Like a reverse sunset, we fade from orange to yellow.
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Melbourne’s Skyhooks were hugely popular and successful in the mid to late 1970s, playing a glammed-up radio-friendly rock. This debut is beloved of an entire generation who lapped up the insightful and sometimes mischievous songs set in places we knew well. You can’t beat good tunes and literate lyrics. And though some may find the sound a little dated now, others will be instantaneously transported back in time.
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Let’s face it, comedy records are problematic, even good ones with excellent songs. I mean, how likely would you be to attend an identical gig multiple times, even a good one with excellent songs? Without the atmosphere and live energy of a concert, it is not easy to get that ‘Whooh!’ experience in your lounge room, even a good one with excellent sound. Having said that, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement give it a damn good shake, with their downbeat routines and quirky lyrics. In sum: as live comedy musical duo albums on coloured vinyl go, this is a good one with excellent songs.
*
Sydney’s power-pop rockers burst out of the gate in 1984 with this excellent debut. With lots of surf-guitar overtones (and thumping tom tom percussion) there is energy, humour and good time music all over this LP. I adore that the first song in their first album, “(Let’s all) Turn On” is a roll call of music they love; probably the best possible CV of any band, ever. Here is a sample:
Better get off my cloud ’cause two’s a crowd
Better get off the phone, there’s nobody at home
I’m gonna work it on out, I’m gonna twist and shout
I’m gonna ride a white swan and get it on
Let’s all turn on
*
SKYHOOKS “Living In The Seventies” [1974 / 1984 re-issue on gold vinyl]
FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS “Live In London” [2019, triple LP, side 6 etched]
HOODOO GURUS “Stoneage Romeos” [1984 / 2018 re-issue on lemon vinyl]
*
Next: Eat your greens!
Featured colour? Lygon Street Lemon
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A sorbet for sir?
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Loving this rainbow. I confess that, in that sample lyric from “(Let’s all) Turn On”, I recognize only the Stones and the Beatles/Isley Brothers. Unless ‘we can work it on out’ is also a Beatles nod (though their tune was ‘We Can Work It Out’).
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I suspect ‘work it on out’ is from Twist and Shout, while the two songs in the penultimate line are by T.Rex. Though I’m unsure how literally we are meant to take this, it sure is a fun song!
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Really like the Hoodoos one – I’m very envious of that one. You ever see FOTC live? I was lucky to before they got too big and they were superb.
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I can easily imagine that, Joe. Especially somewhere small, like a club setting. Clever blokes.
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Great idea for a series btw
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The Hoodoo Gurus had all those old song references but not “Mellow Yellow,” I guess Donovan really wouldn’t fit in that rock’n’roll roll call. Surprisingly pleasant colors on the discs, reminding me of those pale yellow butter mints I loved as a kid.
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Cherry cough drops and butter mints. Keep ’em coming, Robert! 👏🏻
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I really think about food way too much. OK, I’m committing myself to No Food References for the next thirty days. I mean it this time, no more waffling.
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(Groan) If that doesn’t take the cake.
Of course, it’s not difficult to anticipate what’s coming next, is it?
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Lime green? Mint green? Spinach, artichoke, tea…honeydew?
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…and an antacid chaser.
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You have so much precious… tricksey hobbitses buying up my precious…
Also, Flight Of The Conchords FTW!
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No envy, mate. It’s a disease. 😜
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Fair play, but there are worse diseases than this…
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Too true.
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I have a few colored vinyl (Just by accident). None of the colors you featured. Lots of black. Maybe red, a Squeeze album. More pink I think. Keep the rainbow coming.
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Black ones, eh? Hm. Not sure that’ll catch on.
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Really got me interested in the Hoodoo Gurus, Bruce – cheers for that.
Strangely enough, I love watching Flight of the Conchords but don’t enjoy listening to them!
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I’m a bit the same with FotC, J.
There are a few good CD comps of the Hoodoos that one could pick up pretty cheaply. Though the pretty vinyl might be trickier. 🙂
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Isn’t that always the case. It’s getting more difficult to find anything on vinyl these days…
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I freaking loved the Hoodoo Gurus. Like wow, wipe out…
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[…] — Orange — Yellow — Green — Blue — […]
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