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.
The Night Owls
Little River Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's got a need he just can't beat
Out on the floor, he shuffles his feet away
He'll get the girl 'cause he looks so fine
He's gonna win her every time
He knows he will, he's dressed to kill
He's a night owl
Move on
There's a heart of a night owl callin'
To belong
She's cryin' in the night
Be strong
And find the heart of the night owl fallin'
Stay up till dawn
Until the night is gone
What will become of the restless kind
Where do they go when they've done their time
Wearin' their hearts out on the line
For all to see
Must be the gypsy in their soul
They have a need to rock and roll
They always will
They're out there still
They're the night owls
Move on
There's a heart of a night owl callin'
To belong
She's cryin in the night
Be strong
And find the heart of the night owl fallin'
Stay up till dawn
Until the night is gone
There's a bar right across the street
He's got a need he just can't beat
Out on the floor he shuffles his feet away
He'll get the girl 'cause he looks so fine
He's gonna win her every time
He knows he will, he's out there still
He's a night owl
So move on
There's a heart of a night owl callin'
To belong
He's cryin' in the night
Be strong
And find the heart of the night owl fallin'
Stay up till dawn until the night is gone
The night goes on and on
Until the night is gone.
The Night Owls is a song that describes the nightlife and the people who frequent clubs and bars in the evening. It talks of a man who spends his evenings at the same bar, where he dances with girls and tries to win them over with his charming attitude. The chorus refers to the "heart of a night owl," which could be interpreted as a longing for companionship, the desire to belong, or simply an appreciation for the night.
The second verse of the song shifts to a more introspective tone, questioning the fate of those who enjoy the nightlife. The lyrics suggest that these individuals may wear their hearts out for all to see, but they still have a need to be free and "rock and roll." They are the "night owls" who continue to stay up late, even after the rest of the world has gone to sleep.
Overall, The Night Owls is a fun, upbeat song with a catchy melody that celebrates the nightlife culture. The lyrics give insight into the persona and lifestyle of those who live for the night, and the chorus is a poignant reminder of the universal need for companionship and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a bar right across the street
The singer observes a bar that he/she can see from some distance away.
He's got a need he just can't beat
The man that the singer sees has a strong urge or desire for something that he cannot resist.
Out on the floor, he shuffles his feet away
The man is dancing and moving around the dance floor.
He'll get the girl 'cause he looks so fine
The man is confident that he will be able to attract and impress women because of his appearance.
He's gonna win her every time
The man believes that he can always successfully charm women.
He knows he will, he's dressed to kill
The man is sure of his ability to attract women, and he believes that he looks very attractive.
He's a night owl
The man is someone who stays up very late and enjoys nightlife.
There's a heart of a night owl callin'
The artist feels that there is an inner part of someone that desires to be a night owl.
To belong
This part of the night owl wants to fit in or be a part of the nightlife culture.
She's cryin' in the night
The girl mentioned earlier in the song is upset or emotional at night.
Be strong
The singer encourages the night owl to be strong or resilient in order to achieve their desires.
And find the heart of the night owl fallin'
The artist hopes that the night owl will find the passion and desire to embrace nightlife.
Stay up till dawn
The singer encourages the night owl to stay up very late into the night.
Until the night is gone
The singer wants the night owl to continue enjoying nightlife until it comes to an end.
What will become of the restless kind
The singer wonders what will happen to people who are always looking for something new and exciting to do.
Where do they go when they've done their time
The artist wonders where people who have spent a lot of time in nightlife culture go when they're done.
Wearin' their hearts out on the line
These people are very open and emotionally invested in their nightlife activities.
For all to see
Their passion for nightlife is obvious to anyone who pays attention to them.
Must be the gypsy in their soul
The singer believes that the restlessness that makes people love nightlife is a part of their personality.
They have a need to rock and roll
These people have a strong desire to engage in exciting and energetic activities like dancing.
They always will
The artist believes that these people will always be passionate about nightlife.
They're out there still
These people are still out there enjoying nightlife.
They're the night owls
These people are the night owls who love and embrace nighttime culture.
The night goes on and on
The night seems endless.
Until the night is gone.
The night will continue until the sun comes up.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GRAHAM GOBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mbgrafix
If you like LRB, then check out SCB! They have some overlapping styles with amazing hooks and butter smooth harmonies!
SAMPLE 1: https://youtu.be/XGfr0jCASkI
SAMPLE 2: https://youtu.be/s8qd4Lj74X4
SAMPLE 3: https://youtu.be/7umQZvTYQIU
SAMPLE 4: https://youtu.be/5PHPcXPXgi0
SAMPLE 5: https://youtu.be/2_6IEILnbL0
@monkeydabloon1499
There is a bar right across the street
He's got a need he just can't beat
Out on the floor he shuffles his feet away
He'll get the girl 'cause he looks so fine
He's gonna win her every time
He knows he will, he's dressed to kill, he's a night owl
Move on, there's a howl of a night owl calling
To belong, she's crying in the night
Be strong, find the heart of a night owl falling
Stay up till dawn until the night has gone
What will become of the restless kind
Where do they go when they've done their time
Wearing their hearts out on the line for all to see
Must be the gypsy in their soul
They have a need to rock and roll
They always will, they're out there still
They're the night owls
Move on, there's a howl of a night owl calling
To belong, she's crying in the night
Be strong, find the heart of a night owl falling
Stay up till dawn until the night has gone
There is a bar right across the street
He's got a need he just can't beat
Out on the floor he shuffles his feet away, yeah, yeah
He'll get the girl 'cause he looks so fine
He's gonna win her every time
He knows he will, he's out there still, he's a night owl
Move on, there's a howl of a night owl calling
To belong, she's crying in the night (the night goes on and on)
Be strong, find the heart of a night owl falling
Stay up till dawn until the night has gone
@logancarter2134
Best vocal harmony and top notch musicianship. They don't make them like this anymore.
@HealingOil
YES!!!💃🏾🎶💃🏾🎵💃🏾🎶💃🏾🎶💃🏾🎵🎶💃🏾💗
@balintnagy8490
just be patient 😉 History always repeats itself and music is no exception 😊 I'm on my way to bring the 'good music' back 😁
@balintnagy8490
that's my vocal cover of my favourite ccr song
https://youtu.be/_VeFDSmA79E
@mbgrafix
If you like LRB, then check out SCB! They have some overlapping styles with amazing hooks and butter smooth harmonies!
SAMPLE 1: https://youtu.be/XGfr0jCASkI
SAMPLE 2: https://youtu.be/s8qd4Lj74X4
SAMPLE 3: https://youtu.be/7umQZvTYQIU
SAMPLE 4: https://youtu.be/5PHPcXPXgi0
SAMPLE 5: https://youtu.be/2_6IEILnbL0
@kathylovingshimer6708
Agree
@timjensen6968
Great song from one of the most underrated bands ever.
@KittyGrizGriz
Nope, not the {Overrated} underrated, “term” again … 😛
@whutzat
I agree!
Along with ELO and several others.
@queenoflight6033
Only to those that didn't have a Little River in their town