The Countdown Years: '70s/'80s Pop

In 1973, the number of homegrown pop acts on the Aussie charts hit a pitiful all-time low. Then, at the end of '74, came ABC's [i]Countdown[/i], the new gold standard in pop and the perfect show for the advent of colour TV. A steady flow of legendary bands got their big break on [i]Countdown[/i]: let's hear it for Skyhooks and Sherbet.

Split Enz arrived from New Zealand just in time for the start of the [i]Countdown[/i] era, but it wasn't until Neil Finn joined his brother Tim in the lineup (in April '77) that the band's glory years began. The frenetic rock-tronica of "I See Red" would give way to the gorgeous "Message to My Girl." In '86, Neil would exit and form Crowded House.

[i]Countdown[/i] in the ’80s was defined by superstars INXS and Men at Work, as well as neo-psychedelic new wavers the Church, who had their first hit in ’81 and found a second wind in 1988 with the lovely “Under the Milky Way.” For sheer melodic brilliance, cue up the irresistible reggae-pop of Kate Ceberano’s “Bedroom Eyes.”

A smart blend of [i]Kommotion[/i] and the U.K.'s [i]Top of the Pops[/i], [i]Countdown[/i] was an instant smash and became the most popular music show in national TV history. Fronted by Ian "Molly" Meldrum for the majority of its run (1974-87), [i]Countdown[/i] was the very backbone of world-class Aussie pop — the place where homegrown talent could springboard to international acclaim. These Essentials take you right back to the magic of that Sunday night slot, when we witnessed pop and rock history in the making.