On October 4, Albert Music and SonyBMG will celebrate the extraordinary musical legacy of The Easybeats, by releasing EASYFEVER: A Tribute to the Easybeats & Stevie Wright, a superb 2CD album in celebration of this ground-breaking group.
The band – Harry Vanda, George Young, Stevie Wright, Dick Diamonde and Gordon “Snowy” Fleet – formed in Sydney in 1964 and almost immediately ‘Easy Fever’ took Australia by storm and was soon to captivate audiences overseas. Their meteoric rise to stardom was due to releasing hit single after hit single, including classics such as Friday On My Mind, Wedding Ring, She’s So Fine and Good Times. Their success saw them consistently get mobbed at airports, chased down streets and even tour internationally with the Rolling Stones.
A year in the making, EASYFEVER sees the ‘who’s who’ of contemporary Australian music come together to pay tribute to our most popular and successful band of the 60’s, and pay homage to the band who carved the stone in the Australian musical landscape. From Jimmy Barnes to Ben Lee, from The Veronicas to Grinspoon, The Living End to Old Man River, these artists have all recorded their unique interpretation of these enduring songs from The Easybeats and Stevie Wright’s magestic musical career. As well as this disc of today’s hottest local bands tipping their hats to The Easybeats, there is also a second disc of all the original tracks.
Tim Prescott, CEO of Albert Music said, “The Easybeats are an integral foundation stone of Australian rock and roll. As a band they really were the first truly ‘Oz Rock’ export; and as songwriters, performers and producers, the band became the genesis of so much amazing Australian music - with Harry Vanda, George Young and Stevie Wright in particular all writing many hits, and George and Harry playing a hand in the careers of some of our greatest artists (including AC/DC , The Angels, Rose Tattoo, John Paul Young and of course Stevie’s solo career). Despite all this history, well known to music industry pundits, with the passing of time, The Easybeats and Stevie probably haven’t received the public accolades, or broad recognition, that they so richly deserve.
Therefore to have this tribute album, featuring these extraordinary homegrown artists, playing Easybeats songs, is really a fitting testament to The Easybeats, and their long standing influence as songwriters and performers of some of the greatest songs that shaped our industry. Albert Music is really proud to be releasing “Easyfever”; and we thank everyone who has been a part of this project.”
EASYFEVER also features a previously unreleased Stevie Wright song, Motherfigure… with a twist. Albert Music unearthed from their vaults a never before heard track, written by Vanda & Young, initially slated to be the first single from Stevie’s never-released third solo album in the late 70’s. Now 30 years later, it will see the light of day as an amazing duet with rock legend Jimmy Barnes.
The Easybeats drifted apart in 1969, however it was by no means the end of their musical careers – with Vanda and Young returning to Australia in 1973 to become house producers for the new Albert Productions record label. They wrote for and/or produced many chart topping acts including Stevie Wright, Rose Tattoo and the Angels. They also wrote and produced several major hits for John Paul Young, including Love Is In The Air, not to mention producing the first 6 albums for AC/DC.
And the accolades kept coming. In 1998 Australia Post issued a She’s So Fine stamp, celebrating the early years of Australian Rock n Roll. In 2005 Friday On My Mind was voted by APRA as the most important Australian song written in the past 75 years. Vanda and Young are also the only songwriting team inducted into the Australian ARIA Hall of Fame.
And now in 2008, Australia’s hottest and most respected artists pay tribute to The Easybeats and Stevie Wright, with electrifying interpretations of their timeless songs. Be sure to catch EasyFever!
1. Skybombers - Sorry
2. The Living End - Guitar Band
3. Resin Dogs - Wedding Ring
4. The Veronicas - Good Times
5. Neil Finn - Women (Make Me Feel Alright)
(sic)6. Dappled Cities - For My Woman
7. Thirsty Merc - Shes So Fine
8. Dash And Will - Somethin Wrong
9. The Cruel Sea - Come And See Her
10. Faker - I'll Make You Happy
11. Old Man River - The Music Goes Round My Head
12. Iva Davies - Sad And Lonely And Blue
13. Ben Lee - Friday On My Mind
14. Jimmy Barnes And Stevie Wright - Mother Figure
15. Gyroscope - Heaven And Hell
16. Grinspoon - St. Louis
17. Children Collide - Black Eyed Bruiser
18. The Wrights Featuring Nic Cester - Evie Part 1 (Let Your Hair Hang Down)
19. The Wrights Featuring Bernard Fanning - Evie Part 2 (Evie)
20. The Wrights Featuring Phil Jamieson - Evie Part 3 (I'm Losing You)
Hmmm...looks like it could be a mixed bag, to me. I mean, Ben Lee and Old Man River? That just doesn't work. And what on earth are The Veronicas doing on here? And why didn't they get Vanda proteges British India to contribute anything?
First single is Grinspoon's version of "St. Louis":
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=-oJZXVrYz08I
think the double-disc version with the originals on disc 2 will just be a limited edition thing....
more info here:
http://www.easyfever.com/
