Post 18 - Australia Too - The Garden

“The Garden” (ED.132) is situated at Nacfa in Eritrea, Northen Ethiopia. All proceeds from this record went directly to Freedom From Hunger projects in Africa. It was written by Allan Caswell who’s best know song was the theme for the T.V. soapie “Prisoner”. The Garden single brought over 70 of Australia’s best artists who donated their time & talent with the likes of Smokey Dawson, Marc Hunter, Col Joye, Bob Hudson, Jon English, Doug Rowe, Doug Parkinson and Bobby Bright just to name a few. Available for download is the 1986 single “The Garden”.

Post 17 - Austen Tayshus - They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha Ha!

Austen Tayshus has performed over 10,000 shows in nightclubs, universities, comedy clubs, pubs and theatres throughout Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA, Fiji and Bali. Best know for his #1 1983 hit “AUSTRALIANA”. The record sold Double Platinum and remains the highest selling single in Australian Recording history. In 1988 he covered Napoleon XIV 1966 novelty hit “They’re Coming To Take Me Away Ha Ha!” (MAX8803) from the album “Whispering Joke”. Here for you to download is that track. Enjoy!

Post 16 - Martin Plaza - Concrete And Clay

Plaza was born Martin Murphy on the North Shore of Sydney in 1956. In Darlinghurst in the middle 70’s while working at KFC, he met Reg Mombassa. They formed Mental As Anything who went on to become one of Australia’s most popular bands. In 1986 Plaza had a # 2 hit with the Unit 4 + 2 60’s hit "Concrete And Clay". The subsequent solo album "Plaza Suite" also went to # 2. Other singles were not as successful. Here for you to download is the extended 12” mix of "Concrete And Clay" (BA 12189).

Post 15 - Darryl Cotton - Same Old Girl

Darryl Cotton (born 4 September 1949 in Adelaide) is best known as a founding member of Australian rock group Zoot in 1968, along with Beeb Birtles, Rick Brewer and later, Rick Springfield. Following Zoot, Cotton ventured overseas, basing himself in L.A. where he worked consistently as a singer/songwriter and performed with such artists as Olivia Newton-John, The Osmonds, Shaun Cassidy and Cliff Richard. His songwriting credits include Donny & Marie Osmond, Engelbert Humperdinck and The New Seekers. In 1978, Cotton returned to Australia to release his solo single, "Don't Let It Get to You" which appeared on the album, “Best Seat In The House”. Various successful solo singles followed, including the self-penned national top ten single, "Same Old Girl" (EMI-204), which earned him a Countdown award for Best Solo Male Performance in 1980, exactly ten years after Zoot had the same award for a group. Available for download is that award-winning single.

Post 14 - Uncanny X-Men - Salive One Mini LP

Uncanny X-Men were formed in 1980/81, first as a four-piece band featuring Brian Mannix, Ron Thiessen, Nick Matandos and Michael Helms. Chuck Hargreaves later joined. The band quickly became a popular live act around Melbourne’s pubs, forming a loyal following. Their first Mini LP “Salive One” (L20022) was recorded November 2 1982, and two days after they landed a contract with Michael Gudinski's Mushroom Records. The single from the Mini LP “Pakistan” reached number 11 in the Melbourne charts and number 39 nationally. Here for your download pleasure is the Mini LP “Salive One”.

Post 13 - Australian Olympians - You're Not Alone

The Australian Olympians were a group that was formed in support of the Australian Olympic Team in 1988. It was comprised of many talented and already successful artists including but not limited to Angry (Gary) Anderson, Daryl Braithwaite, Ross Wilson & Kate Ceberano. This was the one and only single recorded and the proceeds of “You’re Not Alone” (CBS 651556 7) went to the Australian Olympic Federation. Visa International was the sponsor of this project. This single is available for your download.

Post 11 & 12 - Jim Keays - Lucifer Street - Australian Rules 1983 - Lucifer Street - The Living Dead 1981

Born in Glasgow, Jim Keays lived in Scotland as a boy. He came to Australia with his parents and turned 5 on the boat. His family settled in Adelaide, South Australia. The Masters Apprentices were an original band in every sense of the word- sounding Australian rather than English or American and have gone down in Australian music history as legends. When the band finally came to the end in the early 70's Jim began his solo career. In 1980 a band commenced recording an album, the sessions were never finished because guitarist Bruce Stewart fell ill and the band broke up. The only song at that stage was the single to come out of that session, “Lucifer Street” b/w “Australian Rules”. In 1983 (RUMS 001). Also I've included the 1981 single as well of "Lucifer Street" b/w "The Living Dead" (CSP 2208). The 1983 version was produced by John Sayers and reproduced by Duncan McGuire and Jim Keays. The 1981 version was produced by John Sayers and Jim Keays.

Post 9 & 10 - Joe Dolce – You Toucha My Car I Breaka You Face & Dolciato

Born in Painesville, Ohio, Joe Dolce is and American-born Australian resident. He was born in 1947 of Italian ancestry. In 1980 Joe achieved fame with his single “Shaddap You Face”, which also was a major hit in Europe. Here for download is his 1982 single “You Toucha My Car I Breaka You Face” (GET3) along with the B side “Dolciato”, a beautiful instrumental.

Post 8 - Jacko – My Brain Hurts

Mark (Jacko) Jackson was a former Australian Rules footballer. Following his retirement from football, Jacko used his fame to launch a singing career. His first single “I’m An Individual” was a number one hit. Here for your download is his not so successful single “My Brain Hurts” (K-9788).

Post 7 - Drummond – You Talk Too Much / Scotty

Drummond was a fictitious studio band created by Ron Tudor, owner of Fable records. The main musicians were Graeham Gobble, Russ Johnson & John Mower and were members of Alison Gros, which was renamed Mississippi in 1972. They also evolved into Little River Band in 1975. Available for download here is their third single “You Talk Too Much” b/w "Scottie" (FB089).

Post 6 - The Johnnys – I Think You’re Cute

The Johnnys were a Sydney based pub rock band that fused the fun of punk rock with the 3 minute pop sensibilities of Hank Williams. The formed in 1982 and disbanded in the late 1980’s only to reform for shows in 2004. They once again showed themselves to be brilliant showmen. Their first album “Highlights Of A Dangerous Life” is regarded as an Australian classic and was produced by Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool). Here for download is their first single “I Think You’re Cute” (RRSP728) which oddly enough didn’t make it to the first album. However the B side to this single “Mountain Man” did appear on this album.

Post 5 - John Paul Young – My Name Is Jack

Lead singer of Sydney rock band Elm Tree, John Paul Young, migrated to Australia in his youth. Simon Napier-Bell heard him singing with his group at a pub in Newcastle. He coaxed him to go solo and signed with Albert Productions. Napier-Bell then produced his first single “Pasadena”. Young had numerous hits written by Vanda and Young from the Easybeats. Here to download is another Vanda and Young which is “My Name Is Jack” (AP11037) which is the B side to his 1976 smash hit “I Hate The Music”.

Post 4 - Robin Jolley – Robin Jolley EP

Robin Jolley was called into Fable Records to re-work the lead vocal of a Brian Cadd song "Marshall’s Portable Music Machine”, which was a Tokyo Song Festival entry in 1972. The original Cadd vocals surface in places just beneath Jolley’s and you can still here Cadd’s vocal in the chorus. After this was done Robin thought he would fade into obscurity but the single went to number one in Melbourne and top ten in Japan which made him a one hit wonder there. Robin went on to do a bit of television acting in 1977 in the “Young Ramsay”. Here out of 1973 in the Robin Jolley EP (FBEP 187) released on Fable Records which also includes the Japanese version of “Marshall’s Portable Music Machine”. All the songs on this EP were penned by Brian Cadd & Don Mudie, Jolley went on to release a heap of singles for Fable as well as Festival and Lewis & Young Records as well as a LP for Fable. 

Post 3 - Maple Lace - Gimme Dat Ding / Comes A Time

The very short lived Caesar's International record label was established during 1970 by the proprietors of the Caesar's discotheque in Sydney. The third Caesar's International 7" single was the Maple Lace cover version of the novelty song "Gimme Dat Ding", "Gimme Dat Ding" reached #6 in NSW. In other states "Gimme Dat Ding" was beaten by the rival version recorded by Frankie Davidson on Fable records. The original Pipkin's version didn't do much business in Australia. The management of Caesar's Disco drafted their in house band, who recorded the song live, direct to a mono tape recorder (hence the poor quality of the recording). John A. Bird played piano on the single, which featured vocals by Gerry Anderson and George Blanche. In early 1971 Caesar's Disco was destroyed by a fire. This probably explains why the song masters have never surfaced.Maple Lace was not the same band as Caesar's residents The R.J. Taylor Band (as some have speculated), but a busy live band in its own right at major Sydney venues, including regular gigs backing Johnny Farnham.

Post 2 - The Amazing Woolloomooloosers – Come On Down To My Boat

Once again there isn’t a lot of information on this band. Band members were Rockin Peter Ward, Missy Chic, Bruce Belmondo, Dave Bong, Keith Claringbold III, Leslie Hammond & Michael Shye. This band’s only single released in 1986 was “Come On Down To My Boat” which was a cover of the 1967 hit by Every Mother’s Son. The band reformed in 1989 to do a few shows. Here for download is their one and only single.

Post 1: Catmando – Today’s The First Day Of Your Life - Morning Time World

There’s not a lot of information on this band. According to the Who’s Who Of Australian Rock 5th edition, the band members were Burrell and Smeaton. Their one and only single “Today’s The First Day Of Your Life” (Warner WBA-4019) was released in 1972 and is available here for download.