Original subtitles

♪ Skyhooks are marching, first into colour

♪ We're in the A-B-C... ♪

On Countdown!

We're the Skyhooks, and we're going to be on

the first colour program on the television at 12:00 at midnight.

And if your mother knew what you were doing...

She'd probably wouldn't let you watch it!

Shut up, Shirley!

She'd probably say, "You silly, silly child."

"Why don't you watch it at 6:00 on Saturday?"

Onward!

♪ Skyhooks are marching, first into colour

♪ We're in the A-B-C. ♪

♪ Countdown

♪ Countdown

♪ Countdown, Countdown

ANNOUNCER: Welcome to Classic Countdown, 1975.

♪ Countdown! ♪

JOHN PAUL YOUNG: Australians had their first brief introduction

to ABC's new music series Countdown,

in the final weeks of 1974.

What is Countdown?

Well, Countdown is the most exciting visual presentation

of the Top 40 hits you'll ever see on colour television.

From Alice Cooper to Sherbet, we've got them,

and you'll see them on Countdown.

Hello, I'm Johnny Farnham, and this is Countdown,

the first edition for 1975 in glorious colour.

In a special TV event at midnight on the 1st of March,

Countdown became the first series on the ABC

to broadcast in colour.

♪ It's been so long

♪ Ah, how I've missed you

♪ I need your soft touch

♪ Just kiss me. ♪

Countdown helped the rise

of some of the biggest acts in Australia,

from Sherbet... ♪ Peace and harmony. ♪

To Dragon. ♪ The times are changing

♪ Rearranging round me

♪ We went through the mist for a boy styled kiss by the day

♪ I'm OK. ♪

To the bands that defied categorisation.

♪ Don't you believe what you've seen or you've heard

♪ Ego! ♪ (APPLAUSE)

♪ Want to rock and roll? ♪

It was an exciting moment for Australian music,

and, in many ways, a welcome distraction.

Some events in 1975 had brought flashes of hope.

But at times, it felt like the whole thing was falling apart.

It'll probably be about two years before this bridge

is restored or another one is built.

The Vietnam War would drag on and on and finish in defeat.

And the new Labor government would stumble,

and eventually be dismissed by the Queen's man in Canberra.

Well, may we say God save the Queen.

(CHEERS)

Because nothing will save the Governor General.

(CHEERING)

As families sat down together on a Sunday night,

Countdown gave young musicians their own platform,

a stage from which they could comment on the news.

♪ You watch a horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Shocking me right out of my brain

♪ It's shocking me right out of my brain

♪ You watch a horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Shocking me right out of my brain

♪ It's shocking me right out of my brain

♪ It's bound to get you in, get you under your skin

♪ Hit you right on the chin

♪ Oh, yeah

♪ It's bound to be a thriller

♪ It's bound to be a chiller

♪ It's bound to be a killer

♪ Oh, yeah

♪ You watch a horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Shocking me right out of my brain

♪ It's shocking me right out of my brain

♪ The planes are a-crashing

♪ The cars are a-smashing

♪ The cops are a-bashing

♪ Oh, yeah

♪ The kids are a-fighting The fires are a-lighting

♪ The dogs are a-biting Oh, yeah

♪ You watch a horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Shocking me right out of my brain

♪ It's shocking me right out of my brain

♪ You think it's just a movie on the silver screen

♪ And they're all actors and fake old scenes

♪ Maybe you don't care who's going to lose or win

♪ Listen to this and I'll tell you something

♪ It's a horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Horror movie and it's blown a fuse

♪ Horror movie, it's the 6:30 news

♪ Horror movie, it's the 6:30 news

♪ The public's waiting for the killing and the hating

♪ Switch on your station, Oh, yeah

♪ They do a lotta selling

♪ Between the firing and the yelling

♪ You believe in what they're selling, oh, yeah

♪ You watch a horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Horror movie right there on my TV

♪ Horror movie and it's blown a fuse

♪ Horror movie, it's the 6:30 news

♪ Horror movie, it's the 6:30 news

♪ And it's shockin' me right out of my brain. ♪

♪ Summer breeze

♪ Makes me feel fine

♪ Blowing through the jasmine in my mind... ♪

Not all the music on Countdown was political.

♪ Ah, summer breeze

♪ Summer breeze

♪ Makes me feel fine

♪ Blowing through the jasmine in my mind... ♪

Many acts were simply providing wholesome family entertainment.

We have different music represented right here.

Country music. Country.

And Donny hits the easy listening, the young pop music.

Jimmy's into the... Bubble gum.

Anyway, and the Osmonds,

we're into the harder more contemporary type direction.

In 1975, what the audience wanted was escapist fun,

which Countdown provided in bucketloads.

♪ Denim or lace

♪ You look good in anything

♪ Making me feel like a king

♪ Dressed in denim or lace

♪ Denim or lace

♪ Prettiest girl I've ever seen

♪ I want you for my beauty queen

♪ Wearing denim or lace

♪ Hey, there you go

♪ Pretending you are fancy free

♪ But you don't know

♪ One day you are going to be with me

♪ Yes, with me

♪ Ah-ha

♪ Denim or lace

♪ For rich or poor or come what may

♪ I'm going to have you anyway

♪ Wearing denim or lace

♪ Hey, there you go

♪ Pretending you are fancy free

♪ But you don't know

♪ One day you are going to be with me

♪ Yes, with me

♪ Ah-ha

♪ Denim or lace

♪ For rich or poor or come what may

♪ I'm going to have you anyway

♪ Wearing denim and lace

♪ You and denim and lace

♪ Dressed in denim or lace. ♪

In the early years,

very few international artists played live on the show.

And so, Countdown belonged to Australian acts.

♪ When I was just 12 years old

♪ My daddy set me on his knee

♪ Said "Now listen here, my boy"

♪ "This is how it's going to be

♪ "I'm going to put you right through school

♪ "Boy, have I got plans for you"

♪ I said, "Please don't make me, Pa"

♪ "The only thing I want to do is join a guitar band"

♪ A guitar band

♪ I'm going to be a star

♪ With my guitar in a guitar band

♪ A guitar band, keep it up

♪ A guitar band

♪ I'm going to turn it on

♪ And get in strong with a guitar band

♪ Band, band, band

♪ Now, Pa, looked at me and said, "Who do you think you are?

♪ "You got to have some education, boy

♪ "Or else you won't get far"

♪ I looked at him, and I said, "Hey, Pa"

♪ "That jazz is OK for you

♪ "But please let me live my life

♪ "And do the things I want to do"

♪ And join a guitar band

♪ A guitar band

♪ I'm going to be a star with my guitar in a guitar band

♪ A guitar band

♪ A guitar band

♪ I'm going to turn it on

♪ And get in strong with a guitar, guitar band

♪ Band, band...

Come on!

Come on!

♪ Guitar band Come on!

♪ Guitar band

♪ I'm going to be a star with my guitar in a guitar band

Yeah!

♪ Guitar band Want to be a rock'n'roller.

♪ Guitar band See the world.

♪ I'm going to turn it on, get in strong in a guitar band

♪ Oh, I'm wanna be in a

♪ Guitar band A little like you.

♪ Guitar band

Just an old-fashioned rock'n'roller!

♪ With my guitar in a guitar band

♪ I just want to be In a guitar band

Yeah! ♪ A guitar band

A little like Chuck Berry!

♪ I'm going to be a star with my guitar in a guitar band

♪ Get the guitar band

♪ A guitar band ♪ A guitar band

♪ A guitar band Come on, people!

♪ I'm going to be a star with my guitar in a guitar band

♪ Guitar band ♪ A guitar band

♪ Guitar band ♪ A guitar band

♪ I'm going to be a star with my guitar in a guitar band

♪ Guitar band, a guitar band

♪ I'm going to be a star

♪ I'm going to get in strong with a guitar, guitar band. ♪

CROWD: (CHANTS) Elton! Elton!

Although, in 1975, few international stars

had yet found their way to the Countdown stage,

Molly Meldrum had already started to land the big interviews.

MOLLY: Three years ago... Yes.

When you were out here on your first tour,

three and a half years ago,

you were rather stuck with Daddy Cool and their talent,

and especially Ross Wilson as a songwriter.

So much so that you went back to England

and encouraged John Baldry to record Come Back Again.

I tried to get it to Ringo too,

but I don't think he ever got it.

Because I thought it would have been great for him to do.

I thought that band were probably one

of the most impressive bands I've ever, ever heard.

When I first heard them, I just went...

Eagle Rock is still one of my favourite tracks of all time.

Now getting back to an album that's yours, and yours alone,

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy...

Brown Dirt Cowboy.

You can hold it there. Hold it there.

That's the new cover, folks.

It took me six years to crochet that.

(LAUGHTER)

What can we expect on that album?

Filth. (LAUGHTER)

What is your favourite song? Ah...

Or your favourite record that you've recorded?

Oh, let's see.

I would have to say Proud Mary.

I'd have to say because I like it. I like it on stage.

It's a very good feeling for me on stage.

I like Nutbush an awful lot also.

It's my second preference, I think.

This is David Essex on Countdown.

♪ Yes, I'm a rolling stone

In 1975 England, the big rock movement was glam.

DAVID: I've worked in England, of course, and in America,

and in France quite a bit.

But I've not been to too many places,

simply because if you make films, and if you write songs,

you actually do spend a lot of time working, you know, in one place.

MOLLY: Yeah.

But I'd love to go to Australia, of course.

It's such a long way. That's the problem.

Australia had no shortage of its own glam bands.

♪ Look at me, I can dance, I can sing

Sydney band Sherbet were the kings.

(CROWD SCREAMS)

♪ I can run up and jump and shout

And life was definitely for living.

♪ I'm turning on my own roundabout

♪ I live my life and be free. ♪

Front and centre of the local glam scene

was an absolutely rocking band, also from Sydney,

ironically called Hush.

♪ Come on, everybody

♪ We need everybody

♪ C'mon, we're taking over right now

♪ C'mon, help us make it

♪ We know you can take it

♪ C'mon, we're taking over right now

♪ Do you want to take over?

AUDIENCE: Yeah!

♪ Do you want to take over?

AUDIENCE: Yeah!

♪ Do you want to take over?

AUDIENCE: Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

♪ I can hear them marching stepping feet

♪ Smashing, crashing down the street

♪ The younger generation beats

♪ Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Right now

Alright, come on now!

♪ I say, come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Right now

♪ Do you want to take over?

AUDIENCE: Yeah!

♪ Do you want to take over?

AUDIENCE: Yeah!

♪ Do you want to take over?

AUDIENCE: Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

♪ Revolution's in the air

♪ Try and stop it if you dare

♪ The kids are screaming everywhere

♪ Come on, come on, come on-on-on-on

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Right now...

Alright, I want you all now!

♪ I said, come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Right now

♪ We need you

♪ We got to join together

♪ Because we're all going to take over

♪ Together

♪ School is out, the kids are in

♪ The time is coming to begin

♪ The time is right for them to win

♪ Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Right now

All together now, come on!

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Right now

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Come on, we're taking over

♪ Right now

♪ Come on, we're taking over... ♪

♪ It's not that easy being green

♪ Having to spend each day...

Countdown relied on local talent to survive,

and TV personalities from other networks were readymade stars.

♪ And I think it would be nicer... ♪

Long before The Voice and Australian Idol,

the biggest star-making show at the time

was Johnny Young's Young Talent Time.

♪ Good, good, good morning

♪ Good, good, good morning

♪ How I loved you last night. ♪

Already TV veterans, YTT alumni such as Debra Byrne

were ready to cross over to the Countdown stage.

♪ My mama told me when I was quite young

♪ Don't be a bad girl and run around

♪ Or he might get you

♪ He's going to get you

♪ So, little boy, that's why I'm telling you

♪ Don't you dare break my heart in two

♪ He's going to get you

♪ He's going to get you

♪ Say the Boogie Man's going to get you

♪ If you're messing around in the dark

♪ Playing with my love and affection

♪ That ain't smart, no, that ain't smart

♪ So, little boy, that's why I'm telling you

♪ Take my love, take my money

♪ But don't you dare break my heart in two

♪ Or you're going to get it

♪ He's going to get you

♪ The Boogie Man's going to get you

♪ If you're messing around in the dark

♪ Playing with my love and affection

♪ That ain't smart, no, that ain't smart

♪ The Boogie Man'll get you

♪ The Boogie Man'll get you

♪ The Boogie's going get you

♪ Don't make me sad, boy

♪ The Boogie's going get you

♪ Don't be a bad boy

♪ Here he comes, here he comes, here he comes, here he comes

Whoo!

♪ The Boogie Man's going get you

♪ If you're messing around in the dark

♪ Playing with my love and affection

♪ That ain't smart, no, that ain't smart

♪ The Boogie Man's going to get you

♪ If you're messing around in the dark

♪ Playing with my love and affection

♪ That ain't smart, no, that ain't smart. ♪

We all know what this is, don't we?

It's a Countdown T-shirt, right?

And it's got signatures of Elton John and Denise Drysdale,

and John English and Richard Clapton and Sherbet, right?

(CHEERS)

Alright, we're not going to start an argument.

If you'd like one of these T-shirts,

just send $4 to this address which is coming up right now.

Right, it's...

Applause, go!

Right now, it's Molly Meldrum. Oh!

I'm John. Oh, thank you.

Countdown today is celebrating their 50th birthday, right?

It was clear right from the early episodes of Countdown

that musicians liked Molly.

Skyhooks, which is pretty boring...

And more often than not, he got them to talk.

Well, the biggest problem is probably the lack of privacy

in lots of ways, like...

For instance, around here at my place, you know,

it's walking down the street, things like that.

People come up. Not that I mind.

It's sort of like... I don't know.

You sort of get into a thing where you think,

"Well, won't it be great when it ends?" You know?

Sort of that constant...

I don't know, following by people,

or sort of, "Oh, there he goes."

"Maybe I should run over and get his autograph."

You know, that sort of thing.

Sometimes, I do think like when it'll end,

and then I think, "No, I don't really want it to end."

Because it's what I like doing.

Well, I don't want to start the violins out

or anything like that.

But, um, you know, I think that the Partridge Family

kind of misrepresented me

as something that I don't think I really was, you know?

I think it was kind of, "Well, we'll have him playing"

"a 16, 17, 18-year-old whatever."

A nice swell looking guy from next door and all that.

I used to take people to the shake shop.

I mean, it was totally unreal.

They took that image as the part I was playing,

and made him David Cassidy, you know,

with the dresses, and bubble gum cards,

and comic books and everything else.

That was real difficult for me, you know,

for a long time to kind of...

Like, I think I went through an enormous identity crisis

because of that.

MOLLY: So you're all from Bonnie Scotland...

Aye!

As Countdown's fame grew, at home and around the world,

Molly would deliver both the interviews

and the international performances.

It was in Edinburgh in a place called the Blackford Hills.

That's where I bought my house, by the way.

And it's hills, and I used to watch the sunrise coming up.

6:00 in the morning, I used to be out delivering milk.

And that's how I got the inspiration for Magic.

♪ Oh, ho-ho, it's magic

♪ You know

♪ Never believe it's not so

♪ It's magic

♪ You know

♪ Never believe it's not so

♪ Never been awake

♪ Never seen a day break

♪ Leaning on my pillow in the morning

♪ Lazy day in bed

♪ Music in my head

♪ Crazy music playing

♪ In the morning light

♪ Oh, ho-ho, it's magic

♪ You know

♪ Never believe it's not so

♪ It's magic

♪ You know

♪ Never believe it's not so

♪ I love a sunny day

♪ Dream of far away

♪ Dreaming on my pillow in the morning

♪ Never been awake

♪ Never seen a day break

♪ Leaning on my pillow

♪ In the morning light

♪ Oh, ho-ho, it's magic

♪ You know

♪ Never believe it's not so

♪ It's magic

♪ You know

♪ Never believe it's not so

♪ Oh, ho-ho, it's magic

♪ You know

♪ Never believe it's not so

♪ It's magic

♪ You know

♪ Never believe it's not so. ♪

Hi, there, Sydney viewers.

I've got something to tell you about this Countdown show.

Be prepared at five past five for Countdown.

Alright, sausages?

By 1975, the era of the big Woodstock style music festival was over.

Local festivals such as Meadows, Nimbin, Hillcrest and Sunbury

had packed up the tents for the last time.

Some campfire musos who finally drifted away

from the mud and cyclone fencing

took their harmonicas and violins straight to Countdown,

like festival favourites Captain Matchbox.

♪ I walked in

♪ A roadhouse restaurant

♪ It had been a long drive

♪ My mind was far away

♪ The lady at the counter

♪ Asked me...

What do you want?

♪ But as I looked towards the plastic palm trees

♪ It's all I could say

♪ My Wahine in white

♪ Wangaratta

♪ It is not goodbye

♪ We will hula again

♪ My Wahine in white

♪ It doesn't matter

♪ That we're apart

♪ I still love you

♪ Although I must go far down the road

♪ The Hume Highway

♪ And trucks will pass and gum leaves fall

♪ I'll return someday

♪ She looked at me

♪ And said I was a great galoot

You're a great galoot!

♪ Called her husband in

Definitely a crime!

♪ Who showed me the door

Here it is, sonny.

♪ Then I departed

♪ With a healthy boot

Boot!

♪ And as I flew out

♪ The summer breeze

♪ Seemed to whisper to me

♪ My Wahine in white

♪ Wangaratta

♪ It is not goodbye

♪ We will hula again

(IMITATES TROMBONE)

♪ Though we're apart

♪ I still recall

♪ The potted palm trees

♪ The waves in her hair

♪ Splish-splash, splish-splash

♪ I remember the lagoon

♪ The sink where the water falls

Pssht!

♪ But most of all

♪ I remember

♪ Her husband, Craig

About six foot six, broad shoulders,

What a whacker!

♪ My Wahine in white

♪ Wangaratta

♪ It is not goodbye

♪ We will hula again

♪ My Wahine in white

♪ It doesn't matter, no, no, no

♪ That we're apart

♪ I still love you. ♪

Countdown was built on more than just studio performances.

It was also a trailblazer

in the development of the music film clip.

This meant singers had to get their heads around

the technicalities of both performing and acting.

♪ Like a star in the midnight sky

♪ Your love was there

♪ To guide me

♪ When I was weak

♪ Too weak to try

♪ You would be there

♪ Right there beside me

♪ Urging me on

♪ And making me strong

♪ You kept on saying

♪ Go on, girl, you can do it

♪ It's only life

♪ There's nothing to it

♪ It's just I'm seeing through it

♪ From the inside

♪ From the inside

♪ I spread my wings and left the nest

♪ Swearing nothing would get by me

♪ I tasted love, and I tasted life

♪ But not enough to satisfy me

♪ Leading me on

♪ And making me strong

♪ You kept on saying

♪ Go on, girl, you can do it

♪ It's only life

♪ There's nothing to it

♪ It's just I'm seeing through it

♪ From the inside

♪ From the inside

♪ Like a star in the midnight sky

♪ That fades into the morning

♪ I came back to show you

♪ I could fly

♪ But you had gone without a warning

♪ But you keep moving on

♪ And making me strong

♪ I heard you saying

♪ Go on, girl

♪ You can do it

♪ It's only life

♪ There's nothing to it

♪ It's just I'm seeing through it

♪ From the inside

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah. ♪

In 1975, Countdown's most famous foray

into the film clip was the iconic video for Yesterday's Hero.

♪ When I walk down the street

♪ See the people... ♪

With it's sweeping street scenes and locations,

including the ABC Studios,

this homemade Countdown clip helped make me a star,

or perhaps it was my awesome hairdo.

♪ Seen a stranger who said, "Why, hi"

♪ With a "How you doing, buddy?" when you walked on by

♪ I thought I'd say hello

♪ They say, "Haven't I seen your face before?"

♪ "Weren't you the boy who used to live next door?

♪ "Weren't you on television every night?

♪ "Haven't I seen you round?

♪ Take a look at me, I'm yesterday's hero

♪ Yesterday's hero

♪ That's all I'll be

♪ Take a look at me I'm yesterday's hero

♪ And yesterday's hero

♪ Is all that I'm going to be if I don't get together

♪ Make a new start and be somebody better

♪ All that I'll be if I don't get together now

♪ When you walk down the street

♪ If you know me, then pass me by

♪ If you wonder what I'm doing, don't ask me why

♪ I don't read the news

♪ When you walk down the streets

♪ If you're sorry, then don't feel bad

♪ If you followed my story, than just be glad

♪ You ain't in my shoes

♪ Haven't you seen my face before?

♪ Yes, I was the boy who used to live next door

♪ Yes, I was on television every night

♪ Haven't you seen me round?

♪ Take a look at me, I'm yesterday's hero

♪ Yesterday's hero

♪ That's all I'll be

♪ Take a look at me, I'm yesterday's hero

♪ And yesterday's hero

♪ Is all that I'm going to be if I don't get together

♪ Make a new start and be somebody better

♪ All that I'll be if I don't get together now

♪ Ooh...

ANNOUNCER: Here is the news. Police spokesman said today...

ANNOUNCER: A spokesman for the singer

said he suffered a nervous collapse.

The singer was taken to hospital...

ANNOUNCER: Here he is!

(CHEERS)

♪ Yesterday's hero

♪ Yesterday's hero

♪ Oh

(CHEERS)

♪ Yesterday's hero

♪ Yesterday's hero

♪ Ohh

♪ Yesterday's hero. ♪

Five, four, three, two, one.

Fade up!

From the beginning, Countdown prided itself on its innovation.

The producers were always keen to push the boundaries.

Go!

ANNOUNCER: Presenting this week, a special guest host...

Some ideas like replicating the wheel from the Ernie Sigley show

were tried just the once.

There's nothing dishonest about Channel 2 at all.

And some segments were here to stay.

Countdown!

Now listen, girls.

I don't come up to Sydney that much, right?

And I'm used to all the girls down there dancing like this.

We're better.

Yeah, well, I'm not saying that.

But I've noticed a lot of...

There's something called the Sydney Bump.

Can any of you do that? ALL: Yeah!

Oh, hello. There's a Viv bumping there already.

Three girls - Debra, Heather and Christine

sent in this petition, sent that in as well.

There you are. Fortunate.

They wrote a petition that said, "Please can we meet Sherbet"

"next time they're in Melbourne."

And they wrote it 3,600...

Oh, no! 3,000...

Hold on.

686 times. Where are they?

Before we show you that, I want to tell you about a date.

Now write this down in your diary, March 3rd.

Because on that night, Countdown are going to present

the National Music Industry Awards.

And apart from the industry voting for that night,

you out there have the chance also to vote

for the Most Popular Male Solo,

the Most Popular Female Solo,

and the Most Popular Group.

Now on Countdown, we've got The Sweet with us.

And I'd like to present them with two of the gold records

of two of their Number 1 hits in Australia.

The first was Ballroom Blitz. Brian, which a...

I'll take this one because I'm going to introduce it.

Yeah, right, which was really fantastic,

as far as the single was concerned.

And was the first biggie here.

And then straight after that was Peppermint Twists.

So, Nick, you take that one. Right.

Congratulations. (APPLAUSE)

First of all, we've got the president of your fan club out here

She wants to give you something, alright?

(GIRLS SHOUTING)

Oh, thanks.

Whoa! (SCREAMING)

Did you like Bony Moronie? (CHEERING)

Well, this one is going to be even bigger.

It's Hush's great new single, Glad All Over!

(CHEERING)

From the outset, Countdown celebrated

diversity and talent from all quarters.

Molly was simply a lover of music,

and eager to bring the best acts to the show.

♪ You say that you love me

♪ All the time... ♪

♪ I've seen fire and I've seen rain

♪ I seen sunny days that... ♪

Some would go on to long and rewarding careers.

Others, at least, got their moment in the spotlight.

♪ You wonder why I never ask

♪ Where you been, where you're going

♪ What you do

♪ Because I know that if it was up to you

♪ I'd just be told a lie

♪ Yeah, girl

♪ So you just do what you wanna do

♪ Because when I get tired of playing the fool

♪ Well, I'll just go out

♪ And find me someone new

♪ Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah

♪ Find someone new, girl, yes

♪ You walked around so fancy free

♪ Giving your number to whoever you please

♪ And when you take the phone into the den

♪ You say, "Chucky, he was only a friend"

♪ So you just do what you wanna do

♪ Because when I get tired

♪ Of playing the fool

♪ Well, I'll just go out

♪ And find me someone new

♪ Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

David.

♪ So you just do what you wanna do

♪ Because when I get tired of playing the fool

♪ Well, I'll just go out

♪ And find me someone

♪ Just go out and find me some

♪ So you just do what you wanna do

♪ Because when I get tired

♪ Of playing the fool

♪ Well, I'll just go out

♪ And find me someone new

♪ Going to find someone new, girl

♪ Someone that's going to treat me good

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

♪ Go on now and do your thing

♪ I know you got to do your thing

♪ Do what you want to do

♪ Oh, yeah, go on now

♪ Do you own thing

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah. ♪

G'day!

Only in its second year,

Countdown was starting to realise its power.

Some bands were already successful,

but others arrived at Studio 31 relative unknowns,

and walked out stars.

♪ Baby, don't go

♪ Baby, don't go

♪ Baby, please don't go down to New Orleans

♪ You know I love you so, baby, please don't go

♪ When the man done gone

♪ When the man done gone

♪ When the man done gone to the county farm

♪ He's got the shackles on, baby, please don't go

Oh, no!

♪ Well, I'll be your dog

♪ Well, I'll be your dog

♪ Well, I'll be your dog, kiss you way down there

♪ When you walk along, baby, please don't go

♪ Baby, please don't go

♪ Baby, please don't go

♪ Baby, please don't go down to New Orleans

♪ You know I love you so, baby, please don't go

♪ Oh, don't go and leave me

♪ Oh, baby, what will I do without you?

♪ I love you!

♪ I love you!

♪ Oh, I love you!

♪ Oh, baby, please, please

♪ Please don't go!

♪ Baby

♪ Baby

♪ Baby!

♪ Don't go!

♪ No, don't go!

♪ Oh, don't go and leave me

♪ Please don't go!

♪ Babe, I'm lying on my back

♪ I know you don't want to follow today

♪ Other side of the track

♪ You found yourself a new man

♪ I know! I know all about you!

♪ Baby, please don't go

♪ Baby, please don't go

(SCREAMS)

♪ Don't go!

♪ Babe! (SCREAMS)

♪ Don't you dare!

♪ No! No!

♪ No!

♪ Don't leave me!

♪ I'll kill you! ♪

♪ Countdown. ♪

In a very short time, Countdown had become a hit maker.

♪ Summer love

♪ Is like no other love

Come on!

♪ Ooh, yeah!

♪ Summer love is like no other love

♪ You know what I mean

♪ Summer love is like no other love

♪ Whoo. ♪

Thanks to Countdown, an obscure quartet from Sweden

had not one, but two big hits.

Yes, there's always more than one song on the album

which is a presumptive hit.

Which is lucky for us.

Molly had almost single-handedly brought local music

out of the wilderness.

It's had an amazing effect

because sales for Australian artists over the past year

have just skyrocketed.

♪ Because she's my, my little angel

♪ My little angel

♪ My little angel, yes, she's mine

♪ Oh, she's so fine, my little angel

♪ My little angel

♪ And I know that she's with me all the time. ♪

In 1975, no fewer than five local artists had number one hits.

William Shakespeare, Sherbet,

Bob Hudson, The Hooks, and our Daryl.

♪ You're my world

♪ You're every move I make

♪ You're my world

♪ You're every breath I take

♪ Other eyes see the stars

♪ Up in the sky

♪ But for me, they shine

♪ Within your eyes

♪ As the trees reach for the sun

♪ Above

♪ With my arms to you

♪ For love

♪ With your hand

♪ Resting in mine

♪ I feel a power

♪ So divine

♪ You're my world, you are my night

♪ My day, yeah

♪ You're my world, you're every prayer

♪ I pray

♪ If our love

♪ Ceases to be

♪ Then it's the end of my world

♪ For me

♪ With your hand

♪ Resting in mine

♪ I feel a power

♪ So divine

♪ You're my world, you are my night

♪ My day, yeah

♪ You're my world, you're every prayer

♪ I take

♪ If our love

♪ Ceases to be

♪ Then it's the end of my world

♪ End of my world

♪ It's the end of my world

♪ For me

♪ Ooh, yeah, yeah. ♪

Hello, John. Good afternoon.

What are you? I'm a Womble.

Oh, well, that explains it then.

What are you doing here at the ABC?

Well, I'm here to make Countdown.

Oh, five past five on Sunday?

That's right. That's funny. So am I.

I'm just having a look through some of the wardrobe here.

I'm going to bring some of me own next week.

We'll see you on Countdown, five past five on Sunday.

And the Womble will be with me too.

Captions by Ericsson Access Services

Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation

ANNOUNCER: Visit the Classic Countdown website

for more pictures, interviews, and behind the scenes information.