- Vanda & Young
Infobox Musical artist
Name = Vanda & Young
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Background = group_or_band
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Origin = Sydney,Australia
Genre = Rock
Years_active = 1964—current
Label = Albert
Associated_acts =The Easybeats Flash and the Pan AC/DC John Paul Young
URL =
Current_members =Harry Vanda
George Young
Past_members =Vanda & Young are
Harry Vanda (born Johannes Hendricus Jacob Vandenberg,22 March 1946 , inThe Hague ,The Netherlands ),cite web |url=http://wm09.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3zfoxqegldhe~T4 |title=Harry Vanda credits |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=2008-06-04 ] and George Young (born George Redburn Young,6 November 1947 inCranhill ,Glasgow ,Scotland ).cite web |url=http://wm09.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifqxqujldke~T4 |title=George Young credits |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=2008-06-04 ] They performed as members of 1960sAustralia n rock groupThe Easybeats where Vanda was theirlead guitar ist and backing singer and Young was theirrhythm guitar ist and backing singer.cite web |url=http://www.milesago.com/industry/vanda-young.htm |title=Harry Vanda and George Young |publisher=Milesago |year=2002 |accessdate=2008-06-03 ] cite web |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/v/vandayoung.html |title=Vanda & Young at Australian Rock Database |publisher=Magnus Holmgren |accessdate=2008-06-03 ] Vanda & Young co-wrote most of The Easybeats later hits including their international hit "Friday On My Mind " [cite web |url=http://www.apra.com.au/site/public/searchworksresult.stm?worktitle=FRIDAY%20ON%20MY%20MIND&switchdet=Y |title="Friday On My Mind" at Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |publisher=APRA |accessdate=2008-06-03 ] cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/longway/artist_index/harryvanda.htm |title=Harry Vanda of The Easybeats |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)|year=2001 |accessdate=2008-06-03 ] and they were therecord producer s for the group from 1967. Young is an older brother of Malcolm andAngus Young of thehard rock band,AC/DC .cite web |url=http://stason.org/TULARC/music-bands/acdc/15-What-other-bands-have-members-of-AC-DC-been-in-and-what.html |last=Baker |first=Glenn A. |title=Liner notes to the Marcus Hook Roll Band compilation album "Full File" |publisher=stason.com |accessdate=2008-06-05 ]After The Easybeats disbanded in 1969, Vanda & Young were songwriters and producers for their own projects such as
Flash and the Pan , and for other acts including producing early albums for AC/DC; they were staff producers forAlbert Productions from 1973. In 1988 theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) acknowledged the iconic status of Vanda & Young when they were inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame, in 2005The Easybeats were also inducted into the Hall of Fame. [cite web |url=http://www.ariahalloffame.com.au/inductees_listing.htm |title=ARIA 2008 Hall of Fame inductees listing |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |accessdate=2008-06-04 ] [cite web |url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-award.php?awardID=36 |title=Winners by Award: Hall of Fame |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |accessdate=2008-06-04 ] In 2001, theAustralasian 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 #1.cite web |url=http://www.apra.com.au/awards/music/winners2004.asp |title=2004 Most played song overseas |publisher=APRA |accessdate=2008-06-05 ] Their song forJohn Paul Young (no relation), "Love Is in the Air " was declared the 'Most played Australian song overseas' by APRA following its use on the 1992 film "Strictly Ballroom ".1964-1969: The Easybeats
The Vandenbergs and Youngs migrated to Australia in 1963, both families were initially housed at the Villawood Migrant Hostel in
Sydney . At the hostel, five migrants formedThe Easybeats :Stevie Wright (lead vocals),Dick Diamonde (bass), Gordon Fleet (drums), Vanda (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Young (rhythm guitar, backing vocals). Wright was their initial lyricist with Young composing the music as Vanda's grasp of English was insufficient. They were signed byEMI /Parlophone Records with Ted Albert producing their early recordings. [cite web |url=http://www.milesago.com/industry/alberts.htm |title=Albert Productions |publisher=Milesago |accessdate=2008-06-03 ] By 1966 Vanda & Young had begun their writing partnership; together they penned The Easybeats' late 1960s recordings including "Friday On My Mind " which reached #1 on the Australian singles charts in 1966cite book |title=Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 |format=doc |last=Kent |first=David |authorlink= David Kent|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6 |accessdate=2008-05-30 ] and "Good Times" (1968).cite web |url=http://www.apra.com.au/site/public/searchworksresult.stm |title=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |publisher=APRA |accessdate=2008-06-03 ] cite web |url=http://www.discog.info/easybeats.html |title=The Easybeats discography |publisher=discog.info |editor=Jonas Wårstad |date=2007-11-14 |accessdate=2008-06-04 ]The Easybeats became Australia's most popular and successful 1960s group, they travelled to the UK on10 July 1966 where "Friday On My Mind" was produced byShel Talmy in November. 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.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;cite web |url=http://www.discog.info/vanda-young.html |title=Vanda/Young - Various pseudonym projects and productions |publisher=discog.info |editor=Jonas Wårstad |date=
2008-05-17 |accessdate=2008-06-04 ] Moondance "Lazy River" (1970,A&M Records ), 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). Grapefruit had included Young's elder brother Alex Young (aka George Alexander). 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'sAbbey Road Studio during 1973 using Ian Campbell on bass, Freddie Smith on drums and Alex Young on saxophone. These tracks would later appear on the album "Tales of Old Grand-Daddy" released in 1974 onEMI .1973-1978: Return to Australia and AC/DC
Vanda & Young returned to Australia in 1973 and were reunited with Ted Albert, who had established
Albert Productions underEMI Records. 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. In late 1974 Vanda & Young produced AC/DC's single "Can I Sit Next to You Girl ". They also produced early albums for AC/DC including "High Voltage" (1975), "T.N.T." and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (both 1976), "Let There Be Rock" (1977), "Powerage " and "If You Want Blood You've Got It " (both 1978). As house producers forAlbert Productions record label, they also wrote for and/or produced many Australian chart-topping acts includingStevie Wright (ex-The Easybeats ) #1 single "Evie",Ted Mulry ,Rose Tattoo , Cheetah, William Shakespeare, Mark Williams, and The Angels. Vanda & Young also wrote and produced several hits forJohn Paul Young including "Standing in the Rain", "I Hate the Music", "Love Is in the Air " and "Yesterday's Hero", which was also acover version hit when recorded byBay City Rollers .1977-1992: 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).cite web |url=http://www.discog.info/f&tp.html |title=Flash and the Pan discography |publisher=Jonas Wårstad |date=2006-09-20 |accessdate=2008-06-04 ] They had more success in Europe with hits "Waiting for a Train" (1978), "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-actressGrace Jones , in 1981, recorded a cover version of their song "Walking in the Rain ".1992-current
Young produced AC/DC's 2000 album "
Stiff Upper Lip ". Vanda left his long time partnership with Albert Productions in 2005 and startedFlashpoint Music as a private recording studio.Vanda & Young songs
This is a selected list of songs co-written by Vanda & Young:
* "Friday On My Mind " -The Easybeats (1966) Aust #1, US #16, UK #6, also recorded byDavid Bowie , London,Gary Moore , Richard Thompson
* "Good Times" - The Easybeats 1968,INXS withJimmy Barnes
*"Evie, Parts 1, 2 & 3" -Stevie Wright 1974 Aust #1,The Wrights ,Suzi Quattro
*"Hard Road - Stevie Wright 1974,Rod Stewart
*"Yesterday's Hero" -John Paul Young 1975,Bay City Rollers 1976
*"Black Eyed Bruiser - Stevie Wright 1975,Rose Tattoo 2007
*"Standing In The Rain" - John Paul Young 1976
*"I Hate The Music" - John Paul Young 1976
*"Hey St Peter" -Flash and the Pan 1977
*"Love is in the Air " - John Paul Young (1978) Aust #2, US #7, UK #5
*"Down Among the Dead Men" - Flash and the Pan 1978
*"Walking in the Rain" - Flash and the Pan 1978,Grace Jones
*"Waiting for a Train" - Flash and the Pan 1982
*"Midnight Man" - Flash and the Pan 1984
*"Show No Mercy" - Mark Williams 1989
*"Runnin' for the Red Light (I Gotta Life) " -Meat Loaf 1995References
External links
* [http://www.albertmusic.com/easybeats/easy_fact_01.htm Albert Music: Easybeats Facts]
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