The Real Thing: Russell Morris’s 1969 Psychedelic Breakthrough
In 1969, Russell Morris released The Real Thing, a six-minute psychedelic masterpiece that topped Australia’s charts for two weeks. Released on Columbia, it was written by Johnny Young and produced by Ian “Molly” Meldrum, charting for 26 weeks and landing at No. 4 for the year. It knocked off Peter Sarstedt and bowed to The Beatles, cementing Morris as a star. A Melbourne-born hit, let’s dive into its creation, its run, and why it still echoes.
From Pop Kid to Psychedelic Star
Russell Morris was a teenager fronting Somebody’s Image, a Melbourne band big on Beatles covers. By ’68, he was solo, guided by Ian “Molly” Meldrum, a Go-Set writer with a knack for spotting talent. Johnny Young, a Perth pop veteran, wrote The Real Thing for Ronnie Burns, imagining a gentle ballad. But Meldrum heard Young play it on Uptight and knew it was Morris’s shot. He nabbed a demo in a midnight raid—classic Molly! That “ooh mama mow mow” line started as Young’s note to the guitarist to riff hard; Meldrum made it iconic. The band was a who’s-who: Brian Cadd (keys), Bill Green (guitar), Don Mudie (bass), and The Chiffons (vocals)—Aussie music’s best, turning a ballad into a psych-rock epic.
Chart Power
Charting on March 22nd, ’69, as catalogue number DO-8710, it hit No. 1 on May 17th, edging out Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?. It held for two weeks—26 weeks total—before Get Back arrived. It finished ’69 at No. 4, a huge debut. Meldrum’s production, with John L Sayers at Armstrong Studios, cost $10,000—a fortune then. The B-side, Hans Poulsen’s It’s Only a Matter of Time, added charm. It even topped charts in Chicago, Houston, and New York on Diamond. Meldrum and Morris’s radio road trip up the coast won DJs over, making it a national hit.
A ’69 Moment
Australia in ’69 was ready for something new—Uptight and GTK were platforms for local acts, and The Real Thing delivered. Its psychedelic edge, with swirling sounds and a daring length, matched the era’s experimental spirit. It wasn’t just pop—it was a statement, vibing with global acts like The Rolling Stones while staying proudly Aussie.
Why It Endures
The Real Thing sparked “Morris Mania”—fans went wild, with Brisbane gigs needing ambulances. It led to Morris’s Part Three into Paper Walls, and its legacy lives on. Midnight Oil’s 2000 cover brought grit, Kylie Minogue tried it, and The Dish gave it Apollo 11 glory. It’s a time capsule—play it, and you’re in ’69, lost in the groove. Russell’s blues gigs today keep the fire alive. Got a Morris memory? Share it below—I’m all ears!