Post 137 - Peter Hiscock - A Certain Mr.Brown / The Battle Of Daffodil Hill

Peter Hiscock and Bryce Rohde penned the song "A Certain Mr. Brown", which he recorded for Festival in June 1971. The song was based on the melody of "Click Go The Shears" but the lyrics told of the exploits of the mysterious Mr. Brown, an anonymous criminal who successfully extorted $500,000 from QANTAS after claiming he had placed a bomb on one of their planes. Produced by Richard Batchens here is that song to download "A Certain Mr.Brown" b/w "The Battle Of Daffodil Hill" (FK-4286)

Post 136 - Bill & Boyd - Aussie / Schwabadaba Ding Ding

Bill Cate and Boyd Robertson were from the Hutt Valley near Wellington New Zealand. They were school mates at Wellington's Naenae College. In 1964 Bill and Boyd moved to Australia on the strength of their first Australian hit "Chulu Chululu". It was a bright, sing-along song recorded live at the Rotorua Sound Shell in New Zealand. Appearing regularly on Bandstand, and working the clubs around Australia, they left for America early in 1968. They toured with the Supremes and Herb Alpert. On their return to Australia, they established themselves as a top club act. In 1970, they joined Ron Tudor's newly formed Fable label. It wasn't until 1975 that they had their most success, after recording a song called "Santa Never Made It Into Darwin". The song documented the events of Cyclone Tracy that devastated the city of Darwin on Christmas eve. Another single called "Put Another Log On The Fire" was released and Bill and Boyd were a household name. Here to download is a single out of 1974 "Aussie" b/w "Schwabadaba Ding Ding" (FB-213). The A side was recorded in London and the B side in Melbourne, the B side was also the B side of their 1973 hit "Someone To Love" and it was also released as an A side in 1971 with "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" as the B side.

Post 135 - David Holmes - Denver Idleman / Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You

David Holmes is a songwriter, blessed with a baritone voice. His songs are all about Melbourne, the city that he has called home for most of his life, although he has travelled and performed interstate and overseas for many years. From his beginnings as 1970s Best New Comer on Bandstand, David led a very public life. After his early critical acclaim for his song "Denver Idle Man” which went to #8 on the Melbourne charts, he disappeared from the public eye. But we hadn't seen the last of him. After 10 years out of the lime light he was asked to join Four Chairs No Waiting, a group that later evolved into The Scared Weird Little Guys. Here to download is his single for Fable produced by John Farrar in 1971 "Denver Idleman" b/w "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You" (FB-048)

Post 134 - Rory Thomas - From Rory Thomas With Love EP

Rory Thomas was a keyboard player in a number of great Aussie bands such as Heart 'N' Soul, The Affair , Questions and Doug Parkinson In Focus. Rory's superb musical training came from Australia, the U.K. and America. In America he studied under the late Earl Grant. He was the musical director for Godspell in Sydney. The only single by him was in 1975 called "Fire Wheels" b/w "Skateboard Freak-out" Here to download is Rory's EP "From Rory Thomas With Love" (PRS-2316) which was released by EMI and sold at Bankstown Square where he played music each year. The record was produced by Arthur Pettett.

Post 133 - Mental As Anything - Mental As Anything Plays At Your Party EP

Two fans, Martin Fabinyi and Cameron Allen, liked the Mentals so much that they formed Regular Records to release the band's Mental As Anything Plays At Your Party EP. It started selling like crazy at gigs, sold from the boots of the cars of Greedy Smith, Martin Plaza, Reg Mombassa, Peter O’Doherty and Wayne ‘Bird’ Delisle. It featured all original tracks, and is their only release on which Plaza and Mombassa were credited by their original names, Martin Murphy and Chris O'Doherty. Sydney rock station Double Jay gave airplay to its most popular track, "The Nips Are Getting Bigger", a drinking song written by Plaza. Soon after the EP's release, Festival Records took over distribution of Regular Records and released a remix of "The Nips Are Getting Bigger" as a single in July 1979. This was followed on 1st November by the band's debut album, Get Wet. Mental As Anything has released 36 singles, 2 EP's and 18 albums. Here to download we go back where it all started in 1978 with the 3 track EP " Mental As Anything Plays At Your Party" (REG 1)

Post 132 - William Shakespeare - Toledo Bay

Yet another B side of an earlier post this time "Toledo Bay" (AP-11057) by William Shakespeare is the B side to "Last Night" post #27. Like the A side this song was penned and produced by Vanda & Young for Albert Records in 1976.

Post 131 - Red Symons - Whatever

"Whatever" (K546) is the B side of post #29 "Sex Appeal" like the A side it was produced and written by Red under the name of Rick Pinko Sims for Mushroom Records in 1988.He was best known as lead guitarist with Skyhooks and as the snide judge of Red Faces, a segment of the long-running Hey Hey It's Saturday variety television show. In 1985, he guest starred in Neighbours as criminal Gordon Miller. Here is that B side to download.

Post 130 - Maria Venuti - Listen To Your Mama / City Streets

Maria Venuti is one of this country’s leading performers, Maria has played in every major cabaret venue around Australia, New Zealand, the Far East, Japan as well as entertaining our boys in the Sinai Desert. From starting in Television on Brian Henderson’s Bandstand, Graham Kennedy’s IMT, The Mike Walsh Show Variety Italian Style etc. Many well known stars paid homage to her incredible personality and talents. Rolf Harris declared Venuti a true character and talent of Australia. The song here for you to download is the answer song to "Shaddap You Face" and was recorded in 1981,it was co-written by US songwriters Al Styne and Ellean Russell, Ellean also wrote the B side. Joe Dolce once said “I have never heard the song, I was always honoured and fascinated that Maria got in the spirit of the times around "Shaddap You Face" and wanted to explain things from Mama's point of view". Here to download is that song recorded for RCA Records "Listen To Your Mama" b/w "City Streets" (103739).

Post 129 - Peter Plus With Bazz & Pilko - Bite Your Bum / Mandy

Bazz & Pilko, Barry Ion (pronounced Ian), and Tony Pilkington were an Adelaide radio breakfast duo who spent a few years doing Breakfast on a Sydney radio station. Peter Plus was Bazz's character and does the vocal on the parody of Joe Dolce's Shaddap your Face. The B side another parody this time Scott English's "Mandy" with the B side credited to Pilko With Bazz & Plussy. Here to download from 1981 released on Festival is the single "Bite Your Bum" b/w "Mandy" (K-8238)

Post 128 - The Sports - O.K, U.K! EP

Based in Melbourne, The Sports released a number of successful singles and albums. They were formed in 1976 by Stephen Cummings who was the singer of Melbourne rockabilly group, The Pelaco Brothers, which comprised Cummings, Joe Camilleri, Peter Lillie and Johnny Topper. Their best known songs include "Boys (What Did The Detective Say?)", "Don't Throw Stones", "When You Walk In The Room", "How Come", "Who Listens To The Radio?", "Perhaps" and “Strangers on a Train". Members were Martin Armiger guitar (1978-1981), Ed Bates guitar (1976-1978), StephenCummings vocals (1976-1981), Robert Glover bass (1976-1981), Paul Hitchins drums (1976-1980), Iain McLennan drums (1980), Jim Niven vocals, keyboards (1976-1980), Andrew Pendlebury guitar, vocals (1976-1981), Freddie Strauks drums (1980-1981) and Red Symons keyboards (1980). Here for you to download is their EP O.K, U.K! (X13052), which was recorded in London for Mushroom in 1979.

Post 127 - Frankie Davidson - Hector The Trash Collector / Somebody Take My Wife

Another parody, this time of John Farnham's 1967 hit Sadie The Cleaning Lady. Reaching # 35 in Melbourne "Hector The Trash Collector" by Frankie Davidson. Released by Festival Records in 1968 b/w "Somebody Take My Wife" sounding very much like They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha Ha. Frankie was the first Melbourne artist to ever have a national No.1 record "Have You Ever Been To See King's Cross".  Also on Post #72 on this blog you can hear Frankie singing "50, 00000 blowflies can't be wrong". Frankie is still one of the most popular entertainers in Australia, and on cruise ships and in resorts right around the world. Here to download is "Hector The Trash Collector" b/w "Somebody Take My Wife" (FK-2281)

Post 126 - Martin Plaza - Rare Tracks

Martin Plaza was vocalist/guitarist/songwriter with Mental As Anything. Plaza also has a solo music career and in 1986 had a #2 hit with his cover of the 1960s Unit 4+2 song "Concrete and Clay”. He has worked in other bands such as The Stetsons, Beatfish, Moondog and Martin Plaza and The Lost Vegans. Here for all you Martin Plaza lovers is a collection of Martin's song that have appeared on different various artist albums through out the years. Songs included here are "While You Sleep" from Lullaby & Goodnight Flip Records - (LULLCD001) 1996, "Wings On The Water" from Olympic Record - Warner (8573827772) 2000, "Seems Alright To Me" from Flora & Fauna Of the Gibson Desert - Dynamic Music 1994, "When You Wish Upon A Star" from Duets A Family Celebration - Festival (D 24668) 1999, K.9.N.V. & Puppy Love from 101 Unleashed - Walt Disney Records (74321429462) 1996, "Use Me All Over" 12" b/w "Ruby Baby"- CBS (BA12215) 1986 AND "Best Foot Forward" 12" CBS (BA12202) 1986. Here to download are those tracks.

Post 125 - Frankie J. Holden - My Right Of Way / Chartered Accountant Blues

Frankie J. Holden was born Peter Brian on the 18th of December 1952. During the 70's Holden was the front man for Ol' 55, which also included Wilbur Wilde. In the late 90's Holden became the host of the Monday evening variety show In Melbourne Tonight, co-featuring Julia Morris and Denise Drysdale. He has also appeared in dramas Round the Twist, Prisoner, A Country Practice, Something in the Air, Police Rescue and Underbelly. He has four children; three girls with his first wife, and another child from his second marriage. His first wife, dancer Melda Rees, died in 1997 from cancer. Holden married popular actress Michelle Pettigrove two years later. The single here for you to download is "My Right Of Way" b/w "Chartered Accountant Blues" (K-6748).

Post 124 - Dave Allenby - Sweet Gingerbread Man / Who Wrote That Song

Dave Allenby was a popular Sydney TV and club performer of the late '60s and early '70s. Allenby also had a brief burst of pop success in 1971 when he released a single on the independent Chart label "Sweet Gingerbread Man" b/w "Who Wrote That Song" (CHK-4325).  The B side was written and produced by Pat Aulton a noted Australian record producer, musician, arranger and songwriter. Aulton died in mid February 2009, aged in his early seventies. For more info on Dave check out post #85.

Post 123 - Little Pattie - You'll Never Know / You'll Be My Love

Patricia Thelma Amphlett was born 17th March 1949 in Paddington, Sydney. Her first single for EMI, was influenced by the surf music craze titled "He's My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy". The song was released in November 1963 when Pattie was aged 14, it went to number two on the Australian music charts with The Beatles holding the #1 slot at the time with "I Want To Hold Your Hand". She regularly toured supporting Col Joye and the Joy Boys, with Judy Stone. In 1966, at the age of 17 and the height of 4' 10", she became both the youngest and the shortest person to entertain troops during the Vietnam War. She subsequently appeared on several TV shows in America, the most notable being the Ed Sullivan show. She continues to perform on television and in clubs, and became a vocal teacher, notably coaching Nikki Webster. In 1973 she married Joy Boys bassist and record producer/manager, Keith Jacobsen, but they parted ways in 1984.She subsequently married Laurie Thompson, and they have been together for 20 years. She is the cousin of Divinyls lead singer Chrissy Amphlett. Here to download is her 1977 single on ATA Records produced by Keith Jacobsen "You'll Never Know" b/w "You'll Be My Love" (K-6839)

Post 122 - J. Vincent - Don't Drop Your Gear Over Here / Put It In A Bin

John Vincent started his career in 1963 as an announcer on 2RE in Taree, N.S.W. He later worked at many stations, but became best known in the 1970s for his work on 5KA and a decade later on SAFM's top rating Morning Zoo program. John suffered from heart and lung conditions for most of his life. It was John's heart ailment which led to his interest in radio, after he spent many months listening to it while ill as a child in Sydney. John had a bypass operation at 21. Other than this I can't find a lot about John's recording history but this is a record slinging off when the Maxi skirt came into fashion. It was released by Gamba Records in or around 1971 produced by T. Milburn and both sides written by john. John is credited on the label as J. Vincent. John died in his sleep at the Royal Adelaide Hospital with his family at his side on 27th March 2009. Here to download is John's single and it's B side "Don't Drop Your Gear Over Here" b/w "Put It In A Bin" (GA2).

Post 121 - Broderick Smith - Goin' On Down To The End Of The World / She's Gone

Broderick Smith was born in 1948 in Hertfordshire, England. Smith and his family migrated to Australia in 1959 and settled, in St Albans a Western suburb of Melbourne. He has been a member of 1970s bands Carson and The Dingoes, 1980s Broderick Smith's Big Combo and performed solo. In 1972 Rhett Walker, Carson's manager wanted to promote Smith as a solo artist. In May 1972 he recorded the first of two singles for Image the first "Goin' On Down To The End Of The World" b/w "She's Gone" (IS - 115) both sides of this single were penned and produced by Brian Cadd and if I'm not mistaken Brian played piano and did backing vocals. Smith has been involved in writing about 200 songs and has run workshops on song writing, harmonica and vocals. Here to download is that single from 1972 which for some reason I'm sure has never made it to CD.

Post 120 - Col Joye & The Joy Boys - A Mother As Lovely As You EP

Colin Frederick Jacobsen born 13th of April 1936 in Sydney, better known as Col Joye, is an Australian popular entertainer. He was the first Australian rock and roll singer to have a # 1 record Australia-wide, and the first Australian to reach the American Billboard charts. Recording with his brothers Kevin and Keith who were part of Col's backing band The Joy Boys, and as a solo artist, enjoyed a series of number one hits in the early 1960s. In the interim, Col and Kevin built an influential entertainment management, publishing, and recording business, including ATA Studios in Glebe, N.S.W. This EP takes Col away from his rock 'n' roll genre, in choosing these four songs inspired from his home life with his parents. His parents' opinion of his shows and recordings always means more to Col then that of the critics. Here to download is that EP from 1962 "A Mother As Lovely As You" (FX-10434).

Post 119 - Digby Richards - Whiskey Sundown LP

Born on September 12, 1941 in the remote western New South Wales town of Dunedoo. His father's work as a mounted policeman kept him in rural areas. When Digby was still young the family moved to Narooma, where he grew up. At 17 he went to Sydney and started work as a trainee manager with Waltons department store. After a chance meeting with two other boys in a music shop he formed a band the R'Jays, playing dances in town halls around Sydney. The group approached Festival Records for an audition. Legend has it Digby Richards’ singing did not impress, but the way the girls yelled and screamed as soon as he went on stage did. The boss of Festival Ken Taylor reputedly said, "Even if you haven't got a voice, my eyes tell me I could sell your records on your looks if nothing else." They were granted an audition. Digby Richards and the R'Jays were the first group to play live on Brian Henderson's Bandstand, and became regulars on both Bandstand and the Johnny O'Keefe’s Six O’clock Rock. By August 1959 he had his own TV show; in 1970 he traveled to England and spent a year writing songs. He returned to record and release the highly acclaimed Harlequin album with the single, “A Little Piece Of Peace”, returned him to charts for the first time in nine years. More hits followed. Digby Richards continued to record and perform throughout the 70s. He died on February 16, 1983 of pancreatic cancer. Here for you to download is the LP “Whiskey Sundown” (PL 25154) from 1978.

Post 118 - Ol’ 55 – Summer Of 55 12” Single

Ol’ 55 split soon after the second single was released from “The Vault” LP in 1980. In December of 1981, RCA/Powderworks issued an Ol’ 55 12” single titled "Summer Of 55" (POW056). It contained 3 tracks, “Ol’ 55 On 45”, “Four Seasons Medley” and “Summer Of Ol’ 55”. After the release of “The Vault”, many band changes followed under the same band name of Ol’ 55. Here for you to download is that 12” single.