Format 7" Length 3:23 | Genre Rock | |
B-side "Land of Make Believe", "Lay Me Down and Die (Instrumental)" (UK) Released 18 July 1968 (Australia)
September 1968 (UK) Recorded August to June 1967 at Olympic Studios, South West London. | ||
"Good Times" is a song by The Easybeats released as a single in Australia 18 July 1968, and which appeared on their Vigil album with guest vocals by Steve Marriott. It was written by George Young and Harry Vanda.
Contents
- Shocking Blue
- INXS Jimmy Barnes
- Australian Idol 2004 cover
- Meat Loaf cover version
- Hindu Love Gods cover version
- Jimmy Barnes featuring Keith Urban
- Jessica Mauboy version
- References
When broadcast on BBC radio it was reputedly heard by Paul McCartney on his car radio; McCartney apparently rang the station immediately to request a repeat playing.
Shocking Blue
"Good Times" was covered by Dutch rock band Shocking Blue, on their seventh album released in 1974.
INXS & Jimmy Barnes
In 1987, a cover version by INXS and Jimmy Barnes which was engineered by Al Wright appeared in the Joel Schumacher film The Lost Boys. This version reached #2 in Australia, as well as obtaining chart positions in both the U.S. (where it peaked at #47) and UK (where it peaked at #18, in 1991). A video clip was produced featuring INXS and Jimmy Barnes performing the song, with scenes intercut from The Lost Boys. The INXS version was also used to promote the national Australian Made series of concerts that took place between Boxing Day 1986 and Australia Day 1987.
Australian Idol 2004 cover
The song was performed on the Top 12 Results Show of the second season of Australian Idol in 2004. This version of the song was then released by the Top 10 finalists nearly four months after the live show. It was released as a one-track CD single and reached a peak of #53 on the ARIA singles chart.
Meat Loaf cover version
"Good Times" was covered by the American rock singer Meat Loaf on his 1995 album Welcome to the Neighbourhood. This new version, credited to Vanda/Young/Durkee/Loaf/Russo, was titled "Runnin' for the Red Light (I Got a Life)" and featured significantly different lyrics.
Hindu Love Gods cover version
Hindu Love Gods covered the song on a 1986 single, but under the title "Gonna Have a Good Time Tonight". The members of Hindu Love Gods were Mike Mills, Bill Berry and Peter Buck of R.E.M., Bryan Cook, and Warren Zevon. The 7" single was released on I.R.S. Records.
Jimmy Barnes featuring Keith Urban
Jimmy Barnes reprised the song on his 30:30 Hindsight release in 2015, with Keith Urban on guitar and vocals
Jessica Mauboy version
Jessica Mauboy covered the song on her 2016 album, The Secret Daughter: Songs from the Original TV Series.