Evie: Stevie Wright’s 1974 Rock Triumph
In 1974, Stevie Wright dropped Evie (Parts 1, 2 & 3), an 11-minute rock epic that soared to No. 1 on the Kent Music Report. Released on Albert Productions (AP 10468), it charted on May 27th, 1974, held No. 1 for six weeks, and ran for 26 weeks. Written and produced by Easybeats’ Harry Vanda and George Young, it was the lead single from Hard Road. Displacing Paper Lace’s Billy Don’t Be a Hero and replaced by The Night Chicago Died, it went gold. Let’s dive into its Sydney roots, chart success, and why it’s still a pub rock classic.
From Easybeats to Solo Star
Stevie Wright, frontman of The Easybeats, was an Aussie rock pioneer by ’74. Evie (Parts 1, 2 & 3), penned and produced by Easybeats mates Harry Vanda and George Young, was a three-part odyssey—Part 1 a fiery love song, Part 2 a tender ballad, Part 3 a guitar-driven climax. Recorded in Sydney for Hard Road with Albert Productions, Stevie’s raw vocals and Malcolm Young’s guitar made it a pub rock monster. The 7-minute radio edit packed a punch. No video, just grit—my old band t-shirt’s iron-on letters cracked just thinking about it!
Chart Success
Charting on May 27th, ’74, as catalogue number AP 10468, Evie hit the Kent Music Report. Our infographic shows its top 5 run. On July 22nd, it’s No. 5, with Billy Don’t Be a Hero at No. 1. July 29th, Evie climbs to No. 2, Billy still on top. August 5th, it’s No. 2, pushing hard. August 12th, Evie hits No. 1, knocking off Billy Don’t Be a Hero. It holds No. 1 through August 19th, 26th, September 2nd, 9th, and 16th—six weeks at the top. September 23rd, it slips to No. 3 as The Night Chicago Died takes over. By September 30th, it’s No. 4, still kicking. It ran 26 weeks and went gold—a massive solo win.
The ’74 Scene
In 1974, Australia’s music scene was raw—Sherbet’s pop shimmer, Skyhooks’ glam shock, and AC/DC’s early riffs. Evie stood out as a bold, three-part epic. Vanda & Young’s Easybeats cred gave it weight, and Stevie’s wild stage presence lit up pubs. Heavy radio play made it a fist-pumping anthem for working-class blokes and rock fans. Unlike Hush’s covers or Skyhooks’ theatrics, Evie was pure, unfiltered Aussie rock, perfect for sweaty pub crowds.
Why It Endures
Evie made Stevie Wright a solo star, proving he could shine beyond The Easybeats. Hard Road hit the KMR top 5, but Stevie’s battles with heroin, alcoholism, and rehab cast a shadow. I did sound for one of his late ’80s comeback tours, and he was struggling then. He passed in 2015, but Evie lives on—pub jukeboxes, classic rock stations, and cover bands keep its raw energy alive. A ’74 time capsule of grit and heart, it takes you back to a smoky pub, air-guitaring with mates. Got an Evie memory? I’ve got my t-shirt story—share yours below!