STACK #252 October 2025

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# 1 MY FIRST ALBUM

Everybody Needs a Hero by Orla Gartland. What’s your all-time favourite album and why? Such a hard question! But Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers

In 1984, when I was nine, I got my first album – Wham!’s second album, Make It Big . It was a huge album, hitting number one in Australia and featuring the massive singles Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go , Careless Whisper , Freedom and Everything She Wants . I got it on tape. Then, I think – embarrassingly enough – my first vinyl might have been Whitney Houston (her 1985 self-titled debut, featuring Saving All My Love for You , How Will I Know and Greatest Love of All ). I’ve come a long way since then. After Wham! and Whitney, I raided my mum and dad’s record collection. I discovered so many great things – Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent… I thought, “Gee, this is so cool.” My life changed forever. No more George Michael or Whitney from then on. CHRIS CHENEY

is definitely up there! I love how her raw and edgy lyrics are paired with an ethereal sonic soundscape to really hit

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you where it hurts and comfort you all at the same time. Honourable mentions go to Rumours by Fleetwood Mac and Stay Gold by First Aid Kit. Do you have a vinyl collection? If so, how did it begin, and expand? I do - it started because I started to see the fun coloured vinyls when I started working at JB! Now I have a lot of fun looking out for my fave albums being released or re-released on special colour discs. What do you enjoy most about working in music at JB? I love that JB is supporting the production and collection of physical media, we get to hold artists’ greatest achievements in our hands! How cool!

’ s ROVING REPORTER

Photo credit: Jacob McCann

MAISIE BROADHEAD Merch team member @ JB Adelaide City, SA

What’s an early, cherished music memory? Me and my grandad used to scat sing along to Ella Fitzgerald CDs in the car together. Which recent album do you currently |have on repeat?

I Only Trust Rock N Roll

by The Living End is out now via BMG

In the hotseat this month is Aussie star JOHN BUTLER, who scored his first number one album 21 years ago.

STACK

Photo credit: Kane Hibberd

feel like this one – On the Road Again , Willie Nelson. Happiness is… Not searching for happiness.

if he just focused more.” What would be your Hard Quiz expert subject? Workshop and shed design. Song you wish you’d written? Slice of Heaven by Dave Dobbyn. If you weren’t a rock star, what would you be? Probably some form of frontline activist, or campaigner.

Last album you bought? The last album I bought was my wife’s, Mama Kin Spender’s Promises . What’s the most ridiculous item you’ve ever put on your rider? It’s not very ridiculous – M&M’s. Your funeral song? Oh damn, that’s dark! There’s a few that come to mind, and then they always leave me. I

Five words to describe yourself: Sensitive, nice, moody, passionate, determined. Your all-time favourite album?

Under Construction by Missy Elliott, or Diesel and Dust by Midnight Oil. What did your most memorable school report say? “John could really excel

PRISM by John Butler

is out now via MGM

JB’s BONUS OFFERS

PAUL KELLY Seventy

IDLES Caught Stealing (Soundtrack) (White Vinyl)

RELEASE DATE: November 7, 2025 SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-order online and get a slick card signed by Paul Kelly! Online pre-order only, while stocks last. Offer ends 6/11/2025*

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84 OCTOBER 2025

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