Post 544 - Rick Pointon & Alan Windon With The Legendary Minmi Beach Band - I've Been Everywhere (Around Newcastle) - This Isn't A Comeback

Rick Pointon was formerly lead singer of Benny and the Jets who used to perform at the Star Hotel in Newcastle in the ‘70s. Pointon and musical partner Alan Windon had a crack at making a local rendition of the Lucky Starr classic "I've Been Everywhere". The song was released on Angelwood Records and charted in November 1981, in this version by Rick, he names all the places in the local Hunter Valley area where it was recorded. The single “I’ve Been Everywhere (Around Newcastle)” b/w “This Isn’t A Comeback” (13137), was recorded live in the Harry Scravvis Room Minmi Surf Club and mixed by Peter E. Sheedy at Angelwood Studios in 1981. Angelwood Records was based originally at Currabubula NSW Australia, just South West of Tamworth. First Issue on the label was “Bro Bill Rock” / “Getting Outta Time” by the band Angelwood. 

Post 543 - The Lovers - She Won't Call You -You're Late Home

A real mystery this band. All my Australian books on music only one says anything about the band and that is they only released one single in 1980 and they think they were a Sydney band with a question mark. The single “She Won’t Call You” b/w “You’re Late Home” (100153) on WEA Records was penned by Howard Minehan and Mike Davies which could have been band members but again nothing to state this anywhere. It was produced by Charles Fisher at Trafalgar Studios in Sydney. So like a few other posts on the Blog maybe someone out there knows more and will drop us a line.....UPDATE!..I got in contact with Howard Minehan and he told me "We were a Melbourne band but recorded the single in Sydney using session musicians although I played keyboards and Michael sang..we lived in Sydney for a year during the process and reformed the band back in Melbourne…crazy times..cheers"...Thanks Howard.

Post 542 - The Mal Green Sound - Follow Me - The Quando

Mal Green’s music path began in London UK, where from the age of 16, he started playing professionally. He collaborated, toured and recorded with countless groups and musicians including: The Honeycombs, The Love Affair, Octopus, The Chequers and Split Enz.When he was then invited to join Split Enz in 1976, they were based in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. They recorded and toured across Great Britain, Europe, America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand achieving international recognition with their hit singles and albums including “I Got You”, “I See Red”, and “History Never Repeats”… to name a few.  Albums he played on include Dizrythmia, Frenzy, True Colours and Corroboree/Waiate. In 1980, he released a solo single “Follow Me” b/w ”The Quando” with Mushroom Records. He wrote, arranged, produced and played all the instruments, with the exception of the bass guitar of Nigel Griggs and a few keyboard tracks from Eddie Rayner. Music was written by Mal Green and lyrics by Dave Osborne. Guest guitarist on ‘The Quando’ was none other than Red Symons. In 1981 he left Split Enz and Melbourne to base himself in Sydney. The diverse mix of fellow artists and groups with whom he recorded and toured from 1982 to 2008 include: James Blundell, Dave Warner, Dave Skinner (Roxy Music), Allan Caswell, Martin Cilia (The Atlantics), Steve Flack, The Hippos, The Henrys, Nigel Gavin, Rick Robinson, Chris Bailey, Steve Hunter, Peter Blakeley and Gumbo Fever. He has composed music for documentaries including National Geographic’s My Australia with Dick Smith. Mal designed and built GreenSoundMusic Studios with designer/builder Tony Stacey. Currently he is recording/engineering, producing and co-producing clients and composing music for documentaries and also playing drums on the occasional live gig.

Post 541 - Rod Kirkham - I Can't Get Sunday Out Of My Mind - I'm Talking To Myself Again

Rod began his professional life at the age of 10, appearing in a weekly musical entertainment television show in Melbourne, Australia, called "Brian and The Juniors", before being chosen as one of the six original members of the much loved, nationally televised variety show, "Young Talent Time”. He went on to become a "pop star" in his late teens, achieving a couple of "top 40" hits, and also hosted his own afternoon children's television show.  He appeared as a solo artist on most of Australia's television variety shows before joining a cabaret show band and extending his already extensive musical abilities into the area of arranging and producing. He then hosted a 13 week series of the television talent show, "Star Quest" and also guest-hosted a regional television variety show. After his marriage to Australian actress, Barbara Llewellyn, Rod opened his own singing school before moving into the advertising world and, in partnership with his talented wife, writing, arranging and producing some of Australia's most catchy jingles and promotional songs. In 1984 Rod and Barbara moved to Los Angeles and were very quickly signed to a music publishing contract, and continued to pitch their extensive range of talents to the music and films industries.  They returned to Australia in 1987 to begin their son's schooling and re-established their advertising music consultancy. Rod began his acting career in the popular night-time television soapie "The Box", where he met his future wife, Barbara.  Rod played the "bad boy" who after several months of "doing the dirty" eventually found that he could have a happier life being "a good man". Rod appeared with Barbara in several episodes of "Falcon Island", a children's television adventure series before he went on to co-host a ABC national radio series called about travel and music. While in Los Angeles, Rod entered the technology industry, selling high-end computer software into some of America's most powerful corporate and government establishments.  This exceptional experience paved the way for Rod to work at Microsoft Australia in both managerial and national marketing executive positions.  He went on to work as a corporate sales executive for Oracle Corporation and as a branch manager (of 30 staff) for a large Apple Computer reseller.  In the early 1990's, Rod launched a training consultancy and divided his time between facilitating computer software and human resource training courses for corporate clients, and co-hosting personal development seminars with Barbara. Today, the consultancy consists of a small team who focus on project management and database application software development for some of Australia's most successful companies. Here to download is Rod’s 1973 single for Image Records “I Can’t Get Sunday Out Of My Mind” b/w “I’m Talking To Myself Again” (IS-130). The single was produced by Peter Jones. 

Post 540 - Gino Cunico & Fugitive - Everytime I See Your Picture - Nothin's Like Nothin'

The Affair, a pop music group formed in 1966 as The Gino Affair were initially led by lead singer and former child actor, Gino Cunico, by mid-year Cunico left to join The Executives. After that he went on to release an LP with fellow Executive Ray Burton "Strive, Seek, Find" (which can be downloaded at post # 302). He also released a few singles and LP’s in the 70’s in the U.S. The single here for you to download “Everytime I See Your Picture” B/w Nothin’s Like Nothin’” (ZS-1206) is a single he recorded for Wizard Records in 1984 with Fugitive. I have no idea what or who Fugitive are and not much info on this single at all. It was produced by Robie Porter, so maybe someone out there might know more about this recording and will let us know.. 

Post 539 - Gulliver Smith - Such A Shame - Platonic Love - Woman Pie

Born Kevin Smith, Smith appeared as a child performer in Melbourne in the early 60s, covering golden oldies from the 50s. Eventually he left this scene to concentrate on his growing love of R&B and soul, with his band the Children in 1966. Dr Kandy’s Third Eye followed in 1967/8; in the vanguard of Sydney’s ‘flower-power’ psychedelic music period, their strange performances attracted Australian press attention. A series of short-lived, but interesting bands followed, but it was with Company Caine that his lyric writing became noticed and the band, despite poor media attention and no radio airplay, remains one of the great Australian cult bands of the 70s. Both their albums are now regarded as collector’s items. Smith’s solo album was well received, but it did not bring him a new audience. He moved back to Melbourne and led several more bands of variable quality which did not gather a following outside their small bohemian scene. Later Smith lived in the UK and New Zealand for many years, before returning to Australia in 1989. His song writing was noticed by John Farnham, who included one of his co-written songs with Ross Wilson “A Touch Of Paradise.” Here to download is one of Gulliver Smith’s single from 1973 a 3 track single on Reprise Records, “Such A Shame” b/w “Platonic Love” “Woman Pie” (RPA-14006).  The single was produced by Gus McNeil. Sadly we lost Gulliver to a long illness last week. 

Post 538 - Keith lamb – The City – Didyavagoodweekend

This is the second single recorded by Keith Lamb for Wizard Records. The first being “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” in 1977 (it can be found at Post #434), and this single from 1978 “The City” b/w “Didyavagoodweekend” (ZS-185). Both sides written by fellow Hush member Les Gock and Keith also the single was produced by Gock. 

Post 537 - Greedy's People - Greedy's People LP

Greedy's People the re-recording in full band mode of “Love Harmonica” and subsequent re-release of the album. This new version of the album from 1997 also on TWA, retitled “Greedy's People” (TWAD414), included a bonus recording of The Carpenters' Close to You and Nilsson’s Everybody’s Talking. The band included Paul Robert Burton, Charlie Cole, Tim Wedde, Antero Ceschin and special guest Michael Hawke on flute. The album was produced by Mark Thomas and Matt Lovell.

Post 536 - Greedy Smith - Love Harmonica LP

Greedy Smith is the pseudonym of Andrew McArthur Smith born on the 16th January 1956,in Sydney, who is a vocalist, keyboardist  and songwriter with Mental As Anything. Smith wrote many of their hit songs including "Live it Up" which peaked at No. 2 on the Australian singles chart. At college he met fellow students, Martin Murphy, Chris O'Doherty, David Twohill and Steve Coburn, whose band, Mental As Anything, had been playing art school parties and dances since May 1976. While playing harmonica in another band at the time, Smith started appearing on stage with Mental As Anything from around December. He was eventually cajoled fellow Mental As Anything members to learn keyboards on an old wedding reception organ to fill in their sound and he quit his other band. In 1982, Smith played with Twohill in a group called The Space Shuttle Ramblers that recorded an EP, however the tapes were destroyed in a studio flood prior to release. In 1992, during the Mental As Anything sabbatical he formed a side group called Greedy's on the Loose that played gigs and recorded however no product was released. In 1996 he recorded a solo album “Love Harmonica” (TWAD115) for TWA in his home studio; this led to live work with a band dubbed Greedy's People and the re-recording in full band mode and subsequent re-release of the album. This new version of the album also on TWA, retitled “Greedy's People”, included a bonus recording of The Carpenters' Close to You and Nilsson’s Everybody’s Talking.