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 3: In What Wine
“Pentland is nothing but one pub, which is unusual for a town. Maybe a dozen houses, general store, one other store besides that, and a railway station. It was total depression. Reminded me of a midwestern American town where even the dog leans up against something to get from A to B and falls asleep half way. If anyone was born in that place they’d want to die six days later cause six days’d be enough. Six days’d a lifetime in that place. We spent three days there getting nowhere and it drove us crazy.”...
The music...
Featuring Australian music of the 1960s and early ‘70s in order of play...
Dear Prudence by Doug Parkinson In Focus
Doug Parkinson in Focus were formed early in 1968. They became one of the most popular outfits on the Melbourne suburban dance/inner-city discotheque circuit. The group signed with EMI/Columbia and issued a cover version of the Beatles' track, 'Dear Prudence', in May 1969, which peaked at No. 5 on the Go-Set National Top 40.
I’ll Be Gone by Spectrum
Spectrum were an Australian progressive rock band which formed in April 1969 and broke up in April 1973. The original line-up was Mark Kennedy on drums, Lee Neale on organ, Bill Putt on bass guitar, and Mike Rudd on guitar and lead vocals. They also performed under the alter ego, Indelible Murtceps, from 1971 to 1973. Spectrum had a number-one hit, 'I'll Be Gone' (January 1971), on the Go-Set National Top 60 singles chart. Here is Spectrum's promo-video for the hit single 'I'll Be Gone' which would later appear on the Aztec Music re-release of the 1970 album 'Spectrum Part One'.
The poem...
In what wine will you find the flavour of life?
When was it made?
Under what label aged?
Is this wine in our midst?
The taste of a full life
Between heaven and earth
Between death and birth
By what means do we obtain the taste?
The flavour of love, the label, beauty
The time of creation and bottling
Has been, is now and ever will be
And the wine is always in our minds
The taste, we’re sure, is always ours to have
To love
To be loved
To be beautiful
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…
Produced by Blue Trumpet Productions for Radio 2RRR