Single:
Living in the 70s entered the Australian singles chart* on 23 September 1974 and peaked at #28.
Album:
The song is on Living in the 70s which entered the Australian albums chart* on 14 October 1974. It reached #1 on 24 February 1975 and remained on top of the album charts for 16 weeks.
Songwriter:
Greg Macainsh
Producer:
Ross Wilson
Record label of Australian release:
Mushroom
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Wikipedia:
Adopting elements of glam rock in their presentation, and lyrics that presented frank depictions of the social life of young Australia in the 1970s, the band shocked conservative middle Australia with their outrageous (for the time) costumes, make-up, lyrics, and on-stage activities. A 1.2-metre high mushroom-shaped phallus was confiscated by Adelaide police after a performance.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyhooks_(band)
Mushroom Music:
Skyhooks appeared on Australian TV on the first day of colour transmission, shocked the parents and became pinup heroes for a generation.
Their lead singer was called Shirley because of HIS curly locks.
Guitarist Red Symons in red satin and matching cape, flicking his tongue at the masses while a giant Phallic Twistie Mushroom explodes over the crowds during his anthem to masturbation (Smut).
Guitarist Bob Starkie graduated from the Keith Richards/Chuck Berry School of Rock (with honours), his long black curls hanging over his lizard-necked jumpsuit.
Bassist and songwriter, Greg Macainsh’s platinum silver hair, long drop earrings hanging from both ears, wearing a yellow suit (matching cowboy hat), biting the thick bass strings on his sexy nude bass.
And who was it that said that all drummers were the same? Fred Strauks plugs in his space suit, the stage lights drop and he flickers on and off during his drum solo.
If it were any other band, the theatrics would overshadow the music. Skyhooks (thankfully) were not just another band.
Read more: mushroommusic.com/roster/skyhooks/
Lyrics:
I feel a little crazy
I feel a little strange
Like I’m in a pay phone
Without any change
I feel a little edgy
I feel a little weird
I feel like a schoolboy
Who’s grown a beard
I’m livin’ in the ’70s
Eatin’ fake food under plastic trees
My face gets dirty just walkin’ around
I need another pill to calm me down
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 70s
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