Hard Boys ... a psychodrama for radio
Produced by Blue Trumpet for Radio 2RRR, Hard Boys, a psychodrama for radio, is a uniquely Australian story in 10 parts. Starring Johnny Boxer of the long-running Australian TV show, Fat Pizza, he brings the same uniquely Australian voice to this production.
Episode 2: Something Beautiful
"There’s a southern road going in and there’s one coming out. We come out the northern end and spent the night in the scrub just outside of town. We’d been on the road maybe two or three days. Woke next morning starving to death. It was a hot day again. For some reason Joe wanted to see Gladstone. Had some idea we’d get work there."...
The music...
Featuring Australian music of the 1960s and early ‘70s in order of play...
Seasons of Change by Blackfeather
Blackfeather was an Australian rock group in the 1970s. The group had many members and went through two major incarnations - the earlier (short-lived) heavy rock version of the group, which recorded the album At The Mountains of Madness (1970) and the hit single 'Seasons of Change', and the later piano-based lineup led by singer Neale Johns, which scored an Australian #1 hit single with 'Boppin' The Blues'.
Seasons of Change by Fraternity
Fraternity were an Australian rock band which formed in Sydney in 1970 and relocated to Adelaide in 1971. Former members include successive lead vocalists Bon Scott (who later joined AC/DC), John Swan (who also played drums and later had a solo career), and his brother Jimmy Barnes (Cold Chisel). Their biggest local hit was a cover version of 'Seasons of Change' which peaked at No. 1 in Adelaide, but nationally it was overrun by the original Blackfeather version. The group won the 1971 Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds with the prize being a free trip to London. Fraternity went through various line-ups and was renamed as Fang, Fraternity (again), Some Dream and finished as Mickey Finn in 1981.
Good Times by Easy Beats
The Easybeats were an Australian rock band that formed in Sydney, Australia, in late 1964, and disbanded at the end of 1969. They were the first rock and roll act from Australia to score an international pop hit with the 1966 single 'Friday on My Mind'. During their six-year run, they scored 15 top 40 hits in Australia, including 'She's So Fine' and 'Women (Make You Feel Alright)', with other No. 1 hits including 'Friday on My Mind' and 'Sorry'. Released on 13 September 1967, 'Good Times' failed to chart in the UK. An often-told story about the song is that when the track was 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.
The poem...
The birth of a rose!
Have you seen it?
So tiny, so light
The sun feeds it with warmth
Mother earth bears it towards the sun
Slowly it rises, straining upwards
Gazing at the sky
Gracefully it prepares itself
Forming softly
To display its colour and shade
Carefully, as if nature had hold of it
So as not to strain it
Little by little it opens
Its newborn petals
Its shapely colour
A strain to the very end
Then, quite suddenly, it bursts into a radiant thing
Of breathtaking life
Have you seen the birth of a rose?
So pretty
Lovechild
Birth is such a strong emotion
Credits...
Produced by Blue Trumpet Productions for Radio 2RRR
Written and realized by James Benn
With Johnny Boxer in the title role
Original story and poetry by Greg Young
Original tunes by James Benn, performed by Johnny Boxer, James Benn, and Terry Darmody
Voices in order of appearance…
- Chris Virtue
- James Benn
- Johnny Boxer
- Gas Wylde
- Sue Liolio
Introductions and credits by Amie Maguire
