![Skyhooks – Living In The 70’s (Remastered) [Album Review On CD & Apple Music]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/565c1ab5e4b05079e4bfa169/1663055027861-3VM8PVPVK7WXS7GD4GPV/Skyhooks+Living+In+The+70s+Album+Cover.jpg)
A debut like no other; an Australian masterpiece!
That is, perhaps, the best way to describe Skyhooks Living In The 70’s, for they may not have known it at the time, but Living In The 70’s would go on to become one of the greatest albums ever recorded.
Beloved in Australia, Skyhooks never really made inroads into the international music scene. Subsequently, many international readers may be unaware of their music and the influence they’d have over generations of Australian rock bands to come. Thankfully, streaming allows you, dear reader, to listen to Living In The 70’s, wherever you are and there is no time like the present to check out one of the most controversial, yet praised, debut releases ever by an Australian band.
Living In The 70’s was controversial in that the Federation of Australian Commercial Broadcasters decided to ban six of the songs from the album, from national airplay, citing sex and drug references. Of course, the counter-culture population, at the time, wasn’t going to be told what they could and couldn’t listen to and Living In The 70’s quickly rose to #1 on the charts, selling 226,000 copies in the first year; a feat never before seen within the Australian music scene.
Not only was their sardonic view of the zeitgeist in Australia in the 70s a pivotal element for Skyhooks, but they had a hook and they caught us hook, line and sinker, with their catchy blues-based groove rock and combined glam rock style. To say Skyhooks was multifaceted would be a borderline understatement, for their musical style defies adequate explanation. Living In The 70’s is, subsequently, an album that needs to be heard to be fully understood and appreciated. Exceptionally written, recorded, mixed, and mastered, you’ll be in pure musical bliss for the entire duration.
The edition of Living In The 70’s that I’m fortunate to own is the remastered CD from 2004 with the additional B-side, Broken Gin Bottle; a perfect addition to an already flawless album. Although, the CD isn’t quite as flawless as I’d like it to be for the booklet, while at first glance is perfectly fine, has an error in its printing whereby several pages of the liner notes are missing, replaced by liner notes from a Linda Ronstadt compilation. Now, I have nothing against Linda Ronstadt; a phenomenal musician, but this is Skyhooks and I’m missing all the lyrics except for the eponymous track and Broken Gin Bottle. It’s a frustration, to say the least, but the sound quality is so good that I haven’t bothered with a replacement.
Yes, Living In The 70’s is a remaster and while I’ve been critical of remasters over the years, this one is done really well with respect for the source material. It sounds right, unlike Cold Chisel’s disastrous Circus Animals. The soundstage is wide and enveloping and every instrument can be heard with incredible clarity. The Apple Music stream, by comparison, is a good facsimile but isn’t as live-sounding as the remastered CD. As usual, if you don’t compare the editions, you’re unlikely to notice anything is lacking, but the CD most certainly is more fun to listen to as the music has a fluidity that is missing from the streaming counterpart despite being derived from the same mastering sessions.
That all said, it would be nice to see a vinyl reissue. It isn’t that the digital offerings are cold, anything but, but given the 70s were all about an analogue sound, it seems only fitting that one of the greatest Australian albums of the 70s finds its way back to the format that it was originally presented on.
Living In The 70’s is a killer, rhythmically charged, opener that will have you singing along as you’re grooving to the tune. It has some exceptional guitar and percussion work that showcases the polish and musical skill Skyhooks had right out of the gate.
Whatever Happened To The Revolution continues with the upbeat tempo and in many respects, Skyhooks has a similar style to The B-52’s, in my opinion, in that it becomes a fun listen that is unique when compared to much of the music at the time. Even by modern standards, Whatever Happened To The Revolution sounds fresh.
Balwyn Calling, again, has some killer guitar work. I wonder if it would be wrong to suggest that Living In The 70’s is an album that is successful due, primarily, to the intertwining guitar elements.
Horror Movie is, without a doubt, my all-time favourite Skyhooks tune. If you haven’t turned the volume up by now, you’re listening wrong!
You Just Like Me ‘Cos I’m Good In Bed says it all, doesn’t it? A fun track that will bring a smile to your face. While I can understand why the Federation of Australian Commercial Broadcasters banned this tune and five others, I’d call it overkill as we really can take ourselves a little too seriously at times. Nevertheless, it’s a great tune that flows beautifully within the album structure and is another song that showcases just how proficient Skyhooks were; there’ll never be another quite like them!
Carlton (Lygon Street Limbo) incorporates the energy and musicality of Australian music in the 70s.
Toorak Cowboy is a toe-tapping, head-bopping, good time in a country-style that you’ll either love or hate. It’s a little different to the other songs featured on the album, but it works.
Smut, like Toorak Cowboy, shifts the tone of the album slightly, but it never feels out-of-place despite the mellower approach here.
Hey What’s The Matter is groovy; try sitting still through this one. As with much of the album, it’s impossible thereby making Living In The 70’s the perfect soundtrack to your energetic life.
Motorcycle Bitch is riff-driven heaven and Graeme Strachan’s vocal on Motorcycle Bitch, in particular, is magnificent. There’s little doubt in my mind that he was one of the greatest vocalists to ever record a tune. Bon Scott is usually held up as the poster child for Australian rock and roll vocals and while this doesn’t take anything away from his vocal prowess, Strachan was on par if not slightly more capable as a vocalist. I mention this as I don’t feel Strachan has ever received the recognition he deserved.
Broken Gin Bottle (B-side of original Living In The 70’s Single) was not part of the original tracking of Living In The 70’s, but I couldn’t imagine the album without it. Again, and I know that I’m repeating myself, but the guitar work is extraordinary. Of course, every element makes the song and Skyhooks were on fire with Living In The 70’s. If you only ever listen to one Skyhooks album, make it this one. A debut, yes, but it plays like their greatest hits release.
What more can be said about one of the greatest albums ever recorded? Not much, the music speaks for itself; it’s that good!