Friday on My Mind
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| "Friday on My Mind" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by The Easybeats | ||
| Released | 17 November 1966 | |
| Format | 7" single | |
| Recorded | IBC Studios, London 1966 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3:34 | |
| Label | Parlophone | |
| Producer(s) | Shel Talmy | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| The Easybeats singles chronology | ||
| "Sorry" (1966) |
"Friday on My Mind" (1966) |
"Do You Have a Soul" (1967) |
"Friday on My Mind" is a 1966 song by Australian rock group The Easybeats. Written by band members George Young and Harry Vanda, the British Invasion-style number became a worldwide hit, making #1 in Australia, #6 in the UK, #16 in the USA, and charting in several other countries. In 2001, it was voted "Best Australian Song" of all time by APRA.[1]
The minor-key verses of "Friday on My Mind" depict the tedium and drudgery of the work week, taking each day at a time ("Monday morning feels so bad/Coming Tuesday I feel better"). These verses are adorned with a powerful and catchy Middle Eastern-sounding guitar figure. The build-up to the chorus features a slowly rising vocal, culminating with a shout of "Cos I'll have Friday on my mind!", and launching into a major-key refrain celebrating the pleasures of the weekend in the city.
Though the song has long been termed a "working class anthem",[2] George Young maintained it had "more to do with their outlook on the world than any class statement".[3] According to Harry Vanda, the track's distinctive guitar opening was inspired by a film performance featuring The Swingle Singers: "It went tudutudutudu, which made us all laugh. In the train back from the gig, we were imitating them and suddenly it sounded good. They became the first notes of Friday On My Mind."[4]
In addition to its 7" single release in late 1966, the song was issued on a EP in September 1967, with the tracks "Sorry", "Who'll Be the One" and "Made My Bed, Gonna Lie in It". A 2005 rerelease on CD single, along with "Remember Sam", "Pretty Girl" and "Made My Bed, Gonna Lie in It", featured a cover (pictured right) based on an earlier French sleeve.
"Friday on My Mind" was ranked #10 out of 2006 songs featured in the Triple M Essential 2006 Countdown. In the series 20 to 01, "Friday on My Mind" was #1 on the "Greatest Aussie Songs" show.
[edit] Cover versions
The song has been covered many times, notably by David Bowie, who recorded a version on his 1973 RCA covers album Pin Ups (for Harry Vanda it was "the only cover I ever liked").[5]
Other acts who have covered the song include Gary Moore, Peter Frampton, Richard Thompson and the punk band London, whose version was recorded by producer Simon Napier-Bell in the same recording studios (IBC Studios in London) where The Easybeats had cut the original. The song was also performed by Romanian band Phoenix on their first EP, Vremuri ("Old times") in 1968.
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Easybeats song voted Australia's best". ABC Radio (29 May 2001). Retrieved 4 November 2006
- ^ Albert Music: History. Retrieved 4 November 2006
- ^ Debbie Kruger (2005). Songwriters Speak: Conversations About Creating Music: p.71
- ^ "Anonymous émigré became pop star". Radio Netherlands (13 June 2006). Retrieved 4 November 2006
- ^ Debbie Kruger (2005). Op Cit: p.62
