A Top Ten. Of the Worst Records. Ever.
“Bad fashion, appalling lyrics, sexism, racism, homophobia – they’re all here”.
It’s easy to romanticise the past, but back when vinyl was king, no-one’s radar was tuned to the good station ‘political correctness’. The ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s were a heaving pit of casual racism, sexism a-go-go, inflated celebrity ego, and homophobia thinly veiled as jaunty Christian singalongs. The Needle and the Damage Done is a joyous and forensic romp...
A Top Ten. Of the Worst Records. Ever.
“Bad fashion, appalling lyrics, sexism, racism, homophobia – they’re all here”.
It’s easy to romanticise the past, but back when vinyl was king, no-one’s radar was tuned to the good station ‘political correctness’. The ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s were a heaving pit of casual racism, sexism a-go-go, inflated celebrity ego, and homophobia thinly veiled as jaunty Christian singalongs. The Needle and the Damage Done is a joyous and forensic romp through the best of the worst of retro Wrongtown.
Needle - part stand-up, part slide-show, part Ted talk, part Listicle – premiered in 2007, and toured Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. Eight years is a long time between drinks, and there’s been a seismic shift in how we see the transgressions of the past; let’s just say Rolf Harris features more prominently this time around. And Bill Cosby.
This reboot of Needle is a limited return of Scott-Norman’s satiric masterpiece which played at the Sydney Opera House and featured on ABC TV’s Collectors. Increasingly relevant, The Needle and the Damage Done, is a reminder of how far we’ve come, and how much those nostalgic rose-coloured glasses really hid. Dark, silly, fun and shocking, it features everyone from John Laws and Abigail to those pesky Black and White Minstrels.
Come along for the ride and join in the ultimate Top Ten Record countdown. You won’t believe what wins the Worst Record Ever. No seriously, you won’t.
Fiona Scott-Norman is a writer and performer, DJ, and cabaret director. She hosted Trash Is My Life, a bad music radio show, on 3RRR for ten years.
“Horrifically embarrassing, infinitely uncomfortable, and one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen”. ****1/2 The Age
“A perfectly timed emotional roller-coaster. One of the funniest things I’ve ever seen”. Geelong Advertiser
“Hilarious. Witty, incisive, a little bit wrong”. Funny Tonne
