Friday on My Mind (The Easybeats)

21 DECEMBER 1966


The greatest Australian song of all time? The Easybeats’ fantastic ‘Friday on My Mind’ was at its peak UK chart position of #6 in this week in 1966. This was to be the biggest hit from this band, which - like several other Australian bands of the time - was made up of members who were all European immigrants (see the Bee Gees and the Twilights). The Easybeats were two Englishmen, a Scotsman and two Dutchmen who met at the Villawood Migrant Hostel in Sydney in 1964.

This song is bursting with exuberance, perfectly capturing that excitement of being a young working man who can't wait for Friday night to come, when 'I'll spend my bread, I'll lose my head'. The unmistakable intro has that distinctive du-du-du-du-du guitar riff.

The Easybeats had several big hits in Australia and then moved to London before this song was released. It became their third Australian #1 of that year, and also went to #16 in the US. Further success seemed assured, but their follow-up single flopped, and they only ever had one more top 20 in the UK, in 1968. In fact they ever had one more top 10 hit in Australia (although lead singer Stevie Wright had a solo #1 there in 1974). After this big hit, the rest of their material just wasn't good enough to keep them at the top.

Two of the Easybeats - George Young and Harry Vanda - went on to have a great songwriting and producing career (including for AC/DC, which contained two of George's younger brothers).

In 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association placed 'Friday on My Mind' at No.1 on their list of the best Australian songs of all time, as judged by a 100-person industry panel. It was one of two songs from 1966 in that Top 10.

B-side: 'Made My Bed, Gonna Lie in It'
Recorded: 1966, IBC Studios, London
Released: 17 November 1966
Highest chart position: #6 (UK), #13 (US)
Length: 2:47
Producer: Shel Talmy

Friday on My Mind (The Easybeats)