Rocking Down Under: Kallaj’s Guide To Aussie Rock [PART TWO]

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1. “Live At Sunbury 1972”: Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs

Ok, this is an album, but bear with me.

Thorpe & The Aztecs started out sounding like the British bands of the era, very beat oriented. They were the best band in all the land until the Easybeats showed up. By the late 60’s, Thorpe was trying to change his image; growing his hair out, playing louder rock music, attempting to try LSD live on TV, the usual moves. Come 1972, the Aztecs reformed, Thorpe started belting the blues and they appeared at Sunbury. What is Sunbury? Why it’s Australia’s equivalent to Woodstock! After a day of great Aussie rock, The Aztecs came out and blew the audience away. Don’t believe me? Well lucky for us they recorded their set.  The only word I can find to describe this is; explosive. Think about it, a long day of music, drinking beer, getting kinda tired from sitting in the hot sun all day, and then the Aztecs walk out, start playing "CC Rider" and poof, you’re along for the ride. The only downside to this, is that some of the songs drag on for way too long, kinda jam band like, but not even close. Regardless, once you get hooked in, you’re good to go!

     2. “Black Eyed Bruiser”: Stevie Wright

Long after the Easybeats, George Young and Harry Vanda became very successful songwriters and producers. Setting up shop in Albert Studios, the duo wrote and produced hits John Paul Young, "Love Is In The Air", and produced the first albums for George’s brothers band, AC/DC. At the same time that AC/DC was working on their first albums, former Easybeat vocalist Stevie Wright was working on a solo career for himself. After releasing the album Hard Road in 1974 to great success, Wright was getting deeper into a drug addiction that proved to be bothersome to the production of the next album. The outcome, Black Eyed Bruiser, would be Wright’s last album for nearly 15 years, and destroy any hope for a truly prosperous solo career. Although not as successful as previous singles such as “Evie” or "Hard Road", this song was one of my first exposures into deeper tracks in Aussie Rock. If you’re an AC/DC fan, this song is for you. That opening riff is very Malcom Young esc, and Wright sounds like Bon Scott for a couple moments.  It’s just a great record to pump you up for a barroom brawl!

       3. "Khe Sanh": Cold Chisel 

Once again, I give you an artist that you probably have never heard off, but this one always strikes me funny. Cold Chisel is one of Australia’s most famous bands and many consider one of the best alongside AC/DC. And why shouldn’t they be?  Their song, ”Khe Sanh”, a song about a returning Vietnam vet, troubled by the war, and his struggles to adjust back into society, has been called one of the best Australian songs by the Australasian Performing Right Association. Cold Chisel combines a lot of different elements into their work; from Hard Rock blasters ("Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)") to more new wave-ish pop songs ("Cheap Wine").  Their sound reminds me of bands like Boston & Bad Company, mixed in part with the new wave feel of The Police. So if you're a fan of the very familiar 70’s/80’s hard rock (you know the songs/bands I mean), I strongly suggest you check these guys out. 

Look out for part 3, coming soon!