(Bert Berns - Jerry Ragovoy)
Australia
#28 Melbourne
Jazz-influenced Melbourne pop band with brass section. Vocalist Linda George was later successful as a solo singer.
The band’s name is presumably after the 1964 William S. Burroughs novel.
… one of several Australian bands of the late Sixties-early Seventies that were modelled on the influential American groups Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago whose music mixed soul, pop and R&B with jazz and featured prominent soul-jazz horn arrangements.
Nova Express page at Milesago
Suggested by Mike Robbins. Thanks to Pete Lloyd.
(Bert Berns - Jerry Ragovoy) Australia
B-side on the Chart label. See notes on Chart at 45cat.com.
This version features the notable jazz singer-songwriter-guitarist Linda Cable, credited on the label as Lindy Cable.
• The Barry McCaskell on the label is Barrie McAskill.
• Levi Smith Clefs, as the label has it, were usually known as Levi Smith’s Clefs with an added apostrophe + s.
There never was a “Levi Smith” in the Clefs. The moving force in this progressive r&b band was Scottish-born singer-guitarist Barrie ‘The Bear’ McAskill. Over the years its personnel included a number of musicians well-known to Australian audiences.
Who’s Who of Australian Rock lists over 60 members of Levi Smith’s Clefs.
Further reading:
1. Band history at Barrie McAskill’s website.
2. See Milesago has a band history along with a big personnel list.
3. Linda Cable profile at Kimbo’s Women of Australian Rock.
4. “Linda Cable returns to the spotlight to wow audiences in Melbourne“, Australian Arts Review, 2019.
(Bert Berns - Jerry Ragovoy)
USA
Influential version
#12 USA #32 Brisbane
This is the version everyone knows, from Cheap Thrills, the album that introduced lead vocalist Janis Joplin to the world, not to mention the art of Robert Crumb.
Further reading
1. William Ruhlmann’s review of Cheap Thrills at All Music.
2. Ron Hart at Best Classic Bands on Robert Crumb’s album sleeve artwork.
(Bert Berns - Jerry Ragovoy) USA
Original version
#62 USA
Produced and co-written by Bert Berns, single on Shout, Berns’s own r&b label.
Erma Franklin (1938-2002) was Aretha Franklin’s sister.
Further reading:
1. Erma Franklin Biography by Steve Huey at All Music.
2. Bert Berns biography by Richie Unterberger at All Music
3. BertBerns.com
4. The Originals website has more background and other versions in its song history.
(Bert Berns - Jerry Ragovoy) Australia
Later version
#31 Sydney #16 Melbourne #10 Brisbane #16 Adelaide #15 Perth
Single on WEA label by prolific, versatile and enduring New Zealand pop-rock singer-songwriter (b. 1956), long resident in Australia. Early in her career she was in a few NZ groups including The Crocodiles who charted with Tears in 1980 (#17 NZ).
Further reading:
1. Jenny Morris biography at All Music.
2. Detailed, illustrated Jenny Morris profile at AudioCulture by Murray Cammick. (Make sure you click on “Read more +” near the top).
3. Wikipedia’s Jenny Morris article article looks sound and is very detailed.
Pop ArchivesAustralia's premier song history site since 2004
Website by Lyn Nuttall. © Lyn Nuttall 2004-2026. Chart positions courtesy of Gavin Ryan’s Australian Chart Books and Dean Scapolo’s Complete NZ Music Charts. Special thanks to Terry Stacey for information, corrections and suggestions. Thanks also to Tony Watson, Philippe Edouard, Dave Overett.., More…