Evie (song)
"Evie" is a rock song by Australian singer and former frontman of the Easybeats, Stevie Wright. It was written by Harry Vanda and George Young and released as a single in 1974. It has been suggested that it is the first 11-minute song to chart at #1 anywhere in the world.[1]
"Evie" | |
---|---|
Single by Stevie Wright | |
from the album Hard Road | |
A-side | "Evie" (part 1) |
B-side | "Evie" (part 2 and 3) |
Released | 1974 |
Recorded | 1973 |
Genre | Hard rock, blues rock (part 1), soft rock (part 2), rock (part 3) |
Length | 11:11 |
Label | Albert |
Songwriter(s) | Harry Vanda, George Young |
Producer(s) | Harry Vanda, George Young |
"Evie" | |
---|---|
Song by The Wrights | |
Released | 2005 |
Recorded | 2004 |
Genre | Rock |
Songwriter(s) | Harry Vanda, George Young |
The song features three parts and some critics consider it as one of the most perfect rock n' roll songs ever,[2] encapsulating the three basic themes of all love songs:
- (I) Baby it'll be great once we're together (Let Your Hair Hang Down)
- (II) Baby, it's so great now that we're together (Oh Evie... I'm nothing without you)
- (III) Baby, it's so bad since you left me (I'm Losing You). However, the loss in this case is more tragic than the usual "boy loses girl" scenario - it describes the singer's emotions following Evie's death in childbirth.
Part One is a guitar driven, hard rocking and bluesy, swaggering and swayful song. Part Two is more piano and string based, a much softer emotional ballad style. Part Three is more of a disco-rock style, being quicker, relatively urgent and guitar driven track with a strong vocal.
In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Evie" was ranked number 17.[3]
Background
In 1973, Vanda & Young returned to Australia from the UK. Stevie Wright had found life difficult since the Easybeats disbanded and had developed a heroin addiction.[4]
"Stevie was still a great performer, still a great singer," George Young says. "So Harry and I got to work to see if we could come up with something that could put him back in the charts."[5]
Vanda and Young signed Stevie Wright and began working on the Hard Road album together.[6]
The song features Malcolm Young of AC/DC on guitar. Young plays the guitar solo in Part One, while the solo in Part Three is played by Harry Vanda.[1]
Reception
The song was released in April 1974. The single version was divided across the A and B sides and went on it peaked nationally during July.[6] It remained in the charts for 26 weeks, the biggest Australian single of the year and the only pop song over six minutes to reach No 1.[5]
Famous performances
In June 1974, Stevie Wright performed the song at Sydney Opera House in front of 2,500 people, with over 10,000 having been turned away.[5] For this performance Wright's band included Harry Vanda, George Young and Malcolm Young. This was the first time that Stevie, George and Harry had appeared together post-Easybeats.[6]
On 4 November 1979, Wright took part in the "Concert of the Decade". He performed the song on the steps of the Opera House in front of 100,000 people.[4]
Wright also performed the song during the 2002 Long Way to the Top tour.
Cover versions
Suzi Quatro recorded a cover version of the song that appeared on the European version of her album If You Knew Suzi... in 1978.
The Wrights recorded a cover version of the song in 2005.
Pat Travers Band recorded a shortened version for their 1978 album, "Heat in the Street".
Personnel
- Stevie Wright – vocals
- George Young – bass
- Harry Vanda – lead guitar
- Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar
- John Proud – drums
- Tony Currenti – drums (part 3 only)
- Warren Morgan – piano, Hammond organ
- Richard Dakin – piano
- Paul Bagshaw – strings
References
- Tait, John (2010). Vanda & Young. University of New South Wales Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-1-74223-217-1.
- "MILESAGO - Groups & Solo Artists - Stevie Wright". Milesago.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- "Here Are The Songs That Made Triple M's 'Ozzest 100'". Musicfeeds. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- "Australian Story - So Much To Say - Transcript". Abc.net.au. 2013-02-18. Archived from the original on 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
- "Stevie was still a great performer, still a great singer," Young says. "So Harry and I got to work to see if we could come up with something that could put him back in the charts."
- "It's All About The Song ..."Evie" | News | Alberts". Albertmusic.com. 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2016-10-09.