The most famous line-up consisted of prolific songwriters Ross Wilson (ex Daddy Cool) and guitarist Eric McCusker (who luckily pestered Wilson to let him join, doing three auditions, after the initial outing of Mondo Rock had lost momentum) as well as Paul Christie on bass (ex-Kevin Borich Express, who later formed The Party Boys), John James "J. J." Hackett, ex-Stars, on drums, and the versatile James Black (now leading the RocKwiz TV show house band on SBS) on keyboards and guitar. This line-up recorded the second LP Chemistry, out July 1981. The first LP was Primal Park (1979).
The group had numerous successes on the Australian charts. Early hits included Fugitive Kind, Chemistry, State Of The Heart, and Cool World - the latter three collected on their award-winning second album Chemistry. 1980s teen-idol Rick Springfield recorded a version of McCusker's State Of The Heart some years later, making the U.S Top 40.
Further success followed in 1982 with the release of their third LP Nuovo Mondo, spawning the Top 10 single No Time, as well as the Top 40 hits The Queen And Me and the haunting In Another Love. John Farnham recorded a version of A Touch Of Paradise contained on this album, which became a Top 20 single from his 1986 Whispering Jack album.
They had to wait until 1984's The Modern Bop LP for their biggest success however. It came from the McCusker penned "Come Said the Boy", a provocative tale about the loss of virginity , which was banned at the time of release by many radio stations including Sydney's then top-rated 2SM. This failed to stop the song's momentum though, and it went on to become the band's most successful single, peaking at number 2 on the Australian charts in 1984, and is still played on radio today. The album featured two more minor hits - Baby Wants To Rock, and the title track The Modern Bop. In the same year, Ross Wilson wrote the song Bop Girl which his wife Pat Wilson recorded. The song was a major hit in Australia, cracking the Top 5.
Things were cooling by 1986's new recording Boom Baby Boom, however the group still scored a further two hit singles - Rule Of Threes and Primitive Love Rites - the latter being a minor hit in the U.S.
1990 saw their last recording of new material as Mondo Rock, in the Why Fight It LP. The singles released were Things Are Hotting Up and I Had You In Mind, however the group seemed to be running out of steam.
They still play together from time to time, and more recently starred in the 2006 Countdown Spectacular concerts (which were seen by more than 100,000 people throughout Australia), performing a medley of Cool World and Summer Of '81, and a full version of Come Said The Boy.
Ross Wilson dabbled in a solo career and had success with the single Bed Of Nails. (from Wikipedia)
Rule Of Threes
Mondo Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're young so young you should be free
Take whatever you need
I'll still be here when you come back to me
Deep in the night when you need me there
I'll whisper the words to sooth your head
Stay as long as you like
But there's one thing you should make clear to me
Turn and talk to me girl
Please set my mind at ease
Do we go on as two?
Or do we end by the rule of threes
Go wherever you choose
You know I understand when you go stepping out
See whoever you please
Who you see I just won't think about
Deep in the night as I watch you sleep
I wonder about the secrets you keep
Turn and talk to me girl
Please set my mind at ease
Do we go on as two?
I won't play by the rule of threes
So in the rule of threes someone tries
To build a tall dark tower made of lies
But it will tumble down the day
The day that I find out oh yeah yeah
Deep in the night when you come home so high
It's hard for me not to be a jealous guy
Turn and talk to me girl
Please set my mind at ease
Do we go on as two?
Or do we fall by the rule of threes
Come on talk to this fool
Find me too tender to tease
Do we go on as two?
I won't play by the rule of threes
Talk to me baby
Set my mind at ease
Talk to me baby
I want to be your number one not just number three
The song "Rule Of Threes" by Mondo Rock is a poignant and questioning piece about love and fidelity. The singer tells his love interest to do whatever she pleases and take whatever she needs, but make it clear to him whether they will continue as a couple or end things according to the "rule of threes." The rule of threes is a term used to describe the idea that if two people continue in a relationship for long enough, the third person (a lover) is bound to enter and ruin the relationship. The singer expresses his fears and questions whether their love is strong enough to overcome such a rule. He watches her sleep at night and wonders about the secrets she keeps and whether she is being unfaithful to him. He wants her to talk to him and set his mind at ease, because he wants to be her number one, not just her number three.
Throughout the song, there is an intricate interplay between the lyrics and the music. The mournful guitar riffs perfectly capture the mood of the singer's doubts and questions. The bridge section, where the singer begs the girl to talk to him, is particularly powerful, as his raw emotions are laid bare against a backdrop of haunting guitar work. The lyrics themselves are also skillfully written, using wordplay and metaphor to express complex feelings in a simple and moving way.
Line by Line Meaning
Do whatever you want
You have the freedom to do whatever you desire.
You're young so young you should be free
You should enjoy your youth and be free to make your own choices.
Take whatever you need
You can take whatever you require in life.
I'll still be here when you come back to me
I'll be waiting for you when you return.
Deep in the night when you need me there
I'll be here for you at night when you need me.
I'll whisper the words to sooth your head
My words will calm your troubled mind.
Stay as long as you like
You can stay with me for as long as you desire.
But there's one thing you should make clear to me
However, there is one thing you need to be explicit about.
Turn and talk to me girl
Face me and have an honest conversation.
Please set my mind at ease
Make me less anxious by telling the truth.
Do we go on as two?
Will we remain together as a couple?
Or do we end by the rule of threes
Or do we break up as per the 'rule of threes'?
Go wherever you choose
You can go anywhere you want.
You know I understand when you go stepping out
You know I understand when you spend time with someone else.
See whoever you please
You can see whomever you wish.
Who you see I just won't think about
I won't think about whom you are seeing.
I wonder about the secrets you keep
I wonder about the things you are keeping to yourself.
So in the rule of threes someone tries
The 'rule of threes' suggests that someone will try to deceive you.
To build a tall dark tower made of lies
They will construct a tower of lies so high that it could darken the sky.
But it will tumble down the day
However, their lies will be exposed and they will face the consequences.
The day that I find out oh yeah yeah
The day I discover the truth.
Deep in the night when you come home so high
At night, when you come home feeling elevated.
It's hard for me not to be a jealous guy
It's difficult for me to avoid being envious.
Come on talk to this fool
Please talk to me, even if I'm being foolish.
Find me too tender to tease
Don't play around with my emotions because I'm too sensitive.
I won't play by the rule of threes
I won't follow the 'rule of threes' and will remain committed to you.
Talk to me baby
Communicate with me, my love.
I want to be your number one not just number three
I want to be your top priority, not just your third choice.
Writer(s): Eric Maltby Mccusker
Contributed by Makayla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JCStorm76
Underrated Mondo Rock song
@aus80srockradio94
Yes it certainly is.
@johnhiggins7530
Mono Rock are underatted BIG time ... too cool and classy for so many ... who secretly liked them
@WocklessGamingforAnimeMoms
Underrated Band
@why2607
Searching for this song. I'd forgotten what it was called. Finally found it and it's as good as I remember.
@VictoriaBitter1976
I first heard this as a kid 30 years ago and still love this :)
@christinachetcuti5067
Love this band 💖
@sallys7480
Brilliant track! !
@marlenesullivan3113
REALLY L♡VE THIS SONG OH MEMORIES🕺❤🎧
@michaelorchard8129
Childhood memory's.