Music Composed by Mike Perjanik Barmitzvah Musicians and Song Music Lyrics Sung by Rita Kagan & The Black Sea Group John Higgins Karen Gibson Camille Gardner Katy Brinson Brian Moll 'Norman Loves Rose' Mike Perjanik John Flanagan Peter Chambers According to some databases, the music for the film was released as a single, with Peter Chambers singing the theme song, and Mike Perjanik doing the instrumental version on the flip side, but this must have been an extremely limited - and now very rare - release. Mike Perjanik first came from Dargaville, NZ, and then moved to Auckland, where he became a member of the Embers in 1963. In1964, he formed the Mike Perjanik Band, with some former members of the Embers, and the band was active in the Auckland recording scene for the next few years. Perjanik later hooked up with rising singer Allison Durbin. She became the band's featured singer in their live gigs. In October 1966, Durbin and the Mike Perjanik Band moved across the Tasman for a residency at Sydney's Coogee Bay Hotel, and then moved on to the Latin Quarter night club in May 1967. After nine months with the band, Durbin left to pursue a solo career. Thereafter Perjanik and various iterations of his band released a number of singles and an LP which covered Lennon and McCartney tunes (the band used the name Synthesis, and the album "Lennon and McCartney: Today and Yesterday" was released in 1973 on the
Drum label). In 1977 Perjanik turned his attention to television, and as the Mike Perjanik Orchestra, did the theme to a new Australian television series, "The Restless Years". This was released on a single, with Renee Geyer singing the vocal version on the A-side. Perjanik's company Mike Perjanik Productions Pty Ltd has long produced original music for the TV series Home and Away. Perjanik has also been active on industry bodies - he has been a writer member of APRA since 1970 and has acted as a non-executive writer director on its board since 1985. (here at time of writing). For more details on Perjanik, especially his early period, see here. Composer and musician Mike Perjanik has a wiki here. The invaluable Milesago site had a detailed piece on Perjanik, but at time of writing, it was only available, and readable, by way of cache, here. There is also a tribute to Perjanik, and his work for APRA, here. (Below: Mike Perjanik in 1965)
(Below: Perjanik in later years, and with his partner Vicki Perjanik)
Below are the lyrics to the title song which runs over head and tail credits. The lyrics for the song are slightly different in its two major appearances, as is the footage of Norman leaving school, catching a bus and walking into his home to greet the pregnant Rose - the scene of Norman chatting up an attractive older woman by flashing a book about Freud isn't repeated in the closing scenes. The variations in the lyrics are indicated by brackets: Norman loves Rose And nobody knows Although she's like his big sister The first time he kissed her
He knew He may be younger than her But that's what all the women prefer It's amazing what a bowl of homemade chicken soup can do for you Norman's just a young boy But he can make your wife feel she's a woman (opening scenes: lyrics obscured by dialogue) Everyone should have a boy like Norman (end scenes: the music fades out for dialogue, piano tinkles and exaggerated romantic music in Dr Zhivago style begins, as Norman offers Maureen, played by Sandy Gore, a glass of wine, and caresses her hair, making her quiver. Theme begins again as tail credits roll) Norman loves Rose And nobody knows Although she's like his big sister The first time he kissed her He knew He may be younger than her But that's what all the women prefer It's amazing what a bowl of homemade chicken soup can do for you Norman's just a young boy But he can make your wife feel she's a woman Just ask Rose, she knows Everyone should have a boy like Norman Nooorman Nooorman
(Lyrics continue over head credits as:) He's an affectionate boy His mother's true pride and joy She waits for him every day In the time honoured way mothers do And she will go to great lengths To have her golden boy keep up his strength It's amazing what a bowl of homemade chicken soup can do for you) (Lyrics continue over tail credits as:) Just look at sweet Rose In maternity clothes It seems it's all been a storm in a teacup That Norman went through Now everyone one knows (Choir female voices: Everyone ) Someone's loved Rose (Choir female voices: Someone ) It's amazing what a bowl of homemade chicken soup can do for you It's amazing what a bowl of homemade chicken soup can do for you (Choir female voices: Norman) Norman loves Rose But nobody knows Norman loves Rose From the head to her toes Norman loves Rose And that's how it goes...
(Below: the Mike Perjanik Group in Sydney, with Peter Skerrett at left and Perjanik at the rear) (Below: the Mike Perjanik band at the Latin Quarter 1967, with Allison Durbin and Tommy Adderley at the back) Sven Libaek liked the theme from the movie well enough to cover it as track 6 on side 1 of his LP WEA 2508 16-1, released in 1984, I Love Australian Movies.
Alto Saxophone Errol Buddle Arranged By Sven Libaek Clarinet David Rutledge Concertmaster John Lyle Drums Doug Gallagher Engineer Martin Benge French Horn Robert Johnson Guitar Paul Baker Harp Maria Łazar Keyboards Mark Isaacs Oboe Tom Sparks Producer Sven Libaek Trombone Herb Cannon Trumpet Billy Burton Vibraphone Noel Gilmour Recorded in Australia at EMI Studio 301. Australian Film Commission credited front sleeve and labels.