Original subtitles

In this corner, at 180 pounds,

Ian "Molly" Meldrum!

(BOOING)

And in this corner, at 110 pounds,

Miss Samantha Bang.

(CHEERING)

(CHEERING)

Ten! Nine!

Eight! Seven!

Six! Five!

Four! Three! Two! One!

AUDIENCE: Countdown! The winner!

♪ Countdown!

♪ Countdown!

♪ Countdown! Countdown!

ANNOUNCER: Welcome to Classic Countdown, 1978!

♪ Countdown! ♪

JANE: 1977 belonged to Star Wars.

But 1978 had two movie blockbusters.

First came Superman.

He is a visitor from outer space,

but he is here, after all,

fighting for truth, justice, and the American way.

The American way worked fine.

But the second Hollywood hit

found its heroes here in Australia.

You know, I'm proud to be Australian.

It'd be nice to feel that Australia was happy for me too.

Australians were the flavour of the month,

and it seemed there was nothing we couldn't do.

We could lure the rest of the world

to a rebel cricket competition.

We could be trailblazers in the fight for equal rights.

We could even break the world water speed record.

If a new hero was needed, we could provide.

Molly Meldrum had become the hero of Australian music,

championing our songs on the world stage.

(CHEERING)

In 1978, Molly championed

my own band's music on Countdown.

And so, became a personal hero of mine.

He still is.

♪ Goodbye, Johnny

♪ See you round, so long

♪ It's taken me a long, long time

♪ I can see I had you figured wrong

♪ You talk a lot about passion

♪ But you still want to keep it cool

♪ You might think I'm a fashion

♪ But I know you can't keep to your rules

♪ Goodbye, Johnny

♪ I don't belong in your scene

♪ You're buttering up to me like pieces of bread

♪ You're spreading yourself too thin

♪ I found out what it's all about

♪ Don't try that sympathy game

♪ I'm through with whispering and I'm learning to shout

♪ My loving can't stay the same

♪ Because you're dead in the heart

♪ Dead in the head

♪ Dead in the heart, dead in the head

♪ I used to hang in the shadow

♪ Waiting for the sun to shine

♪ Ooh

♪ I got to dance to the drum

♪ I tried to read

♪ Between your lines

♪ But it's getting tougher all the time

♪ I don't think I can keep on trying

♪ Goodbye, Johnny

♪ I can't take no more of your jive

♪ I'd gladly give you all of my money

♪ If you'd just look me straight in the eye

♪ I see through your rented skin

♪ You can't fool me no more

♪ You're telling lies, and they're wearing thin

♪ Your heart is a padlocked door, hey

♪ Dead in the heart, dead in the head

♪ Hey! Dead in the heart

♪ Dead in the head

♪ You brought me diamonds and wine

♪ Words to melt my heart

♪ You never told me

♪ About yourself

♪ But I caught up with your press release

♪ I think I'll stay on the shelf

♪ Goodbye, Johnny

♪ Why don't you get out of town?

♪ Take yourself out to Chunamarie

♪ See if you can get off the ground

♪ Goodbye, Johnny

♪ Goodbye, Johnny

♪ Goodbye, Johnny. ♪

This is David Bowie,

and we're on Countdown across Australia.

♪ Look around

♪ Be a part

JANE: In the first three years of the show,

Countdown audiences were treated to performances

by some of Australia's best male vocalists.

♪ And I love you best

♪ You're not like the rest

♪ You're there when I need you

♪ You're there when I need

♪ I'm going to need you. ♪

From the experienced smoothness of Glenn Shorrock...

♪ They're calling to me

to the silky funk of Mark Holden...

♪ In the garden of love

♪ First thing in the morning and last thing at night

♪ All is reborn into dark into light

♪ First thing in the morning I look through the sights

♪ I aim to be there. ♪

And the beer band, chainsaw massacre vocals of Jimmy Barnes.

♪ I been pasted to the telephone

♪ Boxing Day break was wasted sitting home on my own

♪ The beer we bought for Christmas

♪ Ran dry this afternoon

♪ On the radio it's New Year's Eve

♪ What a low down time of the year

♪ to pack your luggage and leave. ♪

In 1978, international acts showed

they could more than compete.

♪ I got something to say I been changing your direction

♪ And we're stepping away

♪ I bring emotion and I bring desire

♪ And I bring a potion to set you on fire. ♪

Many male singers first heard on Countdown

would become the most recognisable voices

of the next generation.

♪ Well, I been walking the streets in the evening

♪ Racing through the human jungles at night

♪ I'm so confused, my mind is indifferent

♪ I'm so weak, won't somebody shut off my light?

♪ Electricity runs through the video

♪ And I watch it from this hole I call home

♪ All the stonies are dancing to the radio

♪ And I got the world calling me up

♪ Tonight on the phone

♪ I need a lover that won't drive me crazy

♪ Some girl to thrill me and then go away

♪ I need a lover that won't drive me crazy

♪ Some girl that knows the meaning of

♪ Ah, hey, hit the highway

♪ Well, I'm not wiped out by this pool room life I'm living

♪ I'm gonna quit this job, and go to school, head back home

♪ And I'm not asking to be loved or be forgiven

♪ Hell, I just can't face shaking in this bedroom

♪ One more night alone

♪ I need a lover that won't drive me crazy

♪ I need a lover that won't drive me crazy

♪ I need a lover that won't drive me crazy

♪ Some girl that knows the meaning of

♪ Hey, hit the highway

♪ I need a lover that won't drive me crazy

♪ Some girl to thrill me, and then go away

♪ I need a lover that won't drive me crazy

♪ Some girl that knows the meaning of

♪ Hey, hit the highway

♪ You betcha. ♪

(CHEERING)

JANE: The female vocalists who appeared on Countdown

in the early years

were often more impressive than the blokes.

♪ I say play on

♪ Nothing you can say

♪ Why don't you play on?

♪ Come on now, play on

♪ Nothing you can say

♪ Why don't you pla-a-a-a-y

♪ Nothing you can try. ♪

Marcia Hines' voice had made her Queen of Pop.

♪ I don't have no doubt about it

Renee Geyer would go on to record

with international stars Neil Diamond, Sting,

Bonnie Raitt and Joe Cocker.

♪ I'm the way, yes, I am

♪ I can't talk so loud about it

♪ I'm so proud of you. ♪

In 1978, Countdown also featured

one of the most astounding new voices of the era, Kate Bush.

♪ You

♪ Stood

♪ In the belltower

♪ But now you're gone

♪ So who knows

♪ All the sights

♪ Of Notre Dame

♪ They've got the stars for the gallant hearts

♪ I'm the replacement for your part

♪ But all I want to do is forget

♪ You friend

♪ Hammer Horror

♪ Hammer Horror

♪ Won't leave it alone

♪ The first time in my life

♪ I keep the lights on to ease my soul

♪ Hammer Horror

♪ Hammer Horror

♪ Won't leave it alone

♪ I don't know

♪ Is this the right thing to do?

♪ Rehearsing

♪ In your things

♪ I feel guilty

♪ And retracing

♪ All the scenes

♪ Of your big hit

♪ Oh, God, you needed the leading role

♪ It wasn't me who made you go, though

♪ All I want to do

♪ Is forget

♪ You friend

♪ Hammer Horror, Hammer Horror

♪ Won't leave it alone

♪ The first time in my life

♪ I keep the lights on to ease my soul

♪ Hammer Horror, Hammer Horror

♪ Won't leave it alone

♪ I don't know

♪ Is this the right thing to do?

♪ Oh, oh, oh

♪ Oh, oh, oh

♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh

♪ Oh, oh, oh, ooh

♪ Who

♪ Calls me

♪ From the other side

♪ Of the street

♪ And who

♪ Taps me

♪ On the shoulder?

♪ I turn around

♪ But you're gone

♪ I've got a hunch that you're following

♪ To get your own back on me

♪ All I want to do

♪ Is forget

♪ You friend

♪ Hammer Horror, Hammer Horror

♪ Won't leave it alone

♪ The first time in my life

♪ I keep the lights on to ease my soul

♪ Hammer Horror, Hammer Horror

♪ Won't leave it alone

♪ I don't know

♪ Is this the right thing to do? ♪

(APPLAUDING AND CHEERING)

JANE: Proving vocal talent wasn't everything,

none of us could approach the megastar status of Dame Edna.

♪ Hello, little fellow

♪ Snuggled in your pram

♪ What has life got in store for you

♪ Little chap?

♪ Has Dame Nature planned for you

♪ Something very grand for you?

♪ Are the good things of life

♪ Going to drop into your lap

♪ Little lamb? ♪

Already a superstar on Broadway,

Bette Midler was on the verge

of her screen breakthrough role in The Rose.

I am Molly. Oh!

(LAUGHS)

All your monster friends, I suppose.

No, the whole nation, unfortunately.

What do you mean unfortunately?

Oh, fortunately, I guess. I should say so!

Kiss the ground. My god! Stay there. Really.

Be grateful. Wasn't anything to write home about.

With Cher... With Cher or shirt?

Cher. With Cher?

You two are good friends. We're very good friends.

Still are? Yeah, very good friends.

She never did me any dirt. Right.

In fact, she sends me clothes. I get all her hand-me-downs.

Truly, literally, really. Yeah.

I had nothing to wear in England for my performance,

my show, my party.

And she sent me clothes. She said, "You poor thing."

You know? She sent me a whole packet of clothes.

I am Care. Care from Cher.

Alright.

Dustin Hoffman is obviously a very good friend of yours.

He's a nice guy, yes. He's a very good friend.

He's a nice man.

A little nya-nya, you know?

Just to finish off now,

of all the people you've worked with...

Finish off? The interview.

Oh, I see.

You've worked and done specials with Neil Sedaka,

and, as I said, the one with Dustin,

and you've done things with Elton and Barbara,

with Elton and "Chur." Chur?

And also one with the late Bing Crosby that you did

playing an usherette.

Oh, I was so mortified.

Oh, god. Was that mortifying?

Yeah? Oh, it was so hideous.

It was underdressed, you know?

And I looked like a sausage, and no one told me.

My dress sort of went "pbbt"

as I was running down the aisle.

And I had to stop and say, "Button me! Help me! Help me!"

Because I had gloves on my hands. Oh, it was just...

Oh, god, was that awful. Well, look...

And then Bing fell into the pit!

Oh, my god! (LAUGHS)

It was so awful!

DIRECTOR: Stand-by, Ian. Quiet, please.

Stand-by, Ian.

JANE: Thanks to Livvy, and to her role in Grease,

all of a sudden, it was cool to be Australian.

Alan Carr, who was the producer of the movie,

sent me the album with the original music and the script,

and said he would like me for the part, was I interested?

And I read it, and had an instinct about it

that it was right.

Then I heard that John Travolta was the leading man.

And he, as yet, wasn't a big film star.

Saturday Night Fever was not yet released.

But I had a meeting with him, and we got on very well,

and did a screen test together, and it seemed to work.

And so that was the first step.

And then we had three weeks of rehearsals,

dancing rehearsals and stuff.

I had three months of incredible fun.

It was really great. I loved it.

IAN: And how does it feel to come, you know, back here

being sort of what we think is your home city,

and what you probably do too.

I do. It feels very exciting, actually.

It's really a strange feeling because, you know,

when I lived here, I mean,

I did a lot of local TV and such.

I used to watch other people come through

and get all this attention, but I never thought

I'd get all this attention.

Yeah. It's a really lovely feeling.

It's the way to come home.

♪ Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk,

♪ I'm a woman's man, no time to talk

JANE: The year had begun with another movie craze

sweeping the world, Saturday Night Fever.

♪ That's OK. ♪

With the Bee Gees' disco hits dominating the soundtrack,

Countdown celebrated another Aussie success story

with a special episode and a national dance competition.

♪ I can't wait until

♪ I see you again

♪ Yeah, yeah

♪ Uh-huh, uh-huh

♪ I want to put on

♪ My, my, my, my boogie shoes. ♪

♪ I heard somebody say

♪ Burn, baby, burn, disco inferno

♪ Burn, baby, burn, burn the mother down. ♪

♪ My baby moves at midnight

♪ Goes right on until the dawn, yeah

♪ My woman takes me higher

♪ My woman keeps me warm

♪ What you doing on your back?

♪ Ahh, what you doing on your back?

♪ Ahh. ♪

But there could only be one winner on this dance floor.

(IMITATING FANFARE) The grand final.

New South Wales. New South Wales!

(CHEERING)

Oh, dear! Congratulations.

Can I have a kiss?

♪ The disco lady loves to dance

More and more local musicians

donned satin suits with big lapels

and set up under the mirror balls.

♪ She knows the cues, she loves the band

♪ She loves the grooves

♪ Yeah. ♪

Hey, lady, come here! (CHEERING)

Even JPY played the disco card.

♪ Love is in the air

♪ Everywhere I look around

♪ Love is in the air

♪ Every sight and every sound

♪ And I don't know if I'm being foolish

♪ Don't know if I'm being wise

♪ But it's something that I must believe in

♪ And it's there when I look in your eyes

♪ Love is in the air

♪ In the whisper of the trees

♪ Love is in the air

♪ In the thunder of the seas

♪ And I don't know if I'm just dreaming

♪ Don't know if I feel safe

♪ But it's something that I must believe in

♪ And it's there when you call out my name

♪ Love is in the air

♪ Love is in the air

♪ Ohh

♪ Love is in the air

♪ In the rising of the sun

♪ Love is in the air

♪ When the day is nearly done

♪ And I don't know if you're an illusion

♪ Don't know if I see truth

♪ But you're something that I must believe in

♪ And you're there when I reach out for you

♪ Love is in the air

♪ Everywhere I look around

♪ Love is in the air

♪ Every sight and every sound

♪ And I don't know if I feel foolish

♪ Don't know if I feel wise

♪ But it's something that I must believe in

♪ And it's there when I look in your eyes

♪ Love is in the air

♪ Love is in the air

♪ Ohh

♪ Oh, love is in the air. ♪

JANE: Countdown was about new music, but from the beginning,

Molly had always supported the show's family.

♪ Women in uniform

♪ Sometimes they look so cold

♪ Women in uniform

♪ But, ooh, they feel so warm

♪ Women in uniform. ♪

If the Hooks were playing one week...

♪ Our time

♪ Before the new

Shirl the Curl could always play solo the next.

♪ Memories of the things we used to do

♪ So open up your hearts and let me in

♪ I'm Mr Summer, and I thought I'd drop in

♪ I'm Mr Summer,

♪ And I'm here for another spin. ♪

Daryl and Sherbet were also welcome anytime.

♪ I beg, steal or borrow

♪ Ooh, yes, I do

♪ I'm going to beg, steal or borrow. ♪

And it goes without saying -

any ex-member of Daddy Cool had a permanent booking.

♪ Just like a savage beast

♪ Many a man with an axe to grind

♪ I leave my mark and I feel really fine. ♪

In 1978, Countdown counted

two of the biggest stars in the world

as part of its family.

Rod Stewart and Elton John had appeared so many times

that the two tussled on air

like brothers after a long Christmas lunch.

There's a lot of songs within his album

that a lot of people think,

"You know, he's talking about himself."

You know? Yeah.

What do you think?

I think it's definitely about him.

I mean, having known him for about five or six years,

I'm sure it's about him, Do You Think I'm Sexy?

Who's he kidding? Who's he written it about?

I mean, I'm sure it's about him.

I must admit, he didn't take the last remark

I made to him very well.

He phoned up and he said, "I've made a disco album."

I said, "You're a bit late, dear, aren't you?"

And I haven't heard from him since.

I don't think it's just a disco album.

I think there's a lot of rock'n'roll on it.

And he made a very big disco record,

which he stole the tune of from Brazil,

and had to settle out of court and pay the money.

(LAUGHING)

Do You Think I'm Sexy was stolen from something.

We went to Rio together to the Carnival.

And the main thing, he bought a record in Rio, which was

♪ Ole, Ole. ♪

No, that's the World Cup one, which he also stole.

(LAUGHING)

It's da-dat-dat-dat-da, da-dat-dat-da,

and not many people know it, but I have the record.

It's by a guy called Jorge Ben.

So I'd rather make probably a not so big selling record,

and actually give the writers the right amount of money.

If Mr Stewart's going to have a go at that,

then why did he steal the tune and try and hush it up?

MOLLY: Well, can we just sit down to you and Elton?

I mean, like, at one stage,

you were throwing so many barbed comments at each other

that you would think that, you know,

you were the two worst enemies in the world.

Well, we still do throw comments at each other.

The thing is he can't take it, you see?

I don't mind. I think it's fun. Hmm.

But sometimes, a little hit below the belt with him.

Or on the top of the head. I'm not sure which.

On the top of the head, yeah. Yeah.

But we are best of mates now.

JANE: One thing was for sure.

Both Rod and Elton loved soccer.

To prove his point, or to outdo Rod,

Elton brought the whole team in.

♪ Talking about, oh, Georgia

♪ Take me to your Southlands

♪ I sometimes feel

♪ That life is rolling on

♪ Oh, Georgia

♪ Lead me through your heartlands

♪ I need to see them one more time

♪ Before they're gone. ♪

This is Warren Zevon, so-called Excitable Boy,

speaking to you from San Francisco.

And you're watching Countdown.

♪ Like a dog hanging on your leash

JANE: A seasoned music writer and producer,

Molly also recognised the allure

of a good old fashioned pop star.

♪ You make me feel like dancing

♪ I want to dance the night away

♪ You make me feel like dancing

♪ I'm going to dance the night away

♪ You make me feel like dancing

♪ I feel like dancing

♪ Dancing, dance the night away

♪ I feel like dancing

♪ Dancing, ahh. ♪

One singing surfer boy in particular

brought the teenyboppers flocking into Studio 31.

♪ You got me rolling like a wheel on the road

♪ Turning round and round

♪ Nowhere to go

♪ I got to find out if you're feeling it too

♪ It's hard to tell, so here's what I do

♪ And every time I want more

♪ I take you out on the floor

♪ I was made for dancing

♪ All, all, all, all night long

♪ Yeah, I was made for dancing

♪ All, all, all, all night long

♪ The days and nights are moving by me and you

♪ You're such a crazy love, you tear me in two

♪ I spend my time moving to dreams and a phase

♪ It's a crazy love you can see in my face

♪ And every time I want more

♪ I take you out on the floor

♪ I was made for dancing

♪ All, all, all, all night long

♪ I was made for dancing

♪ All, all, all, all night long

♪ I was made for dancing

♪ All, all, all, all night long

♪ I was made for dancing

♪ All, all, all, all night long

♪ Dancing

♪ I was made for dancing

♪ Ahh

♪ I was made for dancing

♪ Dancing

♪ Dancing

♪ I was made for dancing

♪ All, all, all, all night long

♪ Yes, I was made for dancing

♪ All, all, all, all night long

♪ I was made for dancing

♪ All, all, all, all night long

♪ I was made for dancing

(CHEERING)

JANE: In '78, a lot of young people were rebelling

against the bubblegum conformity

that Leif Garrett represented.

The local bands that emerged

during the so-called post punk era

had a distinct attitude,

a new interpretation of rock music.

♪ You're just a barroom brandy

♪ I want to touch you everyday

♪ But you seem to leave me all the time

♪ And I'm always asking you to stay

♪ So, go, girl, I wanna be your baby

♪ And spend my time with you

♪ I wanna be your baby

♪ And spend my love with you

♪ I remember the first time that I met you

♪ I felt that I had to take you home

♪ But your eyes weren't looking in my direction

♪ And sometimes you make me feel so alone

♪ So I wanna be your baby

♪ And spend my time with you

♪ I wanna be your baby

♪ And spend my time with you

♪ I wanna be your baby

♪ And spend my time with you

♪ I wanna be your baby

♪ And spend my time with you

♪ I wanna be your baby

♪ And spend my time with you

♪ I wanna be your baby

♪ And spend my time with you. ♪

Hi, this is Johnny Mathis.

You're watching Countdown right across Australia.

Oh-ho-ho! Once more!

JANE: When a country band from New Zealand

performed a Beatles' song on Countdown,

it was probably safe to assume that cover songs were fair game.

♪ Falling

♪ Oh, yes, I'm falling

♪ But it keeps calling me

♪ Back again. ♪

♪ Stop, in the name of love

♪ Before you break my heart. ♪

No surprise then that a young gentleman from Adelaide,

Andy Upton, performed a song made famous by The Supremes.

Fellow South Australians Scandal

revived an early '70s UK hit.

♪ Any day

♪ How long

♪ Has this been going on?

♪ How long

♪ Has this been going on? ♪

♪ Wasted all my days over you

Don Mclean continued his tribute to Buddy Holly

with a version of It Doesn't Matter Anymore.

♪ I'll go mine

♪ Now and forever

♪ Until the end of time

♪ I'll find somebody new

♪ And baby

♪ We'll say we're through

♪ And you won't matter anymore. ♪

(CHEERING)

But the show stopper was this cover

of a Righteous Brothers song

by one of Australia's first all female bands.

♪ You've been waiting much too long now

♪ Looks like she's not coming home

♪ Girl

♪ You've been loyal, true and faithful

♪ All this time with being alone

♪ If I could get that same dedication

♪ I'd give you everything in creation

♪ If she doesn't come back

♪ If she doesn't come back

♪ I'll be your substitute

♪ Whenever you want me

♪ I'll be your substitute

♪ Whenever you need me

♪ Girl

♪ Every day you waited for her

♪ I've been waiting here for you

♪ Say

♪ All this time I've been lonely

♪ I know what you've been going through

♪ I'll wait until my chances are good

♪ But you can't keep relying on her

♪ If she doesn't come back

♪ If she doesn't come back

♪ I'll be your substitute

♪ Whenever you want me

♪ I'll be your substitute

♪ Whenever you need me

♪ Each day by your window

♪ You sit and sigh hoping

♪ To see her face

♪ Oh!

♪ You might as well forget about her

♪ And find someone to take her place

♪ If she doesn't come back

♪ I'll be your substitute

♪ Whenever you want me

♪ I'll be your substitute

♪ Whenever you need me. ♪

Countdown!

Hello, how are you, Edna?

Oh, what can I say, but thank you

for honouring me with the invitation

to appear on your show.

It's always a pleasure. It's always a pleasure.

What do you think of my little Edna boppers?

Aren't they beautiful? They're marvellous.

Where did you get them from?

Oh... Moonee Ponds?

Alright, now. Over the last...

This is going to be a bit of a heavy,

so every one ready for it.

You may have sort of seen an ad on...

I'm talking about Melbourne now.

On commercial television for 3XY, with their supergroup.

They've been advertising, etcetera, etcetera, like that.

Yes, terrific.

The only thing is that it's very amusing to see this ad

because, apart from Darryl Cotton and Dragon,

who feature on the ad,

there's also Angry from Rose Tattoo,

there's also Cheater, there's also Jo Jo Zep,

there's also Ross Wilson from Mondo Rock.

There's also Delilah, and there's also Keith Lamb.

All have singles out at the moment,

and the oddest thing is none of them are being played on 3XY.

So I don't know how 3XY can say it's their supergroup

when they're not even going to recognise them.

Talking about good groups,

Dire Straits is coming up on the show later on.

I believe you know a couple of the guys.

I actually... No, I don't.

No? You've been...

Misinformed? Misinformed, yes.

Bette Midler didn't know them either, obviously.

Anyway, have you heard of them anyhow?

They're a really nice group. Yes, I have heard of them.

They're going to be one of the hottest around, I figure.

But, meanwhile. I wish you had heard of them.

(LAUGHING)

Over the last couple of weeks, we've had

many, many international tours coming through.

We've had Boz Scaggs, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys.

Some have been good, some have been bad, right?

But I have never...

Last week, I went on the Countdown Council

to Perth and to Adelaide,

and you were leaving a day earlier.

And you'd just done a concert that night,

and in Adelaide you'd just done a concert

the night before, etcetera.

And I have never read reviews, rave reviews,

for any artist than I've read for you.

Alright.

A lot's happened. You've grown up a lot, I think.

Thank you. Don't you think?

You have to. No, actually. Yeah. Don't be so...

(LAUGHS)

No, but what I'm trying to say. Or have you?

No, I haven't. You seem to be maturing a lot more

as far as your musical outlook

and everything like that is concerned.

You know, my voice has dropped.

Your voice has dropped? (LAUGHS)

You ever had a dirty weekend?

(LAUGHS)

♪ Take a long line

♪ Take a long line

♪ Take a long line

♪ Reel him in. ♪

JANE: In the '70s, Australians loved rock music so much

we even named a month after it.

I'm Ronnie Sparks from 2SM in Sydney,

the Sydney Rocktober... Rocktober...

Rocktober. Rocktober.

The Rocktober station in Perth.

♪ We're rock and rolling, yeah

♪ We're rock and rolling, yeah. ♪

Countdown made sure that it fed the rock'n'roll beast

as much as possible.

English bands had been given plenty of air time,

and so would the emerging soft metal hair bands

from the States.

Ow!

None of us are from California.

That's how come we don't sound like The Eagles.

IAN: Obviously, you spend a lot of time on your stage act.

It's a pretty dynamic stage act.

Alex, can you tell us a little bit about how that developed?

By playing five hours, a night five days a week

at different bars and clubs, sweating it out,

and so-called "paying your dues."

We used to play about, yeah, five hours

of really hard grinding rock'n'roll.

No slow songs at all.

And it just carried on over to our original music.

Right now, being, as I say, a relatively new show,

and having, sort of, a lot of, sort of dynamics

and sort of colour on stage,

this is your first trip to, say, Europe and England,

what has the reaction been like towards you?

(ALL SCREAM)

Hey, you scared the birds away.

♪ TNT

Oi! Oi! Oi!

♪ TNT. ♪

Oi! Oi! Oi!

JANE: Viewers of Countdown knew that no band in the world

could let there be rock like AC/DC.

And, in turn, Akka Dakka,

inspired other bands to be just like them.

A good strategy in the shadow of AC/DC:

get more tats and get angry.

♪ I don't need lots of people

♪ Telling me what to do

♪ I don't need a long-haired lady

♪ To love me true as true

♪ All I need is a rock'n'roll band

♪ Somewhere new to play

♪ And I'm on my way

♪ I'm on my way

♪ I'm a rock'n'roll outlaw

♪ And I'm on the run

♪ I'm a rock'n'roll outlaw

♪ I never needed anyone

♪ My life isn't easy, baby

♪ It's the life that I need

♪ I got music living inside of me,

♪ I gotta set it free

♪ All I need is a rock'n'roll band

♪ Somewhere new to play

♪ And I'm on my way

♪ I'm on my way

♪ Because I'm a rock'n'roll outlaw

♪ And I'm on the run

♪ I'm a rock'n'roll outlaw

♪ I never needed anyone

♪ Playing music, babe

♪ Is all I know

♪ Where it wants to take me, honey

♪ All I want from living

♪ Is just to be left alone

♪ All I need is an open road

♪ Because I'm a rolling stone

♪ All I need is a rock'n'roll band

♪ Somewhere new to play

♪ And I'm on my way

♪ I'm on my way

♪ I'm a rock'n'roll outlaw

♪ I'm on the run

♪ I'm a rock'n'roll outlaw

♪ I never needed anyone

♪ Never needed

♪ I'm a rock'n'roll outlaw

♪ And I'm on the run

♪ I'm a rock'n'roll outlaw

♪ Mother, I don't need no one

♪ I'm a rock'n'roll outlaw

♪ And I'm on the run

♪ I'm a rock'n'roll outlaw

♪ I never needed anyone. ♪

JANE: Australian audiences also embraced New Wave.

Graham Parker and The Rumour became Countdown favourites.

♪ Crimson autograph

♪ Is what we leave behind

♪ Everywhere

♪ The man set foot

♪ Yeah

♪ War mongers laughing loud

♪ Behind a painted face

♪ Throwing titbits to the crowd

♪ Then blowing up the place

♪ Hey, Lord, don't ask me questions

♪ Hey, Lord, don't ask me questions

♪ Hey, Lord, don't ask me questions, please

♪ Hey, Lord, don't ask me questions

♪ Hey, Lord, don't ask me questions

♪ Hey, Lord, ain't no answer in me. ♪

♪ Well, I can hear guitars playing

♪ Lovely tunes, oh, yeah

♪ Well, every time that you

♪ Walk in the room. ♪

The Sports toured with The Rumour in Europe,

and Elvis Costello recorded this song by Joe Camilleri.

♪ So young

♪ We've discovered

♪ We've got them so confused

♪ Don't mind putting the time in

♪ It's shocking

♪ That's what they're all saying now

♪ When we're walking hand in hand

♪ As only you and I

♪ Oh, yeah

♪ Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah, you say it's time, babe

♪ We've got them hanging on a string

♪ There's no time for compromises

♪ We got that killer thing

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young

♪ It's wrong

♪ To run for cover

♪ We've got them in a spin

♪ And we don't mind sticking the sticker in

♪ It's too late

♪ That's what they are saying now

♪ About when we're walking hand in hand

♪ The eyes are on you and I

♪ Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah, they say it's time, babe

♪ We've got them hanging on a string

♪ There's no time for patronising

♪ We got that killer thing

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young

♪ Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah, they say it's time, babe

♪ We've got them hanging on a string

♪ There's no time for compromises

♪ We got that killer thing

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young

♪ So young, so young. ♪

JANE: After the success of Saturday Night Fever,

a lot of bands were hellbent on shaking their booties,

like La Belle Epoque.

♪ Because I'm-m-m-m-m

♪ I'm feeling blue. ♪

♪ It's fun to stay at... ♪

The Village People would stay at the YMCA

and at the pointy end of the charts well into '79.

♪ It's a heartache

♪ Nothing but a heartache

Welsh Dynamo Bonnie Tyler had a big gravelly hit

with It's A Heartache.

♪ Break

♪ Then he lets you down. ♪

From Wuthering Heights, the intriguing Kate Bush

cast a spell of her own for three weeks.

IAN: Where did you get the idea

of presenting a number like that?

Well, the idea of actually moving and singing...

Yeah, with all those trees and that.

It was really due to my teacher, Lindsay Kemp,

who turned me onto the idea of movement being expression.

And we did it out there because that was in context

with the song, you know, on the moors.

You're watching Countdown all across Australia...

But it really was Olivia's year.

She proved that Aussies would be no pushover in the future.

(LAUGHING)

I didn't push her.

Honest to God, I didn't push her.

I stiffed up your shirt!

And local darlings Dragon had this super catchy hit.

To this day, one of the nation's favourite singalongs.

♪ Ten years in the jailer's eyes

♪ And I'm thinking about my baby

♪ Looking at my life go by

♪ Falling in the streets I'm broke

♪ And I'm laughing at the poor man talking to the blind man

♪ See the lady in the streetcar lights

♪ Colour a la Toulouse

♪ Television and the red, red wine

♪ So won't you tell me

♪ Won't you tell me the truth?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough? Ooh, ooh

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Time goes and here we stand

♪ Laughing at the sideshow, sinking in the quicksand

♪ The other side of another world

♪ Scratch my back go the coloured girls

♪ Yeah

♪ Oh, yeah

♪ I just wanted to kiss someone

♪ I got the moondog blues

♪ You just happened to be standing there

♪ So won't you tell me?

♪ Won't you tell me the truth?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough? Ooh, ooh

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ See the lady in the streetcar lights

♪ Colour a la Toulouse

♪ Television and a red, red wine

♪ So won't you tell me?

♪ Won't you tell me the truth?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough?

♪ Are you old enough? ♪

Oh, hi! I thought you were Harry Butler.

It's a TV camera.

I just came to say, Harry,

that I found it.

But anyway, besides that.

You're watching Countdown right throughout Australia.

And this is LA.

This is sort of typical of the scenery here in LA.

No smog, beautiful green grass.

And Harry Butler knows, when you're on a good thing...

stick to it. Maybe. OK?

Captions by Ericsson Access Services

Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation

ANNOUNCER: Visit the Classic Countdown website

for more pictures, interviews

and behind the scenes information.