Have you ever been a long way from home for a significant period when suddenly you hear the opening chords from an Australian band, a band you may not of even loved, just that song?

It could be in a café or a shop, but it shoots out of a speaker somewhere, and into your ears like a lightning bolt. You’re home!

Instantly you are taken back to your homeland, a place that has produced some of the greatest musicians and songs ever created and you unconsciously starting singing aloud.

That is the power of a good Aussie opening riff. Here is part 3 of my favourites.

The opinions of the following are those of the author and him alone! Don’t shoot the messenger. 🙂

26.  The Nips are Getting Bigger. Mental as Anything. One of two quality drinking songs with easily recognisable intros, the other being Too Many Times. A very talented and eclectic crew who epitomised Sydney’s pub music scene throughout the 80’s and 90’s.

27.  Eternally Yours. The Laughing Clowns. The first band that Ed Kuepper formed post The Saint’s acrimonious separation was quite a departure but for myself and friends in that mid 80’s period this was an absolute classic driven by the soaring saxophone of Louise Elliot.

28.  The Way I Made You Feel. Ed Kuepper. – From The Saints to The Laughing Clowns to The Aints to his solo career, Ed Kuepper has always done things his own way and produced some of Australia’s finest post-punk music. This song has a wonderful intro and was covered on the late Jimmy Little’s award winning 1999 tribute to Australian songs called The Messenger. Coincidentally many of those songs are on this list.

29.  Aloha Steve and Danno. Radio Birdman. – These guys playing live even now will part your hair with the force they blast from the stage! Still playing in their 70’s this is a signature opening familiar to many who love post punk Australia.

30.  Pleasure and Pain. The Divinyls. – One of the best Aussie songs ever, sung by one of the best female vocalists in the world in my humble opinion. Chrissie has sadly left us too soon, but like Man Overboard, this holds a large mirror up to men’s behaviour.

31.  Solid Rock. Goanna. – No Gangagang, John Farnham or Men at Work in this list but had to include this one.

32. Living in the 70’s. Skyhooks. – Much loved to this day by us ‘Middle Agers’ they were one of the first bands to weren’t afraid to name Australian places and idiosyncrasies in their songs. A classic opening to a classic album.

33.  Straight Lines. Silvechair– A fantastic song from the Newcastle boys, but I wish they’d avoided the middle eight. Sometimes less is more. Anyway it still sounds great from intro to finish.

34.  Just Like Fire Would. The Saints. – When the late Chris Bailey split with Ed Kuepper and kept The Saints name, he went a bit brassier but nonetheless produced some fine records. Hard to pick between this one and Ghost Ships for openings.

35.  Black and Blue. Chain – Another legendary Australian band who went under the radar outside of their loyal fan base. You can’t beat a good prison song and our country was built on the back of them. Chain are blues royalty.

36.  Evie. Stevie Wright. There are three parts to Evie but Part One is where it grabs you. Stevie’s life was filled with trauma but he always stayed positive despite the adversity. A seriously great rock singer and sadly missed.