Post 503 The Fable Brass - Twelfth Street Rag – Black And Blue

Yet another one of those recordings where there’s no info, I would guess like The Fable Singers most likely made up of session musicians. All I can find out that it was produced by Doug Trevor who was the guitarist with the Cherokees, he also has produced records for the likes of Robin Jolley, Denise Morrison, Cash Backman, The Marksmen and as well as writing the B side to this single also penned the single for Somebody’s Image “Hide & Seek”. Here to download is the single from The Fable Brass “Twelfth Street Rag” b/w “Black And Blue” (FB-250) for Fable Records in 1975. The Engineer was Ian McKenzie and it was recorded at Armstrong Studios Melbourne. 

Post 502 - Cowboy & The Giants - Power Blues EP

Back in the late 90’s when I worked in radio in Orange NSW I was given a EP to play on my Australian show I did every week. It took my eye as the band did a cover of one of my favourite songs, Matt Taylor’s “I Remember When I Was Young”. The other day while going through some boxes of records I came across the EP and thought I should put it up on the Blog for all to hear as it is a great recording. The lead singer’s name is Brian Cain and there was a guy on my Face Book friends of the same name so I contacted him asking him was he the same guy by any chance, and this is what he wrote back to me....….Hi Garry, thanks for your message and indeed I am the one whom perpetuated the EP you refer to. I see you come from Orange and the EP has local history. It was recorded in Adelaide at Soundtrack Australia and the cover was done by a printer in Orange. I can't remember the printers name or location. The year was 1987 and I was the manager of Browns Creek Gold Mine near Blayney, during the course of recording and pressing the disc the mining company I worked with transferred me from Kalgoorlie in WA to Browns Creek when BHP bought the mine from Hickey. Thus the record was pressed in Sydney and the cover I arranged to have done in Orange, the printer even placed the discs in the sleeve, they were very helpful. I still have a few of the discs left in one remaining box probably around 100 or so, I can’t remember how many discs were pressed but it’s pretty rare. The disc was transferred to digital about six years ago when I had a recording studio in the Hunter Valley in which I recorded two albums both mixed and mastered in Germany. The bands I had in the 80s were finally made up of the members of Adelaide band Mickey Finn, my work often took me away they were hard times. You will notice the words sung on the track I remember when I was young are actually incorrect, due to learning the words from an old tape with the members of band Terra Firma put together in 1981 when I left The Others. We wrote down the words best we could make out with a cross section of the early band members unrelated to the ones recorded on the EP, they turned out to be wrong. Long-time friend Phil Manning asked later about the words but when I told him he wasn't surprised as the recording was difficult to make out precise elocution. We were always broke even though I worked two or three jobs in Adelaide and often went bush to mines to make money. When I had the money to record the EP x later members of my bands in Adelaide had a band called 'The Giants' nothing to do with the Melbourne band of the same name.  I negotiated with them, Stan Korytni, Mauri Berg and John Freeman all x Mickey Finn. I flew to Adelaide from Orange met the members at the studio and without rehearsal the EP was recorded. The final mix went to Festival Records in Sydney and the records were put into the sleeves in Orange. When I had earned enough money to make a film clip I contacted the band and they had split up, the project was lost. I continued on in the mining industry but still played and did not record again until 2006 with east coast band Indiana Phoenix when I had my own studio in the Hunter. I currently play local at the Irish pub in Bathurst and Orange with Sydney band Finn when they appear here.  If I knew a good guitar player locally I would probably play more often. …

Thanks Brian for your help, very much appreciated. 

Post 501 - Jenny Morris - Body And Soul EP

Jenny Morris was born in New Zealand where she entered the music business and where she began performing in the all-girl group The Wide Mouthed Frogs. This was followed in 1980 by the band The Crocodiles, with whom she scored a Top 20 hit in New Zealand with ‘Tears’. In February 1981 The Crocodiles moved to Sydney, only to disband in July. Morris began her solo career by singing the title track for the film Puberty Blues, which was a local box-office success in 1981. In 1983, Morris formed QED with Rex Goh (ex-Air Supply). The duo’s debut single, ‘Everywhere I Go’, peaked at #19 on the Australian charts in early 1984. Morris’s next single proved to be her solo breakthrough: ‘You’re Going To Get Hurt’ hit #24 in August 1986, finally establishing her as a serious singer/songwriter. In July 1987, Morris released her first solo album, Body and Soul, produced by Mark Moffatt and Ricky Fataar. It sold over 70,000 copies in Australia (platinum status), and spawned a number of singles, the biggest of which, ‘You I Know’ (written by Neil Finn), reached #13. She won ARIA’s for Most Popular Female Performer in 1987 and 1988. Here to download is the 12” extended single released  of “Body And Soul” (0.258457) it also features a non LP track of the Beatles “I’ve Just Seen A Face” produced by Mark Moffat for WEA Records in 1987. The other two tracks were produced by Andrew Farriss and Jenny Morris.

Post 500 - Tim Finn - You Saved The World -Les' Fanfare - Coup D'etat

Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE was born on 25th June 1952. His musical career includes forming 1970s and 1980s New Zealand rock group Split Enz, a number of solo albums, temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn Brothers. Born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand. He went to Sacred Heart College, Auckland, a Catholic boarding school. In 1971 he started a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Auckland. There he jammed in music practice room 129 (later the name of a Split Enz song) with friends and future Split Enz band members Mike Chunn, Robert Gillies, Philip Judd and Noel Crombie. Music soon became more important to him than his studies; in mid-1972 he quit university. A few months later, Phil and Tim formed group Split Ends (renamed Split Enz, shortly before their first move to Melbourne in 1975). Finn's focus also turned to soundtrack music, and he landed a few acting roles on-screen. Finn has composed for a number of Australian films and TV productions, including 1981 teen tale Puberty Blues and comedy Les Patterson Saves the World, which yielded Australian hit “You Saved the World” b/w “Les’ Fanfare” & Coup D’etat” (7-258352) For WEA Records in 1987 here for you to download. The single was produced by Ricky Fataar  Finn had a small part in Australian film The Coca-Cola Kid alongside then-girlfriend Greta Scacchi, and a larger one in her Italian-shot romance La Donna della Luna (The Moon Woman).

Post 499 - John Vincent - Owyagoin' LP

 Back in 1967, Adelaide disc-jockey John Vincent would spend Saturday afternoons at the Arkabar Hotel, listening to music of local rock band 'The In-Sect.  Sometimes after a few liquid courage ales, John would talk his way on stage to perform the only song he knew. It was a song he composed called "Owyagoin'?" The lyrics were:

· "Owyagoin'? - Alright

· Crack a coldie - you beaut

· Seeyalater - hooroo"

It was eventually decided that a song of such lyrical complexity should be recorded for prosperity. It also transpired that the In-Sect had one song to go, to finish a recording contract. So why not? Thus commenced the John Vincent musical phenomenon. Here to download is the 1973 LP for RCA Records "Owyagoin' (OMC-178)

Post 498 - Doug Parkinson – Heartbeat To Heartbeat LP

In March 1983 Doug Parkinson released his second solo album “Heartbeat to Heartbeat” (SBP 237862) for CBS Records. The LP was produced by Tommy Emmanuel and Alan Marsfield. It featured some of Australia’s finest musicians such as Billy Green, Broderick Smith, Johnny Dick, Tommy Emmanuel, Vanetta Fields just to name a few. The album featured five singles for CBS. Later in 1983 he took the starring role of Judas in the revived stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar. The production toured Australia for twelve months to great acclaim, before final performances in Hong Kong and Singapore. Thanks to Tony H for the help with this one.

Post 497 - Francis Butler's Sixty Niners - Flash - Back Seat Drivin'

In April 1973 Brian Bethell, Peter Knox and Dave Ovendon sacked Francis Butler from the band and, added Tony Burkys on guitar, they renamed themselves as Peter Knox's New Improved 69'ers. Butler responded by forming Francis Butler's Original 69'ers, where he was joined by Ray Ferguson on guitar, vocals, flute and kazoo; Peter Jarman on drums and Terry Stacey on bass guitar. In November John 'Ernie' McInerney replaced Jarman on drums. The two bands had somewhat diversified styles. Both retained an image for crazy and often crude humour; however Butler's version was closer to their original jug-band style with country and rock influences. In 1974 the band issued its last single, "Flash" / "Back Seat Drivin'" (ESP-008) on the independent Earth label. The single was Engineered by Ross Kirkland and both sides penned by Butler. For this single the group were Butler, Ferguson, McInerney and Wharton. After its release they worked regularly around Sydney and rural New South Wales. Later in 1974, McInerney left to join Richard Clapton's backing band, he was replaced by Rob Harris who stayed for a few months to be replaced by Rob Cody. In August 1975 Ferguson, Wharton and Cody all left to form Flash Harry's Iceberg. The latter day line-up of The 69'ers was Butler, Ian Cameron on guitar, Tom Callaghan on drums and Lindsay Osborne on bass guitar. The group finally broke up in February 1976. In 1978 Francis Butler released a solo religious album, “There Is no Escape”, on independent label, Rhema, before travelling to the United States and becoming a religious minister.

Post 496 - Swordfish - Swordfish EP

Sydney band Swordfish released this EP in 1991 on Volition Records. Swordfish  drew their inspiration from such sources as Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young and The Beatles.  This EP featured two singles “Wrap” and “Paralytic”. Between 90-94 they recorded three EP’S a mini LP and two albums. Unfortunately they lost their drummer Rob Hodgson in a fatal crash on the way to a gig, he was only 26. I once read, “Rob Hodgson was one of the greatest ever drummers from Sydney, an extremely interesting and smart and lovely guy”. Here to download is their first EP “Swordfish” (VOLTCD42). Members include: James Dixon (vocals and guitar); Pete Marley (bass and vocals); Pete (guitar, synths and organs); and Rob (drums). Members were sometimes credited on releases with only their first names.