Living in the 70's [Original recording remastered, Extra tracks, Import]

Skyhooks | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 1, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Extra tracks, Import
• Label: Mushroom Records
• ASIN: B0006M0C9Q
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #345,507 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Living in the 70's

2. Whatever Happened to the Revolution

3. Balwyn Calling

4. Horror Movie

5. You Just Like Me 'Cos I'm Good in Bed

6. Carlton (Lygon Street Limbo)

7. Toorak Cowboy

8. Smut

9. Hey What's the Matter

10. Motorcycle Bitch

11. Broken Gin Bottle

Editorial Reviews

There is an argument that Australian rock would not exist in its present form without the success of Skyhooks. Not only did the band, with their huge singles and albums success, ensure the continuing viability of Mushroom Records but they taught Australians that it was possible to be both alternative and popular and that it was OK to sing about local places and experiences. The importance of songs like 'Balwyn Calling' and 'Toorak Cowboy' should never be underestimated. Add to this the fact that 'You Just Like Me Cos I'm Good in Bed' was the first song ever played on Double J (now Triple J) and it is easy to see that Skyhooks were in the centre of major changes in the local record industry. Living in the 70s was a true landmark album. It stayed in the Australian Top 40 for an incredible 40 weeks, yielded the chart topping 'Horror Movies' single, and, amusingly, was so revolutionary and provocative that six of the ten tracks were banned from radio by the Federation of Australian Commercial Broadcasters. Remastered 2004 reissue on Mushroom Records.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Aus Rock, March 23, 2005

By 

Santeria "Son of Tazz" (Tallahassee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living in the 70's (Audio CD)

Greg Macainsh is definitely the driving force behind this seminal rock band. As much as I thought this band was a rock band in Australia, I have been surprised that if played here in the US, the Band is classified as "Southern Rock"( not as in its from Australia, but that it sounds like it is from the Southern US States).
Greg's material has been very ably interpreted by the late Graham "Shirley" Strachan who has been the only singer to be incredibly popular with this band, even with the return of the band in the 90s at two distinct periods.
LIVING IN THE 70s is the best example of this bands work outside of the double CD compilation of the band( which includes 90s material, and the so called "Lost Album).
The music of this 70s disc is catchy, cheeky, in your face, and very much a breakthrough for the period, and it still has the same freshness as it did when it was first released, which is a testament to Greg's writing, and Shirley's top of the line singing.
The one song not written by Macainsh is "SMUT", and even by todays standards, it is a little risque, but only a little. Red Symons I think only ever had one song accepted by SKYHOOKS when he was in the band, and it benefits greatly by Shirleys vocals, however it is a rarity for someone who is mostly known on Australian TV for a pouting sneer on the now Defunct saturday Show which was Headed by an icon of Australian Show Business Daryl Sommers( If I recall Correctly)... anyways, Ossie Ostrich still sells well :-)

4.0 out of 5 stars Shoulda been contenders, September 28, 2010

By 

Rictus - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living in the 70's (Audio CD)

I was probably one of the few U.S. Skyhooks fans, based on the U.S. issue of this album, which contained a heady mix of songs off both "Ego" and the Aussie version of "Living." Sadly Skyhooks got lost in the endless 'glam rock' hype, where everyone who could smear eyeshadow and a gimmicky costume vied in acting "outrageous" to get their 15 minutes of fame.

Skyhooks, though not completely innocent, had the raucous energy of Slade with substantial lyrics that were proto-Punk in sensibility. Here, the title song alone, with it's chorus, "I'm living the 70s/ Eating fake food under plastic trees/ My face gets dirty just walking around/And I need another pill just to calm me down" is a classic. Another - title escapes me - had a line "One night in Dayton/I thought I saw the Star of Bethlehem/But it was just the light on the Holiday Inn." Should have been MUCH bigger here than they were.

5.0 out of 5 stars CLASSIC, March 16, 2009

By 

Daniel J. Cohen (Mount Eliza, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Living in the 70's (Audio CD)

Skyhooks are Australin music legends and this is their first album and it's considered a classic in Australia. When it was intially released, six tracks were banned from radio play which helped sales, a truly unique band with a unique sound and a singer with a unique voice.Greg Macainish wrote great songs and Red Symons pulled out some intrestings sounds from his guitar. Mushroom have done a great job with the remastering one can only hope they will remaster the rest of the Skyhooks back catologue. A CLASSIC