HI FI WAY: The Making of You Am I

Richard Kingsmill
  • 5.0 (9)
  • MUSIC HISTORY

HI FI WAY: The Making of You Am I is a three-part podcast series by Richard Kingsmill. It offers a revealing insight into a pioneering band and an Australian music classic. Hi Fi Way was a bolt of lightning, created from adrenalin and gut instinct. Hailed as one of Australia's greatest albums, it also contained glimpses of a hidden story - a story of a frontman who was often "not comfortable in the skin he was in". The process behind You Am I's brilliance on this album happened so quickly it went largely unseen. The anxiety that accompanied that brilliance has gone largely unexplained.

Episodes

  1. FEB 16

    Episode 3: All we needed was breadcrumbs

    In this final episode, Richard Kingsmill discovers how much is hidden in the deeper cuts on Hi Fi Way. This Australian music classic contains some of the most emotional and life-altering truths about You Am I's singer/songwriter Tim Rogers. You'll also find out how a special bar in New York City helped inspire the album; why American success proved elusive for the band; and the band's views on their acclaimed second album today.  You Am I music used courtesy of rooArt/Sony Music Entertainment Australia.

    1h 4m

  2. JAN 15

    Episode 2: Friends in high places

    You Am I barely took a breath across 1994. With a new lineup, they toured constantly. Their fanbase grew, as did their respect within the industry. Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, Powderfinger and Silverchair all became devotees. You Am I were also championed by the huge headlining act at that year's Big Day Out. The Seattle band invited the trio to tour overseas. Despite dangerous health signs starting to appear for their singer, You Am I decided to keep pushing forward, leading them to New York City where Hi Fi Way came together in lightning speed. Richard Kingsmill rewinds to 1994 to look at the mania around You Am I. It was a huge adrenalin rush for the band at a precarious time. Find out also who inspired the unlikely love story in 'Cathy's Clown'; how Tim's coping mechanisms after a mental breakdown stirred the memories to write 'Jewels and Bullets'; and discover the '70s rock icons that fed 'Minor Byrd'. You Am I music used courtesy of rooArt/Sony Music Entertainment Australia.

    54 min

  3. 12/16/2024

    Episode 1: You think You Am I are going to be big?

    You Am I were leaders on the Australian music scene in the early 1990s. In the aftermath of grunge, they were revered and touted as the next big thing. With Hi Fi Way - the flash of brilliance that was their second album - they got there. An ARIA #1, it's been acclaimed as one of the greatest Australian albums ever. The band was on a roll, but they often felt close to being out of control. Their frontman was keeping his mental health struggles well hidden. Hi Fi Way had pointers to what he'd been through, if you knew where to look. Richard Kingsmill starts the journey to uncover what made this band tick and how they came to create such an extraordinary record in spite of the odds. You Am I music used courtesy of rooArt/Sony Music Entertainment Australia.

    41 min

  4. TRAILER

    HI FI WAY: The Making of You Am I - Trailer

    Episode One will drop Tuesday December 17 You Am I music used courtesy of rooArt/Sony Music Entertainment Australia

    1 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

HI FI WAY: The Making of You Am I is a three-part podcast series by Richard Kingsmill. It offers a revealing insight into a pioneering band and an Australian music classic. Hi Fi Way was a bolt of lightning, created from adrenalin and gut instinct. Hailed as one of Australia's greatest albums, it also contained glimpses of a hidden story - a story of a frontman who was often "not comfortable in the skin he was in". The process behind You Am I's brilliance on this album happened so quickly it went largely unseen. The anxiety that accompanied that brilliance has gone largely unexplained.

Information

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