08/11/2024

A woman and two men sitting on a couch under a sign that says 'countdown'

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Countdown uncovered

13 surprising facts about the iconic music show

Simon Smith

Part 1 of our 2-part Countdown feature. Read Part 2

Fifty years ago, on 8 November 1974, Countdown premiered on Australian television, beginning a new era in pop culture.

Other music shows had come and gone – and more would follow –but none left a mark like this one. Co-created by industry legends Michael Shrimpton, Robbie Weekes, and music journalist Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum, Countdown quickly became a Sunday night ritual. From ABC’s Ripponlea studios in Melbourne, it served up lip-synced performances, just-dropped music videos, and astonishingly unguarded interviews from local and international talent.

While Meldrum was originally meant to work behind the scenes, his on-camera debut as host transformed Countdown into a juggernaut. With his relentless energy, insider know-how, and his famous phrase 'do yourself a favour', Molly could make songs hits with just one mention. To celebrate 50 years of Countdown, we’ve rounded up 13 surprising facts that define the show’s singular alchemy.

1. The music video era begins

Four members of the Australian rock band Hoodoo Gurus pictured with US singer Suzi Quatro — Suzi Quatro pictured with the Hoodoo Gurus backstage at ABC TV Ripponlea studios during a 1985 *Countdown* taping. Courtesy of photographer Jeremy Bannister. NFSA title: 1508359

From the very first episode, Countdown established music videos as a key feature, kicking off with British pop group Paper Lace’s 'The Black-Eyed Boys' as its inaugural clip. A few weeks later, in December 1974, Suzi Quatro made history as Countdown’s first international guest to appear in person, setting a high standard for the star-studded episodes to follow.

2. In living colour

Though Countdown was always recorded in colour, the first eight episodes reached most Australian homes in black-and-white. That all changed on ‘C-Day’ – 1 March 1975 – when Countdown (episode 9) became ABC TV's very first scheduled program to be officially broadcast in colour, airing at 12:02 am with host John (then Johnny) Farnham. In a clever move to capture viewers, ABC repeated the episode that evening.

3. The king of Countdown…

Australian pop star John Paul Young became Countdown’s most frequent guest. Between 1975 and 1978, he appeared in various capacities – either hosting, performing, or appearing via video clip – a remarkable 70 times across 170 episodes, making him Countdown’s most famous local creation.

4. ...and Royal visit

In 1977, His Royal Highness Prince Charles (now King Charles III) joined Countdown for a ‘Silver Jubilee’ episode interview with Molly, though not at ABC’s Ripponlea studios. Instead, the segment was filmed at South Melbourne’s AAV production facility. Prince Charles spent only 13 minutes on set, and the infamous flubs and retakes from Meldrum were never seen in the original broadcast. Many were actually recorded after Prince Charles had already departed.

Prince Charles and Ian 'Molly' Meldrum on the set of the ABC's Countdown in 1977.

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Prince Charles with Ian 'Molly' Meldrum on Countdown, 1977. NFSA title: 553082

5. A Logie to remember

In 1976, Countdown received its one and only Logie Award, for ‘Best Teenage Television’ – a category that had appeared only once before (for Happening 70 in 1970) and would never be awarded again.

6. Three million strong…

By 1977, Countdown was watched by up to three million Australians – a staggering number in a country of 14 million. With ratings above 20 – an astonishing figure for a teenage-based Top 40 chart program – it quickly became one of the most-watched programs on the ABC, uniting music fans across the nation.

Three-quarter image of singer Stevie Wright holding a microphone and standing on a stage. — Stevie Wright, c. 1974. Photo: APN Business Magazines. NFSA title: 493906

7. …Eight minutes long

The longest song ever played across all episodes was a solitary imported live video performance of Bob Dylan’s 'Hurricane', running over 8 minutes in episode 72 (August 1976). The longest Australian in-studio performance was Stevie Wright’s 'Evie (Part 1 and 2)' at 7.05 mins (episode 8, December 1974). By contrast, Queen’s epic, era-defining 'Bohemian Rhapsody' music video fell just short of six minutes.

8. The Molly-Elton bond

Molly Meldrum’s friendship with Elton John, dating back to 1969 when Meldrum was working in London, ensured the British superstar recorded more exclusives for Countdown than any other overseas performer. John would either co-host, record special interviews, or perform in-studio on at least 11 different episodes.

9. Boots made for stomping

Countdown mostly featured mainstream artists, but post-punk rock got a rare spotlight when Nick Cave’s band, the Boys Next Door, performed 'These Boots Are Made for Walking' in July 1978 (episode 158).

10. No Fixed Address break new ground

Adelaide’s No Fixed Address became the first Aboriginal band to perform on Countdown, appearing in July 1982 (episode 337) with their reggae-rock track 'From My Eyes'.

11. Chasing the magic

Executive producer Grant Rule experimented with Countdown spin-offs, launching Countdown Friday in 1982 (20 episodes) and Countdown Flipside in 1983 (39 episodes), hosted by John Peters. But neither could recreate the original’s lightning-in-a-bottle appeal.

12. Kylie's countdown to stardom

Kylie Minogue’s fledgling recording career coincided with the final days of Countdown. In July 1987, she co-hosted episode 562 with 2SM DJ Mike Hammond, featuring her debut single 'Locomotion' as a music video rather than a live performance. This episode was also the last to include a live studio audience. Kylie returned two years later to perform 'Hand On Your Heart' live on the premiere of Countdown Revolution in 1989, a short-lived reboot with Meldrum contributing off-camera.

13. A voice comes full circle

In a remarkable full-circle moment, John Farnham performed the last song on Countdown’s final episode ('You’re the Voice') on 19 July 1987, echoing his role 15 years earlier as the closing act on another influential music show, Happening 72, where he sang 'For Once in My Life'.

Part 1 of our 2-part feature marking 50 years of Countdown. Read Part 2: Six O'Clock Still Rocks!

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Main image: ‘Tim and Debbie’ on Countdown – Mary Kenneally (as Debbie, left) with Stephen Blackburn (Tim, centre) and host Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum from episode 397, 20 November 1983. © ABC. NFSA title: 1589741

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