John Farnham: Finding the Voice

Australia, 2023, 95 minutes, Colour.

Cast: Jimmy Barnes, Celine Dion, Richard Marx, Olivia Newton-John, Robbie Williams, Glenn Wheatley and David Hirschfelde

Directed by Poppy Stockell

Here is a very Australian documentary, an opportunity for an older demographic, those who remember well the late 1960s, as well as for the demographic born in those years and who remember well the late 1980s. This is the story of John Farnham’s career.

In many ways, it is a very straightforward presentation: the outlines of his biography, his initial singing successes, the experience of a slump, experiences with the Little River Band, the revival of his career, beyond expectations, with his album, Whispering Jack, and the key song, The Voice, released September 1986.

The Farnham family migrated from England in 1949. With the possibility of a plumbing apprenticeship, he was encouraged by his family to follow offers to sing in commercials. And, then, at the age of 18, the song that was to characterise his early life, lead as well to a great deal of rejection, Sadie, the Cleaning Lady, which audiences enjoyed at the time, making him from the age of 20, the celebrated King of Pop (even crowned, as we see, by no less than Liberace). Johnny Farnham was popular, swooned over, eager to entertain the crowds.

This documentary has a great number of interviews, as well as footage from celebrities from the past, especially Olivia Newton John, Jimmy Barnes, and later Celine Dion and other singers. The anchor of the documentary is Gaynor Wheatley, wife of Little River Band organiser, Glenn Wheatley, becoming John Farnham’s manager, personal friend, loyal promoter for his success over many years. The interviews with Gaynor Wheatley add a personal dimension to the story – and there are comments from John Farnham’s wife, Jilly, and appearances by his sons, Robert and James.

As regards Farnham’s career, there are plenty of songs, performances, reaching out to audiences, with popular hits like Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head. But, Sadie was to haunt John Farnham, especially when he made more recordings and broadcasters and producers relegated him to the past, just a pop idol.

The audience shares the uncertainties of the 1970s into the 1980s, some good times with the Little River Band, replacing its main singer and composer, Glenn Sharrock, but then disputes within the band, many feeling that they were just a backing for a solo star. And some very uneven times singing with a less than talented band. And, then, the rescue by Glenn Wheatley.

And, all the time, comments and support from the interviewees.

Which means that while the 1970s into the 1980s offer some drama, the atmosphere is rather sad, Farnham even experiencing some depression.

Of course, this documentary comes to energetic life in portraying the search for a song to complete a new album, Whispering Jack, Farnham listening to many tapes, and the final choice of The Voice, the British writer saying no to Farnham singing it, the group going ahead, finding a group of young musicians including composer, David Hirschfelder, who arranged the song, introduced bagpipes, changed the key – and the risk and uncertainty of promoting the song.

And the rest, as they always say, is history. An extraordinary revival of career, topping the charts in Australia (still a record), overseas, tours around the world, enthusiastic footage of a concert in Germany.

The narrative includes Glenn Wheatley’s involvement in tax fraud and prison sentence, John Farnham always loyal, then it takes us up to the pandemic, the sad news of Glenn Wheatley’s death with complications from covid, information about Farnham himself going to hospital for throat surgery and cancer.

With his clear voice, his enthusiastic communication, and, it would seem, being a very decent bloke, John Farnham has a significant role in Australia’s cultural and musical history.

By Fr Peter Malone MSC