Post 707 - Doug Ashdown - Winter In America

Doug Ashdown was unable to crack the US market, so Jimmy Stewart and Doug returned to Australia where they set up a new label, “Billingsgate”. Stewart produced Doug's next album entitled “Leave Love Enough Alone” (D19087)in 1974. The album produced two Singles, "They Always Seem To Look Like Marianne", and the album's evocative title track, co-written by Doug and Jimmy during a bitter winter in Nashville. "Leave Love Enough Alone" was released in September 1974 and received some airplay, but neither it nor its predecessor made the charts at the time. "Leave Love Enough Alone", however, proved to be a classic 'sleeper' and the breakthrough finally came more than a year later when it was retitled and reissued as "Winter In America". The song was picked up by stations around the country and this time around it became a major hit through late 1976 and early 1977, reaching #14 in Melbourne and #30 in Sydney. It remains one of the most popular and enduring Australian songs of the '70s; it has been covered by artists around the world including Margret RoadKnight. In 1988, Dutch singing star Rene Froger's version was a top five top hit in Holland, and Froger's live version topped the charts there again in recent years. Players on this LP were Acoustic Guitar – Troy Seals, Backing Vocals – Norma Stoneman, Bass – Joe Allan, Tim Partridge, Cello – Nathan Waks, Drums – Laurie London, Russell Dunlop, Electric Guitar – Mark Punch, Mellotron – Roy Ritchie. Music Director, Arranged By, Conductor, Piano, Mellotron, Synthesizer, Organ – Wayne Findlay, Percussion – Ian Bloxsom, Piano – David Briggs, Steel Guitar – Pee Wee Clark, Stu Baseore, Strings – Bob Ingram. Flac 

Post 706 - Wickedy Wak - Billie's Bikie Boys - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Rick Springfield played guitar and vocals, as far as I know from what little information there is on this recording the rest of the band included Paul Shannon, Ray Wright, and Danny Finley from MPD Ltd. Here to download from 1969 on Sunshine Records is "Billie's Bikie Boys" b/w “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ (QK 3118). The A side was written by Johnny Young and produced by Ian Meldrum. The production is great and in some parts is reminiscent of Russell Morris's "Real Thing" which was released earlier, in May of 1969. Rick Springfield's guitar is full on and people couldn’t understand why the single did not make a bigger impact at the time. It could be because the B side "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" which was not very inspiring and a total contrast to the style of the A side. In the month following this recording Rick replaced Roger Hicks as the lead guitarist with Zoot and the rest as they say is history. The story is about "Billy" who is apparently a rebel on a motorcycle, riding through town with his buddies, causing the girls to turn and look, and disturbing the peace! The cops finally catch up with him and now there are no more roaring engines racing around town. The song has a very classic late 60's psychedelic sound and instrumentation.  Flac

Post 705 - John Swan/Maggie McKinney - West End Girls - West End Boys

John Swan OAM was born in 1952 in Glasgow, Scotland, better known as Swanee. He was born John Archibold Dixon Swan. He is the older brother of singer-songwriter Jimmy Barnes, and musician and singer Alan Barnes, and the uncle of singer and stage performer David Campbell. John Swan featured in an ad for West End Draught, a South Australian beer. The brewer provided financial support to Swanee's tours and he in turn appeared in the company's TV commercials. This was a promotional 45 put out by West End Brewing perhaps in the early eighties not real sure of the date because the single has no date of release. It was penned by Les Gock and Chris Mitchell. The B side features Maggie McKinney doing the same song but it’s about West End Boys. Maggie and husband Chuck formed the Melbourne soul, funk outfit The Hot City Bump Band in 1973. Flac