While fronted by singer John Farnham from 1982–1986, the band's original members were Glenn Shorrock (vocals), Graeham Goble, Beeb Birtles and Ric Formosa (guitars and vocals), Roger McLachlan (bass) and Derek Pellicci (drums).
The group evolved from the harmony-rock group Mississippi in 1975. Prior to that, Birtles had been the bassist in 1960s pop band Zoot (which also included singer-guitarist Rick Springfield), and Shorrock had been the lead singer of leading Australian 60s pop band The Twilights and early 1970s country rock band Axiom.
They found immediate success in Australia, but individual members had greater ambitions. Like many other Australasian groups of the period, both Axiom and Mississippi had tried to break into the UK record market without success. Remembering the indifferent reaction they had received in the UK, they decided the new band would focus on establishing themselves in the United States.
A key factor in their eventual success was their manager Glenn Wheatley, who had been the bassist in the highly-regarded Australian rock band The Masters Apprentices. Wheatley's first-hand experiences of the rip-offs in the 1960s music scene, combined with his subsequent experience working in music management in Britain and the United States in the early 1970s, enabled him to help LRB become the first Australian group to enjoy sustained commercial and chart success in the United States.
Fuelled by a very successful Australian hit single "Curiosity Killed The Cat", the band began making promotional visits to the US in 1976. This resulted in a hit single, "It's A Long Way There", which broke into the Top 30 and galvanised the commitment of the band members. More concert performances in the US followed, and in 1977 "Help Is On Its Way" (an Australian number one single) and "Happy Anniversary"[4] both narrowly missed the US Top 10. During this period McLachlan left the group and was replaced by George McArdle while lead guitarist Formosa was replaced by David Briggs.
From 1978 until 1981, Little River Band achieved six consecutive US Top 10 singles with "Reminiscing", "Lady", "Lonesome Loser", "Cool Change", "The Night Owls" and "Take It Easy On Me". During their career the band have sold more than 25 million records and scored 13 American Top 40 hits.
Bassist/vocalist Wayne Nelson joined in 1980 and is currently the lead singer. In 1981 he sang lead vocals on their top ten US hit "Night Owls". Guitarist Stephen Housden joined the band in 1981 replacing David Briggs. Housden owns the rights to the name Little River Band. He co-wrote the band's last hit in Australia "Love is a Bridge".
In 1982 Shorrock was forced out of the band and went on to pursue a solo career. He failed to make an impression in the U.S., but he had a substantial hit in Australia with a cover version of Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover".
The pressures of success and constant touring gradually took their toll on LRB and members gradually left. John Farnham replaced Shorrock in 1982 and the first single with Farnham, "The Other Guy" reached #11 in the US. Subsequent singles were only minor hits. In Australia the band continued to be popular and songs such as "Down On The Border", "Playing To Win" and "Love is a Bridge" were major hits. Farnham's popularity in Australia was increasing at this time, and he left the band to return to his solo career, achieving huge success in Australia (he was also managed by Wheatley).
Birtles left in 1983 because he did not like the direction the band was taking and he was not a fan of Farnham's onstage performance. Farnham left in 1986 to be replaced by the returning Shorrock. Goble left the group in 1990. Shorrock left again in 1996; he was offered the option to buy out the remaining members but he decided instead to take a payment. Derek Pellicci left the band in 1999.
Little River Band are considered to be among Australia's most significant bands. The "classic lineup" of the band (Birtles, Shorrock, Goble, Pellicci, Briggs and McArdle) were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards of 2004. They performed "Help Is On Its Way" that night.
Three founding members, Birtles, Shorrock and Goble, continue to perform reunion concerts but due to the fact they lost the rights to the name Little River Band, they appear under the name Birtles Shorrock Goble: The Original Voices of Little River Band.
"Reminiscing", written by Goble, was recognised by BMI as one of the most frequently played songs in the history of American radio, with more than four million plays to its credit. "Lady" has also accumulated more than three million plays, and Goble is the first and only Australian songwriter ever to win a Four "Million Air" award from BMI. According to Albert Goldman's biography, John Lennon named "Reminiscing" as one of his favorite songs.
Little River Band continues to work in the US and performs around 100 shows every year.
Full Circle
Little River Band Lyrics
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It's nearly at an end
It was given as a promise
To each and every man
It's a long time since we started
And the days left now are few
It seems the words sent long ago were true
But it changes like the tide
There's a meaning for existence
No need to run and hide
We are fighting for our freedom
We are searching for a way
And we live in hope of some eternal day
We are waiting, we're impatient
We're unfaithful, we are true
There's a lesson in the learning
Of the different things we do
As it was in the beginning
It shall be at the end
We will come full circle to begin again
Search your heart before you die
Is the cost way too high
To explain all the tears
We have caused throughout the years
When everything is finished
And we've done all that we can
Will we come full circle to begin again
The lyrics to Little River Band's "Full Circle" convey a message of hope, perseverance, and redemption. The song speaks of riding on a rainbow that was given to all humans as a promise, but that time is running out. It highlights how life changes like the tide and how there is a purpose for existence. The song touches on the importance of fighting for freedom and searching for a way to live better lives. And, how ultimately, we desire an eternal day of happiness.
The lyrics are a reminder that life is fleeting and that when we reach the end of our rope, we will be held accountable for our choices. It urges listeners to examine their hearts before they die, to consider whether the cost was worth the tears caused throughout the years.
Overall, the lyrics of "Full Circle" are about the human journey, our search for meaning, and our desire to know whether we will come full circle to begin again.
Line by Line Meaning
We are riding on our rainbow
We are living a happy and successful life
It's nearly at an end
Our happy and successful life is coming to a close
It was given as a promise
Our happy and successful life was promised to us
To each and every man
Everyone is deserving of a happy and successful life
It's a long time since we started
Our journey to happiness and success began a long time ago
And the days left now are few
We are running out of time on our journey to happiness and success
It seems the words sent long ago were true
The promises made to us long ago about our journey to happiness and success were accurate
Life goes on forever
Life never truly ends
But it changes like the tide
Life continuously changes and fluctuates
There's a meaning for existence
Life has a purpose
No need to run and hide
There's no need to be afraid of life
We are fighting for our freedom
We are struggling to be free from the difficulties of life
We are searching for a way
We are seeking a path to happiness and success
And we live in hope of some eternal day
We are optimistic about reaching an everlasting state of happiness and success
We are waiting, we're impatient
We are eagerly anticipating the end of our journey, but it can't come soon enough
We're unfaithful, we are true
We are sometimes disloyal, but on the whole, we are trustworthy
There's a lesson in the learning
Our experiences teach us valuable lessons
Of the different things we do
Our actions lead to various outcomes
As it was in the beginning
Our journey started in the same way
It shall be at the end
Our journey will end the same way it started
We will come full circle to begin again
We will start a new journey to happiness and success
Search your heart before you die
Reflect on your life before it's too late
Is the cost way too high
Did we have to pay too high a price to achieve happiness and success?
To explain all the tears
To account for all the hardships we faced
We have caused throughout the years
Difficulties we caused others as we pursued our own happiness and success
When everything is finished
When our journey comes to an end
And we've done all that we can
After we have exhausted all efforts to achieve happiness and success
Will we come full circle to begin again
Will we get another chance to start a new journey to happiness and success
Lyrics © FOX MUSIC, INC., Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER JOHN (AUS) GORDON, IVA DAVIES, RICHARD LEO TOGNETTI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind