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

A short clip of Albert Falzon's classic surf movie that is more than 30 years old now. If there was one surf movie worth watching it is this one.
Here is a good link with information about the movie and the music.
http://www.morningoftheearth.net

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 (from a poster)

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. (from another poster)

Simple Ben by John J.Francis
Walkin' on a dusty road in the countryside of ease
I heard a song driftin' on the gently blowin' breeze
Sunshine through the Autumn, sweet snow to the Spri-ing
Corn by the water of an old mill stream, and you give me all, you give me all

A barrow pushed by a little man came rollin' from the west
He sang a song as he stepped along until we drew abreast
Well hello there my friend, I see you're on the road here just like me
Why don't we stop and rest a while and I'll boil a pot of tea
Just give me sunshine through the Autumn, sweet snow to the Spri-ing
Corn by the water of an old mill stream, and you give me all, you give me all

He said his name was Simple Ben but not what I'd believe
Christened by the way he thought and not the way he lived
I've seen the best and worst that we have here on our earth
And finally decided on the things that I get worth
Just give me sunshine through the Autumn, sweet snow to the Spri-ing
Corn by the water of an old mill stream, and you give me all, you give me all

I asked if he had seen the great jets fly across the sky
He said he'd seen the smallest bird learnin' how to fly
Have you seen the bridges stretched across the bays
I've seen the smallest fish alive dyin' in the haze
Have you seen the massive buildin's reached towards the sun
I've seen the fields of barronness from the work that man has done
What about the dams and weirs that feed the countryside
I've seen the brownness of the grass when the dams and weirs run -
Just give me sunshine through the Autumn, sweet snow to the Spri-ing
Corn by the water of an old mill stream, and you give me all, you give me all

What about the fertile lands where nothin' once would grow
I've seen the lands

http://www.gwaynethomas.com/
Yup new website!!!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• surfing
• surf
• australia
• Hawaii
• morning
• earth
• Albert
• Falzon
• Indonesia
• Bali
• Angourie
• Kirra
• barrels
• Pipeline

[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.

[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.

[hitchdalrymple]

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

[urbansally]

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

Urbansally

[hitchdalrymple]

My pleasure darling ;-)...regards

[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.

[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.

[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

[ballbooi]

@bullsnutsoz 450990091 -2

(p) 1972 WEA RECORDS PTY LIMITED

Produced by G. Wayne Thomas



[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 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.