Morning of the Earth (Simple Ben by John J.Francis)

[MrZipdang]

Saw morning of the earth when I was just a young kid and this song has been resonating around my soul ever since. We can be inspired by the idea of creating something enduring and beautiful out of very few resources and a whole lot of passion. Timeless!

[outdoorcollege]

I used to go to Pact Folk - YWCA basement Friday / Saturday night 1971ish - JJF would do this occacionally - it still blows me away. Love the work JJ

[TelecasterLPGTop]

We had NO IDEA of the EVIL our MASTERS were planning for their slaves. Look at us now how could we have allowed those criminals to do what they have done ?

[drummaduff95]

This is such an awesome, epic song. I could honestly listen to this tune all day long

[kineticsurf]

Wonder what break they are riding. Love the offshore wind blown uniform wobble in the lip of some of those waves.

[fernandomaron87]

Dave "Baddy" Treloar was such an great surfer

Awesome music, so much inspiration

[TheSystemRevolution]

There is no time to be like the 70's ... I have lived!

[byronsurferboy]

Yeah... the album is called LEGACY and is the very first time John J Francis' music has been released on CD!!! I bought my copy a few days ago from the Two Faced Records website and it arrived this morning. 15 tracks - 67 minutes - spanning John J's career all remastered and sounding AMAZING complete with an 8 page CD booklet that details the John J Francis story . An absolute STEAL at $24.99!!

[goonsquid]

A new CD of John J Francis's greatest songs (including this one) has just been released.

[TheBlueeyedsurfer]

AussieAvenger you have summed it up so perfectly! So succinctly. Seems like so many of ys gave had our heads firmly stuck uo our arses these last around 40 years since this was released. Loved this movie and these songs when I saw it as an 17 and half year old and still do! Classic stuff all round. :)

[patagoniaflies]

inspiration and love

[enjoylifeandsurf]

i live in yamba and iam 13 i love this movie, i know where the hose at the start is.

[murf69]

lucky cunt, yamba is a fukn awesome place

[TheSqueakyJames1]

@enjoylifeandsurf Gammin wat hose?

[LibertyandEconomics]

I do social media for people so I am tapped into the internet all the time. What I wouldn't give for a couple of weeks of sun, country, and long clean point waves. No beeping, no cell phones, just cooking out and looking at the dark sky at light in the right mood. Damn I could go for that.

[Raushaunj]

I say go for it, life's too short

[godsmoment]

@LibertyandEconomics Use the attitude so often taken through the 60's and 70's era ... Just do it! .... Fuck the system and work, life is short.

[godsmoment]

@LibertyandEconomics Use the attitude so often taken through the 60's and 70's era ... Just do it! .... Fuck work and this tedious system, life is short and dead is likely tomorrow.

[sparticle1]

Yep , See'd it at Avalon NSW

Lived the life at Scotts Hd at The Farm with good compadres .Played all the Surfin games and Music too. Good piece of history

Still try to live it.

Nothing to do with any Religious beliefs

Just Space me into this

and Yeah, Alby We just lived up the Creek from you at Uengai  jimmy Mack

[elishahsile]

who cares about those kids, if it doesnt interest them its their fault, i know people my age that wouldnt like this and it was before i was even close to being born this is such a pefect song, it looks like nsw coast

[kayhaus1]

aloha. :) love this movie, thanks for posting.

[chillart22]

It's a shame but so many kids today are just not going to experience the whole vibe of this movie and those times.Simply magic for me, as a kid/young adult.Seemed like everything was mystical and imbued with significance.

[666tommygun]

chillart22 im 23 and was lucky enough to be brought up by my parents one of my favourite movies and soundtracks of all time:)

[chillart22]

Nice!

[Raushaunj]

this movie costs entirely too damn much

someone needs to be a good sport and sell it for a DECENT price

[DRATER469]

@Raushaunj It was free if you went to the concert last year, definately should have gone man. Dad got a Morning of the Earth Single fin mal made by Neil Oke at it, hes obsessed as he should be

[eimajecnerwal]

@chillart22 Everything still is...have no fear :)

[godsmoment]

@chillart22 nor the 70's my friend ...

[sirimar53]

waiting in line at midnight to see this back in time. favorite surf movie . MP and Fitz and of course the Nat, M O T E really summed up the vibe then.

[GraMatters]

Lucky enough to be there at the Manly Silver Screen for the world premier of MOTE. The film was awesome, the music memorable but Simple Ben just blew me away - an incredible statement of the times that still resonates today. Worked at the Silver Screen so was able to see MOTE on the big screen every day for 6 weeks and I'm still playing the DVD 37 years later

[lochy53]

@GraMatters

Hi I also worked at the silver screen, as a projectionist but it was slightly later, during the Crystal Voyager days....Great movie theatre

[hoipolloifilms]

The good ol' days.

[ICEcoast101]

this is so inspiring, im lost for words

[stormpatrolgmc]

JUST GOLDEN STUFF  JUST GOLDEN

[1AussieAvenger1]

IMMORTAL !! Simple Ben knew what was going on back then. we can feel it and see it so easy now. i hope there is some of Simple Ben in all of us somewhere. why isnt there 8 million hits on this? there should be!!

this song is one of "4", from this album, yes vinyl (weeeeeeeee), in my TOP 50 BEST SONGS OF ALL TIME !!

the album also rates extremely high in my TOP 50 BEST ABLUMS OF ALL TIME

max respect to all associated with this masterpiece. the world needs to hear this.

[DANNYM72]

The song makes me smile everytime I hear it on my ipod especially wen I'm stuck in traffic!!The original is much better than cover.I grew up on this song while surfing and my folks had all jj francis albums.I found all his songs can be found as downloads on jjfmusic when googled if anyone is interested

[Bunyipz]

cheers thanks for the info

[genuineforce]

thanx man =)

cudnt find it on limewire

cheers .. have a gud one =)=)

[hitchdalrymple]

There is a new website on the sublime sounds of G. Wayne Thomas. Link on the right.

(BJStar66 has been busy as a bee.)

Regards to all.

[EPICichiban]

Inspiring!! Roots grow deeper every time I Get this song in My Head. Blessed Be...

[decypul]

18 years ago I made friends with a busker in Melbourne australia and he played me this song "simple ben"he taught the words to me and I feel like it has become a mantra..

when ever I sing the song and strum my guitar I think of my friend Paul jones "jonesy" who taught me the song..I new it came from a movie big wednesday or morning of the earth or both..this was the first time I have ever searched for the song to see what came up..

I am stoked to find it here.

[siderney99]

How good is it to be reminded of these wonderful free times. The film takes you into another world and the music keeps you there.  Just magic.

[MyRedSneakers]

its SIMPLE BEN...from the movie MORNING OF THE EARTH....you can get it on CD

[sbbchulise]

yes i have a movie but i like sow much the song xD THANKS XD

[sbbchulise]

who knows name of this music?

[cyclistlegs]

Its from the surfing film Morning of the Earth.If you shop around you can find the CD or DVD.One of the best films and soundtracks ever.

[PacificHessian]

"I've finally decided on the things that I give worth."

[LampoCastor]

Great stuff! I saw this movie when I was a kid back in the '70's (in Australia), and the images and the music have stayed with me ever since. Fortunately I now own the re-mastered DVD and the anniversary CD soundtrack.

It's great to see this stuff on Youtube, so that peeps who may not have seen anything from this movie before can get a taste of just how fantastic it is.

[goonsquid]

This exact same recording (with longer intro so the song runs just on 8 minutes) appears on John J Francis's Breaks, Works and Thoughts album, released in 1973. The cover of that album indicates that this song (and all the others on the album) were recorded at Copperfield Sound Studios in Sydney.

[bobbyinrome]

Great song. I have the old vinyl record somewhere. Brings back memories.

[ballbooi]

Simple Ben...by John J.Francis

Original Soundtrack produced by G.Wayne Thomas

(p)1972 wea records pty ltd

450990091-2

recorded TCS Melbourne

Vinyl & CD Good Luck :-)

[hitchdalrymple]

Thanks Ballooi, I took the liberty of pasting your comment onto the video description.

[bullsnutsoz]

@ballbooi what about brian cadd

[ballbooi]

@bullsnutsoz I've transcribed more from the CD if this helps.

From CD incert:

Album and Film soundtrack produced by G Wayne Thomas except for "Simple Ben" which was produced by John J Francis.

Strings arranged by Peter Jones.

Recorded at T.C.S. Melbourne.

Recording Engineer John French.

Terry Hannagan appears with love from Fable Records.

Album design Ken Smith.

An Isis Production.

[ballbooi]

@bullsnutsoz From CD back and repeated on incert: 1. Morning of the Earth - Thomas. 2. I'll be all right - Hannagan/Capek. 3. First things first - Gaze. 4. Sure feels good - Cadd. 5. Open up your heart - Thomas. 6. Simple Ben - Francis. 7. Bali Waters - Bjerre. 8. Making it on your own - Cadd. 9. Day comes - Thomas. 10. Sea the swells - Bjerre. 11. I'm alive - Howe. 12. Come with me - Cadd.

[ballbooi]

@bullsnutsoz 450990091 -2

(p) 1972 WEA RECORDS PTY LIMITED

Produced by G. Wayne Thomas

[BonDonnell]

really dig the footage and song in this clip. just checked out the website looking for the musician/name of this song, but can't figure it out...anyone know who this is? cheers

[ballbooi]

Simple Ben...by John J.Francis

(p)1972 wea Records pty ltd

450990091-2

recorded TCS Melbourne

Vinyl & CD

The song Simple Ben was produced by John J.Francis and was the only one on the album not produced by G.Wayne Thomas

[cwegers]

thats one toxic way to shape a boeard

[ZEBSONE]

AMAZING FILM BEST SURF MOVIE EVER

[hitchdalrymple]

See ladies and gentlemen, this is what years of surf punch drunkenness does to you! lol :-)

[cptblood44]

An Age of innocence and beauty..it was magic... i first saw it in Ulladulla ole' tin shed..greeting to old friends..

[urbansally]

Hey you made my day. Thanks you've no idea how good your response made me feel.

Urbansally

[hitchdalrymple]

My pleasure darling ;-)...regards

[urbansally]

Hey this is great - I loved this video and the music...please please if you can post the song "Morning of the Earth" I play it on guitar whenever I can and love it but don't have the movie.

[hitchdalrymple]

I just cannot resist a lady. I told myself that I was not going to put any more clips of this movie up.

Dammitttt check my collection babe ;-)

[illmbenz]

go and he was definitely a character. His mum is an amazing story as well. Michael Peterson brother. How can you own this movie and noot know who he is! Unarguably the greatest surfer of his era, the section of him is at Kirra, HIS wave by all means. An Australian surfing Icon who vanished from the forefront of Surfing and Surfboard Innovation due to a downward spiral of drugs and undiagnosed schizophrenia.

[hitchdalrymple]

Oh lol, ok I know of Micheal Peterson but I learned to swim and surf in the sunny climate of South Africa so I missed the urban legends and myths. Not to mention that I was not even a twinkle in dads eye when this movie came out. When I grew up it was the iron men who were the beach hero's.

I will try to find which clip you want and upload it for you. regards

[illmbenz]

Unreal brother. this is great footage. Is it possible you can upload the MP section? I am reading his book now. SO glad I found this video!

[hitchdalrymple]

BENZ! You are working with a moron here matey. What the heck do you mean by the "MP SECTION?".

I am now uploading a little clip for you where Albert is talking about the movie. I hope it will tie you over until I finally nail down what you asked of me! lol ;-)

[jimmythespiv]

Epic clip. Have scored Anga myself like this a number of times. Thanks for rejigging the memories.

[hitchdalrymple]

"Have scored Anga myself...Thanks for rejigging...."

Yea I will 'rejig' you with a swift kick in the bollocks you jammy barstttaaaaaard. Be off with you! ;-)

[harry11733]

Thanks for posting this. I still remember going to see this in an old rickety hall with crappy projection and sound equipment in Hurstville.

[hitchdalrymple]

Hi Harry. It is very much my pleasure to pop this up. I apologise for the quality of the recording. This is my third VHS of this movie over the years. Trying to get this on DVD in the UK is like trying to get blood from a stone.

It is a lot less pretentious than modern surf movies. Which I tend to find on the whole very boring. But when I watch this one it really does make me want to strap the boards to the roof and go on a road trip.

Regards.