Pop Archives

Somebody’s Image - Hush (1967)

(Joe South)
Australia Australia
#17 Sydney #2 Melbourne #6 Brisbane #42 Adelaide

Single on the IN label. Perth record fans apparently preferred the original version (see below).

Melbourne band with singer Russell (The Real Thing) Morris who later recorded this with his band The Rubes (see below).

Suggestion from John Yeager and Terry Stacey.


Joe South - Hush (1967)

(Joe South)
USA USA

Joe South (born Joe Souter) also wrote Billy Joe Royal’s biggest hit, Down In The Boondocks (1965) and Lynn Anderson’s hit (I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden (1971).

Joe South’s own best-known recordings are Games People Play (1969), Don’t It Make You Want To Go Home (1969), Walk A Mile In My Shoes (1970) and Children (1970). As a session musician he worked with Bob Dylan (Blonde On Blonde) and Simon & Garfunkel (The Sounds Of Silence).

According to Arnold Rypens at The Originals, Joe South has cited an old gospel song Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name as an influence in writing Hush

The Originals also lists versions of Hush by Jimmy Frey (1968), Blue Suede (in 1975 medley), Dan Baird (with Joe South, 1996) and Gotthard (1998).

Thanks to Kees van der Hoeven.


Billy Joe Royal - Hush (1967)

(Joe South)
USA USA
Original version
#20 Perth

Singer from Georgia who started out as a country singer but assimilated many other musical influences and crossed over to the pop charts.

Billy Joe Royal was an associate of the writer of Hush, Joe South, with whom he appeared on the country show Georgia Jubilee.


Deep Purple - Hush (1968)

(Joe South)
UK UK
Later version
#4 USA #12 Sydney #12 Brisbane #7 Adelaide

Double-sided hit with Kentucky Woman.


Johnny Hallyday - Mal (Hush) (1968)

(Joe South - Georges Aber)
France France
Later version

French-language version by legendary pop idol and actor, on 1968 Philips album Jeune Homme, also on the EP 4 Chansons.

References: Discography and song details at Hallyday.com.fr. Forum thread at 45 tours de rock francais.
See also: No No No No No and Mashed Potato.
Further reading: Hallyday.com.fr and JohnnyWeb.fr.


Russell Morris & The Rubes - Hush (1980)

(Joe South)
Australia Australia
Later version
#14 Melbourne #21 Brisbane #36 Adelaide