Day 7: 13 songs that changed Rob's life.

A surprise entry into the challenge finishes off week 1. Rob "Boss" Hanks - the ex-cripple, now miraculously healed and walking - offers us his 13 songs. And to many people's amazement they are not all Midnight Oil. But to those of us who've spent any time with the man - you recognise that he's like an onion...

"Hi Jono,
Couldn’t resist!!
Be amazed be very amazed… of course you’ll get a few of them… but…

1. ‘Power and the Passion’ - Midnight Oil. Having bagged my surfy mates for their crap sounding tunes this is one of the songs I was made to sit down, shut up and listen to on an old walkman, before I was allowed to comment further. I was hooked… words can’t describe how much I miss the ‘recreation’ of seeing these boys live!!

2. ‘Sss Single Bed’ by Fox. “sss-single bed sss-single bed, there ain’t no room for your sweet head” What can I say? I reminder of my fumbling adolescence and a string of wonderful friendships with girls… that’s right, friendships!! We used to sin this vinyl 45 on a little plastic Sony stereo in the downstairs study and garage at parties.

3. ‘Mama Mia’ the first of ABBA’s worldwide smash hits and my first record. Ever since the search for good music has been central to who I am and what I like to listen to.

4. ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ or indeed any track from that U2 album. It’s not as impressive as a home recorded cassette. Nonethless we’d sit in Roger’s Holden Brougham [the Kingswood with upholstered buttons on the bench seats] and whoever rode shotgun in the front was officially allowed to drum on the dash as it was unavoidable!! This was the first time I’d read a technical description on an album back cover of what drums were being hit [Yamaha was the brand] and it seemed appropriate because when you heard them it seemed like drummers would want to know.

5. ‘Yesterday’ because the Beatles have to be on the list of anyone my age. I sang it, knew it, lived it and wondered. I was a huge fan of the Beatles animated cartoons on TV and always wanted to be Paul [who can believe he is now 64!] Knowing about the Beatles seemed to give you some pinch of street cred.

6. ‘Funeral for a Friend’ by Sir Elton John. Hordern Pavilion via Sid Foggs bus company with mate Graham in tow. This was the same night that World Series Cricket debuted at the SCG next door with Dennis Lillee bowling thunderbolts and the Windies wearing pink… I wasn’t sure which gate to go in through. Many are surprised by my fandom for Elton’s work. I love his earlier anthemic rock and all the classics. I have seen him live about five times and would go again… everyone has to have an Elton in their selection closet I guess.

7. ‘Private Universe’ Neil Finn is one of the most talented musicians and songwriters ever. Nick Seymour was floored when Neil announced he’d be leaving Crowded House. “I said didn’t he want to be in the biggest band in the world… he said No” On the first Finn Brothers tour and after intermission the entire band took three songs to rotate around every instrument onstage and the performance didn’t suffer. Testament to another splendid bugger is that I’ve only ever heard Neil’s work improve after Jim Moginie has gotten hold of it.

8. ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’ by the Angels. Year 12 and the Newcastle ‘Mattara Festival’ fee outdoor concert is in full swing. Plants are being uprooted and thrown, punters are falling off the top of flagpoles after too much consumption, women’s bikini’s are being ripped off them and Doc Neeson falls 10 metres from atop the speaker stack in a blistering set. I’m talking pre the “no way, get $%^# ^&%$ off” era. I felt truly like a young adult cut loose from an array of shackles as we simply hung out and listened to history in the making. Six hours and several hundred thousand dollars worth of sunflowers later there never was another fee mattara name band gig in Civic Park. Also can’t forget the legendary Surf City Café at Collaroy with 60 Youth Workers on R&R from our National Conference with Dave Edwards belting this out shirtless [and legless] in front of the admiring rabble.

9. ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’ would be on anyone’s list who was guessing about mine. Sun Devil Stadium Arizona is where the documentary film ‘Rattle and Hum’ changes from black and white to colour with overhead shots, a hugely excited crowd and a massive backdrop video screen that glows bright red as the gangling guitar kicks in. Whether inspired by Ali and Bono’s trip to Etheopia [or that notion about knowing a persons socio-economic background just by what Dublin St they live in] this is the song of that decade in my book!! My live experiences of this song have all resulted in tears. Tears of frustration, grief, anger, despair, celebration, hope and inspiration all at once. It has all of U2’s pretention and brilliance all at once!!

10. ‘Building a Mystery’ represents my liking for female voices like Natalie Merchant, Jewel, Dido, and Missy Higgins but trumps them all for the sheer inspiration that is Lilith Fair. Sarah Mc is my diversion when I’m tired from staples like U2 and the Oils.

11. “jc” came long just at the right time. Brisbane band you say? Singer is a PK huh? Powderfinger… interesting? With all the integrity of Pearl Jam and the aussie rock smarts of their predecessors. Bernard Fanning and the lads give me hope that there is life after the Oils. I would see them live anywhere anytime! What’s more Bernard knows the order of things and not knowing how to put into words how lucky everyone present was he suggested “just, just.. enjoy the Oils OK”

12. ‘The Sound of White’ delivers all that ‘Scar’ promised as Missy Higgins hit the scene following a year OS after her ‘Triple J Unearthed’ win!! The album and the title track are beautiful, reflective and personal. They draw stuff to the surface that I’d rather internalize.

13. OK one to go and I have seven shortlisted… changed my life huh, ‘Tommorrow’ by silverchair from Merewether, Newcastle, NSW Australia. Who would believe that three schoolies from Newcastle could produce an album like ‘Frogstomp.’ When we met them at Launceston airport the morning after we’d seen them play it was like the giggling Youth Worker meets the world famous rock stars and yet they were more impressed that I played for the rugby club where their mates were juniors. Chris Joannou’s dad launders our jerseys!! I must have bumped into Daniel Johns five or six times walking his scrawny dog late at night in Merewether near ‘The Prince of Wales’ pub. He’s a nice bloke.

OK… there you have it, no room for:
‘Your Song’ Elton John
‘Throw Your Arms Around Me’ H&C
‘The Wonder’ the fat man in a thin man’s body Alex Lloyd
‘The Great Leap Forward’ Billy Bragg
‘Where Do We Go From Here’ Avion"