Play it Again, Sam #11a - "Friday On My Mind"

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We were really mellow when we last visited Play it Again, Sam, so today is pure energy. Upbeat. Groovy. As always, Play it Again, Sam is a two part discussion consisting of an original song followed by a cover of that song. We are at #11a, the "original:" "Friday on My Mind" by The Easybeats. The Easybeats are easily one of the all-time great Australian bands, right up there with Midnight Oil, INXS, and AC/DC (in fact, Easybeats rhythm guitarist George Young was not only the older brother of AC/DC founders Angus and Malcolm Young, but also, alongside Easybeats guitarist Harry Vanda, produced much of AC/DC's early music. Young and Vanda also were a highly successful songwriting team over the years.) If "Working for the Weekend" is the only tune that pops up when I ask you to name an end-of-the-work-week-jam, then I implore you to give this gem of a catchy, classic piece of rock and roll pop music a listen. "Friday On My Mind" was quite successful, too! Naturally, the single hit #1 in their native Australia, but topped the charts in the Netherlands as well. It also reached Top 20 in the United States (#16,) the UK (#6,) and Ireland (#13.) In fact, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) named it The Greatest Australian Song of All Time in 2001! You might be surprised to learn of some of the heavyweights that have covered this song, but I am only going with one of them today. Stay tuned! (Info verified by Wikipedia)