In America, the variety program every musician and band wanted to appear on was “American Bandstand.” In England, it was “Top of the Pops.”
In Australia, the show of importance for breaking pop and rock hits was “Countdown.” The show, hosted by Molly Meldrum, drew monster ratings with every episode, and musicians were more than willing to appear on the show and lip-synch to their latest track.
So today, let me bring you ten music videos from Countdown’s glory of the 70’s and 80’s. Some of these groups you’ve certainly heard of; others you should enjoy.
| THE HUMAN LEAGUE Don’t You Want Me Countdown, 1982 I still can’t believe Phil Oakey hated this song. I bet he hates this song every time he goes to the bank to cash his royalty checks. |
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| JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS Do You Wanna Touch Countdown, 1982 The great thing about Joan Jett is she can take this old Gary Glitter song and really rock it out better than Glitter ever could. |
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| SHERBET Howzat! Darryl Braithwaite and Sherbet took this song “Howzat!” to the top of the pop charts in Australia in the mid-1970’s, and it even became a minor hit in America. |
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| SPLIT ENZ I Got You Countdown, 1980 This song should have been a bigger hit in America. Why it wasn’t is still beyond me. At least it’s still getting played on oldies stations. |
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| THE SWINGERS Counting the Beat Countdown, 1980 This is a really good pop song with a fantastic rhythm track. Still singing along with it, even after the video clip ended. |
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| THE GO-GO’S Our Lips are Sealed Countdown, 1982 Ah, the fun-loving beach-party pop sounds of the Go-Go’s. I wonder if anyone knew that this song was actually a collaboration between the Go-Go’s and a member of the ska band The Specials… |
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| CHEAP TRICK Dream Police Countdown, 1979 Another group that should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame… but isn’t… pfft – maybe it’s because they also had a #1 hit with the godawful “The Flame.” |
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| COLD CHISEL Cheap Wine Countdown, 1982 Jimmy Barnes and Cold Chisel are one of the greatest pub-rock bands ever created. Their songs are legendary throughout Australia. This is one of them, “Cheap Wine.” On Countdown. |
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| ICEHOUSE Hey Little Girl Countdown, 1983 Iva Davies and Icehouse had several monster hits Down Under, and actually broke through to the United States with songs like “Crazy” and “Electric Blue.” I really liked this song “Hey Little Girl,” and apparently it appeared on a Countdown episode. |
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| DRAGON Rain Countdown, 1983 You gotta love Marc Hunter and Dragon. This is the kind of stuff that should have topped the American pop charts. And here they are on Countdown. |
Chuck The Writer 
Oakley must just feel the same responsibility other 80s pop acts feel to resent their most popular song regardless of quality. How anyone can not love it is beyond me.
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