Happy 40th Anniversary to John Farnham’s twelfth studio album Whispering Jack, originally released October 20, 1986.
If you are under thirty, then the name John Farnham, much like the ‘80s era boombox, probably doesn’t mean much to you. The same can be said for anyone outside of Australia, New Zealand, the UK and a few mainland European countries. But for those of you who are familiar with the former teen pop idol affectionately referred to as “Johnny Farnham” in the ‘60s and ‘70s, you will also know just how big of a star he went on to become in Australia and abroad. In fact, John Farnham is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest rock/pop artists of all time.
Kicking off his solo career in 1967 with a song that has become synonymous with Farnham throughout the years, “Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)” was also the singer’s first #1 single, a feat that he would replicate in each of the five decades since, making him the only Australian artist to have achieved this. But it was in 1986 that the singer, after a hiatus from music, returned with one of the best albums of his career: Whispering Jack.
The quest to Whispering Jack’s completion was one fraught with frustration and uncertainty. Having come off a somewhat uneventful stint as the lead singer for the Little River Band, Farnham was evidently not in a position to financially bankroll the funding needed for a new album. Relying on his manager at the time, Glenn Wheatley, to mortgage his home (estimates have suggested that Wheatley invested over $150,000 in the album) in order to provide the funding, along with converting Farnham’s garage into a makeshift recording studio. Probably the best investment either one has ever made.
There has been much criticism surrounding the sound of Whispering Jack, primarily its use of synths and drum machines, both of which were deemed cutting edge in the mid ‘80s. Farnham wanted to not only update his sound, but delve into songs that gave way for his voice to truly shine. Producer Ross Fraser who would go on to work prolifically with Farnham over the next two decades, knew what the assignment was and delivered the perfect production needed for the singer’s “comeback.”
Whispering Jack is full of solid tracks. Aside from the four notable singles released (“You’re The Voice,” “Pressure Down,” “A Touch of Paradise” and “Reasons”), the remaining six tracks hold their own. “You’re The Voice” is the undeniable star of this album and captured the #1 spot in Australia, Sweden and West Germany, as well as reaching the top five in numerous other European countries. This was the song that put Farnham firmly on the map (complete with bagpipe solo).
Listen to the Album:
“Pressure Down” didn’t quite replicate its predecessor’s success, still sitting in the top five in Australia and charting in other countries. The album’s final two singles gently drifted in and out of the charts at lower positions, yet still remain Farnham classics.
Referencing some of the other tracks on the album that represent the time and add some flavor are “No One Comes Close,” as well as the upbeat “One Step Away” and “Trouble.” “Love to Shine” and “Let Me Out” let Farnham explore a straight-up rock sound, something that would become a trademark of the singer on future albums.
Radio play in the ‘80s was yet another obstacle for Whispering Jack. With a traditional and heavy focus on rock dominating the airwaves back then, the likes of acts like Jimmy Barnes (Cold Chisel) and INXS ruled and if you didn’t fit the sound, you were out. As with so many things, it was people power that eventually got the album’s lead single “You’re The Voice” finally played. Couple all this with Whispering Jack being Australia’s first album to be released on CD, and the single and album had nowhere to go but the #1 position, a chart ranking that belonged to Farnham for quite some time. The album, now with sales in excess of 1.7 million, is by far the highest selling Australian made/produced album of all time. Not bad for an album and singer that no one wanted to touch.
Whispering Jack is essentially Adult rock/contemporary with some pop moments and that won’t appeal to everyone. That’s fine. The back story to this album and its creators is something that can most definitely be heard throughout. The fear and uncertainty of putting everything on the line when nobody is even listening must have given Farnham and Wheatley anxiety on a whole other level.
But, as with all things that start with a dream and a massive amount of determination, passion and endurance, Whispering Jack has stood the test of time and shown us all just what it means to never give up, along with providing a lasting legacy in Australian music.
LISTEN:
Editor's note: this anniversary tribute was originally published in 2021 and has since been edited for accuracy and timeliness.
