Post 513 - Dave Mills - Let The Heartaches Begin - I Love You More

Dave Mills, now retired, lives in Perth Western Australia. He spent 4 weeks at #1 on the Springbok Chart in April 1970 with “Love is a Beautiful Song”. It was also one of the top selling singles in Australia in 1971. Dave Mills also won the SARIE for "Best Male Vocalist" that year. He was a top performer in the Sydney club circuit for many years.  Here to download is a single from 1977 recorded for ATA Records “Let The Heartaches Begin” b/w “I Love You More” (K 6887). The single was produced by Keith Jacobsen and engineered by Duncan McGuire. Dave penned the B Side. He did release a LP and a few singles for Alberts, but I wasn’t aware  that he recorded for ATA so I’m not sure if this is the only single for them or not.

Post 512 - Dawn Dixon – Hand By Hand (Side By Side) – Don’t Look Away

I have been after this single for some time now, seen it a couple of times on EBay and both times it went for over $80 so when I saw it the other day for a “Buy Now” for $10 I jump on it right away. You don’t see many records you’ve been after for years for a buy it now.  You’ll find Dawns’ first single "Bouzouki” at post # 80. I must say I didn’t even know that Dawn released a 2^nd single until I was asked about it a few years back and there is nothing at all in any of my books about her first single or this one. I think it’s a pity because the first time I heard “Bouzouki” I thought she had a sensational voice and a bigger pity she only release the two singles. I did contact Dawns’ son Michael and he asked her about this single and this is what he told him…… “Apparently Ron Tudor owner and producer of fable records requested mum release another song! He chose that number “Hand By Hand” recorded in 1973. It didn't get the promotion it deserved at the time. Unfortunately that’s all I have, that was the last song mum recorded! She continued to do the club circuit and cruise liners around the pacific! Continued singing on television until around 94 then worked with a 5 piece jazz band until 4 years ago. These days at 74 mum still sings once a month or so”

Here to download is that single “Hand By Hand (Side By Side)” b/w” Don’t Look Away” (FB-097). The single was produced by Geoff Hales. A big thanks to Dawn and Michael for the info on this single, I really appreciate your help. 

Post 511 - Rock And Roll Show - Lover, Please - At The Hop

During the many years that the Rock 'N Roll Show were an entertainment force in WA, they filled many venues and had a number of line-up changes. Their last reunion on the 17th April, 1993 was their 21st Anniversary. The Band drew big crowds wherever they appeared at Places like the Boomerang Hotel, Morley Park Hotel, Scarborough Hotel, Maylands Hotel, Ashfield Tavern, Walkabout Hotels in the North West, Goldfields and an extended tour of the Eastern States. Ron Leask, Founder of the Band, had been performing in the Band since it started way back then. Ron owned the Montmartre Night Club at one stage in William St Northbridge. He was also a promoter importing a number of national and international acts into WA. A highlight performance of the Rock 'N Roll Show was backing and performing with Chuck Berry live on stage at the Entertainment Centre on the 16th Sept.1976. The Rock 'N Roll Show cut a number of vinyl 45 singles including " Lover, Please " b/w “At The Hop” (K-5581)released on Sunshine Records and "The King of Jive" with "Hey Rock 'N Roll" released by Martin Clark's Clarion records. Radio 6PM and 6IX had the singles on their play-list. The seven piece Group did a national tour to promote their singles after winning over many fans with their "Showmanship" and "Musicianship" in WA. The band members were Peter White (Keyboards) Chris Conlon (Drums) Graham Herbert (Sax, Flute, Drums) Greg Clarke (Sax, Trumpet) Ron Leask (Lead Guitar, Sax) Gerry Smith (Bass) and Marty Warren (Lead Vocal)

Post 510 - X-Ray-Z – Poor Image - Sledgehammer Hit - Citizen John

Formed in 1977 X-Ray-Z are recognised as one of Australian’s first new wave bands. The band had their roots in Adelaide band Rufus, which moved to Melbourne in early ’77. They renamed themselves X-Ray-Z and set out to make a name in the Melbourne pub scene. They supported Lou Reed in October of that year on his Aussie tour and then signed to Mushroom Records for a one off single “Poor Image” b/w “Sledgehammer Hit” – “Citizen John” (K-6951). The band members made up some picture sleeves for the single which they distributed to record shops themselves. In 1978 they signed up with Suicide Records for 3 tracks that they contributed to a Melbourne punk compilation “Lethal Weapons”. Before splitting X-Ray-Z recorded studio demos and live recordings which the Polyester label combined the 3 tracks from the single for the compilation X-Ray-Z.  Thanks to Hugh for giving me a copy of this single for the Blog a rare one indeed.  

Post 509 - Fielding & Dyer – The Whale – Bay Street Coventry

Terry Fielding and Fred Dyer met at a practice session for a group that included Fred and his brother Frank. They formed a friendship and started work at the same firm in the NSW city of Wollongong. They shared a mutual interest in song writing and with suggestions from Donnie Sutherland they contacted Essex Music with whom they signed a record contract. They performed in and around clubs in Sydney and in 1972 they co-wrote and released “The Whale” b/w “Bay Street Coventry” (EK-4574) for Spin Records. The single was produced by Gus McNeil. Thanks to Hugh for getting this record to me for the Blog. I’ve had many requests for this one. 

Post 508 - Badge – Rock City – Rock ‘N’ Roll Hero

Not to be confused with the heavy metal band Badge from Perth, these guys were a Sydney band formed in 1984. This is the only single they recorded for Powdwerworks Records in 1984. Members were Vella, Trogg and Jackowski according to by book no first names given. The thing that caught my eye was it was produced by Jeff St. John so I asked Jeff could he put a bit more light on the band and this is what he told me….”Hi Garry, I have a vague recollection. They were just a bunch of kids with a couple of siblings in the band”.  This is a great little rock song here for you to download “Rock City” b/w “Rock ‘N’ Roll Hero (POW-0181). 

Post 507 - Factory – Live Until You Die - Shaggy Dog

Another one of those bands with not much info this is the only single they released in 1972 for Spin Records, a cover of an Emitt Rhodes recording. At first I thought this was a Perth band but thanks to some later info from George turns out they were a Sydney band. Chris Woodman from Perth took the band’s name with him to Sydney a few years later and formed this new band.  The single was produced by Gus McNeil. Here to download is Factory and their single “Live Until You Die” b/w “Shaggy Dog” (ek-4657). 

Post 506 - Topaz - Can't Break The Habit - Far Away

Ron Gaydon has performed in many bands over many years, including Topaz and Beat Street. Ron has had a recording and writing contract with Festival Records. He cites some of his career highlights as an appearance on Countdown, and working with bands like 'Split Enz' and 'The Richard Clapton Band'. Here to download is the only single Ron and Topaz ever released for Infinity Records in 1979, it’s a Russ Ballard song “Can’t Break the Habit” b/w “Far Away” (K7299) penned by Ron. I can’t find out any other members names or where the band came from.

Post 505 - Greg Christensen – Singles Collection

Greg Christensen lead singer of New Zealand band Creation went on to record three solo singles between 1977 and 1980. The first two were on the Vertigo label and were "Marie" b/w "The Good Guys and The Bad Guys" (6036 918) in 1977 and "Smiley" b/w "Windy City" (6036923) in 1978. In 1980 his last single was on EMI and called "Baby I Like It" b/w "If You See My Baby" (EMI-277). It was also released in Australia and if I’d heard this one on the radio and didn’t know who was singing it I would have said it was U.K band Racey, what do you think? 

Post 504 - Rabbit - Let Me – Kiss Me Goodnight

It’s taken a bit of time but I finally tracked down the last single recorded by Rabbit. “Let Me” b/w “Kiss Me Goodnight” (BA  222311) recorded for CBS Records in 1977, both sides  were non LP tracks. The A side was a cover of Paul Revere and the Raiders 1969 release written by Mark Lindsay with the B side penned by Dave Evans and a H.Hinds, couldn’t find out who that was because the only Hinds in Rabbit was Dave Hinds. So when you can’t find out the info what to you do, go to the man himself, so I asked Dave Evans about the single and this is what he told me…….”Hi Garry,  That was the only single recorded with the final line-up after Mark Tinson and Phil Screen had left and Phil was replaced by Barry Litten. We split shortly after like most of the top Aussie bands when disco took over and half the venues put in DJ's and we couldn't afford to tour when half our income dried up. Yes David Hinds is the co-writer of Kiss Me Goodnight”. Thanks Dave for your help much appreciated.