John Paul Young
Who would have thought that a young man of 24ish years old could capture so many hearts with his first top 10 hit Yesterday’s Hero. But he did and he did it for me over 30 years ago. I don’t think I’d ever felt the true meaning of “love” until I saw him on Countdown all those years ago.
The thin threads of his musical career began when some of his friends decided they were going to form a band. Because John Paul Young had just started an apprenticeship as a sheet metal worker and he had just finished paying off his car, he said that there was no way he wanted to start to pay off equipment to play in a band. His mates told him that he could be the singer because he was always singing anyway and he wouldn’t need to buy any equipment and that was the beginning of his career.
JPY’s first top 10 hit was “Yesterday’s Hero”, where he dressed in a white sailors suit, saw him reach the heights that he probably didn’t even know were possible. Young girls attempted to drag him off the Countdown stage because of his spunkiness! 🙂 I never got to see him live in those days but oh how I wished I could have. *sigh*
Along with Yesterday’s Hero (1975), Love is In the Air (1978 & 1992) and I Hate The Music (1976) were also top 10 hits and were all written and produced by Vanda & Young (Easybeats). The Love Game (1975) and I Wanna Do It With You (1977) were also top 10 hits.
I will always have fond memories of this pop star from when I was a teenager. JPY’s success continued beyond the 70’s but this is the decade I remember the most. I loved all of his hits but there is one song in particular that I really loved…I Wanna Do It With You….Oh OK then 🙂
The first appearance on Countdown was not the sailor suit. It was a flashy satin shirt. A group of girls were asked to act like he was a big pop star and to mob him outside on arrival and on stage (e.g. “Yesterday’s Hero”). It wasn’t Molly’s idea. It was “set up” by my then husband who was A&R for Albert Music and Promotions Manager for Albert Productions. I think he orchestrated it with Rob Weeks.
P.S. Wasn’t the sailor suit for “I Hate the Music”? I’m not sure.
He absolutely smacked this song live on Rock Quiz a few years back.
As a teenager of the 70’s long curly brown hair made my heart flip flop. JPY was gorgeous and growing up in NZ meant no countdown 😒 I saw him a few years ago with the Vander/Young retrospective in Brisbane and he is still as gorgeous. Thanks for the great songs