Written by: George Young, Harry Vanda
Recorded: July 1973
Producers: Ken Scott, David Bowie
Engineer: Dennis MacKay
Released: 19 October 1973
Available on:
Pin Ups
Personnel
David Bowie: vocals, saxophoneMick Ronson: guitar
Trevor Bolder: bass guitar
Aynsley Dunbar: drums
Ken Fordham: baritone saxophone
Geoff MacCormack: backing vocals
Originally a 1966 hit single for Australian band the Easybeats, ‘Friday On My Mind’ was recorded by David Bowie in 1973 for the Pin Ups covers album.
The song was written by the band’s guitarists and founder members George Young and Harry Vanda. After the Easybeats’ split in 1969 they moved to the UK and worked as songwriters and producers. They wrote John Paul Young’s international hit ‘Love Is In The Air’, and produced the first six AC/DC albums.
‘Friday On My Mind’ was released in the UK in October 1966, peaking at number six in the singles chart. It topped the Australian chart after its release in November 1966, and the following summer reached number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The single was produced by Shel Talmy, who had previously scored hits with acts including the Who and the Kinks. In 1965 Talmy also produced two early singles featuring a young David Bowie: ‘I Pity The Fool’ by the Manish Boys, and ‘You’ve Got A Habit Of Leaving’ by Davy Jones and The Lower Third.
‘Friday On My Mind’ was one of just two Pin Ups songs originally by non-British bands. The other, ‘Here Comes The Night’, had been a 1965 hit for the Irish group Them, featuring Van Morrison on vocals.
Bowie used the song as a showcase for his own vocal theatrics, which recalled some of the polite mannerisms and Anthony Newley mimicry of his 1967 debut. The backing vocals by Bowie and Geoff MacCormack, however, were a different story, with a procession of profanities which were just about hidden enough to get past most listeners.
Lyrics
Monday morning feels so bad
Everybody seems to nag me
Coming Tuesday I feel better
Even my old man looks good
Wednesday just don’t go
Thursday goes too slow
I’ve got Friday on my mind
(See my baby) Gonna have fun in the city (feel like fucking you)
(Do my baby screw) Be with my girl she’s so pretty (all I want to do)
(I’ll go crazy) She looks fine tonight
(zoom zoom zoom) She is out of sight to me (so divine)
(Tonight) I spend my bread
(Tonight) I lose my head
(Tonight) I’ve got to get tonight
Monday I have Friday on my mind
Do the five day drag once more (Monday blue)
There is nothing else that bugs me
More than working for the rich men (money making by the thief)
Hey I’ll change that scene one day
Today I might be mad
Tomorrow I’ll be glad
’Cause I’ll have Friday on my mind
(See my baby) Gonna have fun in the city (feel like fucking you)
(Do my baby screw) Be with my girl she’s so pretty (all I want to do)
(I’ll go crazy) She looks fine tonight
(zoom zoom zoom) She is out of sight to me (so divine)
(Tonight) I spend my bread
(Tonight) I lose my head
(Tonight) I’ve got to get tonight
Monday I have Friday on my mind
See my baby (Gonna have fun in the city)
Feel like fucking you
Do my baby screw (Be with my girl she’s so pretty)
All I want to do
Oh oh oh (Gonna have fun in the city)
(zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom)
Oh oh oh (I feel fucking, I feel fucking just so, just ahead)
(zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom)
See my baby see (Gonna have fun in the city)
(feel like fucking you)
Till my baby’s cool
(I feel fucking, I feel fucking just so just ahead)
Till my baby’s cool (All I want to do)
(zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom) Oh yeah ha ha
(zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom) Oh yeah ha ha
