Show 134
Idea for a place to start: at the beginning.
The Wild One - Johnny O'Keefe, The release date of this single, July 5, 1958, has been called the birthdate of Australian rock and roll. Although the song topped out on the charts at No. 11, it's become Johnny O'Keefe's best-known song, aided by Iggy Pop's cover of the song on his 1986 album Blah-Blah-Blah.
Ain't It So - Lonnie Lee, a 1959 single. According to Lonnie Lee's website, in May 1956 he entered a talent contest in Sydney and sang the Elvis hit Heartbreak Hotel, "and as far as we know it was the first time an Elvis song was sung on Australian radio". It's also claimed Lonnie had "the first pro rockabilly band in Australia".
Oh Yeah Uh Huh - Col Joye and the Joy Boys with their 1959 single, which topped the charts, making them the first Australian pop artists to have a national No.1 record.
Comin' Down - Dig (Digby) Richards, with a 1963 single, written by Bobby Darin. In 1959 Dig Richards and his band the R'Jays were reportedly the third Australian rock'n'roll act to be signed to a recording contract; the previous two were Johnny O'Keefe, and Col Joye.
Hangin' Five - the Delltones, a 1963 single and a natural hit for surfing-mad Australians.
Here come the Easybeats - and everyone noticed
She’s So Fine - the Easybeats, their second single, released in 1965. Their first, For My Woman, stalled in the charts at No. 33 but She's So Fine made it to No. 3 and launched the Easybeats into the mainstream.
Bad Boy - the Twilights, from 1966. The Twilights featured singer Glenn Shorrock, who later was one of the founders of the Little River Band, and Terry Britten on guitar, who became a popular songwriter for the likes of Tina Turner and Michael Jackson.
Time Will Come - the Tol Puddle Martyrs, a 1967 single.
Mr Guy Fawkes - The Dave Miller Set, a 1969 single.
The influence of Britain on Australian groups
The original Tolpuddle Martyrs were six English farm worker from the village of Tolpuddle who were arrested and tried in 1834 for joining what was in effect a union, for which they were transported as convicts to Australia.
The name Guy Fawkes is synonymous with an event known as the "Gunpowder Plot" of 1605, a conspiracy to assassinate the King and members of the Houses of Parliament.
It's the 1970s, far out
Sunday In The City - Carson, 1972, from their album Blown. The band featured Broderick Smith on vocals and harmonica.
Uncloudy Day - Renee Geyer, from a 1973 Australian television broadcast. The song was originally by American soul singer Jackie Moore, who released it 1972.
Living In the 1970s - the title track of the 1974 debut LP by the band Skyhooks.
Frantic Romantic - Kim Salmon and his band the Scientists, a 1979 single.
Race to the finish
Face With No Name - the Passengers, a 1980 single featuring Angie Pepper singing.
Leilani - Hoodoo Gurus, the first single from their debut LP, Stoneage Romeos. The album came out in March 1984 but the single was released in October 1982.
Eternal Return - landing in June 2025, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, from their recent album Phantom Island.
Frank Moylan does our start and finish and in between musical bits.
