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 Other Guy
Little River Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I found out that you want for another smile
We are alone as two different people can be
And it's hurting me so
Just to know that you don't care for me
The other guy won't be around to talk to our kids
He won't understand when you're down the way that I did
I found out that your heart's in another guy
You found out that you're tellin' another lie
We've gone apart and goin' our own separate ways
And you don't understand
Why I love you and want you to stay
The other guy won't be around to talk to our kids
He won't understand when you're down the way that I did
We had it all, you and I, we just need to try again
You don't know it's me that you need
You're thinking of him and I can't compete
Well I'm here to say I still want you back again
The lyrics to Little River Band's song The Other Guy depict a heartbroken man who has just discovered that his partner is seeing someone else. The first verse talks about how he has found out that she cares for another guy and that she wants another smile. This news hits him hard as they are now alone as two different people can be, and he is hurting because he knows she doesn't care for him. The pain of being replaced is evident in his voice as he realizes that he has lost her to someone else.
In the second verse, it is clear that they have gone their separate ways, but he is still trying to make her see reason. He tells her that the other guy won't be around to talk to their kids and that he won't understand her as he did. He tries to remind her of the good times they had and how they just need to try again to make their relationship work. However, he also acknowledges that her heart is in another guy, and she is telling another lie, and thus they are apart, and she does not understand why he still loves her and wants her to stay.
Overall, the song is about the pain of being replaced and trying to win back a lost love. It tries to convey the complexities of human relationships and how sometimes people fall for someone else without realizing the hurt their actions may cause. The man in the song is trying to remind his partner of the love they once shared and convince her to give him another chance.
Line by Line Meaning
I found out that you care for another guy
I discovered that you have feelings for someone else
I found out that you want for another smile
I learned that you desire someone else's affection
We are alone as two different people can be
We are emotionally distant from each other
And it's hurting me so
This is causing me a great deal of pain
Just to know that you don't care for me
The realization that you don't have feelings for me is painful
The other guy won't be around to talk to our kids
If you choose him, he won't be there to communicate with our children
He won't understand when you're down the way that I did
He won't empathize with you in the way that I do
We had it all, you and I, we just need to try again
We had a strong connection but we need to make an effort to rekindle it
I found out that your heart's in another guy
I learned that your heart belongs to someone else
You found out that you're tellin' another lie
You realized that you're not being truthful with yourself or with me
We've gone apart and goin' our own separate ways
We've drifted apart and are moving in different directions
And you don't understand
You're not comprehending my feelings
Why I love you and want you to stay
I love you regardless of the situation and want you to remain with me
You don't know it's me that you need
You're unaware that I'm the one you truly need
You're thinking of him and I can't compete
You're focused on him and I'm unable to win your attention
Well I'm here to say I still want you back again
Despite everything, I still desire to be with you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GRAHAM GOBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Felix Madison
I've always loved this song since it's release in 1983! What a great song that always brings back great memories of my late wife and I, and our three kids. Little River Band was excellent!!!
Nancy Barone
Omg, I loved this song as a kid, and it never left my head. I'd blurt it out from out of nowhere :)
So happy to have found it again!!
Dyah Noor
Love this song very much !! Reminds me of those golden years
Adam
The vibrato in the harmony vocals at the end of each line of the chorus is so good.
Marion Harris
A great band of the past and a great song.
Southside Garage
Great song. Tugs at the heart strings.
GeekBoyMN
Never been married or had kids, but friends and family have gone through breakups and I think of this song when it happens.
Alan Oszy
Love this song a lot, so much meaning to it, L.R. B. was one great band from Australia. Great song to dance to as well as this song will never get old in my mind.
Jean Carpenter
That's real music.... love LRB.
Trixant
Jean Carpenter who doesn’t 🤷♂️