Vanda & Young

Vanda & Young were an Australian songwriting and producing duo composed of Harry Vanda[1] and George Young.[2] They performed as members of 1960s Australian rock group the Easybeats where Vanda was their lead guitarist and backing singer and Young was their rhythm guitarist and backing singer.[1][2][3][4] Vanda & Young co-wrote most of the Easybeats' later hits including their international hit "Friday on My Mind"[5][6] and they were the record producers for the group from 1967.[3] Young was the older brother of Malcolm and Angus Young of the hard rock band AC/DC[7] and also the record producer behind several of the band's biggest albums (such as 1976's Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap). The "Guitar George" and "Harry" who are mentioned in the Dire Straits hit song "Sultans of Swing" are George Young and Harry Vanda.[8]

Vanda & Young
Young and Vanda in 1968
Background information
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresRock
Years active1964—2005
LabelsAlbert
Associated actsThe Easybeats, Marcus Hook Roll Band, Flash and the Pan, AC/DC, John Paul Young
Past membersHarry Vanda
George Young

After the Easybeats disbanded in 1969, Vanda & Young were songwriters and producers for their own projects such as the Marcus Hook Roll Band (EMI), Paintbox (Youngblood) and Haffey's Whiskey Sour (Deram), Flash and the Pan,[1][2] and for other acts including producing early albums for AC/DC;[1][2] they were staff producers for Albert Productions from 1973.[6] In 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) acknowledged the iconic status of Vanda & Young when they were inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame; in 2005 the Easybeats were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.[9][10] In 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) surveyed 100 music industry personalities for the APRA Top Ten Best Australian Songs of All Time where "Friday on My Mind" was declared No. 1.[11] Their song for John Paul Young, "Love Is in the Air", was declared the 'Most played Australian song overseas' by APRA following its use on the 1992 film Strictly Ballroom.[11]

1964–1969: The Easybeats
Main articles: The Easybeats, Harry Vanda, and George Young (rock musician)

The Vandenbergs and Youngs migrated to Australia in 1963; both families were initially housed at the Villawood Migrant Hostel in Sydney.[3] At the hostel five migrants formed the Easybeats: Stevie Wright (lead vocals), Dick Diamonde (bass), Gordon Fleet (drums), Vanda (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Young (rhythm guitar, backing vocals).[4] Wright was their initial lyricist with Young composing the music as Vanda's grasp of English was insufficient.[3] They were signed by EMI/Parlophone Records with Ted Albert producing their early recordings.[12] By 1966 Vanda & Young had begun their writing partnership; together they penned the Easybeats' late 1960s recordings including "Friday on My Mind" which reached No. 1 on the Australian singles charts in 1966[13] and "Good Times" (1968).[14][15] The Easybeats became Australia's most popular and successful 1960s group.[3] They travelled to the UK on 10 July 1966 where "Friday on My Mind" was produced by Shel Talmy in November.[4][15] They toured Australia in May 1967 and the USA in August to promote their later singles and albums. At this time Vanda & Young were producing their recordings; by late 1969 the group returned to Australia and disbanded.[15]

1970–1973: Based in UK

Vanda & Young returned to the UK and continued their writing and performing partnership. They recorded tracks under various names: Paintbox "Get Ready For Love" (1970), Tramp "Vietnam Rose" (1970) and Eddie Avana "Children" (1970) all on Youngblood Records;[3][4][16] Moondance "Lazy River" (1970, A&M Records - which peaked at number 42 in Australia, their only charting single[17]), Grapefruit "Sha-Sha" (1971, Deram Records), Haffy's Whiskey Sour "Shot in the Head" (1971, Deram) and Band of Hope "Working Class People" (1972, unreleased).[4][16] Grapefruit had included Young's elder brother Alex Young (aka George Alexander).[3][16] In 1972 Vanda & Young formed Marcus Hook Roll Band and recorded the singles "Natural Man", "Louisiana Lady" and "Can't Stand the Heat" in London's Abbey Road Studio during 1973[7][16] using Ian Campbell on bass, Freddie Smith on drums and Alex Young on saxophone.[4] These tracks would later appear on the album Tales of Old Grand-Daddy released in 1974 on EMI.[7][16]

1973–1978: Return to Australia and AC/DC
Main articles: AC/DC and John Paul Young

Vanda & Young returned to Australia in 1973 and were reunited with Ted Albert, who had established Albert Productions under EMI Records.[3] Recently formed AC/DC's band members, and George Young's brothers, Malcolm and Angus Young joined the Marcus Hook Roll Band project on guitars to complete Tales of Old Grand-Daddy with John Proud on drums.[4][7][16] In late 1974 Vanda & Young produced AC/DC's single "Can I Sit Next to You Girl".[4] They also produced early albums for AC/DC including High Voltage and TNT (both 1975), Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976), Let There Be Rock (1977), Powerage and If You Want Blood You've Got It (both 1978).[4] As house producers for Albert Productions record label, they also wrote for and/or produced many Australian chart-topping acts including Stevie Wright (ex-the Easybeats) with the no. 1 single "Evie",[11][13] Ted Mulry, Rose Tattoo, Cheetah, William Shakespeare, Mark Williams, and the Angels.[1][2] Vanda & Young also wrote and produced several hits for John Paul Young including "Standing in the Rain", "I Hate the Music", "Love Is in the Air" and "Yesterday's Hero",[11] which was also a cover version hit when recorded by Bay City Rollers.

1977–1992: Flash and the Pan
Main article: Flash and the Pan

Vanda & Young recorded several Australian hit singles under the studio-only pseudonym of Flash and the Pan, including "Hey St. Peter" (1977) and "Down Among the Dead Men" (1978).[18] They had more success in Europe with hits "Waiting for a Train" (1983), "Midnight Man" (1984), "Early Morning Wake Up Call" (1985), and "Ayla" (1987), from the number 1 albums Headlines (1982), Early Morning Wake Up Call (1985) and Nights in France (1987). Singer-model-actress Grace Jones, in 1981, recorded a cover version of their song "Walking in the Rain".

1992–current

Vanda & Young helped compose rock artist Meat Loaf's "Runnin' for the Red Light (I Gotta Life)", which was released in 1995 as the third single from the album Welcome to the Neighborhood. While the single failed to meet expectations, the parent album itself did well, hitting #17 on the Billboard 200.

Young produced AC/DC's 2000 album Stiff Upper Lip.[2] Released by East West Records, it proved an international success, being RIAA certified as platinum in the United States.

Vanda left his longtime partnership with Albert Productions in 2005 and started Flashpoint Music as a private recording studio. Young died on 22 October 2017.

Vanda & Young songs

This is a selected list of songs co-written by Vanda & Young:[14]

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. Vanda & Young were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.[20]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
ARIA Music Awards of 1988 himself ARIA Hall of Fame inductee

King of Pop Awards

The King of Pop Awards were voted by the readers of TV Week. The King of Pop award started in 1967 and ran through to 1978.[21]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1974 themselves Best Australian Songwriter Won
1976 themselves Best Australian Songwriter Won
1978 themselves Best Australian Songwriter Won
themselves Best Australian Record Producer Won
  • Note: wins only

Countdown Music Awards

Countdown was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974–1987, it presented music awards from 1979–1987, initially in conjunction with magazine TV Week. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.[22][23]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1982 Themselves Best Australian Producer Nominated

References
  1. "Harry Vanda credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  2. "George Young credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  3. "Harry Vanda and George Young". Milesago. 2002. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  4. Holmgren, Magnus; Kempfer Stocker, Neil. "Vanda and Young". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  5. ""Friday on My Mind" at Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)". APRA. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  6. "Harry Vanda of The Easybeats". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 2001. Archived from the original on 16 August 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  7. Baker, Glenn A. "Liner notes to the Marcus Hook Roll Band compilation album Full File". stason.com. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  8. "Who are George and Harry from "Sultans of Swing"?".
  9. "ARIA 2008 Hall of Fame inductees listing". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  10. "Winners by Award: Hall of Fame". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  11. "2004 Most played song overseas". APRA. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  12. "Albert Productions". Milesago. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  13. Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book (1940–1969). Turramurra, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book, 2005. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
  14. "Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)". APRA. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  15. Jonas Wårstad, ed. (14 November 2007). "The Easybeats discography". discog.info. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  16. Jonas Wårstad, ed. (17 May 2008). "Vanda/Young – Various pseudonym projects and productions". discog.info. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  17. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 319. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  18. "Flash and the Pan discography". Jonas Wårstad. 20 September 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  19. Nimmervoll, Ed (7 August 1971). "National Top 60". Go-Set. Waverley Press. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  20. "Winners by Award: Hall of Fame". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  21. "Australian Music Awards". Ron Jeff. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  22. "Countdown to the Awards" (Portable document format (PDF)). Countdown Magazine. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). March 1987. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  23. "Final episode of Countdown". 1970scountdown. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
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