Customer Reviews

Straight in a Gay Gay World

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Coming on the the tailend of an unsuccessful American tour,Skyhooks were pushed into an American recording studio by their management in order to appease their new U.S. record contract. The band members were tired and tempers were at boiling point.As a result,their house producer, Ross "The Boss" Wilson swore that STRAIGHT would be the last time he would produce them.STRAIGHT was also the first time that songwriter Greg Macainsh had to write in the studio;and he was feeling a lot of pressure placed upon him. Nevertheless, STRAIGHT IN A GAY,GAY WORLD was another triumph for the Hooks;with a rockier sound and biting,satirical lyrics that up a notch from their previous album,EGO IS NOT A DIRTY WORD.MILLION DOLLAR RIFF was a comment on crass pop commercialism.I'M NORMAL was a jab at those who like the kinky sex scene.MUMBO JUMBO was comment on the deterioration of the English language.CRAZY HEART told of the inabiltiy to settle down with one girl.BLUE JEANS warned of commercial trends.The twin guitar attack of Bongo Starkie and Red Symons sounded more dangerous than ever(sadly,Red quit after the STRAIGHT tour).Shirley Strachan's lead vocal goes from mellow to being air raid siren material. STRAIGHT IN A GAY,GAY WORLD is a good record to get anyone hooked on Skyhooks,a great Aussie band.Give them a try;you might like them.

Hoin Jumlos review is true in a way. This isnt a really bad album at all but it's not that great either. The songs arent anywhere near as inspired or interesting as the first two albums. The playing and Wilson's production are slick as ever but that cant compensate for average songwriting. Macainsh was a great writer but he was the only one coming up with the tunes and was pretty much creatively exhausted by this point. Red did have a token song on each album( and they were great too by the way). Too bad Red and Bongo couldnt have formed an songsmith alliance, that would have taken the pressure of Greg and would given the band another perspective, new direction, styles etc. Having said that, their greatest triumph came on the next album. 'Women In Uniform' is an Aussie classic, right up there with Long Way To The Top.

I gave this a 3 star only because I couldnt give it a 2 & 1/2. This was the beginning of the end for The Hooks. Red saw the writing on the wall and jumped ship pretty soon after this. Shirl went next while Macainsh, Bongo, Strauks saw it through to the bitter end - and it got bitter. One of their last gigs not a single soul turned up to see them. How crushing to fall to such a hard rock bottom of such dizzying heights.

The Skyhooks third offering is an amazing record. Filled with more of head songwriter Greg Macainsh's observational/sarcastic lyrics delivered as only Shirl Strachan can. And of course it all rocks with the help of Red and Bongo's guitar interplay and Fred Strauks' incredible drumming. It's all here: a killer hit single about the music industry (Million Dollar Riff), a country piss-take on the 70's denim fad (Blue Jeans), tales of life in Australia (This Is My City; Somewhere In Sydney), a great song from Red Symons (Mumbo Jumbo), a killer ballad (Crazy Heart), an observation of the US (Is This America), and of course a poke at sexual roles (I'm Normal; Straight In A Gay Gay World). If you like your rock n' roll served up with tight, powerful guitars and a sly sarcastic grin, Skyhooks are for you!

All I can say is, the review that Hoin Jumlos gave to this album is complete CRAP! This is one of the Hooks greatest albums! It was recorded at The Record Plant in America and was the only Hooks album to be recorded outside Australia....I can't really think of what else to say except that it is a killer album and PLEASE don't pay any attention to Hoin Jumlos review!

Forget it folks, this is a bad album. *Really* bad. It was part of Skyhooks' attempt to break into the American market. Recorded in Los Angeles at The Record Plant in 1976 it is just too laid back to be taken seriously. The album's title and cover also angered gay groups. Skyhooks were largely a nine-day wonder. Their first two albums in 1975 were smashes in Australia. Heavily pushed by television pop and variety programs, producers loved them because they were so colorful (color television had just commenced). But American and British audiences were more discerning and wisely stayed away. Australians had begun to tire of them by the time this was released but they wouldn't take no for an answer and kept plugging away until the early 1980s convinced they would come back into fashion. Needless to say they never did. The lead singer is now hosting a home lifestyle program on Australian TV where his main forte is carpentry. The lead guitarist became an adjudicator on Australia's version of The Gong Show. Nothing more has been heard of the other members.