Post 569 - Johnny Devlin & Sailing- I'm Heading For L.A - I'm Heading For L.A. (Instrumental)

The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984. Legendary rocker  Johnny Devlin who turned his talents to sport for this single that was sponsored by a very well-known Australian airline Qantas who were involved in getting the many Olympic fans to the U.S. Johnny’s backed by Sailing on this single and it was released on Majical Records and judging by the Cat. # JD-001 must be the first release. Technician was Richard Lush and was recorded at Paradise Studios.  Side B was an instrumental version of “I’m Heading For L.A.” and featured Tim Fitzgerald on Lead Guitar. Again thanks to Tim for digging out this gem.   Flac 

Post 568 - Norman & Effie - Amigos Para Siempre - Venereal Girl

"Effie" (full character name "Effie Stephanidis") is an outrageous comedic character played by Australian actress Mary Coustas. Coustas depicts a stereotypical second-generation Greek Australian. The character originated in the comedy program Acropolis Now, which ran from 1989 to 1992. Effie's catchphrases include "How embarrassment!" (See malapropism) in response to any potentially embarrassing situation. She greets people with "Hello, good thanks" before they have even asked her how she is feeling. Norman Gunston was a satirical TV character performed by Australian actor and comedian Garry McDonald. The Gunston character was originally conceived by comedy writer Wendy Skelcher and first appeared as a minor character in the second series of the cult Australian TV comedy series The Aunty Jack Show in 1973. His segments as Norman in “What's On In Wollongong” became one of the most popular parts of the Aunty Jack Show, and Norman appeared on the “Aunty Jack Sings Wollongong” album along with McDonald's other character, Kid Eager. In 1992, Effie released a novelty single: a duet with Garry McDonald's Norman Gunston, recording their version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Amigos Para Siempre" (74321125792) for BMG Records. The song was the official song of the 1992 Summer Olympics (originally performed by Sarah Brightman and José Carreras). The single reached the Top 20 chart in Australia.   mp3

Post 567 - Col Elliott - It's A Quid Mate - Don't Knock It LP

Col Elliott has been pushing our belly-laugh buttons for over 40 years. He is one of Australia's most loved and in demand performers. Col takes his audience on an incredible ride with his stand-up, his zany characters and his unique brand of story-telling and music ......He does it all. His many album and DVD releases have not only given him gold and platinum status, but have generated a huge fan base which manages to cross all generational boundaries. Here from 1986 is Col’s LP “It's A Quid Mate - Don't Knock It” (COL-30008). Thanks to Tim for fixing this one  up for the Blog.   mp3 

Post 566 - Dark Tan - After Dark....Tan LP

Alston Koch, is a Sri Lanka born Australian singer-songwriter. He migrated to Sydney, Australia where he was most successful in the entertainment and professional music industry while recording for RCA/Laser Records and the Australian TV Network Channel 9's "Living Sound" recording label. In Australia, he formed his band Dark Tan and recorded three international hits on the RCA label. He has performed internationally with Dark Tan, S-witch, and as a solo artist. One notable appearance was during 'The Stars & Stripes Concert' in 1976, performing under the Sydney harbour bridge on a floating pontoon for Radio 2SM. Rock Brains Of The Universe and music historian Glenn A Baker has said that 'Alston & Dark Tan' were the originators of Disco Music in Australia. His first self-written major hit, "Disco Lady", earned him his first gold record. The song also won him and Dark Tan the 'Best New Talent' at the 1979 International Disc Jockey Association Awards (Before the ARIA'S ) and that same year Dark Tan won Australia's Observer newspaper's 'Best Disco Band' award. George Levendis of Motown Records in New York said he had the best soul voice in Australasia and Robert Racic the legendary Dance Music producer called him the Luther Vandross of Australia. Here to download is the “After Dark…..Tan” (VXL1-6514). The album was produced by Alston Koch except for the track Disco lady that was produced by Mario Millo. Engineers were Alex Duyser and Peter Hood. The album was recorded between January 1978 and March 1980.  On a personal note I must say I wasn’t a big fan of Disco at the time and I didn’t buy this LP until about 30 years later when I pick it up somewhere in a second-hand record store in Sydney.  A week ago I received an email from a guy in Canada named Andrew, he said he liked Australian music and wondered if I could help him track down a band called Dark Tan. I thought now there’s a name I haven’t heard of in a while. So after digging in some boxes I found the LP and I must be honest this is the first time I have played it and I must say Alston Koch has a brilliant voice, it really blew me away. I’m sorry now I never played it much sooner and I’ll be looking for other recordings by this man I can assure you.     MP3

Post 565 - Peter McKenna - Smile All The While - It Takes Time

McKenna was the second of five children to Winnie and Kevin McKenna. He grew up supporting Essendon and played soccer until he was 13. Recruited from West Heidelberg, McKenna credited Collingwood coach Bob Rose for patiently helping to shape him into the champion footballer he was to become.] In the opening round of the 1966 VFL season against Hawthorn at Victoria Park, McKenna gave a glimpse of what was to come when he kicked 12 goals in a match-winning effort, the first of thirteen occasions when he would kick ten or more goals in a game. However, McKenna's form dropped away and after being held goalless against North Melbourne in Round 6, he was dropped for the remainder of the season. McKenna topped the Magpies' goal kicking list for the first of eight consecutive times in 1967, booting 47 goals. Over the ensuing seasons he gradually improved, kicking 97 goals in 1969, before amassing an incredible tally of 143 the following year. What was even more incredible was that it was not sufficient to top the VFL's goal kicking list; Hawthorn's Peter Hudson kicked 146 goals, adding a record-equaling 150 goals in 1971 compared to McKenna's 'modest' tally of 134. From the start of the 1968 VFL season to Round 3, 1974, McKenna kicked at least one goal in 120 consecutive games, still a competition record.  But he did record two single when not playing football, on post # 470 you’ll find Peter’s first single for Fable Records and this one is from 1971 penned and produced by Johnny Young for Festival “Smile All the While” b/w “It Takes Time” (FK4383).  Altogether, McKenna's VFL record of 874 goals from 191 games was enough to place him as the league's fourth-highest goal kicker at the time of his retirement, behind only Gordon Coventry, Doug Wade and Jack Titus. At the start of the 2014 AFL season he sits ninth all-time. His full senior and representative career yielded 1213 goals.   mp3