Cold Chisel Week - Day 4 - Flame Trees

[@dgallax]

" ... and number 3 is never say her name". There's a whole backstory written in those few words. Genius songwriting.

[@alliegal45]

The fact that 40 years down the road from the origins of Chisel, that their songs and musicianship still stand up against whoever decides anything or anyone is better … we’re all still playing and singing their tunes, that won’t happen to the dross that is out there these days ❤

[@sean---the-other-one]

It’s not massively dated either. That basic format of drums/bass/guitar/keys may not always be the flavour of the day, but it’s real and not coloured to a particular decade. I’m sure this will be just as listenable and relatable and enjoyable in another 40 years.

[@arrongoodwin3339]

I love 80s music but some of it is dated. Even INXS great singer in MH but some of the songs pretty average. Chisel nailed it every time and the music is timeless

[@TheThamesmen]

Quality lasts whilst pop bursts

[@noone6559]

Yes mate..... totally agree.... I mean besides Jimmy is a legend... had his troubles but he is a lovely man.... my mum was the Adolescent Clinical Nurse Consultant at the adolescent ward of Westmead Hospital in the 80's.... and Jimmy used to turn up to see the kids... she'd come home and tell me and I was so jealous lmao....

[@alliegal45]

@@noone6559 lucky kids…lucky mum! 💜

[@Cubesy73]

No road trip is complete without Flame Trees with everyone singing along.

[@marionbray6774]

Yep, you can't do any country driving in Aust without Chisel's Flame Trees on the play list. 😄

[@kelloneill74]

As a lover of good writing, this song really impresses me. It's storytelling at it's finest. The opening lyrics establish that a young man has come back to his hometown after some time and then we're hit with these lines : Number One is to find some friends to say 'You're doing well, after all this time you boys look just the same.'. Number two is the Happy Hour of one of two hotels and settle in to play 'Do you remember so and so....?' Number Three is never say her name..... I mean, man...those last lines really paint a picture of where the narrator's head is at.

[@TheThamesmen]

Nice synopsis. Thank you

[@NickJewlachow-of3yh]

Don Walker: genius. And actual rocket scientist

[@bootymanager]

@@NickJewlachow-of3yh Don't forget Steve, who wrote the music.

[@theread59]

Their finest moment. Absolutely brilliant. I could listen to this one over and over again. The line "Do you remember nothing stopped us on the field in our day" brings tears to my eyes nearly 40 years after I first heard it.

[@michaelzerk]

Evocative line! Always gets to me too.

[@chrishampson6023]

It was only 40 years later I realised how great that line is. I feel it every time I hear it. Best chisel song!

[@TheThamesmen]

Need to go listen again. Thanks

[@adriang6259]

yep, every time.

[@absinthedream9668]

Fun fact when Springsteen's wife met Jimmy Barnes she told him Flame Trees was her favourite Cold Chisel song.

[@TheThamesmen]

Nice. Small world stuff

[@kdavies3105]

Actually when they met back stage in NY after Springsteen's Broadway show, she told Jimmy that Flame Trees was 1 of her 2 favourite songs ever, not just Chisel songs, but all songs.

[@kittycatcage]

This song became the anthem of those perfect moments singing hard around a backyard bbq with good friends, beer and mosquitoes. As a bulletproof twenty something Aussie in the 80's, it was our patriotic duty to worship Cold Chisel in good or bad times. Thank you for sharing these reactions.

[@Philby17]

At the emotional peak of the song, he's trying not to remember the girl he left but on seeing the young couple... 'And I'm wondering if he'll go or if he'll stay' ...realises he's projecting his situation - it's too much so he goes back to 'telling the biggest lies' with friends, 'Do you remember nothing stopped us on the (sports) field in our day?' It's superb songwriting.

[@ianreed9364]

It may take more than just a memory to make me cry…but this song’ll do it every time.

[@tonyphillips7358]

G'Day Thamesmen. It's 26.6.24 here in Sydney ... bedtime ... time to boil the jug for my Earl Grey and the hot water bottle. Countdown-Clock is on! 107 sleeps before 12.10.24 when I will see the Chisel live '50 years the best of tour'. 20 dates, sold out in under three hours. (Waiting list for the GA, paddock gigs in the vineyards, no thanks). I can walk to the venue. Bow River once more before I 'pop me clogs'.

[@Bellas1717]

Totally agree with you. We were very happy to keep our musical treasures close to home.

[@kane29842]

This is without a doubt the quintessential chisel song. It would top every poll of 'best chisel song' and pretty clearly defines WHY they are held in such high esteem. Their song writing is phenomenal and their subject matter is relatable to almost everyone. All backed up by superb musicianship and vocals

[@garypascoe5161]

From the beginning to later days, a fave and classic live chisel song is Merry Go Round, check it out.

[@Dr_KAP]

Definitely in the top 5, with Bow River and Saturday Night

[@Bazza1025b]

Quintessential Chisel songs: Khe Sanh, Flame Trees, When The War Is Over, Bow River, Goodbye Astrid, & Cheap Wine. (Really just too many). Edit: fark, forgot Saturday Night.

[@clarkditter5975]

I think of Cold Chisel as a tough, energetic, thoughtful & passionate rock n' roll band, and I see all of those qualities reflected in the song "Letter to Alan". Not only are all these things articulated so clearly in the lyrics, you can feel the anger, passion and sadness in the music.

[@AndyViant]

Possibly their most powerful song. "Number 3 is NEVER SAY HER NAME" is one of the most powerful lines in Aus Rock History.

[@peterbenson6862]

In response to your comments on Chisel not being recognised outside of Australia, they did try to break into the US market about 1980 or 81. The US record labels didn't treat them with much respect. When they came back to Australia, Jimmy Barnes wrote the song "You've got nothing I want" in response to their treatment.

[@hudsonsled454]

This is a special song, everyone has a flame tree of some kind. Perfect reaction fellas 👌, it is sad that people around the world didn't get to enjoy this band as us Aussies did growing up.

[@ozgal6929]

My fav Chisel song ever. It makes me cry 😢

[@steve--smith]

Until you have seen that band in full flight, with Barnesy swilling a half empty bottle of vodka, perched atop one of the PA speakers, singing with the entire crowd transfixed, your late teens haven't been nearly as rich. St Kilda Town Hall, 1981. Memories.

[@Gaffa3007]

Illawarra Flame Trees. I live in the Illawarra (in a city called Wollongong) and there is something to be said for a combination of Flame Tree red in amongst the blue of the Jacaranda. Beautiful.

[@ianscott424]

Expecting "Breakfast at Sweethearts" tomorrow... in saying that, it can be part of Chisel Week 2 because it's an easily filled week!

[@-jacinta-]

I'm hoping for Saturday Night tomorrow. Then again, there's Choir Girl., or Cheap Wine, or Forever Now...... You're right, Chisel week 2 is needed.

[@fayel5992]

Thanks Chris another great version of this song. I just sat and listened to it again and concentrated on the words Jimmy was singing, you realise how great a singer he is, and what a great songwriter Don is, the emotion that Jimmy produces singing those words gave me goosebumps. Jimmy is a natural brilliant harmoniser and loves to sing with other singers and he does the harmony and he blends in so well. Jimmy and Mossy sing and blend smoothly, I used to think Jimmy did the higher harmony with Ian but he doesn’t always sometimes they switch and Ian does the higher harmony. There are lots more songs so you could easily do a 2nd or 3rd week. So far you have done songs between 1978-1983, they have been writing songs up until 2019.

[@Mflash63]

I love this song, it is one of their finest, right up there with Bow River, Khe Sanh & Saturday Night. Thanks again for giving some homage to our beloved Chisels'

[@julianaFinn]

Shout out to Don Walker, the writer of so many brilliant lyrics... this is why Chisel still hits so hard. The lyrics are timeless, and the energy mixed with a mish-mash of styles just makes them stand forever. I wish more channels did Chisel. They are world-class...... "oh, who needs this sentimental bulls*it anyway"...

[@redward13]

Hi I totally agree, but Steve Prestwich wrote that track. They are best band in the world as far as I'm concerned. 👍

[@julianaFinn]

@redward13 I thought Walker did the lyrics while someone else did the music? Eh, I'm most likely wrong but the point still stands lol

[@mikeschenk4730]

I've tried listening to all of the members of Chisel separately with their outside projects. It never has the same energy as all of them together. And I think they all have a tendency to curb the other's bad musical tendencies as well.

[@richardcuttler7734]

@@redward13 I once danced with a girl who danced with a Roady who heard from a drummer that when Ian Moss came to Don Walker with the line, "strap my knee bones to the ground" Don said OK..... and filled in the rest of the song and shared the royalties etc with Mossy.😊

[@bootymanager]

Steve wrote the music, Don the lyrics. ​@@redward13

[@ThePiquet888]

Bsst pub band ever! Prob my fav chisel song ever! So much emotion.. and soooo down to earth!

[@TheThamesmen]

Yup

[@hiltos]

Flame trees is my favourite chisel song, always brings back memories of my home town back in Australia and occasionally visiting, catching up with mates, people who never left and those like me who couldn't wait to leave. And never say her name, there is always that one person.

[@michaelwebb5678]

Grow up working poor in a regional Australian town. You reach the age of somethingteen and know that you have to leave everything you have ever known and simultaneously know you can never know again. That is Flame Trees.

[@lesliedavis2185]

I do love this one, I say that every day don’t I. Flame trees is a lovely song. One does wonder, if they had cracked the world market would they be the same? They were pretty hard living. Jimmy has calmed down a lot now. Would he have survived the world. I don’t mind that we kept them to ourselves .

[@deeanddude]

I agree with both of you fine, upstanding 🤣😂 gentlemen that the rest of the world that hasn’t heard Chisel are poorer for it. Every day needs some Chisel! Thank you gents for taking the time to honor such legends

[@JohnWalker-vs5rz]

As a huge fan of Classic Aussie Rock living in the UK I often asked myself the same question..the Aussies have produced world class rock music, much of which is rarely heard outside of Australia. The official video of Flame Trees is worth a watch..it tells the story of the song very well. So, how about an Angels week. They have a great catalogue of massive Australian hits. Fronted by Doc Neeson. Also the video of Paul Kelly's 'How to Make Gravy' should be featured by you in the run up to Christmas. Aussie sentimentality at its best.

[@amygone2pot]

The 2021 version!

[@JohnWalker-vs5rz]

@@amygone2pot If you're talking about 'How To Make Gravy' I prefer the original official video. Speaking as a pom the sight of an Aussie band playing in the heat surrounded by Christmas decorations is a big contrast to the dark and the damp we experience in the UK around Christmas time.

[@megsybond]

My sister was obsessed with Jimmy Barnes and Cold Chisel. We played this song and 'When the War is Over' at her funeral.

[@terrifryday3641]

And she's wondering if he'll go or if he'll stayyyyy. That line gives me goosebumps every frking time ❤

[@seanmcwha9325]

Loved your discussion post reaction! The rabbit hole is quite deep lads. Good luck emerging from it! 😉👍🏼👍🏼

[@donellefeltham]

😊On 1 of Bruce’s tour’s in Australia, I think it was somewhere around the Hunter region and I think it was somewhere around around 2014, but Jimmy joined Bruce and E Street on stage and it was epic in every way.Love your Channel guy’s.❤️🇦🇺

[@arrongoodwin3339]

Selfishly glad they were never discovered. I've got to see Barnesy dozens of times and Mossy in small venues. JB used to tour the NZ beach pubs almost every summer and at one stage we saw in 3 or 4 New Year's Eves in a row at a Barnesy gig. Small enough also to meet him and his wonderful family. And Chisel shows were just on another level. The world's loss has been our gain, the music of our youth and still love it 40 years later

[@floydster23]

Chris, if there's another Aussie week, I think it's time for The Triffids "Wide Open Road", Go-Betweens "Streets of Your Town", Gangajang "Sounds of Then", Goanna "Solid Rock" and Moving Pictures "What About Me"". The very best of Aussie sentimental music.

[@mattcurr9931]

geez, thats a murderer's row of songs right there. legitimate all-time classics

[@nancyharvey7969]

Absolutely agree with that list!

[@iancremmins4727]

this song never gets old

[@celticshamrock67]

I have arranged for this song to be played at my funeral. It is the story of life to me....

[@bradhewetson]

Has somebody else has said-you blogs absolutely fantastic-so respectful and appreciative you are-just love your comments and reactions.

[@TheThamesmen]

Wow, thank you!

[@jennifermason9557]

I love this. I remember the very first time I ever heard this. I was too young to really appreciate them at the time, but this was an instant classic. I have loved it ever since that very first hearing. It would have been their signature song if Khe Sanh didn't exist. So many gorgeous covers of this.. My favourite is Sarah Blasko's. It's one of the saddest songs. I think it really speaks to men in a way that many songs don't. That sense of relationship breakdown and longing. The US record execs did not know what to do with them. They ended up the opening act for bands that were so middle of the road that they were barely rock. The record execs also wanted to 'smooth' out their sound (ie. make them more middle of the road). I always think that they wanted another Little River Band or Air Supply. Don't get me wrong - they are great in their own way, but a very different market in the US. They were also told to tone down their live act. It was endlessly frustrating for the band. They fought with each other, fought with the record execs and Jimmy fought with excess. It all went south... Jimmy did have a couple of big hits in the US later (Working class man being the biggest). Apparently, Khe Sanh was fairly well known with returned Vietnam Vets in the US after it's release but it was too explicit to be played on radio there. Choir Girl probably still wouldn't get radio play now. Chisel did end up with something of a cult following in the US with those who 'got' them.

[@BJ-uy1cl]

Why was is so important to make it in US, these guys were worshiped in Australia and are still such a well respected band. This band knew exactly what they were prepared to do and how they wanted to live.

[@mikeschenk4730]

To be fair, the intro to it says Jimmy Barnes didn't want international stardom. He wanted to go to his farm and spend time with his family.

[@PP-gy8gg]

I suppose it's the fact we knew they were brilliant. I was reading the motley Crue book and in it they mention that they thought they were pretty good but there was whispers of a couple of other great bands out there. The band's were U2 and Chisel. Imagine what could have been..m

[@ozzybarnes4225]

Cold Chisel did go over to the U.S but at the time the record producer that was going to sign them was more interested in going to a dogs funeral or birthday, but that was that flew back to Oz nothing ventured nothing gained.😢

[@ozzybarnes4225]

And Cold Chisel didn't get gun shy , they didn't want to play those games .

[@ValleyBanger]

Absolutely correct gents in your assumptions. So very underrated, one of the very best of their time. I'm so fortunate to have seen them many many times growing up in South Australia where they formed. We were so fortunate to have so many great Australian bands in that era, earlier and it continued on - The Masters Apprentice's, The Easybeats, Daddy Cool, Spectrum, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, AC/DC, Supernaut, The Angels, Skyhooks, The Divinyls, INXS, Midnight Oil, The Choirboys, Noiseworks, Nick Cave, The Church, The Saints, The Triffids, and they kept coming through the 90s - Spiderbait, Powderfinger, Silverchair, You am I, Regurgitator and on.... You should really check out The Easybeats and their members profound involvement in the music industry, Stevie Wright and in particular Harry Vanda and George Young (older brother to Malcolm and Angus Young from AC/DC), and their duo Flash and the Pan with their songs Hey St Peter and Down among the dead men, and the songs they wrote and bands and acts they managed after, thats worth a few weeks on its own, and again how screwed the Easybeats were by their management and record label. Also Powderfinger, worth a couple weeks, and again so underrated internationally

[@stevenhopwood8195]

Chisel great Aus group. This song is probably my most favourite one, I have nothing against any of their songs but this one has a special place. ❤️🤘🎸🎻🇦🇺

[@waynekasmar4401]

"Oh, the flame trees will blind a weary driver." I believe that Grafton, where Don Walker grew up, had an annual jackaranda festival, but instead of the spectacular violet of those trees he went with the red of the Illawarra Flame Trees. The Illawarra region is south of Sydney while Grafton is well north of it.

[@TheThamesmen]

Over where I live in Los Angeles we have a lot of Jacaranda trees and I guess originally imported from Oz?

[@mickthornton8440]

@@TheThamesmen think they are native to South Africa and thrive in Australia

[@mickthornton8440]

I remember hearing that he was going to use jacaranda trees but it wouldn't work so went with flame trees

[@waynekasmar4401]

@@mickthornton8440 My encyclopedia says they are native to tropical America.

[@mickthornton8440]

@@waynekasmar4401 thanks Wayne for that info as I always thought they were from South Africa. Just googled and found this "Jacaranda mimosifolia is regarded as an invasive species in parts of South Africa and Queensland, Australia, where it can out-compete native species"

[@markmccullagh7539]

jimmys brother swannee is something to behold. the cover if i was a carpenter a must listen to a cross between jimmy and brian johnson a must hear

[@rickfairman5640]

Great band that is all about the music. Just straight forward rock and roll.

[@DJISnT74]

Flame Trees of Thica was part of the inspiration of the song. This song runs through the mind of any Aussie as they drive back into their old town of their youth - and if you think of a place of your youth and visist it, you will see the nostalgia hitting home with this song. This is a fitting bookend to their original decade run [although 'The Party's Over' is also very telling]. The official video has the band members as Extras in and around town, and Barnes [as he had totally split from the band by it's release] only shows up in the clip through the window [the clip is from Wild Thing from the Last Stand concert].

[@JoTheSnoop]

My maternal Grandfather was born in Grafton, NSW and my Mum's side of the family love putting this song on and singing this song to the top of their lungs..

[@barnowl5774]

Well now the world has the opportunity to listen to ALL of our great Aussie musicians via You Tube. I also love watching such people 'go down the rabbit hole' of ALL out great artists.

[@TheThamesmen]

We have covered a few and will do more!

[@penrite01]

Chisel's " Saturday night" or " Rising Sun" but I think you've done them both..... maybe " Cheap wine" Thanks maties.... from Melbourne

[@redward13]

Hi from NZ. They are my favourite band for 35 years. Thanks for that it's Awesome to see other people get Chisel. Some people will never get the opportunity to. I have put many family and friends onto them. And Jimmy and moss on their solo stuff

[@Whaleydavey]

Nearly fell off my seat with the Proclaimers statement. LOL

[@kellyrobson5933]

Star Hotel is a classic song bout a riot at The Star Hotel back in the day. Also the TV week award show night when Chisel went berserk😮

[@sean---the-other-one]

I’ll drop a comment on the next A&A video - I think it’ll drop here the day after tomorrow. As for chisels Week 2, that’s an absolute yes from me. I would even advocate a full album run through of either East or Circus Animals (or both). And which song to do with A&A as a collaboration, my suggestion would be the studio version of either Bow River or Saturday Night or Standing On The Outside.

[@georgeibrahim7945]

Their music is timeless

[@neilgill1639]

Great reaction again fellas. Thanks for your interest in Aussie bands and artists. FYI Cold Chisel are known as "The Chisels", well in Melbourne anyway. Keep up your great humour and reactions gents 🙂

[@TheThamesmen]

Thanks for the info!

[@disvert9355]

I'm Aussie, love and grew up listening to Cold Chisel, one of the all time greats, and I struggle to understand Jimmy sometimes, new listeners must struggle.

[@wilks6]

Often, Aussie bands were working against not only having limited radio exposure in other countries, but record companies doing shite deals that meant they were indifferent to Aussie music, I suspect often because it would overshadow US or UK artists on their roster. It wasn't just Chisel that were criminally ignored. There were dozens. Midnight Oil had some o/seas success, as did INXS. But brilliant Australian acts like Divinyls, Rose Tattoo, Models, The Black Sorrows, Hunters & Collectors, so many more. All deserved to be way bigger.

[@RAF286]

Don Walker is probably the best song writer Australia has produced.

[@sportsfanivosevic9885]

Don't forget Paul Kelly

[@melindatanner5853]

Tim Rogers

[@57chevisawsomeness]

Ivor Davies

[@A_nony_mous]

Harry Vanda and George Young deserve a mention too.

[@greybirdo]

Don Walker is great, but nobody this side of Dylan is better than PK.

[@ChrisDavis-dw3hr]

Four walls is a great song too. To many good Chisel songs. You need 2 weeks for sure.

[@peaked_aussie]

Ohh I forgot about that one! Going to have a listen after this :)

[@mattcurr9931]

the bathurst races "riot" and subsequent incarceration. brilliant track. Don Walker>Paul Kelly, which is the highest of praises

[@croccles4680]

Gives me great memories of Saturday mornings with my mum cleaning the house and chisel blaring at full volume and great times in my childhood

[@seanmcwha9325]

Umm…I warned you guys a while ago that a cold chisel week would turn into a cold chisel month! And then you’d need more!!!

[@YobboBear]

Not to mention the rest of the great Aussie songs

[@jimdavid7710]

I feared-up listening, the sentimentality is humongous. Looking back, you appreciate how good these guys were/are. Keep going lads, there are soo many cherries, Standing on the Outside, is another… uniquely Aussie as well.

[@alphaomega7191]

Possibly their best song in terms of pure songwriting. Check out the Jessica Mauboy cover version sometime because it works surprisingly well with female vocals. Alex & Andy are fun to watch.

[@rmw250]

Great song.

[@carolynrose9522]

No gun shyness with the band in America. The industry in America wanted to change their style and they said no. Australia loved and loves them to this day. They knew it and wrote You've Got Nothing I Want referring to making it big in USA and an up yours to USA cos they had it all in OZ. There are mega amount of Chisel tracks to keep you 'two occupied reacting to for months and months. 'Cheap Wine', 'Breakfast at Sweethearts' and 'Too Much Ain't Enough Love' are three good songs to introduce anyone to Chisel.

[@leemccurtayne9489]

The quintessential story of living in an Australian country town.

[@MaryDoyle-ed4rl]

Didn't know if I should post this here but Jimmy and Mossy and the backup singers absolutely nail this! (live at the Basement in Sydney)

[@TheDodge34]

Grafton is my hometown. Don Walker lived there for a while. It's famous for the jacaranda tree l, which has purple flowers. He hose flame trees because he couldn't ryhme anything with jacaranda trees hahahah

[@TheZenith12345]

Brilliant! Loved this week and really enjoyed hearing your take on Chisel. Well done to all who put this week together.

[@TheThamesmen]

Thanks for your support

[@timp1390]

This is my favourite track of theirs I reckon. Very well constructed and resonates well with listeners.

[@peterlinsley4287]

You could do a second week and only do the hits. 1. Water into Wine, 2. Four Walls, 3. Things I love in you, 4. Ita, 5. Standing on the outside. 6. Shipping Steel, 7. Star Hotel, 8. You got nothing I want, 9. Chior Girl, 10. Good bye, 11. Merry-go-round 12. No sense, 13. Last days of summer. 14. Yakusa Girl, 15. Rising Sun.

[@AussieTVMusic]

Lovin' this. Also the Thames TV intro brings back a lot of childhood memories of 70s British Comedies.

[@artistjoh]

With 17 #1 hits and so much else, you will find it easy to do another week of Cold Chisel gold. For example I don't think you have done Breakfast at Sweethearts yet. It reached only #4 in the charts, yet stayed there in the charts for 32 weeks. I have fond memories of Sweethearts. I was thrown out of there around 4am one night for standing on a table and loudly reciting my latest poem. I still don't know if they were more offended by standing on the table or the poem.

[@greybirdo]

‘She doesn’t smile or flirt She just wears that mini skirt’ Golden song from a not-so-golden time.

[@devious05]

They didn't have any number 1s let alone 17.

[@artistjoh]

@@devious05 My bad, the 17 #1's is Barnes combined solo and Cold Chisel hit albums. To quote Wikipedia: "The combination of 14 Australian Top 40 albums for Cold Chisel and 13 charting solo albums, including 17 No. 1s, gives Barnes the highest number of hit albums of any artist in the Australian market."

[@lizconway9102]

OK, you two dudes get it now. They are fantastic musicians. Treasures of Australia. Educate yourselves please!

[@TheThamesmen]

We try!!!! Thanks Alex

[@bradclayton8064]

Jimmy Barnes is an amazing performer. He's about to have a back operation and then he reckons he's going back touring again. No stopping this Aussie Legend. Cold Chisel are simply the best 👌 👍

[@rosiekickett2617]

Totally love all ur reactions 2 our greatest Australian pub band ever

[@TheThamesmen]

We love listening to them!

[@rosiekickett2617]

@@TheThamesmen U guys are great & Cold Chisel & Jimmy Barnes are a HUGE PART OF AUSSIE PUB MUSIC...I'm so glad they're finally getting some recognition overseas...as an Aussie I've listened 2 them all my lyf..

[@dionysus1016]

You take for granted (when growing up) what you already have on your doorstep. Thanks to the Thamesmen for reviving my interest in Cold Chisel. Looking at the songs not reacted to so far, you should definitely get around to doing the following songs; Star Hotel, Breakfast at Sweethearts and Shipping Steel.

[@michaelangelo1955]

His daughter Mahalia is now one the backup singer with Joe Bonamassa and dhe is an amazing singer. And still damn cute!

[@sammy_dog]

Chisel week 2,3 and 4 coming soon to this channel Oh BTW that little girl in the video is all grown up and boy does she have some pipes on her she is the wonderful Mahalia Barnes you should check out Joe Bonamassa Mahalia Barnes Riding with the kings

[@Laraine3]

Lol, I’ve taken the Andy and Alex assignment seriously. I visited their channel and commented The Thamesmen sent me, I threw out the gauntlet (hopefully tactfully 😬). Let’s see if they react ☺️ Some more Chisel songs? ‘Cheap Wine’, ‘Forever Now’, ‘Breakfast at Sweehearts’, ‘Shipping Steel’, ‘The Star Hotel’, ‘Standing on the Outside’, Saturday Night’, ‘Four Walls’, ‘Ita’.

[@357HFC]

Again, Live from Last Stand. 'Cn Love it!!!!

[@TheThamesmen]

Rock on!

[@greybirdo]

There’s an interesting lyric change in this version compared to the original. The original has the girl ‘falling in love with a local factory out-of-worker’. The ‘out of’ part is dropped in this version. The original lyric was a reflection of the time in which it was written - a country with double-digit unemployment and double digit inflation, the destruction of entire industries and dislocation of people - especially young people in country towns. Think ‘Thatcher’s two million’, but in Australia - and worse. That particular lyric stabs like a knife for those of us who lived through that time, and reinforces the melancholy of the song. It’s a small shame that it’s been dropped from this version, although I guess we should be happy that modern audiences wouldn’t understand its significance.

[@swingsloth]

100% agree that it's not a shame for Chisel that they weren't picked up internationally. It's a bloody shame for the world that they missed a huge part of the 80s Aussie culture. But they're getting it now via KZbin. And Chisel definitely made the right decision for themselves in not bowing to the US label pressures. And honestly they kind of set the tone for many Aussie bands moving forward not to have to capitulate and "accept terms". The Aussie market was a valid entity unto itself.

[@iceberg5220]

Well, if I could walk a Hundred Miles........to a Cold Chisel Concert............I'd be happy ! !

[@adriang6259]

I met Barnsey once and tried to ask what it's like with a song like "Flame Trees" two concerts apart albeit 16 years between. The first concert it's an untried song and the very next concert it's an all time classic. But I was standing in front of Barnsey and completely fucked up the question. But this is my favorite song world wide.

[@stuwhiteman3810]

Great reaction guys, how many of us have gone back to our home town hoping to find certain people or old girlfriends hoping to find them but they are no longer living there? Beautiful lyrics but also sad, I have seen this the people you expect to meet are not there anymore, but the place still looks the same and you can still see them on the street or in the pub having a few drinks.

[@wilks6]

Steve Prestwich was a vastly underrated songwriter. He wrote a few of their best known songs, either alone or collaborating with the genius Don Walker. A couple of other songs I'd suggest are worth hearing are earlier, hard hitting rock songs like "Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)" "Shipping Steel" and "Don't Let Go."

[@needaman66]

I am happy that I was listening to them for 40 years before they were discovered. Incidentally the proclaimers were a short lived novelty here.

[@TheThamesmen]

As they should be!

[@choos6919]

@@TheThamesmen Don't disrespect The Proclaimers please. They got me through 5am breakfast news desk duties at a rock station cranked to 20! That's 500 miles I will never walk again ....

[@TheThamesmen]

@@choos6919 ha😂👍

[@noelroberts8199]

Jimmy is an absolute Aussie LEGEND.....

[@martinbourke7753]

Wild thing for Alex and Andy , they will flip out

[@mals4125]

Sadly they don't do live recordings - just Spotify recordings.

[@TheThamesmen]

Shame as wild thing is amazing!

[@andrewhall9175]

Yours were great words of accolade for this great band. I was never much of a fan back in the day, but I feel now that maybe I took music of this calibre for granted. Watching your video made me search for other recordings of Flame Trees and I implore* you guys to look at Jimmy’s “Music from the Home Front 2021” version. Nice clear sound quality lets you appreciate how his voice has matured and he with it. *Not a reaction request…I just think you guys should hear it.

[@jenniesaunders1917]

So very Australian. We all identify with this when going home.

[@YobboBear]

There aren't enough days this week. I commented on Alex and Andy's stream about Cold Chisel the time you did it originally!

[@djangounhinged7634]

Finally Flame Trees !!!!! If you hadn't included it this week I'd have had to unsubscribe again (ok and resubscribe again 😆) Their best track - but - I really think it's the one track where you want the studio version AND the original Video Clip to get the full Aussie country town feel ....

[@jackiebarry9328]

So hard to pick a favourite Chisel song but this is it for me. It takes me back, so many memories attached to it. Hits me right in the feels & still gives me goosebumps ❤️

[@AndyFNQ84]

Great ballad, thanks for the reaction George, Alex and Chris! You guys rock 🪨

[@robbiecarroll5491]

The flame tree is a Red Jacaranda Tree classic song ❤️

[@johndonnellan7233]

Jimmys little daughter there ( Mahalia) now sings back up vocals for Joe Bonamassa.! Ive just had thedawning realisation…….i’m getting old !

[@SuperCroc69]

CC are a great band. As an Australian, they are 3rd in my estimation of Australia's best bands. Second are Midnight Oil. First are the Hoodoo Gurus. Dave Faulkner is a genius songwriter. First album is ALL KILLER tracks. He has continued to write brilliant material for the next 40 years. Review their first album, you will not regret it an go from there. Cheers.

[@mikeschenk4730]

Chisel weeks 2,3 & 4. With a potential 5??? They really do need to be pushed into the consciousness of more people. That song was ridiculous good. I never thought that Chisel would make me have to hold back tears. What a great band! You guys are right about great music not necessarily being worldwide or put in front of everyone. It's way off to the side where you have to go looking. And it's a shame for the people way more than it's a shame for the bands. I'm sure Chisel was satisfied with being icons in Australia.