It's 2 Easy
The Easybeats
Parlophone APLP.058
1966
The second Australian album by the Easybeats. The Easybeats are by far my favorite Australian group although I'm hardly an expert on the subject. When I first got this record I was surprised to see that almost all of the songs were credited to Stevie Wright and George Young. The later Easybeat records were largely composed by Harry Vanda and George Young and of course the Vanda/Young partnership would continue long after the Easybeats broke up. For most Americans the most well-known song on this album is "Women (Make You Feel Alright)" which also appeared on the United Artists album, "Friday On My Mind," which was their American debut record and it also appears on most Easybeats comps. It is a classic good time rocker. My favorite song on the album is "You Are The Light," a delightful folk-rock song that reminds me of the Beau Brummels. I also really like "Easy As Can Be" which is catchy garage band style rock with a driving beat and a compelling hook. The percussion driven "I Can See" is another great song that builds in power reminiscent of mid-1960s the Who. "Wedding Ring" is a powerful rocker worthy of the Standells. It was a hit down under and should have been here too. "Let Me Be," "Someway, Somewhere," "Sad and Lonely and Blue" "What About Our Love" and "Then I'll Tell You Goodbye" sound very British Invasion, at their best they evoke comparisons to the early Beatles. You could argue that they are imitative, but they are done so well that I don't care. There are a few songs that vary from this style, "Somethin' Wrong" is pure garage, "In My Book" is a 1950s style romantic ballad, "Come and See Her" is rhythm and blues flavored and "I'll Find Somebody To Take Your Place" sounds like jug band music. This album is not quite as good as "Friday On My Mind" which has a punchier sound and more distinguished songwriting, but it is still a very worthwhile purchase for fans of mid-1960s rock. It might be hard to find a vinyl copy in the U.S., but it is easily available on CD. Recommended to fans of the Searchers who wish they rocked a little harder.
I know you're aware of this, but since you don't mention it in your writeup, I thought that it would be worth noting to your readers that George Young was the older brother of Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC, and he and Harry Vanda produced all of AC/DC's albums in the '70s until Mutt Lange took over on "Highway to Hell."
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave, I should have mentioned that.
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