I tripped in 1969, chasing my dog down the back stairs as a 4 year old. 6 stitches in my left forehead. Still a scar there today.

Reckon there’s not an Aussie alive who doesn’t know this song. (And he’s still performing it).

It was the 60s, Russell is still alive and still out there performing. Australia royalty! ❤

I love how no-one knew what us Australians were up to all that time when communication with the rest of the world was much harder. Love seeing people discover it now!

Absolutely one of the greatest Australian songs of all time. There are a lot of Australian songs that are so good it is just criminal more people overseas don't know them.

Russell is still delivering number 1 albums. Lotsa blues these days. He's doing a national tour and always has a killer band.

This is one of the greatest producing achievements in contemporary music. No ProTools, no digital doodads... and the song started out as a sweetly sacharine pop song written by Johnny Young [no cleaner cut cat ever walked the planet]. For Molly Meldrum to bring his amazing vision to this simple little tune was epic! We had a Woodstock in Australia, it was called Sunbury! Russell Morris is doing great and interesting things in the Blues space now....

I feel as though if this was released as it was in todays world and with the right promotion it’d be a global sensation. That was a big hit here in 69 and personifies the 60s for me. The perfect end to the decade. Goosebumps inducing to this day.

Russell is still going strong and sounds better with age.

I loved watching your faces during this... it starts off as a great song... ends as one of the best songs ever produced. You should also check out Sweet Sweet Love by Russell Morris. Also a psychedelics track - and my favourite Russell Morris track. He has also done a more recent accoustic version and both are brilliant. I have seen Russell in concert. He sounds even better today.

He performed that only three years ago in front of Opera house on Australia Day with fireworks and laser lights Incredible

Our Australian boys were fighting in the Vietnam War. It was not a good time for us. This was Bandstand in 1969, before Countdown that was in the 70s. This song was a huge hit. We had Sunbury in Victoria, Australia which was our Woodstock.

Russells back catalogue is bloody fantastic

Russell’s most recent album is a killer. Blues rock heaven.

Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum, aka The Guru, is an icon of the Australian music industry. He’s best remembered as the host of Countdown, which ran on Sunday nights and repeated on Saturday nights, as our own sort of Top Of The Pops. Molly was incredibly well connected, probably his most famous bit of trivia is that when he interviewed John Lennon he became the first person in the world to learn that The Beatles were breaking up, except he didn’t actually pick up on what John said (he was a little overwhelmed at the time), and only found out when the editor of the interview asked him why he hadn’t told them all about the news and Molly had to have it explained to him.

He played a gig in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne in 68. The girls loved him but the boys thought he was a poof. Someone threw a bottle and it hit him. He jumped off the stage and got into a fight with a few locals . He sorted them and ever after he was a hero to the Westies.

it was a real treat when it came out here in Oz, good job by Molly. Saw Russell performing in 70s & he’s still performing, a really good bloke too.

Saw Russell a couple of years ago at a local club. Did this live with a 4 piece band and it blew me away. The guy still has it in spades. A ton of other hits of his to look into as well. A living Aussie legend.

Russell Morris is still doing it to this day. As Molly would say "do yourself a favor" and listen to his other early Aussie hits like Wings of an Eagle, Hush (the rocked up version), Rachel, Sweet Sweet Love.

Russell Morris. What a legend. Still touring now. Last couple of decades he has been doing a lot of Blues. Fantastic live.

"He definitely licked the toad." What a production. Kudos to Meldrum.

The presenter Brian Henderson had a show called Bandstand, which was where a lot of Australian artist got their start, including The Bee Gees, Peter Allen and many many more. Brian Henderson main job was reading the 6pm news on Channel 9. His catch call was "Brian told me, Brian told me", the voice you could trust. He was Australia's version of US news presenter Walter Cronkite. Johnny Young was a singer/songwriter and had his own TV show called Young Talent Time, where young people starting at an age of 5 to teenagers were given a start in the entertainment business. This is where Kylie and sister Danni Minogue began their careers, also Tina Arena who made it big in France, and many more. Ian 'Molly' Meldrum as mentioned hosted Countdown that promoted Australian music live, as well as have international artist who were touring Australia at the time. 'Molly' Meldrum was known as the 'GURU' of Australian music. In 2011 he fell off a ladder at home putting up Christmas decorations and sustained severe head injuries, and is now a shadow of himself. Looking forward to tomorrow's video.

Russell Morris is still alive and has many hits. Rachel(about Vietnam Helicopter), Wings of an Eagle, Sweet Sweet Love and The girl that I love.

This song makes me think of the film “The Dish” a great Australian film with a spectacular soundtrack - possibly the best Australian film ever made. It’s a popular song still to this day.

Great reaction guys, you obviously haven’t visited Byron Bay/Nimbin region lol. Also you need to react to Australia’s most powerful voice and legendary all round Aussie rocker Billy Thorpe with his band the AZTECS performing MUMMA live. A cool story from Australia’s answer to Woodstock was Sunbury Festival where DEEP PURPLE was the main attraction.Not to be out done in the volume department by Deep Purple, Billy Thorpe borrowed every amp he could get his hands on at the festival so he could have bragging rights over them lol.You’ll love him guys and his guitar work too.Cheers

GROOOOVY! What a classic gentlemen..Thanks to Johnny Young and Ian "Molly" Meldrum at the helm of this ground breaking song the music scene in Oz was shaken not stirred. Yes..the clip was very James Bondesque. Thanks to Chris for his diligent efforts. 👍 And Alex...too much info. regarding your pechant for amphibians. 🤣😂 Keep doing these gems of Aussie music.. Thanks guys! 🤗

As mentioned before, look up a small village called Nimbin to get a glimpse of Australia’s counter culture. A sleepy dairy farming village that was transformed in 1973 when it hosted the Aquarius festival. I grew up in a town nearby called Kyogle and there was, and still is, a very significant alternative lifestyle influence in the area. Great reaction as always, gents. Thanks so much for week 1 and loving week 2!

Man, I haven't heard this in years. I've always LOVED this song. That's so much for the memories.

I was dropping mushrooms, mescaline, and acid in 1969. and 67, and 68, and 70, and... I was in North Queensland, and there was a Zen colony in the rainforest near me. Used to hitchhike to the Moon Dances in Millaa Millaa. This used to be on the radio all the time. I was always under the impression that it was like a global phenomenon, so am surprised that it might have only been a big thing here. An amazing song, and so much part of growing up. And it has been in numerous Australian movies set at the time of the Moon landings.

What a trip that was. Psychedelic pop/rock at it's best. Russell Morris is an Aussie icon and still performing/recording 50 years later.

Ah, I was 19 in '69 and was stopped in my tracks by this song first time I heard it, and yes, it still has that effect. Pure genius then and now. By the look of you two you get it too. Good for you. Time means nothing.

This song is arguable THE BEST Aussie song of ALL time!!!!…. It’s acknowledged as an absolute classic and YES it is incredible to see live

Enjoyed this throwback. I remember it blaring from the transistor. Sweet sweet love is my fave Russell Morris song.

As Russell’s voice matured the song took on another dimension so has just gotten better with age, and as far as I know Russell still performs it.

Better than any song released in the last 20 years...

Russell has had a number of great songs. Still performing to packed venues. Saw him 3 weeks ago and the Real Thing is great live.

Brilliant! This song began my lifelong passion for music...there was nothing like it before it's release and very few like it since.

The Real Thing was written by Johnny Young upon returning to Australia in 1968, fresh from hanging out with Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees in London. Meldrum overheard Young playing it in a TV studio one day, and saw it as the perfect fit for Morris, the producer’s great new pop hope.

Fantastic song, very big in N.Z., plus we followed closely what our larger cousin across the pond was getting up to ...true then and still today. Russell Morris is still alive, must be in his 70's now. Keep up the great work guys.

Wow! Seeing a young Brian Henderson introducing Russell. I miss Brian, the best news reader in Aussie history. This song reminds me of our brilliant Aussie movie The Dish, a true story that the moon vision was from Parkes, country/bush New South Wales!!

Fellows this song was issued overseas to many countries! A hit in many of them!

So ahead of time

You finally found "The Real Thing" the great Aussie hippie/Psychedelic anthem. Man that was big in Oz in 69-70. And yes there was a Hippie scene in Oz in the late 60's then in the 70's many of them dropped out moved to Northern NSW near Lismore to a place called Nimbin. That place was chosen because it's not cold and good rain. So if they wanted they could wander around nude no worries most the year and also magic mushrooms grew there all year. They did set up a commune and people would help each other to build shelters and homes and they traded produce.

'Pounds shillings and pence' was everywhere in Oz back then... Microdots, AKA Jintan breathe freshners soaked in the stuff were a 4 way trip... talk about high-school, that was 1969. That clip aired on Brian Henderson's Bandstand - great Sunday evening family entertainment or was it Saturday? I still recall... true.

Meldrum was a Rolling Stone Journalist and was very well known to the Beatles at the time.

What started for Russell Morris as a good, solid blues rock song found in Molly Meldrum, a visionary producer, the prescience to turn it quite simply into a classic.

Hey Guys, new sub here. Have you done any Aussie Crawl songs yet? If not, you need to check out 'Reckless' 'When the Boys Light up', 'Hammerhead' and lots more. I heard my Dad did some acid in the late '60's but I was a wee kid so I don't know much about it. I did a lot of acid in the 80's and we had a great spot where magic mushies grew in the season. We would bring them back to the city and make a few bucks, if they lasted the trip home (see what I did there!) Thanks for your cool reactions guys, binging on your Aussie music stash!

Several years ago when the late great Rodriguez performed in concert at Kings Park in Perth, Russell was the support act. We all went wild for The Real Thing. Such a wonderful accompaniment to the main act.

I saw Russell Morris playing recently and it was the best..some blues..'some of his old stuff' .. his guitar playing is top class

Girlfriend popped over tonight. She & hubby saw John Paul Young, Ross Wilson, Russell Morris, Glenn Shorrock, Brian Cadd and Ella Hooper in concert in Melbourne last week. She said even older they were absolutely fantastic, brilliant concert.

not bad for a sand groper. keep up the good work boys, you have a good taste in music. Happy new year for 2024. from the big brown land down under.

It was during Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. There were huge protests, police pushing horses into crowds of protesters and beatings. It sort of showed the unrest.

on the 45 release it was titled The Real Thing Parts 1-2 the second part is at 11:33

produced by Molly (Ian) Meldrum, Aussie classic

Dude, i was probably 12/13 when exposed in 1971/2. Best track ever and he has always been an Musician of excellence and still playing in 2023.

Could listen to you blokes all day 🍻

That was about as psychedelic as you can get. I saw this on a psychedelic channel a few months ago. First reactors I e ever seen react to this song. I'll give it a thumbs up.

One of the funniest chats I've heard in a while. Toad lickers 😂

Very trippy song. Great though. Russell does a song called Sweet sweet love and in my opinion better than The real thing. Unfortunately wasn't born in 1969, or maybe I was, I may have been on the best acid trip ever 🤣. Thanks again. You both are wonderful to watch. Until next time. See ya!

I saw him and Brian Cad at Gympie Music Muster in 2012 (in Queensland Australia). He was brilliant. So was Brian Cad. Love your reactions.

Great song. People today don't rebel. They just roll up their sleeves, put a mask on, and say "can I have another injection sir?"

Russell Morris still gigs now in 2023 with sold out shows. He is every bit as good if not even better now. This video floods me with memories. The Real Thing had only just become a hit here, and I was physically there watching this live performance. I was 11 years old; my dad was in the tv production team & floor crew doing the Saturday morning weekly music show & he'd take me & my sister to watch the live to air show. Dad introduced us to great world class artists such as The Bee Gees, John Farnham...and wait for it...The fucking Beatles! Go lick a toad. I shit you not. He'd plonk us down in the green room & all those guys became our temporary child minders & playmates. That's when George Harrison became the imaginary love of my life because he was the kindest, & most caring out of them all. Farnham was so so kind, funny & the most humble man I've ever met, and still is to this day. Thank you so much. To remember those times bring me such joy. I'm a fan of you funny wackers & I watch your show often. You love all the same songs as me. I love that you let a whole song run through, as opposed to many other reactors, who keep stopping the track to comment like total dick biscuits. xx heaps of love, Linda

Not until 1974. Clearlight in ‘window pane’ form. Delightful! 😊

Cutting edge at the time. Absolutely loved this song - even though 10 yrs before I hit my teens. A must to be played at every cool party. Never had a clue what it was about! I have absolutely no recall of Russell's blousey sleeve action - nor the girls earnestly gyrating in their... undergarments? Bathers? But a song - an arrangement that absolutely holds its own even today. 😄👍

and he is still playing live around Melbourne.

Check out the recent Kate Ceberano, Mahalia Barnes & Nikka Costa cover. 3 epic voices blended masterfully...& the band!

Russell is now into Blues has some great albums out there now Saw him regularly at the Council club in Melbourne in my teenage years (Red lace up pants no zip I have never forgotten those pants bit creepy coming from a Nearly 70 YT old)he did the rounds of Pubs and clubs another great pub entertainer his voice is still great and a great bloke

Molly reading the instructions on the box the tape in. Brian Cadd on piano.

Pleased to say. Russell is still with us and still performing. Great voice and great blues picker. The Real Thing was a huge radio hit here back in 69, but because of its runtime, we mostly heard the lesser radio version.Russell was always a great singer. Suggest you also have a listen to his Sweet Sweet Love or Wings of an Eagle?

I missed about 5 words singing along to that. It was so popular that Mum bought it for me, along with my first portable red & white stereo, my 14th birthday present.

Morris also sang: Wings of an Eagle. People who don't remember that classic song; it's often used as a backing track to compilation videos of the Apollo Space Programme.

This song I remember as a child & it summed up how I felt. The chaos of the Vietnam war on tv & youth going off to war.

Amazed that this still stands up to whats out now. Also, I remembered every lyric and aspect. I was 16 when this was IT....

First for me at 18 in 1986 were the tabs Halleys Comets or Garfields (the cat) lol. Yeah an Aussie and amazingly fun times. Now a professional working to retirement 😂 Those times crap on what we are dealing with now.

Listen to Kate Ceberano and mates singing" The Real Thing "

Coke used this for their "Real Thing" campaign in Australia - this is just a classic Aussie song - everyone knows it!! More Mushrooms in Mullumbimby rather than so much acid, although it was around. In a place in northern New South Wales called Woolgoolga [wool - gool - ga ] you could find psych mushrooms growing wild.............it was the time of thinking the world could end with the Cold War still going plus Vietnam - escape was what was needed.

In 1969 when this was released I was working with Russel's uncle. He got me a signed copy of the Real Thing. I think the producers were the ones taking the acid!

Thankfully Russell is still around, still performing and is still a fantastic performer. I have seen him a few times over the last few years (bloody Covid!) and my band is on a bill with him in November and can't wait. His show is full of lovely antidotes and funny stories, awesome music and still beautiful singing.

I was 8 when this came out and still remember all of the words. Great old Aussie song!!

Oh my god.... I just had an acid flash back... That was heavy man.

Yeah, still alive. He's still performing A1.

One of the reviewers, I think the long haired one, mentioned Garage Rock briefly, and he's right, because between 1965 approx.- 1970ish, there was a massive underground Garage Scene in many major cities around the world. Glad to say that Russell Morris is going very strong these days. He is an excellent Guitarist and brilliant song writer. Australian fans, like myself, will be aware of the Super Groups he has played in as well. Russell has had a few very successful albums in the last 10-15 yrs and he's won awards. He is an Australian Treasure.

Ahhhh Russell, a true gentleman, so easy to work with.

I've never heard that. Amazing! And I was into this kind of music back then. ••• This is one they definitely should colorize. It should have ended with Mrs Peel from "The Avengers" blowgun darting Russell in the neck. He goes rigid, and Steed catches him as he falls back. Steed looks at the camera, tips his bowler, and they haul him offstage.

i had a few acid trips back then, wow! where do i start ..surf , sydney, sun, girls, .... I was young, breaking away from conventions, or trying to ..loved those days

The guy warning about the brown acid was selling a different acid!

Oh guys, two out of two so far. And full marks for the Simpsons snippet. And I’m pretty sure the presenter at the beginning was a bloke named Brian Henderson who went on to become a very respected news reader for decades. Just some trivia (if I’m correct…).

Love Russe Morris. Huge fan from way back. Nice to see you discovered him. Hippy scene was still alive and well in the 70s.

My sister in law Krystina was one of thosr dancers I've just spoken to her and she said she did a few numbers with Russell Morris, but there was never any rehearsal let alone hearing the music before hand, It was "Okay Girls, the musics' srarting, do your stuff."

Wow this brings back so many memories thanks guys for choosing this one.

Russell Morris is still going. About ten years ago, I saw him perform live with Jim Keays and Daryl Cotton. It was like a history lesson of Australian music. RM gave us the real Thing, Sweet, sweet love and Wings of an Eagle, amongst other wonderful songs. Jim Keays was the lead singer from The Masters Apprentices (Turn up your radio, it’s Because I love you etc, etc) and Cotton was in Zoot, a band that also gave us Beeb Birtles from Little River Band and Rick Springfield. There are about ten songs from that repertoire that are automatic inclusions on any playlist. Best concert ever! Needless to say. RIP Jim Keays and Daryl Cotton.

I used to live on a farm that had was locally known as the mushie paddock..blue meanies, my brothers....the real thing....love the Thames intro...it's like my dad making us all sit down to dr who or the goodies or robins nest

Russell is still touring today, and like most musicians from that time , still performs perhaps even better than back in the day. I would love you guy's to listen to Wings Of An Eagle. He has a great catalog . Cheers lads from Down Under, lovin the vids .

WAS There a hippie scene in Australia? ... was there ever? ... two hippie towns still thriving to this day. Acid everywhere, mighty mushrooms, super powerful mescaline ... you name it.

On the flip side is a song called Hush which was a Deep Purple song and yes you two muppets acid was in Aus in the 60s

What a trip down memory lane! What a trip!

Listen to Part 3 into Paper Walls which is a sequel after The Real Thing. That's amazing too! By the way, I think The 16:14 York in their top 40 in '69.

Russell "the toadlicker" Morris (definitely not a Morris Minor) is my near neighbour & still performs locally from time to time. Well worth seeing. He sometimes plays on stage with Brian Cadd. Always a wonderful event.

Near where I live in Western Australia is a small town called Cardiff, which is so small it doesn't even have a shop, but it does have an old hall, and Russell Morris played this song there to an audience of less than 100 people and I was there. (This was about 10 years ago). It was so cool to hear this song live, with Russell just a few metres away, he is an Australian icon. Coca-Cola used this music as their theme song in all their advertising in the late 60's, (It's the Real Thing, Coca-Cola is Coke), usually with a surfing video. I've been waiting for ages for a reaction video of this song. Well Done!

So huge in Australia. Also, used as the theme song for the movie” the Dish”.