The Real Thing (Russell Morris song)
Encyclopedia
"The Real Thing" is a song originally recorded by Australian singer Russell Morris
in 1969. His version, which was produced by Ian "Molly" Meldrum
and written by Johnny Young
, was a huge hit in Australia and has become an Australian rock classic. It also achieved success in the United States of America, reaching the top of the charts in Chicago
and New York City
.
Young had originally written the song for Meldrum's friend Ronnie Burns, but when Meldrum heard Young playing it backstage during a taping of the TV pop show Uptight, he determined to secure the song for Morris, reportedly going to Young's home that night with a tape recorder and refusing to leave until Young had taped a "demo" version of the song for him.
In collaboration with engineer John Sayers, Meldrum radically transformed "The Real Thing" from Young's original vision of a simple acoustic ballad into a heavily produced studio masterpiece, extending it to an unheard-of six minutes in length and overdubbing the basic track with many additional instruments, vocals and sound effects. The bed track used the services of The Groop
as backing band, with vocal contributions from The Chiffons, Maureen Elkner, with Sue Brady and Judy Condon, guitarist Roger Hicks
from Zoot
— who played the song's distinctive acoustic guitar intro and Billy Green who played electric guitar and sitar. The children's choir singing toward the end is the Hitler Youth singing "Die Jugend Marschiert" (Youth on the March). The single is reported to have cost A$2,000 — the most expensive single ever made in Australia up to that time (the typical budget for an album at the time) — and features one of the earliest uses of the studio technique known as "phasing
" on an Australian recording. "The Real Thing" became a national number one hit for Morris in mid-1969 and is widely considered to be one of the finest Australian pop-rock recordings of the era.
issued a special edition set of twelve stamps celebrating the early years of Australian Rock ‘n’ Roll, featuring Australian hit songs of the late 50s, the 60s and the early 70s.
Morris's version of "The Real Thing" was featured on the soundtrack of the 2000 Australian movie, The Dish
. The AFL
also used a new recording of the song for its television advertisement campaign for the 2000 season, declaring Aussie Rules
as 'The Real Thing' as opposed to Rugby League
. Australian performer Kylie Minogue
released her cover version of the song in 2000, it is featured on the soundtrack to the movie Sample People. Australian rock band Midnight Oil
also released a version in 2000 as a single from their compilation album The Real Thing
.
In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)
, as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "The Real Thing" as one of the Top 30 Australian songs
of all time.
Between 2004 and 2008, the song was used extensively in an advertising campaign by Western Australia
n Tourism Commission (Tourism WA) promoting the State both nationally and internationally.
In 2005 and 2006, while South Sydney's NRL team
was sponsored by Real Insurance, this song was used as the theme song when they ran on the field.
This song was used by the Seven Network
for its AFL
coverage in 2007.
Russell Morris
Russell Norman Morris is an Australian singer-songwriter who had five Australian Top 10 singles during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
in 1969. His version, which was produced by Ian "Molly" Meldrum
Ian Meldrum
Ian Alexander "Molly" Meldrum AM is an Australian popular music critic, journalist, record producer , and musical entrepreneur...
and written by Johnny Young
Johnny Young
Johnny Young is an Australian singer, composer, record producer, disc jockey, television producer and host. Originally from Netherlands, his family settled in Perth, Western Australia in the early 1950s...
, was a huge hit in Australia and has become an Australian rock classic. It also achieved success in the United States of America, reaching the top of the charts in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Young had originally written the song for Meldrum's friend Ronnie Burns, but when Meldrum heard Young playing it backstage during a taping of the TV pop show Uptight, he determined to secure the song for Morris, reportedly going to Young's home that night with a tape recorder and refusing to leave until Young had taped a "demo" version of the song for him.
In collaboration with engineer John Sayers, Meldrum radically transformed "The Real Thing" from Young's original vision of a simple acoustic ballad into a heavily produced studio masterpiece, extending it to an unheard-of six minutes in length and overdubbing the basic track with many additional instruments, vocals and sound effects. The bed track used the services of The Groop
The Groop
The Groop were an Australian folk, R&B and rock band formed in 1964 in Melbourne, Australia and had their greatest chart success with their second line-up of Max Ross on bass, Richard Wright on drums and vocals, Don Mudie on lead guitar, Brian Cadd on keyboards and vocals, and Ronnie Charles on...
as backing band, with vocal contributions from The Chiffons, Maureen Elkner, with Sue Brady and Judy Condon, guitarist Roger Hicks
Roger Hicks (rock musician)
Roger Hicks is an Australian rock musician active for a few years in the late 1960s. Early in life, he also trained as a classical guitarist.He performed in the groups Zoot throughout 1968 and early 1969 and "The Brisbane Avengers", and also composed and performed the acoustic guitar introduction...
from Zoot
Zoot (band)
Zoot are a pop/rock band formed in Adelaide, South Australia in 1965 as Down the Line. They changed their name to Zoot in 1967 and by 1968 had relocated to Melbourne...
— who played the song's distinctive acoustic guitar intro and Billy Green who played electric guitar and sitar. The children's choir singing toward the end is the Hitler Youth singing "Die Jugend Marschiert" (Youth on the March). The single is reported to have cost A$2,000 — the most expensive single ever made in Australia up to that time (the typical budget for an album at the time) — and features one of the earliest uses of the studio technique known as "phasing
Phasing
In the compositional technique phasing, the same part is played on two musical instruments, in steady but not identical tempo...
" on an Australian recording. "The Real Thing" became a national number one hit for Morris in mid-1969 and is widely considered to be one of the finest Australian pop-rock recordings of the era.
Song in popular culture
In 1998 Australia PostAustralia Post
Australia Post is the trading name of the Australian Government-owned Australian Postal Corporation .-History:...
issued a special edition set of twelve stamps celebrating the early years of Australian Rock ‘n’ Roll, featuring Australian hit songs of the late 50s, the 60s and the early 70s.
"Each of them said something about us, and told the rest of the world this is what popular culture sounds like, and it has an Australian accent."
Morris's version of "The Real Thing" was featured on the soundtrack of the 2000 Australian movie, The Dish
The Dish
The Dish is a 2000 Australian film that tells the story of how the Parkes Observatory was used to relay the live television of man's first steps on the moon, during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969...
. The AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
also used a new recording of the song for its television advertisement campaign for the 2000 season, declaring Aussie Rules
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
as 'The Real Thing' as opposed to Rugby League
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
. Australian performer Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
released her cover version of the song in 2000, it is featured on the soundtrack to the movie Sample People. Australian rock band Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
also released a version in 2000 as a single from their compilation album The Real Thing
The Real Thing (Midnight Oil album)
The Real Thing is a compilation of studio and live acoustic recordings by Midnight Oil, and includes a cover version of Russell Morris's classic "The Real Thing"...
.
In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
, as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "The Real Thing" as one of the Top 30 Australian songs
APRA Top 30 Australian songs
APRA's Top 30 Australian songs between 1926 and 2001 was a list created by the Australasian Performing Right Association to celebrate its 75th anniversary...
of all time.
Between 2004 and 2008, the song was used extensively in an advertising campaign by Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n Tourism Commission (Tourism WA) promoting the State both nationally and internationally.
In 2005 and 2006, while South Sydney's NRL team
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
was sponsored by Real Insurance, this song was used as the theme song when they ran on the field.
This song was used by the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
for its AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
coverage in 2007.
Track listing
- "The Real Thing - Parts I & II" (Johnny YoungJohnny YoungJohnny Young is an Australian singer, composer, record producer, disc jockey, television producer and host. Originally from Netherlands, his family settled in Perth, Western Australia in the early 1950s...
) - 6:12 - "It's Only a Matter of Time" (Hans PoulsenHans PoulsenHans Sven Poulsen is an Australian singer-songwriter popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s...
) - 2:58
Personnel
- Russell MorrisRussell MorrisRussell Norman Morris is an Australian singer-songwriter who had five Australian Top 10 singles during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
(vocals) - Brian CaddBrian CaddBrian George Cadd is an Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist and producer who has performed as a member of The Groop, Axiom, Flying Burrito Brothers and solo...
(organ, piano and megaphone voice track) - Richard Wright (drums)
- Don Mudie (bass)
- Roger HicksRoger Hicks (rock musician)Roger Hicks is an Australian rock musician active for a few years in the late 1960s. Early in life, he also trained as a classical guitarist.He performed in the groups Zoot throughout 1968 and early 1969 and "The Brisbane Avengers", and also composed and performed the acoustic guitar introduction...
(guitar) - Billy Green (guitar)
- The Chiffons - Maureen Elkner, Sue Brady and Judy Condon
External links
- Cover Me by Paul McHenry (1998)
- Australian Rock Discography 1970-79 by Chris Spencer (1999)
- Who's Who of Australian Rock by Chris Spencer et al. (2002)