Russell Morris. Photo: Banno, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Six minutes and 20 seconds. It opens with a gentle acoustic strum and finishes with a Hitler Youth choir and an atomic bomb. In 1969 nobody in Australia had heard a pop single do that, and EMI apparently didn’t want to hear it either.
‘The real thing’ made Russell Morris a star at 20. He’s been singing it ever since, and it’s turned up in films and footy ads along the way. The story of how it got made is one of the great yarns of Aussie music, and most of it involves Molly Meldrum refusing to take no for an answer.
Russell Morris quick facts
- Born: 31 July 1948, Richmond, Victoria (78 as of September 2026)
- First band: Somebody’s Image, whose ‘Hush’ reached number 15 nationally
- Signature song: ‘The real thing’, released March 1969
- Honours: Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2005), ARIA Hall of Fame (1 July 2008), Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Somebody’s Image and a song from Johnny Young
Somebody’s Image formed in Melbourne in September 1966 with Russell out front. Their version of Joe South’s ‘Hush’ made number two in Melbourne and number 15 nationally (Wikipedia). Molly Meldrum, then a columnist at Go-Set, took an interest, and when Russell left the band in September 1968 Molly had a song lined up for him. Johnny Young had written it and made a demo with Ronnie Burns in mind (The Conversation).
How ‘The real thing’ was made
Sessions started over the summer of 1968–69 at Bill Armstrong’s studio in Melbourne, which had the country’s first eight-track recorder (NFSA). Molly produced with engineer John Sayers, and the Groop did the backing. Roger Hicks from Zoot played the acoustic intro, Billy Green added electric guitar and sitar, and Brian Cadd was on organ and piano (‘The real thing’ history).
Nobody stopped at three minutes. They let the band jam on, then cut it about, dropping instruments in and out in a way that sounds almost like dub reggae years before anyone here knew what that was. That swooshing phase sound came from running two tape machines at slightly different speeds. Brian Cadd read the instructions off an Ampex tape box through a paper megaphone for the spoken bit. Molly sang a guide vocal that stayed in as a ghostly second voice (Mixdown). Then came the Hitler Youth choir, a “Sieg Heil!” and the bomb.
The bill was reported at around $10,000, about what a whole album cost back then. It was said to be the most expensive single ever recorded in Australia at the time.
EMI’s “rubbish” goes to number one
EMI weren’t keen. By Mixdown’s account the label called it “utterly rubbish” and would only release it in Melbourne at first. Molly is supposed to have hidden the master tape under a bush in a park to stop it being taken off him. He and Russell then drove up the east coast in Russell’s car, calling in on radio stations to play it to them in person (Mixdown).
It worked. ‘The real thing’ went to number one in mid-1969 and finished as the fourth best-selling single of the year (NFSA). It even bubbled under the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 107. APRA named it one of the Top 30 Australian songs in 2001, it turned up in the film The Dish in 2000, Midnight Oil and Kylie Minogue both covered it, and in 2013 it was added to the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia registry.
After the real thing
‘Part three into paper walls’, backed with ‘The girl that I love’, came out in July 1969 and also went to number one. No Australian artist had topped the chart with their first two singles before. ‘Rachel’ followed in May 1970, reaching number 23 here and number one in New Zealand, then ‘Sweet, sweet love’ got to number seven in 1971. ‘Wings of an eagle’ made the top 20 as well (Wikipedia). He lived in New York from 1973 to 1978 without cracking America.
The late-career turn surprised a lot of people. Sharkmouth, a blues and roots album full of old Australian stories, came out in October 2012, reached number six and went platinum. Van Diemen’s land debuted at number four in April 2014, and Red dirt – red heart won the ARIA for Best Blues and Roots Album in 2016. Seems you really are never too old to rock ‘n’ roll.
When Johnny Young died in August 2026, Russell said the man who wrote his big hit was one of the most intelligent people he’d ever met (ABC News). As for his own family, Russell has kept that side of life private and we’ll leave it there. His official website lists waitlists for a farewell tour, including Perth and Adelaide, but no dates yet.
Where were you the first time you heard that bomb go off at the end? Request a song and tell us in the comments.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Russell Morris?
Russell Morris was born in Richmond, Victoria, on 31 July 1948, so he’s 78 as of September 2026. He was just 20 when ‘The real thing’ went to number one.
Who wrote ‘The real thing’?
Johnny Young wrote it, originally with Ronnie Burns in mind. Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum produced Russell Morris’s recording at Armstrong Studios in Melbourne with engineer John Sayers, and it came out in March 1969.
What’s the noise at the end of ‘The real thing’?
The closing section uses an archive recording of a Hitler Youth choir, complete with a “Sieg Heil!” shout, followed by the sound of an atomic bomb going off. Earlier in the track Brian Cadd reads the instructions off an Ampex tape box through a paper megaphone.
How long is ‘The real thing’?
The full version runs six minutes and 20 seconds, with the 7-inch single a little shorter at 6:12. That was unheard of for an Australian pop single in 1969, when three minutes was the norm.
How much did ‘The real thing’ cost to make?
The production cost was reported at around $10,000, which was about what an entire album cost at the time. It was described as the most expensive single then recorded in Australia.
Who is Russell Morris’s wife or partner?
Russell has kept his family life out of the papers and we’ll respect that. We couldn’t find reliable public sources we’d be comfortable citing about a wife, partner or daughter, so we’ll stick to the music.
Is Russell Morris playing Perth or Adelaide?
His official website lists Perth and Adelaide, along with Mandurah, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other centres, as waitlist cities for his farewell tour. No dates were showing when we checked in September 2026, so keep an eye on russellmorris.com.au.
Is Russell Morris in the ARIA Hall of Fame?
Yes, he was inducted on 1 July 2008. He’s also a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and was inducted into the Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.
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Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, music history is often based on available documentation and interpretation.
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