Musicians
You Weren’t In Love With Me: Billy Field’s 1981 Jazz-Pop Gem
In 1981, Billy Field dropped You Weren’t In Love With Me, a jazz-pop ballad that soared to No. 1 on the ARIA Charts. Released on WEA (100173), it charted for 22 weeks, went gold, and became his only No. 1. Written by Field and produced with Tom Price, it was the second single from Bad…
Read MoreJessie’s Girl: Rick Springfield’s 1981 Pop-Rock Triumph
In 1981, Rick Springfield released Jessie’s Girl, a pop-rock earworm that soared to No. 1 on the ARIA Charts. Released on Wizard (ZS-473), it charted for 22 weeks, went gold, and became his only Australian No. 1. Written by Springfield and produced by Keith Olsen, it was the lead single from Working Class Dog. Displacing…
Read MoreLove Is In The Air: John Paul Young’s 1978 Disco Anthem
In 1978, John Paul Young released Love Is In The Air, a disco-pop gem that reached No. 3 on the Kent Music Report. Released on Albert Productions, it charted for 21 weeks and became a global hit. Written and produced by Harry Vanda and George Young, it was the lead single from JPY’s fourth album.…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreHow Farewell Aunty Jack Captured Australia’s ’70s Rebellion
In 1974, a song born from a TV show about a cross-dressing bikie blasted to No. 1 on Australia’s charts, elbowing out David Bowie and holding court for three weeks. Farewell Aunty Jack, penned and performed by Grahame Bond and Rory O’Donoghue, wasn’t just a catchy tune—it was a middle finger to the staid norms…
Read MoreTucker’s Daughter: The Making of Ian Moss’s 1989 Breakout Hit
When Ian Moss released Tucker’s Daughter in 1989, it wasn’t just a song—it was a declaration. After years as Cold Chisel’s guitar wizard, he stepped into the spotlight with a single that roared to No. 1 on the ARIA charts and snagged two ARIA Awards. Released on Mushroom Records (K 690), this track—co-written with Don…
Read MoreHow John Farnham Turned Raindrops into a 1969 Chart-Topping Classic
Back in December 1969, a young John Farnham stepped into the spotlight with a song that would echo through Australian music history: Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head. Fresh off the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid soundtrack—where B.J. Thomas had already made it a global sensation—this wasn’t just a cover for Farnham. It was…
Read MoreJohnny O’Keefe’s “She’s My Baby” – A Double Chart-Topper
Explore the history of Johnny O’Keefe’s ‘She’s My Baby,’ the Australian rock and roll classic that topped charts twice, cementing J.O.K. as a music legend.
Read MoreHow “Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)” Made John Farnham a Star
Before “You’re the Voice” catapulted him to international fame, John Farnham was a young pop star breaking through with an unlikely hit. “Sadie (The Cleaning Lady),” released in November 1967 through the Columbia label, was the song that launched his career—but not without some reluctance from Farnham himself. At just 18, Farnham wasn’t thrilled about…
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