Kitch's Top 10 Classic Australian Rock Songs - Honourable Mentions

Australia’s musical history is a rich one, with many of our best finding huge success on the international stage. The 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s featured some of the country’s best rock bands pumping out classic songs that are still favourites to this day. With Australia Day on our doorstep, what better time is there than now to count down my Top Ten classic Australian songs. The countdown begins at #10 in the next post, but first, presented in no particular order, a few honourable mentions...

"Boys Cry Out For War" - Jimmy Barnes: My personal favourite from For the Working Class Man, a hard-driving guitar-heavy song that wastes no time in grabbing you by the throat. Barnes' vocals are just as impassioned as the guitars that surround them. Brilliant song from a brilliant album.

"To Her Door" - Paul Kelly: One of Kelly's best, the story of a man whose marriage crashes and burns, and, after some time away, is looking to reconcile.

"What About Me?" - Moving Pictures: Moving Pictures' first Australian #1, inspired by Garry Frost heading to a local store in Asquith in New South Wales, where he saw a young boy waiting at the counter, unnoticed. Hence the question of the song, and the opening lyrics. Surprisingly, rarely played live by Moving Pictures.

Friday On My Mind - The Easybeats: George Young, the elder brother of Angus and Malcolm (of AC/DC fame) crafted this beauty for the Stevie Wright-fronted The Easybeats, about the boring monotony of a work week, which all disappeared with the arrival of Friday. One of the biggest Australian hits of the 1960s, and still a favourite.

Highway to Hell - AC/DC: Maybe the most recognised guitar riff this side of "It's A Long Way To The Top", and, like that other classic, "Highway to Hell" is written about life on the road, and how rough constant touring can be. It worked out pretty well for AC/DC, though!

"Flame Trees" - Cold Chisel: Another Don Walker classic, a combination of his childhood in Grafton and his own romantic dreams and notions. Flame trees are a reference to the jacaranda trees that are so prevalent in Grafton. One of the best ballads ever put together.

"By My Side" - INXS: Another emotional ballad that was played at Michael Hutchence's funeral (and was an NRMA advert song for many years). From my favourite of all INXS albums, X, which was the spectacular follow-up to Kick.


"Up There Cazaly" - Mike Brady: The quintessential football song about the great St Kilda/South Melbourne ruckman Roy Cazaly. The song's title was a plea from teammates at South when they wanted him to punch the ball clear at ruck contests.
 

"The Man From Snowy River" - Bruce Rowland: Technically actually a composition, but the base music for the two Tom Burlinson movies of the same name have become legendary in their own right, so much so that Rowland incorporated the well-known theme into his orchestral score of the opening ceremony for the 200 Sydney Olympic Games

"Sounds Of Then (This is Australia)" - GANGgajang: So much Australiana packed into this one. The imagery contained within the lyrics was sparked by writer Mark Callaghan's move from England to Bundaberg. In fact, the song started as a poem, and was further adapated to become the band's biggest hit.

"Solid Rock" - Goanna: One of the first songs I can remember that featured the didgideroo, and a powerful song about land rights for Aboriginals, sparked by a ten-day camping trip the band took near Uluru. There's a lot of anger in this one.

"Tucker's Daughter" - Ian Moss: The Cold Chisel guitarist's biggest solo hit, co-written with the maestro, Don Walker, it's a story of unrequited love. A labourer finds himself the object of the affection of his employer's daughter.


"That's Freedom" - John Farnham: The big hit from the Chain Reaction album, which itself was a big hit, there's plenty of love for the open road and a warning about the changing world. Another Farnham hit that was produced by Ross Fraser, and a brilliant slide guitar solo from Brett Garsed. One of my favourite Farnham songs to hear live!

"Forgotten Years" - Midnight Oil: A song that always struck me due to the shadowy black and white footage of Australian soldiers fighting in the war. Like every other Midnight Oil song, this one has a strong message: a definite anti-war sentiment.