I grew up with John and took him completely for granted. I for one didn’t fully understand the wonderful range of his voice. I’m now 71 and can honestly say that he is one of the best singers in the world.
I'm 66 and John is older than me but recently my daughter and I were talking about John. My daughter was a waitress at a wedding when she was 15 and John and his wife were 2 of the people that she served and John was so kind to her and adored her but that's John. We talked about what the world will witness when John does go. Australia will be in complete tears, all of us. Aussies absolutely adore him.
He started in 1967. His first song was released two days after he left his job as an apprentice plumber. It took about three weeks to reach number one and stayed for six weeks. It created new records. He had many more popular records and was crowned king of pops, four years in a row. He did pantom, a couple of musicals, tv shows, and by 1976, he started to be taken for granted. He had a pretty useless manager who wanted him to keep singing his old songs. The radio stations stopped playing his music. Luckily the tv still loved him. Hey hey its Saturday, had him on a lot, and so did the don lane show. Apart from that he was singing in pub and clubs. In about 1979 he joined the Wheatley organization run by his friend Glenn Wheatley. He made a new album in 1980, produced by graeme gobles of the little river band. Who two years later asked him to join LRB, when their lead singer Glenn shorrock left. There is a lot more to his story, but that will do for now. A lot of people know more than me.
John Farnham can cover any genre of music masterfully....He is an Australian icon for good reason. I love John's version of "Reminiscing" with LRB. I think we always knew how extremely talented he was.
The thing is with John,no matter the song you hear every lyric,I have been listening to man for over 50 years and never heard a bad performance, After all these years I still get goosebumps every time,never fails and always lifts me up. I’m enjoying your reactions, I have noticed how you have won over Aussies and while you play John’s music,It’s only going to get bigger
Growing up in the 80’s where John was so successful, I just thought that’s how good singers had to be to make it. It wasn’t until I was older that I realised it’s not normal to be that good, and he is just a freak of nature. We probably didn’t realise how lucky we were to have someone so talented in our back yard and not being all over the world. I couldn’t afford to go to his concerts as a kid and was into a different genre as I got older, but I was lucky enough to see John perform at his last ever performance which was the Fire Fight concert to raise money for bushfire victims in 2020 just before COVID turned things upside down. At 70 years of age he smashed it and still hit those notes while performing “You’re the Voice” with Brian May from Queen, Mitch Tambo and Olivia Newton John. It’s worth checking out to see what a freak of nature he is to still hit those notes at that age, that many young singers on their prime could only dream of hitting. He gives it everything and is out of breath afterwards but it’s still mind blowing.
Another great reaction to our Aussie legend John he is so well loved in Australia not only because of his talent, but the challenges and his beautiful down to earth regular guy personality. His early teen pop idol success really crippled his career due to narrow minded record and radio managers. But his made it again in the end. Never vain, always humble and just a really nice bloke. What is there not too love❤
There's a video about John called "Finding The Voice" I think it does a damn good job of explaining his life and struggles and his self-doubt. Good reaction mate.
This is a magnificent performance. A truly beautiful rendition by John and the best. So much emotion and passion. John is 33 here. He could still sing the same in 2020 when he was 71. Pure talent and love for his audience. I think a lot of us took him for granted, but seeing him get the accolades he so richly deserves now is just making more and more of us realise hes not just our Voice, but a God given naural gift and talent for the world - just pure voice - no auto tune, no pitch correction - just his voice and a live band. Woohoo ❤️💖💞
When John joined LRB they were in self destruct mode and his time with them was not a happy one. But there are some great songs from this period. My favourite is We Two. I think this is one of John's best.
I'll be honest - he was "just" John Farnham when I first got familiar with him. I didn't realise at all what a great talent and voice he had/has. I was 5 years old when "You're the Voice" video clip was on the TV (1987), so I've been hearing him on the radio, seeing him on variety TV shows like "Hey Hey It's Saturday" during all my childhood. I also didn't bat an eye lid that he was 38 years old in 1987, and I thought he was a new artist! Your query, "were we aware what we had" - there are recent interviews by guitarist Brett Garsed on TH-cam, who joined John Farnham back in 1985 (temporarily left John's band in early 1990s but came back again), tells the story, when he told other guitarist he was playing with John Farnham and playing on album Whispering Jack and isn't that fantastic, his guitar buddies would say, "oh, that's great and he's a fantastic singer... but really, he's finished." But credit to Brett back then, he didn't care about the current music trends and who the successful solo artists and music bands at the time - he saw and heard the talent in front of him in John Farnham and didn't care what everyone was saying. Brett is also very grateful that John took a chance with Brett, who was 21 in 1987 and had, at that point, only been playing pub gigs and had no studio experience. (The "Finding the Voice" movie documentary is alright, but I reckon the "25 year anniversary of John Farnham special" that was channel 10 back in 1992 and on TH-cam is a lot better. More older clips, people like Don Lane were around back then, and more archive footage like TV shows like "Farnham and Byrne" on it).
There was a time when John fell out of favour with radio stations and some fans, you were almost considered “nerdy” to be a Farnham fan. Glen Wheatley his manager had him join LRB who he also managed when Glen Shorrock left. It didn’t work out as some band members considered John “too rock” or too much of a solo artist and John got sick of constantly singing other people’s songs. He wrote Playing to Win in defiance of this time. I have always been a proud Farnham fan, he is 9 years older than me so I grew up with his music and enormous talent ❤ he found favour and popularity again following the release of first Help then You’re The Voice. 😍
I think this is one of John’s best performances. The passion and emotion he puts into this and every song he sings is incredible. LRB always had such beautiful harmonies and great 80’s music, especially with John up front. John was great from the very start and as far as I know he never had any singing lesions, just some breathing coaching. Just amazing, natural talent. John also did a couple of majestic versions of the classic song “you’ll never walk alone” especially the one he did I think in the med 90’s at the Melbourne carols by candlelight on Christmas Eve, it was such an passionate and emotional version and John put everything into it, check that one out.
Yes, we did know what we had/have. Of course there were the detractors (tall poppy syndrome), but, the majority knew that we had a legend in the works. I loved his time in LRB, (Down on the border, my fave), however, John was primarily a solo artist, so it didn't work out, and I'm happy that he left to become the star 🌟 he is now. 👌👏👏
We knew it since 1967 that John had something special. He was 18 and had become an over night sensation and teen idol. He held the title of our King of Pop from 1969 to 1974. Unfortunately during most of the 70's his manager ran his career into the toilet. Making him do older songs and caberet style gigs, which pretty much put him in the too daggy bucket to be cool and John dropped out of favour. Around 1980 he hooked up with his best mate Glenn Wheatley who later became his manager (on a hamdshake) And he finally got to sing and write the type of music the wanted to and his career started to turn around. The Little River Band stint was part of that procees which helped people to see he had grown up.
@@jenniferroberts6093 And Long Tall Sally, Georgia and The Other Guy with LRB on the Don Lane Show in 1982 when we met baby Robbie and he was reaching for the mic and singing into it - so gorgeous 💖♥️🥰
Cool Change isn’t a John Farnham original Little River Band song it’s originally from Glenn Shorrock LRB’s first lead singer . With John Farnham on vocals from 1982 to 1986 he had few hits with LRB * Down On The Border * The Other Guy * We Two * You Driving Me Out Of My Mind And John’s signature LRB song * Playing To Win which is the only LRB song John continued to sing every concert after leaving the band . John talent has always been present but it took 20 years into his career to be taken seriously. John started out as teen pop singer that over promoted as crossover singer that would sing novelty songs , pop songs that was popular at that time , and big band variety television . John was married in 1973 after that John record label stop promoting him because John lost his teen pop image . John record company dropped him in 1975 after hits started to dry out hitting the top 50 . John joined management deal with friend Glenn Wheatley who also managed LRB after moderate success with the 1980 Uncovered album that featured the reworking of the Beatles cover Help which was a top 10 hit . John joining LRB was strategic planning by original founding member Graham Goble who produced and wrote most of the Uncovered album. Graham Goble was writing songs in much higher key for Glenn Shorrock to sing after working with John . But when tensions with LRB exploded and Glenn Shorrock was asked to leave John was called in . LRB’s first album with John was already written and planned John only had to lay down his vocals . John within LRB dealt with some ridiculous bullying from some original members they even stuck microphone lead down in concerts reducing John stage movement. These members thought John was stealing the spotlight away from the band . John by 1985 he had enough and wanted out of LRB by then he was making his comeback with the Whispering Jack album that feature the hit song You’re The Voice that recharge John’s career beyond anyone’s imagination that made him a legend .
Yes. Glen Shorrock blended in with the group, the harmonies seamless and perfect, standing with the group, part of the group. Then John came bounding in, bouncing around the stage like Tigger on a pogo stick, impossible to tame. The rest of the band felt like they were just a back-up band for a soloist and resented it. Fact is, John was always destined to be a soloist.
@@sjng68 I absolutely agree. I preferred Glenn Shorrock singing with LRB. He’s nowhere near the singer that John is but I think he was better suited to LRB.
John has always been a favourite of mine, since his beginning in the late 60's, - when he was 'Johnny Farnham' - 1967 Sadie / In my room th-cam.com/video/eZeRmpvCjEw/w-d-xo.html - his first record release which went quickly to #1, and followed by others, we watched him 'Bandstand', 'Countdown' and other TV music shows including his own, and there were also Stage Musicals and Pantomimes, With LRB I was a little bit torn, it was a shock when lead singer Glenn Shorrock left and was replaced by John, I do remember seeing John and LRB on the Don Lane Tonight Show just before they left to tour the USA, and loved it, but I don't recall much of John / LRB after that until John blew us all away with 'Whispering Jack', - the great thing about internet is I can now find all these old songs, and Oh, there are so many, - thank you, enjoyed your reaction,
A lot of Little River Band fans did not like it when John replaced Glenn Shorrock, but I think John adds another level to their music. The John Farnham era with Little River Band is my favourite time listening to the band. A lot of us Aussies never really appreciated John's talent back then. Thank you for reacting to this. ❤
Hey again Jojo 😊 I was going to write pretty much what you said, so thank you. Now I don't have to. On the same wavelength again 😅 👍 Even though I would have been 1, I would have still been calling John The Voice back then in 1983!! 😁 ❤❤
@@AnnieD.1982 haha! I could just imagine you as a toddler and John being your first word... there's been quite a few John reactions today. It's been so much fun on my morning tea break and lunch break at work.
@Sheriff Mike, from a former Serviceman to another, I'm hoping you can do a Reaction to: PTSD15 Special Recording "I was only 19" - John Schuman (Stand Tall 4 PTS) A Tribute Song for All Frontline Servicemen 🙏
John would have been in his 30's + here....John and LRB were not a good fit...the bands leader said he made them feel like his backing band (lol well yea maybe) The time spent away from his family and the fact they were going broke...was hard to take....so many struggles for him ....Thank God for his best mate & soon to be John's Manager Glen Wheatley who actually mortgaged his home to 'relaunch' John with You're The Voice....and as they say 'The Rest Is History'
I was an avid LRB fan in the 70/80s when I heard that they were bringing Johnny Farnham in to replace Glenn Shorrock I was not impressed to say the least. John actually did a pretty good job they actually had a couple of hits with him out front. For me LRB were just not the same band after they lost Glenn as their front man. Dont get me wrong nowadays I am a John Farnham fan as much as anyone else but back then I only knew him as the daggy kid who sang songs like Saddie on Bandstand in the late 60s.
John had an unhappy time in LRB after taking over from Glenn Shorrock due to the pettiness and politicking in LRB. He wrote a song, "Let Me Out," about that. Others in the band loved him and went on to participate in his band when John's career sky-rocketed with 'You're The Voice'. LRB were big in the USA.
John is an Aussie Legend his voice is second to none and he certainly does this song justice although I have to say personally that I really do prefer the original LRB with Glenn Shorrock.
John had a tough time after he released Sadie in 1967. Funny enough, that song went right to the top of the charts where it stayed for six weeks, selling nearly 200,000 copies. Unfortunately the radio stations didn't want to play it & his career suffered as a result. John didn't have it easy after being made King of Pop, as he was seen at the time. Glenn Shorrock was the original lead singer of Little River Band, he fell out with the Band so John was asked to lead them. It didn't work out real well for John as he was more of a solo artist, the band didn't like that he was taking centre stage so much. When he left the Band John was broke. It wasn't untill You're The Voice & his Whispering Jack album that he reached his full potential as an Artist. Everyone knew he could sing, he just needed to find himself. Johns Whispering Jack album remains, to this day, the highest, selling album of all time in Australia.
Not taking from John, but this is one of the very rare occasions i personally prefer the original Glenn Shorrock's voice. To me John never quite fit in with LRB and their unique sound. It does show in his behaviour and ability to sing. There is stress there and frustration. As much as he tries to hide it and be professional, it does crack through as he smiles far less.
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I grew up with John and took him completely for granted. I for one didn’t fully understand the wonderful range of his voice. I’m now 71 and can honestly say that he is one of the best singers in the world.
I think this can be said if a lot of us at our age (I’m 71 too). I think we all underrated him.
I'm 66 and John is older than me but recently my daughter and I were talking about John. My daughter was a waitress at a wedding when she was 15 and John and his wife were 2 of the people that she served and John was so kind to her and adored her but that's John. We talked about what the world will witness when John does go. Australia will be in complete tears, all of us. Aussies absolutely adore him.
He started in 1967. His first song was released two days after he left his job as an apprentice plumber. It took about three weeks to reach number one and stayed for six weeks. It created new records. He had many more popular records and was crowned king of pops, four years in a row. He did pantom, a couple of musicals, tv shows, and by 1976, he started to be taken for granted. He had a pretty useless manager who wanted him to keep singing his old songs. The radio stations stopped playing his music. Luckily the tv still loved him. Hey hey its Saturday, had him on a lot, and so did the don lane show. Apart from that he was singing in pub and clubs. In about 1979 he joined the Wheatley organization run by his friend Glenn Wheatley. He made a new album in 1980, produced by graeme gobles of the little river band. Who two years later asked him to join LRB, when their lead singer Glenn shorrock left. There is a lot more to his story, but that will do for now. A lot of people know more than me.
John Farnham can cover any genre of music masterfully....He is an Australian icon for good reason. I love John's version of "Reminiscing" with LRB. I think we always knew how extremely talented he was.
The thing is with John,no matter the song you hear every lyric,I have been listening to man for over 50 years and never heard a bad performance, After all these years I still get goosebumps every time,never fails and always lifts me up. I’m enjoying your reactions, I have noticed how you have won over Aussies and while you play John’s music,It’s only going to get bigger
LRB with John singing Down On The Border is another awesome song❤
Growing up in the 80’s where John was so successful, I just thought that’s how good singers had to be to make it. It wasn’t until I was older that I realised it’s not normal to be that good, and he is just a freak of nature.
We probably didn’t realise how lucky we were to have someone so talented in our back yard and not being all over the world.
I couldn’t afford to go to his concerts as a kid and was into a different genre as I got older, but I was lucky enough to see John perform at his last ever performance which was the Fire Fight concert to raise money for bushfire victims in 2020 just before COVID turned things upside down.
At 70 years of age he smashed it and still hit those notes while performing “You’re the Voice” with Brian May from Queen, Mitch Tambo and Olivia Newton John.
It’s worth checking out to see what a freak of nature he is to still hit those notes at that age, that many young singers on their prime could only dream of hitting. He gives it everything and is out of breath afterwards but it’s still mind blowing.
Another great reaction to our Aussie legend John he is so well loved in Australia not only because of his talent, but the challenges and his beautiful down to earth regular guy personality. His early teen pop idol success really crippled his career due to narrow minded record and radio managers. But his made it again in the end. Never vain, always humble and just a really nice bloke. What is there not too love❤
There's a video about John called "Finding The Voice" I think it does a damn good job of explaining his life and struggles and his self-doubt. Good reaction mate.
This is a magnificent performance. A truly beautiful rendition by John and the best. So much emotion and passion. John is 33 here. He could still sing the same in 2020 when he was 71. Pure talent and love for his audience. I think a lot of us took him for granted, but seeing him get the accolades he so richly deserves now is just making more and more of us realise hes not just our Voice, but a God given naural gift and talent for the world - just pure voice - no auto tune, no pitch correction - just his voice and a live band. Woohoo ❤️💖💞
He is the GOAT. no doubt in my mind at least.
When John joined LRB they were in self destruct mode and his time with them was not a happy one. But there are some great songs from this period. My favourite is We Two. I think this is one of John's best.
I'll be honest - he was "just" John Farnham when I first got familiar with him. I didn't realise at all what a great talent and voice he had/has.
I was 5 years old when "You're the Voice" video clip was on the TV (1987), so I've been hearing him on the radio, seeing him on variety TV shows like "Hey Hey It's Saturday" during all my childhood. I also didn't bat an eye lid that he was 38 years old in 1987, and I thought he was a new artist!
Your query, "were we aware what we had" - there are recent interviews by guitarist Brett Garsed on TH-cam, who joined John Farnham back in 1985 (temporarily left John's band in early 1990s but came back again), tells the story, when he told other guitarist he was playing with John Farnham and playing on album Whispering Jack and isn't that fantastic, his guitar buddies would say, "oh, that's great and he's a fantastic singer... but really, he's finished."
But credit to Brett back then, he didn't care about the current music trends and who the successful solo artists and music bands at the time - he saw and heard the talent in front of him in John Farnham and didn't care what everyone was saying. Brett is also very grateful that John took a chance with Brett, who was 21 in 1987 and had, at that point, only been playing pub gigs and had no studio experience.
(The "Finding the Voice" movie documentary is alright, but I reckon the "25 year anniversary of John Farnham special" that was channel 10 back in 1992 and on TH-cam is a lot better. More older clips, people like Don Lane were around back then, and more archive footage like TV shows like "Farnham and Byrne" on it).
LRB was my favourite band back then plus ELO, I so appreciate you, it makes my day 😊👍🇦🇺
Mike, you're starting to get into our vast library of great artists and musicians. Thanks mate. Cheers from Sydney.
There was a time when John fell out of favour with radio stations and some fans, you were almost considered “nerdy” to be a Farnham fan. Glen Wheatley his manager had him join LRB who he also managed when Glen Shorrock left. It didn’t work out as some band members considered John “too rock” or too much of a solo artist and John got sick of constantly singing other people’s songs. He wrote Playing to Win in defiance of this time. I have always been a proud Farnham fan, he is 9 years older than me so I grew up with his music and enormous talent ❤ he found favour and popularity again following the release of first Help then You’re The Voice. 😍
I think this is one of John’s best performances. The passion and emotion he puts into this and every song he sings is incredible. LRB always had such beautiful harmonies and great 80’s music, especially with John up front. John was great from the very start and as far as I know he never had any singing lesions, just some breathing coaching. Just amazing, natural talent. John also did a couple of majestic versions of the classic song “you’ll never walk alone” especially the one he did I think in the med 90’s at the Melbourne carols by candlelight on Christmas Eve, it was such an passionate and emotional version and John put everything into it, check that one out.
Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed it..I would agree that another one to listen to would be down on the border...have a great day😊
Yes, we did know what we had/have. Of course there were the detractors (tall poppy syndrome), but, the majority knew that we had a legend in the works. I loved his time in LRB, (Down on the border, my fave), however, John was primarily a solo artist, so it didn't work out, and I'm happy that he left to become the star 🌟 he is now. 👌👏👏
LRB were huge in the U.S they toured continuously for many years.
I had a great friend who was Texas and he had every LRB song in his play list.
Hey Gilly 👋👋👋
Such a great song and performance. John at any age was flawless, you should check him out performing “reminiscing” live with the Little River Band.
We knew it since 1967 that John had something special. He was 18 and had become an over night sensation and teen idol. He held the title of our King of Pop from 1969 to 1974. Unfortunately during most of the 70's his manager ran his career into the toilet. Making him do older songs and caberet style gigs, which pretty much put him in the too daggy bucket to be cool and John dropped out of favour. Around 1980 he hooked up with his best mate Glenn Wheatley who later became his manager (on a hamdshake) And he finally got to sing and write the type of music the wanted to and his career started to turn around. The Little River Band stint was part of that procees which helped people to see he had grown up.
We knew what we had right at the beginning of his career,he really is the GOAT .you should here him sing Bridge over Troubled Water in 1979 best ever
@@jenniferroberts6093 And Long Tall Sally, Georgia and The Other Guy with LRB on the Don Lane Show in 1982 when we met baby Robbie and he was reaching for the mic and singing into it - so gorgeous 💖♥️🥰
@@AussieDebb Totally agree John sings everything so well,have been a fan since the 60
Cool Change isn’t a John Farnham original Little River Band song it’s originally from Glenn Shorrock LRB’s first lead singer .
With John Farnham on vocals from 1982 to 1986 he had few hits with LRB
* Down On The Border
* The Other Guy
* We Two
* You Driving Me Out Of My Mind
And John’s signature LRB song
* Playing To Win which is the only LRB song John continued to sing every concert after leaving the band .
John talent has always been present but it took 20 years into his career to be taken seriously.
John started out as teen pop singer that over promoted as crossover singer that would sing novelty songs , pop songs that was popular at that time , and big band variety television .
John was married in 1973 after that John record label stop promoting him because John lost his teen pop image . John record company dropped him in 1975 after hits started to dry out hitting the top 50 .
John joined management deal with friend Glenn Wheatley who also managed LRB after moderate success with the 1980 Uncovered album that featured the reworking of the Beatles cover Help which was a top 10 hit .
John joining LRB was strategic planning by original founding member Graham Goble who produced and wrote most of the Uncovered album.
Graham Goble was writing songs in much higher key for Glenn Shorrock to sing after working with John . But when tensions with LRB exploded and Glenn Shorrock was asked to leave John was called in .
LRB’s first album with John was already written and planned John only had to lay down his vocals .
John within LRB dealt with some ridiculous bullying from some original members they even stuck microphone lead down in concerts reducing John stage movement. These members thought John was stealing the spotlight away from the band .
John by 1985 he had enough and wanted out of LRB by then he was making his comeback with the Whispering Jack album that feature the hit song You’re The Voice that recharge John’s career beyond anyone’s imagination that made him a legend .
Getting chills man
As much as I love John, including his hits with LRB, I prefer Glenn singing this particular song.
I whole heartedly agree. Noone can sing Cool Change like Glenn, even as much as I also love John 👍 👌
Yes. Glen Shorrock blended in with the group, the harmonies seamless and perfect, standing with the group, part of the group. Then John came bounding in, bouncing around the stage like Tigger on a pogo stick, impossible to tame. The rest of the band felt like they were just a back-up band for a soloist and resented it. Fact is, John was always destined to be a soloist.
@@sjng68 I absolutely agree. I preferred Glenn Shorrock singing with LRB. He’s nowhere near the singer that John is but I think he was better suited to LRB.
Beep Birtle has a magical voice too.
Yeah...as others have said. This is Glenn's song. That would have been the version on the radio back when.
As much as I love John, I think I prefer Glenn's tone for this song and many LRB songs, after all they were written with Glenn in mind.
Talent is your mate believing in you so much, that he mortgages his own home again so John could record Whispering Jack . RIP Glenn Wheatley.
John has always been a favourite of mine, since his beginning in the late 60's, - when he was 'Johnny Farnham' - 1967 Sadie / In my room th-cam.com/video/eZeRmpvCjEw/w-d-xo.html - his first record release which went quickly to #1, and followed by others, we watched him 'Bandstand', 'Countdown' and other TV music shows including his own, and there were also Stage Musicals and Pantomimes, With LRB I was a little bit torn, it was a shock when lead singer Glenn Shorrock left and was replaced by John, I do remember seeing John and LRB on the Don Lane Tonight Show just before they left to tour the USA, and loved it, but I don't recall much of John / LRB after that until John blew us all away with 'Whispering Jack', - the great thing about internet is I can now find all these old songs, and Oh, there are so many, - thank you, enjoyed your reaction,
A lot of Little River Band fans did not like it when John replaced Glenn Shorrock, but I think John adds another level to their music. The John Farnham era with Little River Band is my favourite time listening to the band. A lot of us Aussies never really appreciated John's talent back then. Thank you for reacting to this. ❤
Hey again Jojo 😊 I was going to write pretty much what you said, so thank you. Now I don't have to. On the same wavelength again 😅 👍
Even though I would have been 1, I would have still been calling John The Voice back then in 1983!! 😁 ❤❤
@@AnnieD.1982 haha! I could just imagine you as a toddler and John being your first word... there's been quite a few John reactions today. It's been so much fun on my morning tea break and lunch break at work.
@@Jojomac-ix7oi There are so many reactions this weekend. I cannot keep up!! 😄
Enjoy all the Farnsey, and don't work too hard ♥️ ♥️
That's okay- I still called him Johnny for a while after he changed to John as I didn't realise how important it was to him. 😊
@Sheriff Mike, from a former Serviceman to another, I'm hoping you can do a Reaction to: PTSD15 Special Recording "I was only 19" - John Schuman (Stand Tall 4 PTS) A Tribute Song for All Frontline Servicemen 🙏
John would have been in his 30's + here....John and LRB were not a good fit...the bands leader said he made them feel like his backing band (lol well yea maybe) The time spent away from his family and the fact they were going broke...was hard to take....so many struggles for him ....Thank God for his best mate & soon to be John's Manager Glen Wheatley who actually mortgaged his home to 'relaunch' John with You're The Voice....and as they say 'The Rest Is History'
I was an avid LRB fan in the 70/80s when I heard that they were bringing Johnny Farnham in to replace Glenn Shorrock I was not impressed to say the least. John actually did a pretty good job they actually had a couple of hits with him out front. For me LRB were just not the same band after they lost Glenn as their front man. Dont get me wrong nowadays I am a John Farnham fan as much as anyone else but back then I only knew him as the daggy kid who sang songs like Saddie on Bandstand in the late 60s.
Try our first queen of pop in australia " Marcia hines" she has a magic set of vocal cords
The other guy, Down on the Border.
John had an unhappy time in LRB after taking over from Glenn Shorrock due to the pettiness and politicking in LRB. He wrote a song, "Let Me Out," about that. Others in the band loved him and went on to participate in his band when John's career sky-rocketed with 'You're The Voice'. LRB were big in the USA.
John is an Aussie Legend his voice is second to none and he certainly does this song justice although I have to say personally that I really do prefer the original LRB with Glenn Shorrock.
John had a tough time after he released Sadie in 1967. Funny enough, that song went right to the top of the charts where it stayed for six weeks, selling nearly 200,000 copies. Unfortunately the radio stations didn't want to play it & his career suffered as a result. John didn't have it easy after being made King of Pop, as he was seen at the time. Glenn Shorrock was the original lead singer of Little River Band, he fell out with the Band so John was asked to lead them. It didn't work out real well for John as he was more of a solo artist, the band didn't like that he was taking centre stage so much. When he left the Band John was broke. It wasn't untill You're The Voice & his Whispering Jack album that he reached his full potential as an Artist. Everyone knew he could sing, he just needed to find himself. Johns Whispering Jack album remains, to this day, the highest, selling album of all time in Australia.
Check out 1979 version of Bridge over troubled water 👌
you always want a cool change in oz
Not taking from John, but this is one of the very rare occasions i personally prefer the original Glenn Shorrock's voice.
To me John never quite fit in with LRB and their unique sound. It does show in his behaviour and ability to sing. There is stress there and frustration. As much as he tries to hide it and be professional, it does crack through as he smiles far less.
imo John over sings it and changes the melody too much. There is only Glen for me when it comes to cool change