- Friday on My Mind: The Life of George Young, by Jeff Apter. Allen & Unwin. $29.99.
George Young's role in shaping Australian music is unparalleled. Along with Harry Vanda, he wrote and produced a rich and varied catalogue of songs.
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Jeff Apter has written a clear and thorough biography of Young, from pre-Easybeat days through to his death in 2017.
The Young family arrived from Glasgow to Australia in 1963, living at the Villawood Migrant Hostel. Apter examines the early influences on George Young, from sister Margaret's collection of records, to the family's early music-making. Dutch immigrants Johannes van den Berg (Harry Vanda) and Dick van der Sluijs (Dick Diamonde) and English immigrants Stevie Wright and Gordon 'Snowy' Fleet were living in or near the hostel, and The Easybeats grew out of these contacts.
Apter charts the success of the group, through to its move to England, and eventual dissolution. The members of The Easybeats were left with virtually no money after the band's collapse; the need for control and clarity seems to have motivated George Young after this experience.
There are many moments to enjoy in Friday on My Mind. For example, the way that George Young drew on his experiences in The Easybeats to nurture and, to some extent, protect the fledgling AC/DC (and therefore his younger brothers Malcolm and Angus) from falling into some of the traps facing bands. He urged them not to "bastardise their sound", not to stray too far from the driving rock and roll that was their strength.
Classic songs such as "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)", and Bon Scott's claim that he could play the bagpipes are examined in some detail. There is sadness in the book too, from Scott's death, and from lesser-known tragedies that occurred during George Young's career.
The variety of acts that Vanda & Young were involved with, and the music they wrote and/or produced, is remarkable. From "Love is in the Air" to "Jailbreak", it covers a far bit of ground!
Apter includes is a very useful Selected Discography. Before the Easybeats, most Australian recordings were local recordings of overseas hits. Albert Productions, and particularly the writing/producing team of Vanda & Young, were famously instrumental in changing this state of affairs.
Friday on My Mind will obviously be of interest to anyone who is involved in the music industry.
More importantly, it will appeal to anyone who has ever loved any of the bands or songs that George Young was involved in creating.
- Penelope Cottier writes poetry as PS Cottier