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.
Take Me Home
Little River Band Lyrics
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Take me away to the sunshine land
I've had enough of this crazy life
Workin' so hard like a mad man
Keep on writin' me mama
Keep on sendin' me news
Keep on wiring me money
Cold, rainy weather
Always getting' me down
Strange talkin' people
Showing me the way
Not what I'm used to
I gotta turn around
Hey, listen mister
I got something to say, yeah
Keep on writin' me mama
Keep on sendin' me news
Keep on wiring me money
Till the blues take me home
Yeah, yeah
Keep on writin' me mama
Keep on sendin' me news
Keep on wiring me money
Till the blues take me home
Take me home, yeah
Take me home, yeah
Take me home, yeah
Take me home darlin', darlin'
Take me home
Take me home, yeah
Take me home
The lyrics of the song "Take Me Home" by Little River Band describe the feelings of the singer who is tired of his monotonous and stressful life. He craves a moment of respite from his hardships and wants to escape to a land where he can enjoy a peaceful life with the one he loves. The repeated phrase "Take me home" emphasizes the yearning for a place that feels more like home than his current location.
The lyrics also contain a sense of nostalgia and homesickness as the singer misses his family and friends. He pleads with his mother to keep writing and sending him news about their lives and to keep sending him money until he can return home. The imagery of cold, rainy weather and strange people adds to the melancholic tone of the song.
Overall, "Take Me Home" is a poignant representation of the human desire for a place of comfort and belonging. It reflects how difficult it can be to leave behind the familiar and adapt to new environments, but it also highlights the strength of human resilience to keep moving forward in search of a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me the hand of the one I love
I want to be with the person I love and hold their hand.
Take me away to the sunshine land
I want to go somewhere sunny and get away from my problems.
I've had enough of this crazy life
I'm tired of the hectic pace of life and need a break.
Workin' so hard like a mad man
I've been working hard and it's making me feel crazy.
Keep on writin' me mama
Please keep writing to me and staying in touch.
Keep on sendin' me news
Please keep me updated on what's happening back home.
Keep on wiring me money
Please keep sending me money until I can return home.
Till the blues take me home
I'm feeling down and homesick, but I'll keep going until I can return home.
Cold, rainy weather
The weather is making me feel depressed and down.
Always getting' me down
The constant bad weather is making me feel sad and hopeless.
Strange talkin' people
The people here are unfamiliar and it's hard to communicate with them.
Showing me the way
They're trying to guide me, but it's difficult to understand their directions.
Not what I'm used to
This is all new and unfamiliar to me.
I gotta turn around
I need to change direction and find my way back home.
Hey, listen mister
Excuse me sir, I have something I want to say.
I got something to say, yeah
I have something important to say and I want to be heard.
Take me home darlin', darlin'
Please take me back home, my dear.
Take me home
I want to go back home and be with the people I love.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BEEB BIRTLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind