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I’m not too sure who “Arnhem” was but I thought I heard
somewhere that they were an Aborigine group, like Yothu Yindi, but in saying
that they don't sound like it at all. I looked up the name again and the
closest I came to was "Arnhem Land", one of the five regions of the
Northern Territory. All I can tell you is it's one of the largest Aboriginal
Reserves in Australia. And that's how I assume these guys could have come from
that area and how the name came about. All my books say is that they released
the one single “Tropical Love” b/w “Dreamtime” (PRS 2593) for EMI. The book
gives no other info like band members or where from. The single was produced by
Christo and released in 1978. So once again maybe someone out there knows some
more on these guys and will kindly drop us a line. Thanks
to Tim for this rare gem and Badger and Tim for
contacting their contacts in the hope of finding out more on the band
but it seems they are a bit of a mystery to all. mp3
Originally formed as Red House Roll Band, this Geelong
(Victoria) quartet was that city's premier rock attraction during the mid-1970s,
members then were Malcolm Donnelly - lead guitar, vocals, John Ferguson - lead
guitar, lead vocals, Jack Green - bass, Claude Ragone - drums. The Red House
Roll Band provided a very theatrical stage show like Alice Cooper with band
members dressing up in skeleton suits or Superman outfits. In 1973 the band signed
a record deal with Atlantic, which resulted in the single “Oh! Lucky Man” b/w
“Movin’ On” (45 10026). Taken from the British feature film of the same name,
the band's version of Alan Price's song became a regional hit. But the band
went into hibernation and re-emerged in late 1975 as Redhouse, with a
completely revised line-up comprising Green, John Dallimore, Jacques De Jongh
and Gary Crothall. Redhouse built up a strong following on the Melbourne pub
circuit as a hard-working heavy rock band. In July 1976, De Jongh left the band
to join Hush. Graham Matters on vocals and Garry Quince on guitar and keyboards
took his place. In September, Redhouse entered the studio to record a debut
album, “One More Squeeze”. The album did not reflect the band's onstage energy
and presented as a lightweight guitar-pop LP. The album produced the singles “I
Like Dancing” in October 1976 and “Who's Foolin' Who?” in February 1977. mp3
The Johnnys were an Australian pub rock band from Sydney in 1982–1989 that combined country and punk musical styles. Members included founder, Roddy Ray'da and Spencer P. Jones. According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, "Despite being one of the most popular bands on the pub-rock circuit, The Johnnys never crossed over into the premier league". Cult following in Kaikoura, New Zealand. Local boy Carl described them as "bigger than the Rolling Stones". This album was recorded at La Dolce Vita, Lausanne Switzerland on the 1.5.90, during The Johnnys European tour in 1990. "The Johnnys Live At La Dolce Vita" (HICD 9130) was recorded for Urbane Records and released in 1991.mp3
Coconut Rough was formed in 1982 by lead singer Andrew Snoid, formerly with New Zealand bands The Whizz Kids, Pop Mechanix and Australian-based New Zealand group The Swingers, and guitarist Mark Bell. Bell later joined Snoid in a reformed Pop Mechanix. Other member were Dennis "Choc" Te Whare, keyboardist Stuart Pearce and drummer Paul Hewitt - and later guitarist Bones Hillman.They decided on the name "Coconut Rough" based on a type of sweet treat popular in Australia and New Zealand. The band's biggest hit was also their first single - "Sierra Leone" hit the top five in the 1983 New Zealand pop charts. The song was aided by one of the first New Zealand music videos with special effects. In 2001, "Sierra Leone" was voted the 94th best New Zealand song of all time by members of APRA.They were an opening act for The Police at their Western Springs concert in 1984, but had folded before the end of that year. Here's their one and olny LP recorded in 1984 for Mushroom Records "Coconut Rough" (L38216). The album was produced by Dave Marett and engineered by Graeme Myhre. It was recorded at Mandrill Studios in Auckland. Phil Judd did the painting for the front cover.mp3
Patricia Stephenson was a regular cast member of Channel 7 Perth's Stars of the Future in the 70s. She was of Burmese descent, and was a popular cabaret performer around Perth. Patricia won the 1973 series of Showcase, the same year as The Moir Sisters & stage star John Lidgerwood appeared. She made her acting debut in Channel 10's other sex 'n' sin soap "The Box" as Suki King . In 1975 she recorded this single for Fable Records "Sometimes" b/w "So Easy To Remember" (FB 253). The single was produced by Doug Trevor, he also wrote the B side. The trail goes a bit cold after 1975 tho..mp3
Fraternity’s John Bisset’s love of London women, pubs and beer slowed him down somewhat, but he eventually returned to Sydney in 1981. He managed to score a programming gig with LaPorte Chemicals in Banksmeadow and a flat share over the road from the Robin Hood pub in Waverley with two lovely young women. John Eyers from “Fraternity” came visiting and wrought havoc in John’s life by taking him on a tour of his regular hangouts, meeting some very extraordinary people and experiencing new heights of alienation and paranoia by sampling the substances they offered. John’s erratic drunken personality swings became too much for my young flatmates and he moved to a flat near Bondi Beach. He drank at the Bondi and the Astra and at a late night watering hole called the Fondu . Through another ex-Fraternity member John Freeman he met Billy McMahon who had played bass with John Swann's band “Swanee”. He eventually recruited a guitarist Brett Hamlyn, vocalist Terry Barker and drummer John Affleck and Mal Logan and rehearsed in a Darlinghurst studio for a few months late in 1982. They called the band “Diamond Cutter” and started playing around Sydney and the Gold Coast in 1983. In mid-1983 they attracted the offer of a recording contract from CBS records on the strength of demo tapes they made of their original material. His day gig later was with Ajax Chemicals in Auburn as a freelancer with a Kiwi boss called John Rolley. With the help of a young girlfriend John stayed off the booze for about 6 months during Diamond Cutter's rise. She encouraged him to attend several sessions with a psychologist who first suggested to him that he may be an alcoholic. He actually attended one meeting for alcoholics in West Sydney but he wasn't totally ego-deflated enough to get on board at that time. A strange sequence of seemingly supernatural events got John back onto the booze in a big way and he managed to destroy his credibility and ultimately Diamond Cutter as well. It’s a pity that only one single was released by Diamond Cutter “ Wild Colonial Woman” b/w “There You Go” (BA 223156) in 1984 for CBS. John penned both sides of the single, the single was produced by the band with Guy Gray & Steve Bywaters engineering and Chris Gilbey mixing the record at Studio 301, Sydney. mp3
Healing Force was something of a 'supergroup', and its history intersects with several other important bands of the period, notably King Harvest and Friends. They made only one single, but it is still widely regarded as one of the flagship Australian progressive rock releases of the early '70s. All the members had a wealth of experience – Laurie Pryor had been the drummer in the The Twilights; Charlie Tumahai was from Nova Express; Mal Logan was from The Rebels and Lindsay Wells had been a member of Perth's rock pioneers Bakery. The first line-up formed late in 1970 and began playing in Adelaide over the '70/'71 Christmas period. They played at several early rock festivals including Launching Place. In April 1971, they signed with Robie Porter's new Sparmac label. Midway through 1971, they expanded to a five piece with the addition of John Pugh (ex-18th Century Quartet) on guitar. In July, they released their single. "Golden Miles" b/w “The Gully” (SPR-009), penned by Lindsay Wells, it is one of the most admired Australian progressive rock recordings of the period. It was very successful and spent nineteen weeks in the Melbourne charts, barely missing out on entering the Top 30. It features rippling Hammond organ by Mal Logan, highlighted by the soaring vocals of the late Charlie Tumahai. The flip-side, another Lindsay Wells composition, was heavier but almost as good. Just before the single hit the charts, Charlie quit to join Chain and the group returned to a four piece. Pryor left soon after and was replaced by Joe Tattersall (ex-Barrelhouse), but then Lindsay also left and the band fizzled out. In November 1972, Healing Force reformed with Logan, Pryor and Pugh, plus newcomers Gus Feniwck (bass) and Mal Capewell (ex-Company Caine) on reeds. This version performed at the Sunbury Pop Festival in January 1973, with Charlie rejoining especially for the show. One track from their set, "Erection", was included on the Mushroom Records Sunbury '73 album. They disbanded shortly afterwards, during preparations for a planned LP, leaving their considerable promise sadly unfulfilled. mp3
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