Live It Up: Mental As Anything’s 1985 Pop-Rock Triumph
In May 1985, Mental As Anything dropped Live It Up, a pop-rock classic that soared to No. 2 on the ARIA Charts. Released on Regular Records (RRSP 746), it charted for 23 weeks, went platinum, and became their best-performing single. Written by Andrew ‘Greedy’ Smith and produced by Richard Gottehrer, it was the lead single from Fundamental. Held from No. 1 by Madonna’s hits, its Crocodile Dundee feature in ’86 sent it global. Let’s dive into its Sydney roots, chart success, and why it’s still a party starter.
Sydney’s Art School Larrikins
Mental As Anything, or ‘The Mentals,’ formed in Sydney in 1976 at East Sydney Technical College. The lineup—Martin Murphy (aka Martin Plaza), Andrew ‘Greedy’ Smith, Christopher O’Doherty (aka Reg Mombassa), Peter O’Doherty, and David Twohill (aka Wayne ‘Bird’ Delisle)—blended pub rock with new wave quirk. Known for hits like The Nips Are Getting Bigger and If You Leave Me Can I Come Too?, they oozed fun. Greedy Smith, nicknamed for eating 15 pieces of chicken on stage, wrote Live It Up, a catchy call to live life. Recorded at Rhinoceros Studios for Fundamental with Richard Gottehrer, Greedy’s vocals and keyboard riff made it a dancefloor gem.
Chart Success
Charting on June 3rd, ’85, as catalogue number RRSP 746, Live It Up hit No. 2, blocked by Madonna’s Into The Groove and Crazy For You. It ran for 23 weeks, going platinum. The Mentals’ top single, it reached No. 3 in the UK, boosted by Crocodile Dundee, and cracked the top 40 in Canada and New Zealand. Heavy Countdown airplay and Regular Records’ promotion drove its global success.
The ’85 Scene
In 1985, Australia’s music scene hummed with INXS’s rock, Models’ new wave, and pub bands like The Angels. The Mentals stood out with their larrikin charm and suburban film clips, like He’s Just No Good For You. Live It Up’s ‘have a go’ vibe, amplified by Countdown and its ’86 Crocodile Dundee role, made it a singalong hit for pub crowds and moviegoers, distinct from Midnight Oil’s intensity or Divinyls’ edge.
Why It Endures
Live It Up made The Mentals Aussie icons. Fundamental hit the ARIA top 10, and they toured with The Police and Eurythmics. A radio staple on classic stations, it’s kept alive by cover bands. The band folded after Greedy Smith’s passing in 2019, but Live It Up remains a 1985 time capsule—good vibes and dancefloor nights. Play it, and you’re back at a party, shouting the chorus. Got a Mentals gig memory? I caught them live more than once—pure fun. Share yours below—I’m all ears!