Good Times (The Easybeats song)

"Good Times"
Single by The Easybeats
B-side	"Lay Me Down and Die (Instrumental)" (UK)
Released	18 July 1968 (Australia) September 1968 (UK)
Format	7"
Recorded	August to June 1967
Studio	Olympic Studios, South West London.
Genre	Rock
Length	3:23
Label	Parlophone A-8406 (Australia) United Artists 67127 (Germany) UP 2243 (UK)
Songwriter(s)	George Young, Harry Vanda
Producer(s)	The Easybeats, Mike Vaughan & Glyn Johns (uncredited).
The Easybeats singles chronology
"Land of Make Believe" (1968) "Good Times" (1968) "Lay Me Down and Die" (1968)
"Land of Make Believe" (1968) "Good Times" (1968) "Lay Me Down and Die" (1968)

"Good Times" is a song by The Easybeats released as a single in Australia 18 July 1968, and which appeared on their Vigil album with guest vocals by Steve Marriott. It was written by George Young and Harry Vanda.

When broadcast on BBC radio it was reputedly heard by Paul McCartney on his car radio; McCartney apparently rang the station immediately to request a repeat playing.^[1]

Notable cover versions

"Good Times"
Single by Jimmy Barnes and INXS
from the album The Lost Boys: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released	1987 (USA and Australia)
Format	7"
Recorded	1986
Genre	Rock
Length	3:53
Label	Mushroom
Songwriter(s)	George Young, Harry Vanda
Producer(s)	Andrew Farriss
INXS singles chronology
"Listen Like Thieves" (1986) "Good Times" (1987) "Need You Tonight" (1987)
"Listen Like Thieves" (1986) "Good Times" (1987) "Need You Tonight" (1987)

Shocking Blue

"Good Times" was covered by Dutch rock band Shocking Blue, on their seventh album released in 1974.

Quartz

The NWOBHM heavy metal band Quartz released a live cover version of this song on their 1980 released live album Live Quartz. In 2013 the band also released a studio version of the song on their self-produced compilation Back in the Band – Live and Revisited.

INXS & Jimmy Barnes

In 1987, a cover version by INXS and Jimmy Barnes which was engineered by Al Wright appeared in the Joel Schumacher film The Lost Boys. This version reached #2 in Australia, as well as obtaining chart positions in both the U.S. (where it peaked at #47) and UK (where it peaked at #18, in 1991). A video clip was produced featuring INXS and Jimmy Barnes performing the song, with scenes intercut from The Lost Boys. The INXS version was also used to promote the national Australian Made series of concerts that took place between Boxing Day 1986 and Australia Day 1987.

Australian Idol 2004 cover

The song was performed on the Top 12 Results Show of the second season of Australian Idol in 2004. This version of the song was then released by the Top 10 finalists nearly four months after the live show. It was released as a one-track CD single and reached a peak of #53 on the ARIA singles chart.

Meat Loaf cover version

"Good Times" was covered by the American rock singer Meat Loaf on his 1995 album Welcome to the Neighbourhood. This new version, credited to Vanda/Young/Durkee/Loaf/Russo, was titled "Runnin' for the Red Light (I Got a Life)" and featured significantly different lyrics.

Hindu Love Gods cover version

Hindu Love Gods covered the song on a 1986 single, but under the title "Gonna Have a Good Time Tonight". The members of Hindu Love Gods were Mike Mills, Bill Berry and Peter Buck of R.E.M., Bryan Cook, and Warren Zevon. The 7" single was released on I.R.S. Records.

Jimmy Barnes featuring Keith Urban

Jimmy Barnes reprised the song on his 30:30 Hindsight release in 2014, with Keith Urban on guitar and vocals

Jessica Mauboy version

Jessica Mauboy covered the song on her 2016 album, The Secret Daughter: Songs from the Original TV Series.

Charts

The Easybeats version

INXS/Jimmy Barnes version

Australian Idol version

References