Before Too Long is always a classic but adding Neil Finn to it just takes it into sublime territory.
@NickJewlachow-of3yh5 ай бұрын
That piano was just exquisite
@Bobbydazzlla5 ай бұрын
I'm glad the girl did the backing vocals on this - because it makes it.
@matthewalker5 ай бұрын
Red Symonds and Wilbur Wild doing the introduction to Billy Baxter.
@jemxs5 ай бұрын
Yep from Skyhooks and Ol'55 respectively, and both on Hey Hey ofc!
@donnam58915 ай бұрын
And sooo young!
@seanlynch11855 ай бұрын
Paul Kelly is our Bob Dylan, our Leonard Cohen, our John Lennon.
@bodybalanceU25 ай бұрын
and Neil Finn is the jewel in the nz crown
@seanlynch11855 ай бұрын
@@bodybalanceU2 Yeah, but we all know he is really an Australian. 🥸
@bodybalanceU25 ай бұрын
@@seanlynch1185 you wish matey - you aussies wishing kiwis were aussies 🤣
@danielemerson3125 ай бұрын
And, when he's in the mood, Paul can be Australia's John Cooper Clarke too.
@iankearns7745 ай бұрын
@@bodybalanceU2 Will swap your Spencer Lemui for our Ezra Mam, we dont need sooks in Australia. 8 weeks for calling someone monkey is ridiculous.
@kazz39565 ай бұрын
This is instantly bringing nostalgia. Remember this song well. It remained in the Oz charts for 19 weeks so it had a lot of airplay. No wonder why, it is a perfect song for radio, and you are right, it has a big hook to the words and melody that has you joining in to sing (well in the car when no one is watching 😊). Did you know that this song was nominated for awards at the ARIAs, our music awards, but come up against John Farnham’s You’re The Voice. That was the calibre of music in Australia at the time 🇦🇺❤
@garystrahan46015 ай бұрын
The two guest hosts introducing Billy Baxter on Countdown were Red Symons lead guitarist from Skyhooks and Wilbur Wilde saxophonist from Ol'55 and Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons. They both were cast members on a very long running 30 plus years TV show called Hey Hey it's Saturday that ran for 3 hours and was originally on in the morning as a kids entertainment show with cartoons and other segments, and then became a huge night time show due to a huge following of adults watching the morning show with its double entendres, risque jokes and innuendos that went straight over kids heads. And Wilbur Wilde is the actual saxophone player guest band member in the Billy Baxter song.
@lawrencekelli5 ай бұрын
Fantastic song! and yes I love the back up singing as well. Loved watching Count Down as a kid and then young teen! the best musical years of my life, So much fun, I even wrote a song when I was 12 about being in a band wanting to play on Count Down..Lol. Thank's Chris xo
@Blissbomb25 ай бұрын
To her door is another great story that Paul Kelly sings.
@warrenturner3975 ай бұрын
And don't forget that Countdown basically kickstarted ABBA
@wayback4795 ай бұрын
Good start boys , bring it on 🤟
@peterlovegrove59365 ай бұрын
Before Too Long is usually the opening song at a live show too! Glad that you enjoy (and get) him like I do.
@malcolmrayner34805 ай бұрын
Two of the great songwriters of our time
@BassMatt19725 ай бұрын
Hi Gents... From Adelaide, South Australia.. Where it was 31c/88f at Midnight the other night!!
@splattered635 ай бұрын
Countdown was the number one watched show in Australia in the 70's- 80's.
@LikkieAU5 ай бұрын
Yes, Countdown was like TOTP….
@mals41255 ай бұрын
Waiting for Paul Kelly Week has been like a kid who keeps getting Christmas moved by their parents and now it's June and you wake up to find a Christmas tree full of presents down stairs. I am so looking forward to you boys opening up every single one of those magical, sparkling beautiful presents and being amazed, confounded and inspired by the contents. Thank you so much Chris for all the time you've put in, I can tell this has been an absolute labour of love and you have treated it with the reverence needed for the esteem that this gentleman is held in. I'm looking forward to this week and know if my favourite half dozen songs aren't here, I'll see them in 'Paul Kelly Week (2)' or 'Paul Kelly Week (3)' or 'Paul Kelly Month' or maybe the one after that. Boys you are in for a treat - Thank you all.
@christopheryoung38505 ай бұрын
Yes, 'Countdown' was like ToTP...it was a Sunday night instutition on Australian TV and almost compulsory viewing from mid-1970's to the mid-1980's...Hosted by Ian 'Molly' Meldrum, who would introduce and interview Australian and touring International musicians.
@jemxs5 ай бұрын
Before Too Long, brilliant song! Billy Baxter was fun also!
@tephen24445 ай бұрын
Don't envy your task Chris. Thanks for what you do.
@MrParksies5 ай бұрын
Well done on including 'Billy Baxter' Chris. Hell of an earworm :)
@Osssssss6668 күн бұрын
At my age 63- it is hard to find peers to talk about music with, but you blokes bring the joy of music discussion back for me! Thank you so much for that!
@TheThamesmenКүн бұрын
Same for us. We love music and this channel has given us a chance to rekindle our love of various genres
@fanmael1Ай бұрын
Love when Before Too Long pops up on Aussie radio. Such an 80s staple.
@emilyarlington75865 ай бұрын
Great reaction! Since you're back on the Aussie theme, you should react to "Storm" and "Come home Cardinal Pell" by Tim Minchin. You will love them both! Love from Australia ❤️🇦🇺
@barbararees6045 ай бұрын
Another bonzer! Love that little extra twang on the guitar, made it sound more beachy, and yes, I love Neil's piano magic, poifect! And yaaay! I love Billy Baxter, my first introduction to Paul Kelly and Wilbur Wild on the sax. That's the guy who introduced the song. 💓 I love ska music, I do a lot of my dancersizes to it, specially this one, makes me so happy. 😁🥰
@vickya86535 ай бұрын
My favourite Paul Kelly song. So catchy. Love the original filmclip.
@scifimonkey35 ай бұрын
Chris, you know that I feel your pain trying to filter the output of a brilliant artist into a single week but this was a HUGE start……..looking forward to the rest! Alex was right when he said ‘Before too long’ is such an ear-worm and ‘Billy Baxter’ shows the breadth of his writing skills and a great commentary on the times.
@sean---the-other-one5 ай бұрын
The songs can feature simple chords but it’s the lyrics that are the stand-out. Great choices for a starter, Chris.
@taniaPBear5 ай бұрын
Thanks Chris, just for starters. I have not seen that collab of Kelly/Finn amazingness, love it so much. I have to confess to loving 'Paul Kelly and The Dots', have the album still. Obviously I love PK's transition through musical styles, but it was my introduction to his greatness and very special. Thanks you legends for this. ❤
@mce_AU5 ай бұрын
Can't wait next four days.
@pabloalarroyo5 ай бұрын
Lol I drive Uber in Australia 😂 Thanks for doing Paul Kelly week guys.
@DawnHempel5 ай бұрын
❤ from Australia my favourite DVD
@annemcbeath1205 ай бұрын
Looking forward to the rest of the week 😊
@TheThamesmen5 ай бұрын
Hope you enjoyed it!
@grantmuller74755 ай бұрын
The hardest job inn the world would be to put a Paul Kelly playlist together, let alone a 5or 6 song list! His ability to bring pathos and emotion to everyday events is unsurpassed, keep listening to PK and open your minds to greatness. Chris the curator should have a statue at the MCG! (Aussies will get the significance of that)
@lindascott69025 ай бұрын
The whole Neil Finn & Paul Kelly album, Going Your Way, is just heaven!
@lindascott69025 ай бұрын
Thank you, Chris the Curator!
@malcolmrayner34805 ай бұрын
Joe Camaleri played the Sax on this track, his bands were JoJo Zep & The Falcons, as well as The Black Sorrows.
@FionaEm5 ай бұрын
Absolute bloody legend 😊
@dalewyatt13215 ай бұрын
Gonna be a good week. I'd totally forgotten about Billy Baxter but when it started the words came flooding back. Maybe I have C.R.A.F.T. (can't remember a f.......... thing).
@iceberg52205 ай бұрын
Thanks Youse Blokes ! That was just Bonza ! I actually cannot imagine what it would be like hearing Paul Kelly's music for the first Time. As you said, Paul is effortless , with vocals, lyrics and melodical licks ! I understand now that he is part of how I identify as Australian !
@BrianR.5 ай бұрын
Enjoyed this, thanks.
@TheThamesmen5 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
@ritagryphon2225 ай бұрын
So happy you're back..! Love the intro and outro...
@TheThamesmen5 ай бұрын
Yay! Thank you!
@danielstephens85485 ай бұрын
Love you blokes , enthusiasm plus 🍻
@Cubesy735 ай бұрын
Glad to have you back. Great start to the week. My arvo commute has not been the same without The Thamesmen.
@TheThamesmen5 ай бұрын
Good to hear
@user-ls3xl7ml3d5 ай бұрын
Yes, we have Uber in Australia. Have had brilliant service from them. Loved Paul and Neil video. ❤
@TheThamesmen5 ай бұрын
Great to hear!
@danielemerson3125 ай бұрын
I never knew there was a video of any kind for 'Billy Baxter'. It makes sense that it's a Camilleri production, because he had his own Ska phase with Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons, before going full Americana later on.
@jameswarner58095 ай бұрын
Neil Finn's first two solo albums are extremely good, the second is a partial collaboration with Wendy & Lisa. Hole In The Ice (co-written with Lisa Coleman) and Secret God (co-written with Wendy Melvoin) are two of many high points in the album One Nil (renamed One All in the US), while Souvenir and Loose Tongue are top tracks on the first album, Try Whistling This.
@goatiefatdaddy5 ай бұрын
Love that you guys are doing a PK week. Thank you!
@TheThamesmen5 ай бұрын
Our pleasure!
@oz_alfa5 ай бұрын
If you loved Before Too Long you just have to listen to the whole Gossip album. So many brilliant songs. There are 24 songs on that double album and not a bad one amongst them. My favourites are probably Randwick Bells and Incident On South Dowling. Do yourself a favour and give it a listen!
@FrothNinja5 ай бұрын
Thought Billy Baxter cam out in 1980. I remember the Dots well from my high school years - Billy Baxter sounded like a reggaefied David Watts to me. Still not my fave track of theirs so I can understand why Paul Kelly was not so keen retrospectively. The Oils famously refused to appear on Countdown - obviously the way into the Senate... Hoping we will get some more Dots before week ending.....😏
@deanmaynard82565 ай бұрын
OMG I remembered Billy Baxter!. Other Aussie Ska bands are the Alnighters (Sydney) and the Strange Tenants (Melb)
@stupeters84095 ай бұрын
The Nick Hornsby book was "About A Boy" great work Lads as usual best review show on You Tube
@TheThamesmen5 ай бұрын
Thanks for that! I knew it was Nick Hornsby!
@robynmurray74215 ай бұрын
Such a cheerful melody that everyone ignores the creepy stalker lyrics.
@garypascoe51615 ай бұрын
Great job Chris.....love both those songs. Looking forward to the rest of the week
@TheThamesmen5 ай бұрын
Thanks for listening
@FionaEm5 ай бұрын
Can't say I remember Billy Baxter, but the production definitely has Joe Camilleri's trademark 70s ska sound. Camilleri is another formidable Aussie songwriter/musician, and the most energetic performer I've ever seen.
@mikeschenk47305 ай бұрын
I'd heard the song before, but not that version. Great, great song and that version was indeed immaculate. Also great to see/hear Neil Finn because he is absolutely amazing. Great start to the week! Second song was fun, but I get him moving on from that from what I've heard.
@bundy104095 ай бұрын
Great start! I had totally forgotten Billy Baxter. I don't know how Chris managed to get it down to 5 but I do know there will be some pearlers to come. Yes, Countdown was like Top of the Pops.
@zwieseler5 ай бұрын
Loved that spin on Before Too Long…. I had no idea Billy Baxter was a Paul Kelly song. I remember that on the wireless in the 70s…. The original recording was a bit slower from memory.?.?. Let’s not forget PK was a big fan of cricket….. ( that’s a hint 😉)
@AngryPete5 ай бұрын
EDIT: from Chris: Zoe Hauptmann on Bass and backing vocals. Original comment: I think the bass player/backing vocals is done by the amazing Amanda Brown, multi instrumentalist singer/songwriter and member of the iconic Brisbane band‘The Go Betweens’(someone could confirm)
@christhecurator5 ай бұрын
Hope it doesn't make you angry Pete, but that's actually Zoe Hauptmann, who has also worked with Mossy, and Tim Minchin, amongst others.
@AngryPete5 ай бұрын
@@christhecurator, Thanks for the clarification, I was watching on my phone, not great resolution! Harmony sounded like Amanda though! Now I'll have to find out about Zoe Hauptmann, very professional and an excellent accompaniment to the production. Love your work mate!
@NickJewlachow-of3yh5 ай бұрын
Countdown was very much the Australian Top of the Pops. Here’s a suggestion for a reaction. You know Iggy Pop, obviously. But do you know Iggy Pop on Countdown in 1979 doing I’m Bored? Chris knows what I mean. Legendary.
@christopheryoung38505 ай бұрын
Let's just say Iggy really let it all hang-out....lol...😜🍆
@professornuke75625 ай бұрын
Before Too Long is always my second favourite. Under the Sun edges it out for me. Both songs drag me back to the 80's and my first love Susan, who cancer took from me in 95. Paul will also NEVER get hold of my copy of Talk. Billy Baxter was a Melbourne legend. He was on 3XY, a major radio station at the time. They broke ACDC. They made the local bands as big as Donna Summer, and Charlie Daniels for that matter. He also had a band called The Hollowmen, and was doing his bit to foster local talent up until the early 1990's. One of my Susan's best friends little brother got taken under Baxter's wing in the late 80's but not much came of it. Countdown was massive in Australia. It was the ABC's (our government broadcaster) attempt for the yoof. It ran from when I was preschool to when I was in University. Hosted by a man called Ian "Molly" Meldrum. Molly was instrumental in the careers of so many people, breaking them out of Britain or USA to international audiences. A former record producer (The Real Thing by Russell Morris being his magnum opus) he introduced the world to the likes of Elton John, Queen, ABBA, KISS and more. One night at The Esplanade Hotel our singer stuck our demo tape in Molly's jacket. I told the singer he was going to be the one to f&*( Molly. Molly was known to hold very louche parties at his home, and preferred men. Nothing ever came of it. I expect the tape went into the barfront ashtrays that still existed in the late 1990's.
@jgsheehan88105 ай бұрын
I got Billy Baxter on a compilation album… needless to say, many years ago. 😂
@robinakym23565 ай бұрын
I think I’ve put Melbourne Uber drivers children through college, I use them so much 😂
@madcowmark71295 ай бұрын
Have a great story about a Scottish lass, a pregnancy test, her father, and the name Billy Baxter.
@DavidPola19615 ай бұрын
Bugger i thought i was going to see an episode of Benny Hill ,but Paul Kelly will do anytime
@chrisp85795 ай бұрын
If you love PK as you do, check out Weddings Parties and anything. A great Aussie band, check out "A tale they won't believe " about convict cannibalism, or "Step in step out"
@TheThamesmen5 ай бұрын
We did one of their tracks: Weddings, Parties, Anything: Happy AUSSIE Fathers Day: Reaction kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rq2DhpWCy9XWl3U.html
@dgallax5 ай бұрын
In some ways it's a shame Paul has "disowned" the 2 PK & The Dots albums - there are some great songs on them ... "Cherry" and "The Girl's Not Even English" are cases in point. "Billy Baxter" is perhaps the least-good bit of songwriting on them ! They also used to do a great cover of Dylan's "From a Buick 6". Seeing Paul & the Dots in various pubs around Melbourne was a standard Saturday night for me & my friends in that era ... Q : "What will we do tonight ?" A: "Where are the Dots playng ?"
@ianmontgomery75345 ай бұрын
I remember seeing PK &Dots and Split Ends playing at Bombay Rock on the one night. It was the first time I had heard either and loved it.
@dgallax5 ай бұрын
@@ianmontgomery7534 I think I was there !
@RAF2865 ай бұрын
Billy Baxter..........Madness??
@DaveOz-mx5oh5 ай бұрын
Neil could share half his hair with Paul
@TheThamesmen5 ай бұрын
That’s a big ask. Not sure I would share my hair with Alex!
@rickfairman56405 ай бұрын
Enjoyed the first tune
@ge73015 ай бұрын
Band name came from Lou Reed "walk on the wild side" And the colored girls go "Doo do doo do doo do do doo..."
@TheThamesmen5 ай бұрын
ahhhh
@ianmontgomery75345 ай бұрын
Hooray.
@iankearns7745 ай бұрын
Billy Baxter is a good song, would prefer an earlier version of before too long as well. I like Neil Finn but he didn't add much to this track.
@brianparsa77945 ай бұрын
Hmmm. Not sure what to say about "Billy Baxter"; Paul Kelly looked like he didn't want to be on that tv program promoting it at the time, so I can understand his wanting to distance himself from it. I think it was ok at best, so let's move on. "Before Too Long" is a much better song, and the live performance we got to see and hear was quite good. As Alex and George said, this was a decent beginning to what could be a great week in the end. In Chris the Curator we trust -- well done, Chris!
@Osssssss6668 күн бұрын
The Australasian Lennon and McCartney in action!
@TheThamesmenКүн бұрын
Pretty true!
@LuvHrtZ5 ай бұрын
React to Eskimo Joe's: Black Fingernails Red Win & From The Sea
@lencooke9445 ай бұрын
Ok, I am going to get this out of the way right from the get-go - I am probably the only Australian to have never owned a Paul Kelly album ... shameful I know, but instrumentally, Kelly's songs rarely hooked me and didn't engage me enough to pay too much attention to the lyrics. However, over the intervening years I have realised that for me to really enjoy Paul Kelly, I have to listen carefully to his lyrics, and now I appreciate his genius. I found this method useful in the first track (Before Too Long) as the lyrics are so well written. Musically, I have always found this song a little pedestrian instrumentally, it was well-performed, but if you take Finn and Kelly out of that lineup here you could easily fill the other spots with session musos. Don't get me wrong, I thought this performance of BTL was great, just not overwhelmingly so. But it is Day One. A quick note on the second song, Billy Baxter, this was the first song I ever heard from Paul Kelly. When young, I lived in a country Victorian town and there was a lot of migrants living in the town. Two doors down from me lived a Scottish family and their two sons (around my age) loved Ska and especially the Scottish band, Madness. The youngest of these boys, Gordon, introduced me to Paul Kelly with the song Billy Baxter. Gordon played it over and over, he loved it (because it was Ska); and I actually came to like it too. So, for nostalgic reasons, I liked the second track better, even though BTL is a much better composed and written song. Chris, these tracks were a wonderful way to start the Paul Kelly Week, I know that by Day Six you are going to turn me into a super-fan of PK.
@christhecurator5 ай бұрын
I hope so Len! The main tracks pretty much picked themselves, so the colour comes from the bonuses. But what I really have to point out, is Madness is most definitely not Scottish, they're very much London boys. Ok, sure the keyboard player is Scottish, but he'd moved to London! Listen to those voices, they're right proper geezers!
@lencooke9445 ай бұрын
@@christhecurator I stand corrected. I don't know why I thought they were scottish.
@BrendanBlack-jc8dt5 ай бұрын
Hello from Australia. Can you please react to King gizzard and the lizard wizard. Every album is different. I can help you with what songs to start with if your interested. If so just say something about this in your next video and I will help you. Thank you from Australia
@TheThamesmen5 ай бұрын
Hi Brenden - These are pre recorded but the email is on our YT site and that might be fun
@francesthrelfall39825 ай бұрын
❤😊
@arconeagain5 ай бұрын
Is it possible for them to be too tight?
@mrmaccafromtheshire2 ай бұрын
If Neil on piano on this annoys you then don’t watch Dumb Things from the same set. Neil effortlessly going between synth and grand piano is annoyingly effortless!
@davidburnett935 ай бұрын
Disappointed, would've preferred it was just Paul Kelly