The Real Thing (Russell Morris song)

Infobox Single
Name = The Real Thing

|Russell Morris hit single, The Real Thing]
Artist = Russell Morris
from Album = The Real Thing
Released = 1969
Format = single
Recorded = 1968-1969
Genre = Rock
Length = 6:20
Label = EMI/Columbia (Australia)
Decca (UK)
Diamond (US)
Writer = Johnny Young
Producer = Ian "Molly" Meldrum
Certification =
Chart position = AUS #1
Reviews =
Last single = "Hide & Seek"
(1968)
This single = ""The Real Thing"
(1969)
Next single = "Part Three Into Paper Walls"
(1969)Extra chronology
Artist = Kylie Minogue
Type = singles
Last single = "Too Far"
This single = "The Real Thing"
Next single = "Spinning Around"

"The Real Thing"" is a song originally recorded by Australian singer Russell Morris in 1969. His version, which was produced by Ian "Molly" Meldrum and written by Johnny Young [cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/27/1043534002655.html |title=I write the songs |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |date=2003-01-28 |accessdate=2008-05-22] , was a huge hit in Australia and has become an Australian rock classic. It also had success in the United States of America, reaching the top of the charts in Chicago and New York City. [cite web |url=http://www.howlspace.com.au/en/morrisrussell/morrisrussell.htm |title=Russell Morris |publisher=Howlspace |accessdate=2008-05-22]

Young had originally written the song for Meldrum's friend Ronnie Burns, but when Meldrum heard Young playing it backstage during a taping of the TV pop show Uptight, he determined to secure the song for Morris, reportedly going to Young's home that night with a tape recorder and refusing to leave until Young had taped a "demo" version of the song for him.

In collaboration with Bill Armstrong's house engineer John Sayers, Meldrum radically transformed "The Real Thing" from Young's original vision of a simple acoustic chamber ballad backed by strings, into a heavily produced studio masterpiece, extending it to an unheard-of six minutes in length (with much encouragement from Stan Rofe) and overdubbing the basic track with many additional instruments, vocals and sound effects. To achieve this, they used the services of The Groop as backing band, with contributions from vocalist Maureen Elkner and The Groop lead singer Ronnie Charles, guitarist Roger Hicks from Zoot — who played the song's distinctive acoustic guitar intro — and arranger John Farrar. The single is reported to have cost AU$10,000 — the most expensive ever made in Australia up to that time — and features one of the earliest uses of the studio technique known as "phasing" on an Australian recording. "The Real Thing" became a national number one hit for Morris in mid-1969 and is widely considered to be one of the finest Australian pop-rock recordings of the era.

Song in popular culture

In 1998 Australia Post issued a special edition set of twelve stamps celebrating the early years of Australian Rock ‘n’ Roll, featuring Australian hit songs of the late 50s, the 60s and the early 70s.

"Each of them said something about us, and told the rest of the world this is what popular culture sounds like, and it has an Australian accent." [cite web |url=http://www.auspost.com.au/philatelic/stamps/index.asp?link_id=2.389 |title=Australian Stamps : Rock Australia |publisher=Australia Post |date=2001-03-20 |accessdate=2008-05-21]

One of the stamps featured was the 'The Real Thing' stamp as illustrated to the left.

Morris's version of "The Real Thing" was featured in the soundtrack for the 2000 Australian movie, "The Dish". The AFL also used a new recording of the song for its television advertisement campaign for the 2000 season, declaring Aussie Rules as 'The Real Thing' as opposed to Rugby League. [cite web |url=http://www.afana.com/afl/johnson/afl_jl_000305.html |title=AFANA News |publisher=Australian Football Association of North America |date=2000-03-05 |last=Leung |first=Johnson |accessdate=2008-05-29]

The performer Kylie Minogue also released a version of the song in 2000. Her version is featured on the soundtrack to the movie "Sample People". Australian rock band Midnight Oil has also released a version.

Between 2004 and 2008, the song was used extensively in an advertising campaign by Western Australian Tourism Commission (Tourism WA) promoting the State both nationally and internationally. [cite web |url=http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/marketing/Marketing_Showcase/Pages/The_Real_Thing_Campaign.aspx |title=The Real Thing Campaign |publisher=Tourism WA |accessdate=2008-05-29] [cite web |url=http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=42361 |publisher=The West Australian |title=State’s tourism slump blamed on ‘dud’ campaign |date=2007-10-04 |last=Emerson |first=Daniel |accessdate=2008-05-29]

In 2005 and 2006, while South Sydney's NRL team was sponsored by Real Insurance, this song was used as the theme song when they ran on the field.

Track listing

# "The Real Thing - Parts I & II"
# "It's Only a Matter of Time"

Personnel

* Russell Morris (vocals)
* Brian Cadd (organ, piano) [cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/coodabeens/stories/s1403350.htm |title=Russell Morris and The Real Thing |publisher=ABC |date=2005-06-26 |accessdate=2008-05-22]
* Richard Wright (drums)
* Don Mudie (bass)
* Roger Hicks (guitar)
* Ronnie Charles (vocals)
* Maureen Elkner (vocals)

Credits

* Ian Meldrum - producer
* John L. Sayers - engineer
* John Farrar - arrangements

References

External links

* "Cover Me" by Paul McHenry (1998)
* "Australian Rock Discography 1970-79" by Chris Spencer (1999)
* "Who's Who of Australian Rock" by Chris Spencer et al (2002)