Sound Doctrine » PhysiQue

PhysiQue – Same Mistakes

May

posted by tommy

This song from PhysiQue was initially recorded for use at West Pymble Fitspot in the early 80s. Despite absolutely adoring the track when it first started playing over the PA in ’81, several of the Fitspot staff felt that the gym’s ambiance might benefit from a second track on the loudspeakers rather than the single track on continuous loop. Fortunately, their complaints fell on deaf ears and ‘Same Mistakes’ was played without interruption until the 24 hour workout center was unceremoniously shutdown in 1994. Many readers will recall the circumstances of West Pymble Fitspot’s closure when it was discovered that the staff had been tampering with their treadmill speeds against manufacturer advice leading to several grazed knees and a number of very furious patrons. Long time member Mrs Kelican said of the incident, “I’m most surprised that this would happen here, of all places. I thought after the aquarobic drownings of the 70s, Fitspot had upped its game but here we are in the mud again. Do you know who I should speak to about validating my parking?”

That interview was recorded in September 1994 and by June 1996 West Pymble Fitspot had been bulldozed to rumble. In its place stood a brand new restaurant from the critically acclaimed chain Hungry Jacks and while residents are still enjoying Jack’s range of fingerlicking flame-grilled beef patty burgers, the song that defined that space for almost 13 years was lost. Until now. Fitspot employee Flint Milton had disregard regulations outlined in the Fitspot code of conduct and recorded his own synth cover of the track which was originally recorded by the thirteen-piece classical guitar outfit PhysiQue. Now with most of the original founding members deceased or incarcerated, PhysiQue have used Flint Milton’s cover of ‘Same Mistakes’ as the basis of a brand new version of the track and here’s the kicker – you can hear it below. There’s only one surviving member left from the original twelve but Andrew Elston, now living in Sydney, is determined to bring the track back to its former glory.

Sometimes when I walk past that hungry jacks late at night think i can hear the original guitars whaling out over the dull hum of those deregulated treadmills but then the wind blows and I’m once again in the present, a double bacon deluxe in my hand and dreams in my heart.