The band shocked conservative middle Australia with their outrageous (for the time) costumes, lyrics, and on-stage activities, leading to seven of the ten tracks on their first album being banned from commercial radio. Much of the group's success derived from its distinctive repertoire, most of which was penned by bassist Macainsh.
Although Skyhooks was not the first Australian rock band to write songs in Australia, about Australians, for Australians (rather than ditties about love or songs about New York or other foreign lands), they were the first band to do so and be commercially successful, and the songs were set apart from much of the pop fare of the time thanks to Macainish's mordant humour.
The 'Hooks were the Australian pop success story of their era. Their first album, Living in the Seventies, rocketed to the top of the charts and stayed there for so long that it became the best selling Australian album ever up to that time, with the follow-up, Ego is not a Dirty Word, coming a close second. The band's success was also widely credited with saving the struggling Mushroom record label and enabling it to develop into the most successful independent Australian label of its time.
Both these LPs were produced by Ross Wilson, former lead singer of Daddy Cool, which had been the most successful Australian rock group of the early 1970s. Wilson championed the group, signing them to a publishing contract and convincing Mushroom Records boss Michael Gudinski to give them a recording contract.
Remarkably, the success of Living in the Seventies was mainly due to the enormous support the band were given by the TV pop show Countdown, rather than support from radio — in fact, most of the tracks on the LP had been banned by commercial radio because of their sex and drug references. Despite the ban, and as a deliberate act of provocation to commercial radio, the ABC's newly established 24-hour rock music station Double Jay chose the album's first track, the provocatively titled "You Just Like Me Cos I'm Good In Bed" as the first track played on air on its first day of broadcasting on January 19, 1975.
Over the next few years, Skyhooks gradually faded from the public eye with the departure of key members, and in 1980 the band announced its break-up in controversial circumstances. The demands for the band to reform were successful in 1983, with a record sum of money being paid for each of the original members to play a series of concerts. Further reformations took place in 1984 and then in 1990 the band finally recorded new material, "Jukebox in Siberia", which shot to the top of the charts.
"Shirley" Strachan and Red Symons both went on to successful careers in Australian commercial television. Symons was for many years a villain-cum-guitarist on the long-running TV show 'Hey Hey It's Saturday.' He was especially known for wielding the gong on the 'Red Faces' talent segment. He now works on ABC radio and writes humorous columns for the press. After the demise of Skyhooks, Starkie still plays locally, Freddie became the drummer in the later lineup of noted Melbourne rock band The Sports, and other acts such as The Bushwackers and the "Old Skydaddys". Greg Macainsh played with John Farnham, and in recent years has been a board member of both APRA and PPCA, and is currently completing a Law Degree. Strachan hosted a popular children's TV show 'Shirl's Neighbourhood' in the early 80s and went on to use his carpentry trade skills on air in various home improvement TV shows. He was also a familiar face at Hawthorn Football Club functions, of which he was a passionate supporter. Sadly, Strachan was killed in an air crash on August 29th, 2001, when the helicopter he was learning to fly crashed into Mount Alexander near Kilcoy, northwest of Brisbane. Strachan died instantly.
A Memorial was held to pay Tribute to Strachan at the Palais Theatre shortly after. Tribute were paid and Guest Vocalist and Producer Ross Wilson assisted on the night.
A Night to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the release of the Living in the 70s album was held in 2004. It was a historic night with several different incarnations of the band performing. The only absences were Graham Strachan and Steve Hill.
The Skyhooks and Steve Hill then reformed in 2005 in Sydney for a One-Off gig. Hill had been diagnosed with Cancer and the Original Skyhooks, Peter Inglis, Peter Starkie, Fred Strauks and Greg Macainsh joined with Hill to show their support.
The name "Skyhooks" comes from an imaginary device created in the book Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator used to hold the elevator up in mid-air.
Toorak Cowboy
Skyhooks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he drives a Lamborghini
The finest thing that ever walked this earth
His flat is just divine
He buys yogurt and buys wine
A million dollars is what he's worth
[Chorus]
Toorak Cowboy, yes, he is
Well, he's a village playboy
Toorak Cowboy, yes, he is
He dyes all his gray ends
And he's got lots of gay friends
He is twenty-nine if he's a day
And he wears tinted glasses
And his girls have got tight arses
And if he's camp he wouldn't like to say
[Chorus]
He'll be at the supper show on Friday night
Goes once a month just to make it look right
At interval he'll say the movie's a drag
As he gets a cigarette from his leather shoulder bag
[Chorus]
Well, he bought his first dope outside the South Yarra Arms
A whole matchbox full in his hot little palms
Nineteen Sixty-Eight and the scene was cool
And all of his friends knew that he wasn't a fool
He knows the antique dealers
And all those other stealers
I'll be glad when he goes overseas
My friends, he don't do nothin'
He just ain't got no stuffin'
He's just another social disease
[Chorus]
Well, he's a village playboy
Toorak Cowboy, yes, he is
The Skyhooks’ song “Toorak Cowboy” has been the subject of much interpretation and analysis since its release in 1974. Its lyrics paint a vivid portrait of a wealthy, flamboyant man living in the affluent Melbourne suburb of Toorak. The singer describes the man’s lifestyle and habits, which include expensive haircuts, a Lamborghini, and a flat that is “just divine.” The man is said to be worth a million dollars, and he frequents events such as supper shows and the cinema.
The man in question is also described as having gray hair, which he dyes, as well as a circle of gay friends. The song implies that the man is somewhat of a playboy, as he is said to have girlfriends with “tight arses.” Despite his flamboyant lifestyle, the man is criticized by the song’s narrator for being a “social disease” and lacking substance.
The lyrics of “Toorak Cowboy” offer a razor-sharp critique of the excesses of the Toorak lifestyle, while also highlighting the irony of those who seek to embody it. As with much of the Skyhooks’ music, the song challenges societal norms and expectations, and offers a subversive take on Australian culture.
Line by Line Meaning
He gets his hair cut at Marini's
He has his hair cut at Marini's.
And he drives a Lamborghini
He drives a Lamborghini car.
The finest thing that ever walked this earth
He believes he's the best person in the world.
His flat is just divine
He thinks his flat is amazing.
He buys yogurt and buys wine
He purchases yogurt and wine.
A million dollars is what he's worth
He's worth a million dollars.
[Chorus]
He is a Toorak Cowboy and a village playboy.
He dyes all his gray ends
He dyes the gray ends of his hair.
And he's got lots of gay friends
He has many gay friends.
He is twenty-nine if he's a day
He's probably around 29 years old.
And he wears tinted glasses
He wears glasses with tinted lenses.
And his girls have got tight arses
The women he dates have toned butts.
And if he's camp he wouldn't like to say
He doesn't want to specify his sexuality.
[Chorus]
He is a Toorak Cowboy and a village playboy.
He'll be at the supper show on Friday night
He plans to attend the supper show on Friday.
Goes once a month just to make it look right
He only goes once a month to appear fashionable.
At interval he'll say the movie's a drag
During the break, he'll claim the movie is boring.
As he gets a cigarette from his leather shoulder bag
He takes a cigarette from his leather bag.
[Chorus]
He is a Toorak Cowboy and a village playboy.
Well, he bought his first dope outside the South Yarra Arms
He purchased his first drug outside the South Yarra Arms.
A whole matchbox full in his hot little palms
He had a full matchbox of drugs in his hands.
Nineteen Sixty-Eight and the scene was cool
It was the year 1968 when drugs were popular.
And all of his friends knew that he wasn't a fool
His friends knew he wasn't stupid.
He knows the antique dealers
He's familiar with antique dealers.
And all those other stealers
He's acquainted with other thieves.
I'll be glad when he goes overseas
People will be happy when he leaves the country.
My friends, he don't do nothin'
He doesn't really do anything important.
He just ain't got no stuffin'
He lacks substance.
He's just another social disease
He's just another corrupt figure in society.
[Chorus]
He is a Toorak Cowboy and a village playboy.
Well, he's a village playboy
He's a fanciful man.
Toorak Cowboy, yes, he is
He's a cowboy in Toorak.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GREGORY J MACAINSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gerardbini3900
Brilliant 🎉 I still play their music just for the appreciation of just how effing good they were as musicians and especially Shirls voice. If it was new music today then they would still be an absolute hit. I remember my sister Sue(RIP) used to tell me a story about when Skyhooks played at a St Bedes/Kilbreda dance when Skyhooks played. Apparently Br Paul pulled the power because he didn’t like the lyrics 😮😂😂😂
@hubertmantz1516
Fantastic! Wish I were back in 1976. What a magical year with Skyhooks at the forefront
@Jenny93771
I was there but still wish I was back there in time, some of the best times of my life❤️😊
@peternicholson233
Quite possibly the only album that had three songs banned from radio in Aus. Long live the memory of Shirl ( Graeme) Strachan . Great singer, front man for Skyhooks- presenter of the "kids" show Shirls Neighbourhood. I used to leg it home from college to watch Shirls Neighbourhood. A small joint, and giggle my way through Ol Poss, Claude the crow etc. Not a children's show. Skyhooks were uniquely Australian, and we are the richer for them, and the poorer without them.
@stephennharle4946
Australian Country and Western!
@sav7568
Back in those days an SUV was called a Toorak Tractor.
@odysseuspsarros4695
So true. I remember it was a famous quote. Today most of us drive an SUV ( Toorak Tractor ) . Including my self LOL.
@ThePaulv12
I did an apprenticeship in Toorak Village at a MB dealer. Every time I walked up to Toorak Rd for morning tea and lunch I used to look at the supercillious conceited rich snobs while humming this song to myself and thinking what hollow empty and unhappy people they all were.
They were looking down at me I'm sure lol.
@tmnl8037
That sounds like the Worrells Mercedes’ place that used to be at Carters Avenue, that ran off Toorak Road. That’s where the gears of Toorak Village is located.
Toorak Village was where I used to go and have a cappuccino occasionally. There used to be a small coffee shop there and Lillian Frank the socialite owned a hairdressing shop next to the cafe. One day I went these to have a coffee and Lillian Frank was sitting near me having her coffee and I pulled my old Motorola mobile phone from my pocket and placed it on the table beside me. All of a sudden Lillian got a fright and said that she thought that She thought that my mobile phone was a pistol that I pulled from my pocket.
Toorak is full of snobs that think they own everything in sight, and will be the first to whinge if someone parks their car in their street. The most miserable people in Australia live at Toorak. They think they are superior to other humans. Whenever they have a hard rubbish collection in Toorak there is nothing good that they toss out because they are way too stingy to buy anything good. Their houses are empty and they kept all their money in the bank and do not want to spend any of their money. They have nothing to toss out because they are miserable bastards!
@Galfromdownunder
Best, most original Aussie band ever.