You are 100% correct. Ed I one of the greatest and most prolific songwriters ever. Presumably he is not well known because he did not get backing from the special people in the industry who decide who will be well know and who will remain unknown.
this song imprinted on me the first time i heard it - sydeny trade union club - early 80's - and it has never faded. it moves me as deeply and completely today as it did then. Ed/LC's defined and saved me. Eternally grateful.
I went last night to a show by Asteroid Ekosystem, Ed Kuepper's new band, with Alistair Spence and Lloyd Swanton and a drummer called Toby Hall (I went with a drummer called Jeffrey Wegener, lol, and a few other old friends...) It was utterly fantastic. If you get a chance, if they're playing in Melb, go see them Xtine, you'll love it. :) I only saw your comment because I also took my 23-y-o son and he has been playing Asteroid Ekosystem all day, and is now asking about the Laughing Clowns, so I came here to link this to him. It's amazing showing your kids the music you were into at their age and having them love it.
Takes me straight back to the 1980s, was obsessed with this album back in the day and especially this song. This is one of those songs that feel like it always existed and Ed mined down to reveal it to the world.
the Laughing Clowns were one of the best Australian bands of the 80's but never got the recognition they deserved, then again there were so many great bands in the alternative music scene in that decade. a fair number have been largely forgotten
One of my favourite songs. I’d see them play nearly every gig they did in Sydney and just gaze at Jeffrey, Louise & Ed feeling as though the creator of Australia’s songs by The Saints were suddenly in another stratosphere. Jazz and immaculate beats. Lyrics and a generous guitar line from Ed. Thank you, Laughing Clowns. ❤
was played at a dear friend's funeral a while back, just an awesome awesome song from the most brilliant band on earth at the time and it brings a tear to my eye every time the sax starts up- RIP Don
I saw them once (maybe twice?) at the Jump Club in Collingwood in the early '80s, and they stuck. I remember thinking at the time that they summed up better than probably any other live band exactly why I went out to see music: they were creative, original, emotional, exciting, stimulating and pushed my ideas about music in completely new directions. Live music was great back then, and they were among the best. And here I am still listening to them 40 years on.
Oh yeah! I feel like I saw the Laughing Clowns first in Adelaide, but I moved to Sydney in '81 and it was all on. So many great local and visiting bands, but live I really think they were the best.
Ahh blurry but fun memories of Trade Union Club, Rock Gardens, Stage door Tavern, The Civic. Laughing Clowns where such good value. I still listen to em today in 2020.
If you think this one is blistering, have a listen to Louise Elliot's sax at the beginning of the Clowns song "As Your Bridges Burn Behind You". It'll break you in two.
Class ! New to Ed and The Laughing Clowns. Read about them in Robert Forster s Grant and I book. Lots of Go Betweens fans here in Waterford strangely enough. Can't get enough of The Triffids, Go Betweens and Ed Kuepper s stuff at the moment. Roll on October when I can catch Mr. Forster in Belfast.
Late 80s lying on a mattress on the floor with a girl artist in an old Queenslander house listening to the Laughing Clowns, drinking too much, buying second hand everything, avoiding the police, not paying the rent, hair dyes and bad grass, 4ZZZ, Rock Against Work, XXXX beer, rumours of war, down CES and on the dole, making ends meet, waiting for the rain on a hot tropical afternoon..
Naomi Denny....the house was the one of Ruthven Street next to the Salvation Army store, Simon and Sarah Suckling, Bailley, Ball, and the gang...I was finding out about life and art.
Ah the laughing clowns i new i new him i used to be in to the band when i was young shit yeah takes me back to my youth i got a message ed is the support act for the psychedelic furs tomorrow night at the enmore glad i got notice other wise i might not gave gone inside to watch him 16 nov 2022 great to hear the clowns its been a while i recorded a lot of this old stuff i was in to not that long a go no word from china for one how many of you remember pel mel joanna piggot ward 13 rabbit and all those bands that were around back then im sure a lot of ausies reading this would have hung out at chequers in goulburn st city i think from memory before it closed they turned it in to a punk place i remember going there pissed and stoned and doing the pogo i was never a punk rocker in the sense that i dressed like a punk but i was heavily in to the music still am hey i lived through the 70s punk and new wave it was big at the time most of the youth were in to it it was far better than most of the crap thats around today
One of my favourites whenever I saw Laughing Clowns, back in the day's. We used The Age Gig Guide to plan the weeks venues and bands to see. We were such lucky, lucky people. Then you have your own band and get lucky to play support gigs.
Brisbane, so blessed to be there at the start of The Saints, survived the Joh years, still here, songs from then are part of who I am. See Ed around Fort. Valley. Prolific
I see the light that shines on you I see the legend you see it too I see the reasons why you hold your point of view And with your split personality I'd thought you'd show independence there But not quite so when there was room for everyone You see the knife you feel the pain I've heard it time and time again These must be times Not hit but missed an empty kiss I've seen the leisure that suits you I know your reason your point of view There must be more That you could do When your loves in vain
Around 1982, Louise Elliot left the band I was in with her to join the Laughing Clowns. Very lucky to have done some 50/60 gigs with her before she went stratoscopic in tone. The gypsy horn.
YES ONE OF the greatest sax sola s of all time !! It just brought me to tears. i actualy saw this live when i was 11 yrs old at the final Birthday Party concert ever at the Astor Theatre, Chappel st Melbourne Jan. 82. I thought The Laughing Clowns were awesome and nick cave and co were a bit much for me at the time. The Go betweens were the other support act and they were sublime .
Yes, I liked Laughing Clowns a lot but I wasn't keen on the Birthday Party either back in those days. Saw the Laughing Clowns at the Crystal Ballrooom. I saw them a few years ago at the Forum in Melbourne and they were still a great band.
'83 northern beaches as a 12 yr old surf and music mad grom. Going for earlies and the soundtrack was JJJ 's graveyard shift where I heard this and many other great tracks that I still listen to today. This track was always on heavy rotation in my head.
Went to see the Borderland at the Sarah Sands in Melbourne play8ng with The Beasts (of Bourbon)... sure Ed kuepper did a little set in between. First time I heard this as a 15 year old sneaking in... blew my mind... as well as the whole night! 87???? Had to ask people at missing link who this Ed K guy was... no internet back then! Faaaark Australian music was amazing in the 80s n 90s. RIP Jarrod who was there with me.
Laughing Clowns on (7" & 12") are amongst my prized vinyl collection. Eternally Yours is brilliant. If you like random please try Mr Uddich-Schmuddich Goes To Town. Or if you're new to Ed try Ghost of an Ideal Wife. Very pleasant memories of gigs in Sydney in the 80's and you got change from a $2 note for a schooner.
i was in the kitchen doing dishes when the phone rang in the hall to tell me you were the man i dont regret it ed just wish that when you came to dunedin you had of played for us in the north as well its a long way to dunedin on an alpaca!!
wow , this takes me back. Thats the film work of John E Hughes aka Hobart Hughes . Amazing.. an Indelible song in my memory ..Lousie Elliot is incredible
First time I saw the Clowns they were supporting Midnight Oil at the Uni Bar. They would have been awesome had it not been for a bunch of rude boguns upfront yelling “Oils! Oils! Oi! Oi! Oi!” They soldiered on regardless Ed couldn’t shut em up but Louise managed to with the most cataclysmically devastating sax solo I ever heard. The echo is still bouncing round my cochlea 37 years later!
I think the date that Laughing Clowns we’re playing this song was about 1980 , not 1983. I saw them play at the Prince Consort Pub in the Valley, down the stairs under the public bar. I liked them that much I have 2 copies of this EP. The first got a scratch on it.
I was trying to think of the xl capris with joanna then she had scribble who i also got in to i bought the album the single was sunday school i only recently found out she is dragons mark hunter wife and that they wrote your the voice for john farnham hope his doing ok gee this brings back memories like do rei mei not sure on the spelling i met deberah at a party years a go in glebe gee the joints were being passed around that night i recently recorded x now they take me back saw them with the angels before they became big at balmain town i couldnt even remember what x sounded like it was so long a go and it never helped that i was tripping on acid cheers
love the hash stories - was in Qld at the time bumming about - with a couple of guys we met who were importing from a certain taliban country and we'd help them with pick ups - a few almost run ins with the police - interesting times ! and yes the clowns were always part of the soundtrack
Saw em at the Uni bar in Canberra supporting Midnight Oil back in '82 and thought they were great. Unfortunately the mob of boguns didn't and ruined the whole thing with boos and chants of "Oils! Oils!" till the Clowns fought back with a wall of distorted guitar and screaming sax.
It's likely that a careful and sympathetic search of the sides of Coleman Hawkins, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Sidney Bechet, and some bloke called Charlie Parker might turn up some competition for this purported world-beating sax solo with its bold disdain for old-fashioned notions of musicality. Ears can be purchased for the purpose at any Disney outlet :)
Great music. One of the best saxophone renditions ever. Good stuff.
Louise Elliot. She was trained at the Sydney Conservatorium, I believe. A really great player.
Ed is one of the best singer songwriters in the world yet only a small amount of people know of this genius.
agreed and no other guitar player like him
You are 100% correct. Ed I one of the greatest and most prolific songwriters ever. Presumably he is not well known because he did not get backing from the special people in the industry who decide who will be well know and who will remain unknown.
this song imprinted on me the first time i heard it - sydeny trade union club - early 80's - and it has never faded. it moves me as deeply and completely today as it did then. Ed/LC's defined and saved me. Eternally grateful.
yes me too same location
I went last night to a show by Asteroid Ekosystem, Ed Kuepper's new band, with Alistair Spence and Lloyd Swanton and a drummer called Toby Hall (I went with a drummer called Jeffrey Wegener, lol, and a few other old friends...)
It was utterly fantastic.
If you get a chance, if they're playing in Melb, go see them Xtine, you'll love it. :)
I only saw your comment because I also took my 23-y-o son and he has been playing Asteroid Ekosystem all day, and is now asking about the Laughing Clowns, so I came here to link this to him.
It's amazing showing your kids the music you were into at their age and having them love it.
You and me both. I probably enjoyed sweating all over you. I trust you enjoyed it as much as I did!
Criminally underated. Masterpiece.
Takes me straight back to the 1980s, was obsessed with this album back in the day and especially this song. This is one of those songs that feel like it always existed and Ed mined down to reveal it to the world.
Gives me goose bumps every time.
Still sounds good after 30 odd years.
And still great after 40 years!
the Laughing Clowns were one of the best Australian bands of the 80's but never got the recognition they deserved, then again there were so many great bands in the alternative music scene in that decade. a fair number have been largely forgotten
One of my favourite songs. I’d see them play nearly every gig they did in Sydney and just gaze at Jeffrey, Louise & Ed feeling as though the creator of Australia’s songs by The Saints were suddenly in another stratosphere. Jazz and immaculate beats. Lyrics and a generous guitar line from Ed. Thank you, Laughing Clowns. ❤
“ another stratosphere” - when we gelled on stage we did ok 🔥
was played at a dear friend's funeral a while back, just an awesome awesome song from the most brilliant band on earth at the time and it brings a tear to my eye every time the sax starts up- RIP Don
I saw them once (maybe twice?) at the Jump Club in Collingwood in the early '80s, and they stuck. I remember thinking at the time that they summed up better than probably any other live band exactly why I went out to see music: they were creative, original, emotional, exciting, stimulating and pushed my ideas about music in completely new directions. Live music was great back then, and they were among the best. And here I am still listening to them 40 years on.
Yep I agree;- creative, original, emotional, exciting, stimulating and pushed my ideas about music in completely new directions.
The music scene was great in Sydney in the 80's, 3 floors of the Trade Union Club devoted to music.
The saints are from oxley area in Brissy, i remember the early days at oxley .
Best band and musicans to come out of brisbane in the seventies genesies ,and still going
Yeah, the Trade Union Club was such a great venue for bands and other performances.
Oh yeah! I feel like I saw the Laughing Clowns first in Adelaide, but I moved to Sydney in '81 and it was all on. So many great local and visiting bands, but live I really think they were the best.
Ahh blurry but fun memories of Trade Union Club, Rock Gardens, Stage door Tavern, The Civic. Laughing Clowns where such good value. I still listen to em today in 2020.
One of the all-time great sax solos
No doubt at all.
If you think this one is blistering, have a listen to Louise Elliot's sax at the beginning of the Clowns song "As Your Bridges Burn Behind You".
It'll break you in two.
Saw them a couple of times at the Crystal Ballrooom in Melbourne. Great band and great venue.
Goose bumps. Listening to this is like going to Church for me.
Class ! New to Ed and The Laughing Clowns. Read about them in Robert Forster s Grant and I book. Lots of Go Betweens fans here in Waterford strangely enough. Can't get enough of The Triffids, Go Betweens and Ed Kuepper s stuff at the moment. Roll on October when I can catch Mr. Forster in Belfast.
WHat that sax does for this tune cannot be understated. Been coming back for it for decades, literally.
Still gives me goosebumps every time I hear this song just luv it awesome band ahead of there time
Saw them play this live a few times and I remember wanting the track to just go on forever.
Late 80s lying on a mattress on the floor with a girl artist in an old Queenslander house listening to the Laughing Clowns, drinking too much, buying second hand everything, avoiding the police, not paying the rent, hair dyes and bad grass, 4ZZZ, Rock Against Work, XXXX beer, rumours of war, down CES and on the dole, making ends meet, waiting for the rain on a hot tropical afternoon..
And Triple Z. That station kept me sane in the land of Bjelke Petersen.
Yes, ,I shudder when I hear his name
Substitute "..an old Queenslander house" for a run down terrace in Darlinghurst Sydney. More things change, the more they stay the same...
Yeh. Did the same in Melbum. Listening to this.
Naomi Denny....the house was the one of Ruthven Street next to the Salvation Army store, Simon and Sarah Suckling, Bailley, Ball, and the gang...I was finding out about life and art.
Ah the laughing clowns i new i new him i used to be in to the band when i was young shit yeah takes me back to my youth i got a message ed is the support act for the psychedelic furs tomorrow night at the enmore glad i got notice other wise i might not gave gone inside to watch him 16 nov 2022 great to hear the clowns its been a while i recorded a lot of this old stuff i was in to not that long a go no word from china for one how many of you remember pel mel joanna piggot ward 13 rabbit and all those bands that were around back then im sure a lot of ausies reading this would have hung out at chequers in goulburn st city i think from memory before it closed they turned it in to a punk place i remember going there pissed and stoned and doing the pogo i was never a punk rocker in the sense that i dressed like a punk but i was heavily in to the music still am hey i lived through the 70s punk and new wave it was big at the time most of the youth were in to it it was far better than most of the crap thats around today
The Debut E.P. was Groundbreaking.
One of my favourites whenever I saw Laughing Clowns, back in the day's. We used The Age Gig Guide to plan the weeks venues and bands to see. We were such lucky, lucky people. Then you have your own band and get lucky to play support gigs.
Brisbane, so blessed to be there at the start of The Saints, survived the Joh years, still here, songs from then are part of who I am. See Ed around Fort. Valley. Prolific
I see the light that shines on you
I see the legend you see it too
I see the reasons why you hold your point of view
And with your split personality
I'd thought you'd show independence there
But not quite so when there was room for everyone
You see the knife you feel the pain
I've heard it time and time again
These must be times
Not hit but missed an empty kiss
I've seen the leisure that suits you
I know your reason your point of view
There must be more
That you could do
When your loves in vain
66costas -
Much appreciated.
Around 1982, Louise Elliot left the band I was in with her to join the Laughing Clowns. Very lucky to have done some 50/60 gigs with her before she went stratoscopic in tone. The gypsy horn.
Please - tell me who is making music like this, in 2021..?
This takes me back, so sweetly, I cannot stop listening.
What a song. It stands alone. Australian's didn't and still don't write songs like this.
The man is an Aussie music legend!
YES ONE OF the greatest sax sola s of all time !! It just brought me to tears. i actualy saw this live when i was 11 yrs old at the final Birthday Party concert ever at the Astor Theatre, Chappel st Melbourne Jan. 82. I thought The Laughing Clowns were awesome and nick cave and co were a bit much for me at the time. The Go betweens were the other support act and they were sublime .
Was there too. Magnificent
Yes, I liked Laughing Clowns a lot but I wasn't keen on the Birthday Party either back in those days. Saw the Laughing Clowns at the Crystal Ballrooom. I saw them a few years ago at the Forum in Melbourne and they were still a great band.
who were Your parents?!! lucked up in the folks lottery!!
'83 northern beaches as a 12 yr old surf and music mad grom. Going for earlies and the soundtrack was JJJ 's graveyard shift where I heard this and many other great tracks that I still listen to today. This track was always on heavy rotation in my head.
Loved the movie it brought me here 2020
You know the one about the clown who went to TBC and saxed it up
This song was played at my dear friend Trisha’s Funeral! Legend Yay!❤
Saw em at a pub in Melbourne and wondred then what all the fuss was about but now i just keep coming back to Ed's stuff.
Love JEHughes beautiful well-considered film/video as well - perfect for the song
Each era has a vocal tone that almost instantly identifies it...
Many fond memories of this song on alternative radio, stereos, and house parties all over Adelaide early eighties. God bless.
I sure as hell have listened to it a lot. :-)
I only just heard this song for the first time ever on radio station 97.1 FM, shame I missed it when it came out.
Love this song......got me through uni!!!
impeccable pre-digital video
Just Brilliant, I agee a Masterpiece.
Went to see the Borderland at the Sarah Sands in Melbourne play8ng with The Beasts (of Bourbon)... sure Ed kuepper did a little set in between.
First time I heard this as a 15 year old sneaking in... blew my mind... as well as the whole night!
87????
Had to ask people at missing link who this Ed K guy was... no internet back then!
Faaaark Australian music was amazing in the 80s n 90s.
RIP Jarrod who was there with me.
Laughing Clowns on (7" & 12") are amongst my prized vinyl collection. Eternally Yours is brilliant. If you like random please try Mr Uddich-Schmuddich Goes To Town. Or if you're new to Ed try Ghost of an Ideal Wife. Very pleasant memories of gigs in Sydney in the 80's and you got change from a $2 note for a schooner.
I pulled a 12" unplayed copy out of a uk record shop pre-lockdown and have been hammering it. Great track.
Legend !!! ❤️
i was in the kitchen doing dishes when the phone rang in the hall to tell me you were the man i dont regret it ed just wish that when you came to dunedin you had of played for us in the north as well its a long way to dunedin on an alpaca!!
Just curious, which band should he have played for?
El fantastico! Go Ed❤️
Trade union club Surry hills 1980s still listening
This was played on Rage recently, courtesy of Lindy Morrison!
But of course...Lindy would have impeccable taste :-)
Sublime stuff
Louise Elliott`s sax makes a great song sublime I recon.
Just fucking awesome.
swinging swaying self confident Australian anthem made from dust
This was in my recommended videos Dec. 2019
very excellent song
thankyou for uploading this treasure .. loved every second of it x
wow , this takes me back. Thats the film work of John E Hughes aka Hobart Hughes . Amazing.. an Indelible song in my memory ..Lousie Elliot is incredible
First time I saw the Clowns they were supporting Midnight Oil at the Uni Bar. They would have been awesome had it not been for a bunch of rude boguns upfront yelling “Oils! Oils! Oi! Oi! Oi!” They soldiered on regardless Ed couldn’t shut em up but Louise managed to with the most cataclysmically devastating sax solo I ever heard. The echo is still bouncing round my cochlea 37 years later!
Awesome playlist, takes me back too
one of my funeral songs
Excellent choice.
great group!
that beautiful analogue freeling
was this recorded from a vhs tape?
+Mark Russell Yes indeed! Hence the crusty quality.
Brilliant !!
Jump Club, Smith St, Fitz 83
danced on the speaker piles then climbed Fitz Town Hall on the way home down Moor Street!
23 - lovely daze
I think the date that Laughing Clowns we’re playing this song was about 1980 , not 1983. I saw them play at the Prince Consort Pub in the Valley, down the stairs under the public bar. I liked them that much I have 2 copies of this EP. The first got a scratch on it.
Fantastic indeed
Solid Gold!
I was trying to think of the xl capris with joanna then she had scribble who i also got in to i bought the album the single was sunday school i only recently found out she is dragons mark hunter wife and that they wrote your the voice for john farnham hope his doing ok gee this brings back memories like do rei mei not sure on the spelling i met deberah at a party years a go in glebe gee the joints were being passed around that night i recently recorded x now they take me back saw them with the angels before they became big at balmain town i couldnt even remember what x sounded like it was so long a go and it never helped that i was tripping on acid cheers
Saxaphone is superb. 12" version.
Kardoma Cafe. 88' Kings Cross.
It reminds me czech band Psí vojáci. I recommend it👍
Way fine brill love , ease delight " Stars
Greatness
saw the crew in '83 (?) Shenton Park Hotel her hair was wild spacey sound
Just a fucking brilliant tune
Tradies Gary driving in drunk.10 beers later driving home.80,s. Try that now.Worth a du for the clowns.
Heard later Kuepper incarnations of this song before tracing this one to the 'Clowns. Nice, considered soul & wabble in the sax.
Sax Maniac !
LOUISE ELLIOTT god bless that wail
love the hash stories - was in Qld at the time bumming about - with a couple of guys we met who were importing from a certain taliban country and we'd help them with pick ups - a few almost run ins with the police - interesting times ! and yes the clowns were always part of the soundtrack
I am sighing with you love
One huge sigh there.
The early eighties in Australia.
I remember you
Saw em at the Uni bar in Canberra supporting Midnight Oil back in '82 and thought they were great. Unfortunately the mob of boguns didn't and ruined the whole thing with boos and chants of "Oils! Oils!" till the Clowns fought back with a wall of distorted guitar and screaming sax.
Don't you mean Boons?
Aussie pride.
1981 !!!
Yea - I prefer the ones where they really go at it towards the end but they're all great. Just a great song.
Jeffrey Wegener: The Patrick Bateman of drummers?
The Wegeners and the Farrells were always close mates of Ed.
droning well
It's likely that a careful and sympathetic search of the sides of Coleman Hawkins, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Sidney Bechet, and some bloke called Charlie Parker might turn up some competition for this purported world-beating sax solo with its bold disdain for old-fashioned notions of musicality. Ears can be purchased for the purpose at any Disney outlet :)
PUNK JAZZ!
Ed Kuepper was so boredBut excited
Should read balmain town hall
Me likee.
seminal.
Well you may say , but nothing will save , Kerr's cur .
Opiated blonde Afghani hash circa 1980-85...the speckled one not as moist as Arab dark brown.
Haha more Afghanistan heroin than hash around them days. Ya got some vinegar inya cupboard mate 😉
wow wtf .Xx
Whatever happened to the bully of the town? Buy a watch did he??
Makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck every time
and now you are a property developer????
Saxophone kills the entire song.