Science Fiction (song) explained

"Science Fiction" is a song by Australian rock/new wave group Divinyls, which was the lead single from their first studio album Desperate.^{[2] [3] [4]} Released in December 1982,^[1] "Science Fiction", peaked at No. 13 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart.^[5] The B-side, "I'll Make You Happy" is a cover of The Easybeats 1966 hit.^[2]

In May 2001, "Science Fiction" was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.^[6]

Background

Christina Amphlett and Mark McEntee (ex-Air Supply) met at the Sydney Opera House where Amphlett was singing in a choral concert in 1980.^{[2] [7]} They recruited Jeremy Paul (ex-Air Supply), Bjarne Ohlin and Richard Harvey,^[3] and they provided the soundtrack for the film Monkey Grip (1982).^[8] The group released two singles from the soundtrack, Music from Monkey Grip EP,^[9] "Boys in Town", which reached No. 8 on the national singles chart, and "Only Lonely".^[2] Original bassist Jeremy Paul left before the movie or first single were released.^[4] He was replaced on bass, eventually by Rick Grossman (ex Matt Finish).^{[3] [10]}

After releasing Music from Monkey Grip EP on WEA in 1982, Divinyls released their first studio album Desperate on Chrysalis Records in 1983.^[3] The album included the No. 13 hit on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart, "Science Fiction" .^[5] Their early manager Vince Lovegrove was former co-lead vocalist of 1960s pop band The Valentines with Bon Scott (later in AC/DC); Lovegrove had organised Divinyls' transfer from WEA to Chrysalis and their first tours of United States.^[2] The B-side of this single is their cover version of The Easybeats' 1966 hit "I'll Make You Happy".^[2]

Track listing

1. "Science Fiction" (Christina Amphlett, Mark McEntee)^[11] – 3:32
2. "I'll Make You Happy" (Stevie Wright, George Young)^[12] – 3:21

Personnel

Divinyls members

• Christina Amphlett – vocals
• Mark McEntee – guitar
• Bjarne Ohlin – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
• Richard Harvey – drums
• Rick Grossman – bass guitar

Additional musicians

Production details

• Producer – Mark Opitz

Charts

Year end charts

Notes and References

1. Web site: Platterlog: Singles – Supplementary Page: 59 > 6 December 1982. Platterlog. Imgur.com. 22 February 2018.
2. Book: McFarlane, Ian . . Ian McFarlane . . 1999 . Encyclopedia entry for 'Divinyls' . http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=284. 1-86448-768-2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20020908085403/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=284. 19 March 2010. 8 September 2002.
3. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20130927191758/http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/d/divinyls.html . Divinyls . Holmgren . Magnus . Paul . Baird . Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren) . 27 September 2013 . 4 March 2014 .
4. Web site: https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20010328130000/http:/www.howlspace.com.au/en/divinyls/divinyls.htm . Divinyls . HowlSpace – The Living History of Our Music . Nimmervoll. Ed. Ed Nimmervoll. 28 March 2001 . 10 February 2014 .
5. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. St. Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. Illustrated. 91. 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
6. Web site: The songs that resonate through the years . Kruger . Debbie . Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) . 2 May 2001 . 19 March 2010 .
7. Book: Amphlett, Christina . Larry Writer . November 2005 . Pleasure and Pain: My Life . Sydney . Hachette Livre Australia . 0-7336-1959-2 .
8. Web site: Monkey Grip at Internet Movie Database (IMDb) . . 31 May 2008 .
9. Web site: Monkey Grip Soundtrack at IMDb . . 31 May 2008 .
10. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20131030131742/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/g/grossmanrick.html . Rick Grossman . Holmgren . Magnus . Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren) . 30 October 2013 . 4 March 2014 .
11. Web site: Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). "Science Fiction" at APRA search engine. 19 March 2010.
12. Web site: Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). "Middle Man" at APRA search engine. 19 March 2010.
13. Web site: Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983. Kent Music Report. Imgur.com. 5 August 2020.