The Easybeats on Capitol Records (pt 6)

In January 1966, the Easybeats got their biggest hit with their song Friday On My Mind. The song hit number one in Australia, USA, UK, Japan and many other countries. After the massive success of the single, an album by Capitol was required. Released on March 7th 1966, the album was released in mono and for the first time a true stereo mix was released of the album. The album was complied using songs from their most recent sessions plus leftover songs from their previous album. Unlike previous Easybeats albums, this album was released in Britain instead of the Australian version. The album was called Good Friday.

The first track of the album is the title track "Friday On My Mind." A song that was only recorded in one complete take in the middle of a random unfocused recording sessions became their most well known and biggest hit. The next track is a unused song from their previous album called "Goin' Out Of My Mind." The next song became one of many small hits from this album "Do You Have a Soul." The next song is the track "Saturday Night." The next song is also from the sessions of their last album. The track is entitled "Promised Things." The album ends with the song "Pretty Girl" with lead vocals by Harry Vanda. This song would become the second single of this album. The album starts off its second side with the song "Happy Is The Man." This was the B side to Pretty Girl. The next track is "What Do You Want Babe?" a rejected track from the last album. The next track is "Who'll Be The One." A track that was originally intended to be a follow up to Friday but later became overshadowed by Pretty Girl for single release. The next track is "Made My Bed (Gonna Lie In It)" which the B side to Friday.  The next track is "Remember Sam." This track has been considered one of the Easybeats best album tracks and has gathered much praise. The final track of the album is another leftover "Can't You Leave Her."

Despite the album two major hits on it, the album only managed to hit number two on the charts being eclipsed by The Kinks Greatest Hits. The album ended up doing better internationally hitting number one in the UK but only number four in Australia. The Easybeats would immediately start recording their next album right after the release of this album. Question is could the Easybeats hit number one again?

The Easybeats on Capitol Records (pt 5)

After The Easybeats' live album cemented their popularity, it was time for their next hit. The album which would be a hodgepodge of tracks from their Vol. 3 plus their current EP called Easyfever, their next would be entitled Easy Listening. This record contained not just one but two number one hits from the Easybeats. The first which is I'll Make You Happy which was released two weeks after their live album. The single hit number one in the USA and Australia as well as hitting number four in the UK. The second single was the song Sorry. The song showed a much more heavy sound from the group and became one of their best sellers. The song hit number one in Australia, the USA, and the UK and was released on the same day as the album. These two number one hits helped the sales for this album hugely and soon it had again topped the album chart in the USA.

The album starts off with "Funny Feelin'" which was the B side to Sorry, the album then continues with "Say You Want Me" and then "You Said That." "Too Much" is the next song with was originally the B side to I'll Make You Happy. "Not In Love With You" follows and to end the side is the number one hit "I'll Make You Happy." Side two opens with "Today," "The Last Day Of May," and "Dance Of The Lovers." Then to end the album are the two tracks from the Easyfever EP. These are "A Very Special Man" and "Tryin' So Hard." The album closes with the number one hit "Sorry."

The album was released in mono and electronically reprocessed stereo and was the last Easybeats to have a fake stereo mix. Easy Listening came out on 8th of November 1965 and would be the last Easybeats album under their Capitol Records deal. This following deal would allow them full control of their American releases before most other international groups would. The album was their second number one and soon the boys would go back into the studio to record some new tracks.

The Easybeats on Capitol Records (pt 4)

After their third album It's Easy plus a successful American tour had occurred, Capitol Records needed to fuel the Easyfever. However by this time no material was released for Capitol to release another album. An EP released in Australia also named Easyfever had four songs that were not available on an album. The first idea was to turn this EP into an album however due to only having those four songs, the idea was scrapped. The Easybeats were in the middle of recording a third album however the material was never sent to Capitol. However what was sent was a audio tape of a recent live TV appearance featuring the Easybeats. On the 18th of June 1965, the band appeared on Australian Bandstand performing "live" versions of She's So Fine, Easy As Can Be, Wedding Ring and Women (Make You Feel Alright) became the basic for the next Easybeats' album: The Easybeats Live In Concert. Other performances of other songs such as In My Book, For My Woman and Sad And Lonely And Blue were picked up and the Bandstand performances had added screaming onto the recordings. The album was released 1st of July 1965 in both mono and electronically reprocessed stereo.

The album begins with an introduction taken from the She's So Fine performance at the Myer Music Bowl, it then continues with "She's So Fine" from the Bandstand performance. It then goes into "Easy As Can Be" also from the Bandstand performance. The next track is "Sad And Lonely And Blue" recorded from the TV show Dance Party from May 1965. It is then that Stevie leaves the stage  as Harry and George surround around a microphone singing the B side "Say That You're Mine." Stevie comes back and sings "In My Book" taken from a show at their Australian tour. To end the side off, the band perform "Wedding Ring" from their Bandstand performance complete with jam. The second side starts off with Stevie belting out "For My Woman" and then performing "You Got It Off Me." Dick then sings his number "Come And See Her" also from their recent American tour. Next they perform a live version of a song that would not be released in America until their next album, the song "Tryin' So Hard." The album ends with "Women (Make You Feel Alright)" from their American tour.

The album ended up hitting number two being beaten on the charts Beatles VI by The Beatles. Two weeks after this album came out, the Easybeats single I'll Make You Happy/Tryin' So Hard came out peaking at number one. But now that both the recording sessions for the EP and the LP from their next American album were done, it was time to show people what they had all over again...

The Easybeats On Capitol Records (pt 3)

Easyfever, The Easybeats' American second album was released in early 1965. The album which was made to fill in the void between the two Australian albums didn't sell as much as hoped. However now that the Easybeats second album "It's 2 Easy" had finally been finished, it was time to show what the Easybeats were made of. The album was released on April 6th 1965 and was available in both mono and electronically reprocessed stereo. However a problem arose in the album's early release stages. The album which promo copies were released in late March used the original Australian front and back covers. The album was titled "It's 2 Easy" but as it was the third American album, the title had to be changed. The covers were completely reprinted with a different cover and with the new and more awkward title "It's Easy." These covers have since become collectors items and can be found at auctions fetching upwards of hundreds of dollars. Three singles were released of tracks from this  album "Easy As Can Be," "Sad And Lonely And Blue" and "Wedding Ring." These three singles came out either before or on the day of the album's release. One month later a fourth single "Women (Make You Feel Alright)" was released. All four of these singles hit the top ten, "Easy As Can Be" hitting number eight, "Sad And Lonely And Blue" hitting number three, "Wedding Ring" hitting number two and finally The Easybeats got their first American number one with Women (Make You Feel Alright). Due to the singles from the album and many appearances on American TV shows, the album hit number one on the American charts.

The album begins with the single "Easy As Can Be." This is the oldest song on the album being released back when the Easyfever album came out. The track was oddly held over from that album onto this album however the track does appear in prototype copies. The following track is the song "Let Me Be." Next, the Easybeats' first American number one appears with "Women (Make You Feel Alright)." The next track is "Come And See Her" the first song that has bassist Dick Diamonde sing vocals. The next two tracks of the record is "I Can See" and "Someway, Somewhere." Side two starts off strong with "Sad And Lonely And Blue." "What About Our Love" is the next track that was written by the drummer Snowy Fleet. Then "Me Or You" the B side to Wedding Ring appears on the album. "Then I'll Tell You Goodbye" follows up and finally the album closes with their single "Wedding Ring."

The tracks that were not featured on this American incarnation of this album (including the single "In My Book") were already released on their previous album Easyfever. Not only was this album released at the peak of the Easybeats popularity but also their creativity. This album is confidently considered the Easybeats' best album and one of the albums of 1965. This album made The Easybeats household names and would make Capitol think of what was to come...

The Easybeats on Capitol Records (pt 2)

1965 a brand new year. After setting both Australia and America on fire in 1964, the Easybeats returned to the studio to record a new album. This album which would be entitled "It's 2 Easy" had been around half way done by January 1965. However after the success of their first American album, Capitol needed a follow up fast. This album would be entitled "Easyfever" after the term used to describe the tremendous following and excitement they caused... The album was released on 17th of February 1965. The album was a hodgepodge of missing tracks from their first album, recently recorded tracks for their second album and a few singles sprinkled in. The singles released in America were "Easy As Can Be" and "In My Book." Although the first single does not appear for reasons unknown, the second single was. In My Book was released in America in January 1965 with the B side Somethin' Wrong which also appears on this album.

The first track of the album is the hit single "In My Book." This single which hit number nine in America became another classic of the Easybeats, granted one that the members of the band did not enjoy. The album then follows with "You Are The Light" from the recording sessions of their upcoming album. The album then follows with two songs left off their first album "A Letter" and "Easy Beat." The side than ends with their latest B side "Somethin' Wrong." The second side then commences with "I'll Find Someone To Take Your Place" which was shortened to I'll Find Someone on the label and back cover of the record. The album continues with "You'll Come Back Again," "Girl On My Mind" and "I'm A Madman." The final track on the album was the cover song "Little Queenie" which was unreleased in Australia until 1977. The track was not released in Australia due to their deal with Albert's Productions (this was due to the fact that cover songs weren't allowed due to them owning their song rights). However due to their deal with Capitol, this would be allowed on all of their American albums. This album was much shorter to other albums, this was because this album was released when virtually no material was available. Most other albums in the States had twelve or at least eleven songs but only ten songs could be picked for this album from the tapes they were sent. This album however did come with a poster of the front cover without the text but nowadays copies with the poster are hard to find and usually fetch high prices.

Recently a prototype copy of the album was found. This copy did not have a cover but instead had written on the front of it "The Easybeats: Stevie, Harry, George, Dick and Snowy." Was this meant to be the original title? The record also had the song "Easy As Can Be" on it. This song was taken out for unknown reasons. This is even weirder considering they needed this track to be on the album in the first place to make it normal length. Was the track forgotten about? Who knows...

The Easybeats On Capitol Records (pt 1)

For the first series on this blog, I want to show my take on the history of Australia's first globally successful rock band, The Easybeats. If you live in Australia, The Easybeats are considered one of the greats and their songs such as Friday On My Mind, Sorry and Good Times are known by many, however outside of Aus, their forgotten about and considered one hit wonders. In this history The Easybeats become somewhat of a phenomenon and believe it or not still somewhat popular after Friday On My Mind. I also decided to move the years back one, as one of the problems back then was by the time they got worldwide their music was considered outdated.

In real history, the Easybeats got signed by United Artists Records in 1966 however in this history the Easybeats got signed by Capitol Records in 1964. 1964 was a big year for Capitol Records, their two biggest acts (The Beatles and The Beach Boys) were setting the charts aflame and were certainly making the company tons of profit. However Capitol believed that these were to be a fad and wanted to find a band that could help make more money while these bands were still considered popular. Back in Australia and local band The Easybeats just released their second single She's So Fine hitting number one. After deciding to look at bands in both England and America, Capitol finds no talent that can be at least exclusively signed to Capitol and so their heads moved to some other countries. Capitol's Australian division was sent (along with other countries) to find some local artists to sign up to the label. And it wasn't long before the Easybeats were discovered. The Easybeats' deal to Albert's Productions in Australia made Albert's own the song rights but to make deals to outside companies to distribute the records. After the band struck a deal with Capitol, Capitol quickly released their hit single She's So Fine into America with a new B-side (You Got It Off Me) taken from their more recent recording sessions. The single was released in early October 1964 and eventually hit number three in the American charts. The Easybeats were viewed as another Beatles but still had a unique flavour that allowed them to stand out from the seas of other bands. By the end of October, an album was rushed out due to the success of the single. The album which boosted that The Easybeats were "Australia's New Hottest Group!" featured both sides of their She's So Fine (both Australian and American sides) but also their less successful For My Woman single which would be released in November of that same year in the US.

The album hits off with the classic A side "For My Woman." A song that would eventually reach number seven on the charts, the song was considered a favourite by many including Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. It then moves onto "It's So Easy" which was the lead off track on the Australian original. It then follows with "I Wonder," "She Said Alright" and "Hey Girl." The final track of the side is "The Old Oak Tree." The track which was originally the flip of She's So Fine back in Australia was left here as an album track. The first track of the second side is "She's So Fine" which is then followed by its flip side "You Got It Off Me." The next two tracks are "Cry, Cry, Cry" and "I'm Gonna Tell Everybody." The album follows with For My Woman's flip side with "Say That You're Mine" written by George Young and Harry Vanda, and the album ends with "You Can't Do That" just as the Australian original.

The album was originally released on the 23rd of October 1964. As only mono mixes of the track were made/released in Australia, the album had to be electronically reprocessed into stereo for the States. As with other American albums of overseas artists, The Easybeats had no say in the album and five tracks had to meet the axe: "I'm A Madman," "A Letter," "Easy Beat," "You'll Come Back Again" and "Girl On My Mind." The album didn't do as well as its two singles, but it still reached the top ten peaking at number eight in December 1964. The Easybeats became a third wheel to Capitol Records, but even then it didn't stop Capitol from pushing them out as quickly as possible...

My Custom Kinks Anthology One.