have the ticket stub to their ‘83 World Tour concert...hell, I still have the shirt...collected every button with their name on it...I even have an LP made solely of an interview with the band. When I love something, I love it HARD. Unfortunately, the MAW music pretty much drowned out other bands of consideration, so am NOW endeavoring to correct the problem, thanks to you good people :D
Personally, if its Men At Work you play, I recommend anything that was NOT part of the Big Charts. I do believe Hay and the others had some hidden gems on their albums.
Man, my iTunes ‘bill’ is gonna be a sight to behold…
A very merry Christmas to everyone here - Tim Blair and Co. are one of the reasons I love the blogosphere - whenever I need a pick-me-up and want to feel like Ive walked into a good place, I come here for the humor and liveliness.
Posted by Sharon Ferguson on 2006 12 24 at 05:25 AM • permalink#105 Sharon Ferguson,
I was not a big MAW fan but you are correct that Colin Hay was and is quite a songwriter.
If you have iTunes, check out the video tribute to Northern Ireland/Manchester United football (soccer) legend George Best. Colin Hay’s song “My Brilliant Feat” with highlight films and play by play commentary of Georgie make it the most bittersweet thing since “Brian’s Song”.
You will actually pity successful jocks--it is that powerful!
At First Sight - The Stems
Almost With You, Starfish - The Church
Arthur - Hoodoo Gurus
Away, Away - Weddings Parties Anything
Don’t Change - INXS
Howzat, Life is For Living - Sherbet
Computer Games - Mi-Sex
Yesterday’s Hero - John Paul Young
Goodbye Astrid Goodbye - Cold Chisel
Jump in My Car - Ted Mulry GangPosted by neoZionoid on 2006 12 24 at 06:20 AM • permalink185600, its not clear to me who is going to bear the child.
Posted by boxofmatches on 2006 12 24 at 06:34 AM • permalinkHey, these are Australians: they will drink beer to any music. Watch what they do with their beers, however, if you play some Peter Allen, some Australian Country Music, Rolf Harris’ “Six White Boomers” and Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”. Whatever they wear on their sleeves, deep down, Aussies are sentimental, they love Christmas and they love Australia - even on the hottest Christmas Day, Aussies can see the snow!
Posted by Russell Street on 2006 12 24 at 06:43 AM • permalink-Blackfeather, ‘Boppin’ the Blues’
-Captain Matchbox Whoopie Band, ‘My Canary’s Got Circles Under his Eyes’
-Divinyls, ‘Pleasure and Pain’
-Ted Mulry Gang, ‘Jump in My Car’
-INXS, ‘Don’t Change’
-Boom Crash Opera, ‘Great Wall’
-The Angels, ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Her Face Again?’
-The Go-Betweens, ‘Was there anything I could do?’
-ACDC, ‘Thunderstruck’To all of the commenters here, both furrin (to use Grimmy’s turn of phrase) and domestic, Merry Christmas, and remember, don’t punch your cousins, as much as you might want to. Upsets the family, and you tend to break your knuckles. :)
Headbutting is acceptable, provided you have the head for it though.
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What a tastefully-named fellow.