Good Times (The Easybeats song)

"Good Times"(aka"Gonna Have a Good Time") is a song by the Australianrockbandthe Easybeats,written byGeorge YoungandHarry Vanda.It was released in June 1968 on their albumVigil,and as a single in July 1968 throughParlophone.It features guest vocals bySteve MarriottofSmall Faces,and piano byNicky Hopkins.The original Easybeats recording reached #22 in Australia. When broadcast byBBCradio, it was reportedly heard byPaul McCartneyon his car radio; McCartney apparently rang the station immediately to request a repeat playing.

"Good Times"
SinglebyThe Easybeats
from the albumVigil
B-side	"Lay Me Down and Die"(instrumental)(UK)
Released	18 July 1968(Australia) 13 September 1968(UK)
Recorded	June to August 1967
Studio	Olympic Studios,South West London
Genre	Rock
Length	3:23
Label	Parlophone A-8406(Australia) United Artists 67127(Germany) UP 2243(UK)
Songwriter(s)	George Young,Harry Vanda
Producer(s)	The Easybeats, Mike Vaughan &Glyn Johns(uncredited).
Australian singles chronology
"Hello, How Are You" (1967) "Good Times" (1968) "Lay Me Down and Die" (1968)
U.K. singles chronology
"Land of Make Believe" (1968) "Good Times" (1968) "St. Louis" (1969)
U.S. singles chronology
"Hello, How Are You" (1967) "Gonna Have a Good Time (Good Times)" (1968) "St. Louis" (1969)

The song has been covered by Australian and international artists; in 1987, a version byINXS,featuringJimmy Barnes,was included on the soundtrack of the filmThe Lost Boysand was a top 50BillboardHot 100hit in the United States. It was also interpolated byMeat Loafon his 1995 song "Runnin' for the Red Light (I Got a Life)"from his albumWelcome to the Neighbourhood.

Notable cover versions

"Good Times"
SinglebyJimmy BarnesandINXS
from the albumThe Lost Boys: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released	December 1986
Recorded	1986
Genre	Rock
Length	3:53
Label	Mushroom
Songwriter(s)	George Young,Harry Vanda
Producer(s)	Andrew Farriss
INXSsingles chronology
"Listen Like Thieves" (1986) "Good Times" (1986) "Need You Tonight" (1987)
Jimmy Barnessingles chronology
"Ride the Night Away" (1986) "Good Times" (1986) "Too Much Ain't Enough Love" (1987)

The Clingers

"Good Times" was recorded and released in 1969 as "Gonna Have a Good Time Tonight" by the Clingers, a Utah band comprising four Mormon sisters. The song was produced byKim Fowleyfor Columbia Records but failed to chart.The Clingers are regarded as the first all femalerockband that played their own instruments.

Shocking Blue

"Good Times" was covered by Dutch rock bandShocking Blue,on theireighth and final albumof the same name released in 1974.

Quartz

TheNWOBHMheavy metalbandQuartzreleased a live cover version of this song on their 1980 released live albumLive Quartz.In 2013 the band also released a studio version of the song on their self-produced compilationBack in the Band – Live and Revisited.

INXS & Jimmy Barnes

AustraliansINXSandJimmy Barnesreleased a version in December 1986, which was engineered by Al Wright and appeared in the 1987Joel SchumacherfilmThe Lost Boys.This version reached number one in New Zealand and number two in Australia, as well as obtaining chart positions in the US (where it peaked at number 47 on theBillboardHot 100), Canada (number 74),and UK (where it peaked at number 18 on theUK singles chartin 1991). A video clip was produced featuring INXS and Jimmy Barnes performing the song, with scenes intercut fromThe Lost Boys.This version was also used to promote the nationalAustralian Madeseries of concerts that took place between Boxing Day 1986 and Australia Day 1987.

Barnes later said, "We spent a day and a half in the studio.Michael Hutchenceand myself didn't sleep the whole time we were there. It was a booze- and drug-fuelled couple of days. "

Australian Idol2004 cover

The song was performed on the Top 12 Results Show of thesecond seasonofAustralian Idolin 2004. This version of the song was then released by the Top 10 finalists nearly four months after the live show. It was released as a one-track CD single and reached a peak of #53 on theARIAsingles chart.

Meat Loaf cover version

"Good Times" was interpolated by the American rock singerMeat Loafon his 1995 song "Runnin' for the Red Light (I Gotta Life)"from his albumWelcome to the Neighbourhood.This new version, credited to Vanda, Young,Sarah Durkee,Meat Loaf andPatti Russofeatured significantly different lyrics.

Hindu Love Gods cover version

Hindu Love Godscovered the song on a 1986 single, but under the title "Gonna Have a Good Time Tonight". The members of Hindu Love Gods wereMike Mills,Bill BerryandPeter BuckofR.E.M.,Bryan Cook, andWarren Zevon.The 7 "single was released onI.R.S. Records.

Jimmy Barnes featuring Keith Urban

Jimmy Barnes reprised the song on his30:30 Hindsightgreatest hits album in 2014, withKeith Urbanon guitar and vocals

Jessica Mauboy version

Jessica Mauboycovered the song on her 2016 album,The Secret Daughter: Songs from the Original TV Series.

Charts

The Easybeats version

Chart (1968–1969)	Peak position
AustralianGo-SetCharts	22

INXS/Jimmy Barnes version

Chart (1986/91)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	2
New ZealandSingles Chart	1
UK Singles Chart	18
U.S.BillboardHot 100	47

Year-end charts

Chart (1987)	Position
Australia (Australian Music Report)	23
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	6

Australian Idolversion

Chart (2004)	Peak position
AustralianARIA Singles Chart	53