Evie (song)

"Evie"
Single by Stevie Wright
from the album Hard Road
A-side"Evie" (part 1)
B-side"Evie" (part 2 and 3)
Released1974
Recorded1973
GenreRock[1]
Length11:11
LabelAlbert
Songwriter(s)Harry Vanda, George Young
Producer(s)Harry Vanda, George Young

"Evie" is a rock song performed by Australian singer and former frontman of the Easybeats, Stevie Wright. It was written by Harry Vanda and George Young and released as a single in 1974. It has been suggested that it is the first 11-minute song to chart at #1 anywhere in the world.[2] According to author Mark Juddery, the song was "the longest Australian single ever to make the charts."[3]

The song features three parts—Part 1, "Let your hair hang down"; Part 2, "Evie"; and Part 3, "I'm losing you"[4]—and some critics consider it as one of the most perfect rock n' roll songs ever.[5]

Part One (when they meet) is a guitar driven, hard rocking and bluesy, swaggering and swayful song. Part Two (the marriage) is more piano and string based, a much softer emotional ballad style. Part Three (the death of Evie in childbirth) is more of a disco-rock style, being quicker, relatively urgent and guitar driven track with a strong vocal.

In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Evie" was ranked number 17.[6]

  1. ^ Harrington, Jim (2015). "Stevie Wright - "Evie". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p. 340.
  2. ^ Tait, John (2010). Vanda & Young. University of New South Wales Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-1-74223-217-1.
  3. ^ Juddery, Mark (2005). 1975: Australia's Greatest Year. Milton: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. p. 126. ISBN 9781740311311. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  4. ^ Evie [music] / Harry Vanda & George Young. J. Albert & Son. 1974. Retrieved 29 April 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  5. ^ "MILESAGO - Groups & Solo Artists - Stevie Wright". Milesago.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Here Are The Songs That Made Triple M's 'Ozzest 100'". Musicfeeds. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2020.