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move the years back one, as one of the problems back then was by the time they got worldwide their music was considered outdated.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...

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