Post 776 - The Believers - The Complete Recordings

 

David Lyons (Drums), Mike Dorr(Guitar/Vocals) and Michael Crocker (Bass/Vocals) decided to put together the sound and style they really wanted. They appeared from nowhere with  the infectious debut single "Lemon Tree" b/w "You Say" released on Terrace Records in 1985. The Believers never played live much and wouldn't give interviews, and resided incognito somewhere in Melbourne. A second single was released in 1987 "So Many Times" b/w "Tobacco Road" on Cleopatra Records. Their sound had the general aura of such sixties bands like The Kinks, The Hollies and The Beatles circa 63-66. They went into Sing-Sing studios with a hefty wad of tracks and a desire to set down a bunch more. This they did and a bevy of pop gems were quickly laid to tape. Being the perfectionists they are however a bunch of these recordings still reside in their vaults, including a follow up single "Rain" and a heap of other numbers that flowed from the musical minds of Croker & Dorr. Nonetheless five tracks escaped their clutches and it is those five tracks that appear on their debut E.P. titled simply "The Believers" 1989 on Rubber Records. This info came from Rubber Records promo sheet that was included in the record cover of the E.P.Thanks again Henry DeRooy for the great art work. Flac

Post 775 - Martin Plaza - A's B's & Rarities

 

Martin Edward Murphy (born 1 January 1956), commonly known by the pseudonym Martin Plaza, is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician and visual artist who is a founding member and vocalist and guitarist of the band Mental As Anything. In 1986, Plaza performed with the Rock Party, a charity project initiated by the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) composed of many Australian and New Zealand artists including members of Crowded House, GANGgajang, Models, and Mental As Anything. The Rock Party released a 12" single "Everything to Live For", which was produced by Joe Wissert, Phil Rigger and Phil Beazley.In 1986, Plaza had a No. 2 hit in Australia with a cover of the 1960s Unit 4+2 song "Concrete and Clay", and the subsequent solo album Plaza Suite also charted. Further singles were not as successful. In 1991 another planned solo album morphed into a collaboration with former Models member, James Freud. Entitled Beatfish, it became one of the first Australian Dance or House albums. Another surprising turn was his 1994 album Andy's Chest. Composed almost entirely of Lou Reed covers, it divided critics at the time. Another collaboration with Freud in 1996 produced the Hawaiian-inspired Moondog project; however, Plaza only appears on some tracks.Here for you are all Martin's singles and B sides and some recordings from various artists albums and extended mixes ect. Thanks again to Henry DeRooy for the art work.Flac

Post 774 - The Keith Lamb Story 1977/1982

 

Keith Lamb is an English-born Australian musician who was the lead singer and founding member of the 1970s glam rock band, Hush. He had been singing since the age of 10 years old, fronting English bands including Mr. Toad, The Case and Sleepy Talk. Mr. Toad supported UK acts including the Who and the Equals.Lamb emigrated to Australia in 1970 with his school friend, Hush guitarist Robin Jackson.Lamb co-wrote Hush's music with guitarist Les Gock. He was one of Australia's better known front men of the 1970s, along with Bon Scott. On the passing of Scott, Lamb was considered as a replacement.Lamb lived for performing and was heartbroken when Hush split up. He went on to produce the work of bands Airport, Larry, and the Keith Lamb Band, but none had the commercial success of Hush. Lamb also wrote songs for other artists and bands. With Alan Lancaster of Status Quo, Lamb cowrote several songs for Status Quo between 1979 and 1983, including the top ten hits "Ol' Rag Blues", "Over the Edge", and "I Want the World to Know". In this collection you get the two Lamb's singles for Wizard the one and only single for "Larry" and the three "Airport" singles. Thanks again Henry DeRooy for the art to go with this post. Flac

Post 773 - The Jim Keays Collection

 

Jim Keays was a Scottish-born Australian musician who fronted the rock band The Masters Apprentices as singer-songwriter, guitarist and harmonica-player from 1965 to 1972 and subsequently had a solo career. He also wrote for a music newspaper, Go-Set, as its Adelaide correspondent in 1970 and its London correspondent in 1973.The Masters Apprentices had Top 20 hits on the Go-Set National Singles Charts with "Undecided", "Living in a Child's Dream", "5:10 Man", "Think about Tomorrow Today", "Turn Up Your Radio" and "Because I Love You". The band reformed periodically, including in 1987 to 1988 and again subsequently. Keays, as a member of the Masters Apprentices, was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1998. As a solo artist he issued the albums The Boy from the Stars (December 1974), Red on the Meter (October 1983), Pressure Makes Diamonds (1993), Resonator (2006) and Dirty, Dirty (2012). He published his memoirs, His Master's Voice: The Masters Apprentices: The Bad Boys of Sixties Rock 'n' Roll, in 1999. From 2000, he performed in Cotton Keays & Morris alongside other former 1960s artists Darryl Cotton and Russell Morris. In July 2007, Keays was diagnosed with myeloma, which caused his kidneys to fail. By 2009 the cancer was in remission after chemotherapy and stem-cell transplants. However, he died in 2014 from pneumonia due to complications resulting from his cancer at age 67.Here are all the singles from '74/'94 and more great art work from Henry DeRooy. Flac 

Post 772 - Rockwell T. James - The Singles

 

Rockwell T James, (Ronnie Peel) was, amongst other things a member of The Missing Links, La De Da's, John Paul Young All Stars and Thunderclap Newman. As a solo performer he recorded his first single in 1968, ''Love PowerNew Orleans Funk'' on the Festival label with the Rhythm Aces (of which I have no information who made up the band) which did OK. Peel and the Rhythm Aces performed at Sydney's Whisky A Go Go and they also travelled to Melbourne for a series of gigs at Berties. It would be another eight years before he released his second single ''Come On Home'' on the Infinity label in 1976. His third and best-known song ''Roxanne'' was released in the same year and made the Top 40 nationally. The one and only album Ronnie released was 'A Shot Of Rhythm and Blues' the brainchild of Garth Porter, who enlisted the help of Sherbet, Kevin Borich, Janice Slater, Ted Mulry and Cheetah to record the album. Ronnie Peel died in 2020.Thanks to Henry for more fine art work. Flac

Post 771 - The Little Heroes - The Singles Discography '80-'84

 

Little Heroes formed in 1980, by founding mainstay Roger Hart on lead vocals and guitar. They released three studio albums, "Little Heroes" (August 1981), "Play by Numbers" (August 1982) and "Watch the World" (September 1983). Their highest charting hit, "One Perfect Day", which was released in 1982, reached No. 12 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart. Their other charting singles are "Young Hearts" (1982), "Watch the World" and "Bon Voyage" (both 1983). They disbanded in June 1984.After The Little Heroes had broken up Roger Hart became a writer and meditation trainer. John Taylor became a film maker and graphics designer. As of September 2013 Paul Brickhill was the Head of Music/Audio Visual Coordinator at the Australian Ballet School.Alan 'Clutch' Robertson worked for Warner Music for sixteen years in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.Martin Fisher became a Crown Prosecutor in the Northern Territory and by October 2010 was Acting Director, Legal Policy for the Department of Justice. He played keyboards in popular Darwin band The Fabulous Baker Brothers. Peter McCaughley was a drummer for The Secret Police from 1979 to 1980. After leaving The Secret Police he joined Danger Dancer and died in 1986 of a brain haemorrhage at the age of 32. Thanks to Henry DeRooy for more fine art to go with this post.Flac

Post 770 - V Capri - The Singles '85/'88

 

V Capri formed in Perth, Western Australia in 1984, lead vocalist Tod Johnston and guitarist Damian Ward, they joined with Lance Karapetcoff on keyboards, Michael O'Brien on bass guitar and Alan Sampson on drums. The band was popular in Perth and released their debut single, "Only a Movie" on the independent Theatre Label in April 1985, which reached the Perth top 10 but did not reach the top 50 nationally. Success in Perth led to signing with Mushroom Records and the release of further singles but they were unable to transfer their popularity in Perth to the eastern states. They released six further singles which all reached the top 10 in Perth, with "Haunting Me" and "That's the Way" peaking at #1 locally. The singles reached the top 100 in the Australian charts between April 1985 and June 1987. Their debut, and only album, In My World, was released by Mushroom Records in November 1986. It reached number 52 on the Australian charts on the Kent Music Report) in October 1986. The single "Haunting Me" had international release when used in the Australian television soap opera Neighbours at the end of Kylie Minogue’s final episode, it reached #77 on the UK Singles Chart in 1989.Thanks again to Henry DeRooy for the fine art work.Flac

Post 769 - James Freud - The Singles Collection

Freud formed his first band, Sabre, at the age of 16, with high school friend and guitarist Sean Kelly and drummer Ian McFarlane. Their first performance was at his younger sister's slumber party. After hearing the Sex Pistols' song "God Save the Queen" in 1977, Freud formed The Spred with Kelly, and three other members. Formed late in 1977, Teenage Radio Stars was a glam-punk band with Freud on lead vocals and guitar and Kelly on guitar and vocals. When the opportunity came to record a single, "I Wanna Be Your Baby", later covered by Uncanny X-Men, two members were fired. Mick Prague and Mark Harvey joined the band and performed "I Wanna Be Your Baby" on Countdown.By early 1979,he formed James Freud & the Radio Stars with Murray Doherty on bass guitar, Roger Mason on keyboards, Glenn McGrath on drums and Bryan Thomas on guitar, and later Tony Harvey playing guitar and Mick Prague on bass. This line up plus various guest artists recorded the album Breaking Silence between July and November 1979, with Tony Lugton and Peter Cook contributing before the completion and release in 1980.They signed with Mushroom Records and their debut single, "Modern Girl," was released in May 1980, which peaked at No. 12 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. They supported British singer-keyboardist, Gary Numan on his Australian tour. James Freud & the Radio Stars' debut album Breaking Silence was released in June, it was produced by Tony Cohen.In 1982, Freud joined Models as bass guitarist after the departure of Mark Ferrie, reuniting with old collaborator Kelly. Freud shared lead vocalist duties on some songs, beginning with one of his compositions, "Facing The North Pole in August" from The Pleasure of Your Company LP. Freud teamed with vocalist and guitarist Martin Plaza as Beatfish, releasing an eponymous record in 1992. In 1995, Freud canned his next proposed solo album, BigMouth, but some material was used on the Hawaiian surf-themed Postcard to Hawaii album released in 1996 by his next band, Moondog. Freud was the lead vocalist with Plaza and Phil Ceberano on guitar and backing vocals. In 1999, he performed "One Tony Lockett", an ode to the footballer Tony Lockett as James Freud & the Reserves. On 4 November 2010, Freud was found dead at his home in Hawthorn.A week earlier on the 27th of Oct.the Models were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Thanks once again to Henry DeRooy for the fine art work. flac

Post 768 - OMC - The Singles 1994 - 2007

 

OMC, or Otara Millionaires Club, were a New Zealand music group, then duo, with vocalist Pauly Fuemana later becoming the sole member. OMC was best known for the 1995 hit "How Bizarre", named one of the greatest New Zealander songs of all time by the Australasian Performing Right Association. The full name of the band is a tongue-in-cheek reference to Otara's status as one of the poorest suburbs of Auckland. Signed to Simon Grigg's Huh! label, OMC released the single "How Bizarre" in New Zealand in late 1995. It was an immediate smash hit even without a video, reaching number one in early 1996 and staying there for three weeks. It sold over 35,000 copies.The same year, "How Bizarre" went to number one in Australia for five weeks, sold over 150,000 singles. Later in the year the single went to number 5 in the UK and number one in countries across Europe and much of the rest of the world.In the United States, "How Bizarre" spent 32 weeks on Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart, peaking at number one in August 1997 due to the large amount of radio play it received. This made OMC the first New Zealand artist to reach the number one spot on a Billboard chart."How Bizarre" was followed by the singles "Land of Plenty" which reached the top 5 in the New Zealand charts; "Right On" which achieved platinum-status in New Zealand; and "On The Run" which was a minor international hit in the Netherlands and the UK. By 1998, Fuemana and Jansson had a falling out over royalties, which ended up in court. It was resolved in arbitration with Fuemana paying a sum to Jansson and Jansson handing over all claim to the name and ongoing artist royalties.Fuemana and Jansson regrouped in 2005 and released the single "4 All of Us", featuring the actress Lucy Lawless as a guest vocalist, in 2007.Phil died in 2005 of a heart attack.On 31 January 2010, Pauly Fuemana died at North Shore Hospital in Auckland after suffering for several years from a chronic degenerative disease, progressive demyelinating polyneuropathy, an auto-immune disorder similar to the nerve disease multiple sclerosis. He was 40 years old. Thanks to Henry DeRooy for the art work. flac

Post 767 - Hans Poulsen - 1968 - 1973 Singles

 

Hans Poulsen was born in Melbourne, Australia on 7 March 1945. His parents, Vic and Nellie Poulsen, played two instruments, lap-steel guitar and ukulele with their styles of Hawaiian music, as well as bush ballads, country and western music and folk.

Poulsen has in error often been stated to be born in Denmark, although his descent is Danish, his paternal grandfather had migrated to Victoria, from Denmark during the early 20th century and being proud of his heritage, Poulsen took the first names of "Hans Sven" while still a teenager. It is possible that he took the name as a stage-name when he started his school band in 1961 called the Rimfires; at this time he played around the Frankston area, an outer suburb of Melbourne, and around the Mornington Peninsula region on the coast. It was here that he learnt his craft and became known for his interpretation of the music and songs of Buddy Holly. In 1965, Poulsen formed the first version of a Melbourne group called '18th Century Quartet", which played original material (mostly by Poulsen) and performed in a style that later came to be known as world music; the group also differed from most of its contemporaries with its use of diverse acoustic instruments including mandolin, autoharp and bouzouki. The second incarnation would be a more pop orientated sound.

After embarking on a solo career in 1967, Poulsen had two Australian pop hits with the songs "Boom Sha La La Lo" co written with Seekers Bruce Woodley and "There's a Light Across the Valley". He also had success as a songwriter with hits written for other artists, including "Rose Coloured Glasses" for John Farnham, "Lady Scorpio" for The Strangers and "Monty and Me" for Zoot. One of his best-known and most successful compositions, "It's Only a Matter of Time", was the much-played B-side of the single "The Real Thing" by Russell Morris. He also wrote the theme music for GTK (standing for "Get to Know") was an Australian popular music TV series of ten minute episodes, produced and broadcast by ABC Television from 1969 to 1975.

Poulsen died on 17 February 2023, at the age of 77. Thanks to Henry DeRooy for the art work. Flac

Post 766 - Result Records Story

 

Result Records were a short lived 80s label out of Sydney who recorded artists such as "The Motivaters", "The Eighty Eights", "Colin Stead", "The Jukes" who later changed their name to "Silent Movies". 

The Motivaters - Rick Brewer,Dave Springfield, Kenny Miller, Rick Petropoulos.

The Eighty Eights - Kent Jackson, Maurice D'Abruzzo, John Bartram, Larry Van Kriedt.

The Jukes/Silent Movies - Colin Bayley, Mick Radatti, Ray Vanderby, Bill Brittenden.

Colin Stead played with Lloyd's World (67/68), Sweet Wine (70) and Buffalo Drive (76). Thanks to Henry DeRooy for the art work.Flac

 

Post 765 - Maggie Britton - The Complete Singles '67 - '80

 

Maggie Joddrell performed regularly on Brian Henderson's Bandstand during the 60s. She released a number of singles on the Festival label. Her first single "Come On Down" reached number one on the New Zealand chart and remained in the top ten for twelve weeks. Later Maggie signed to the major U.S. film and recording company; United Artists to record in the USA. Along with the contract came a name change and from there on she was Maggie Britton. On this label she released two singles "Reuben James b/w Hushabye Boy" and "Apple On A See-Saw b/w God Made His Children" in 1970. Since her Bandstand days she has performed with The Bee Gees, Robin Gibb, Peter Sellers, Kenny Rogers, Glen Campbell, The Mama's and Papa's, The Temptations and the Three Degrees. Among the highlights of Maggie Britton's many international appearances is a Royal Command Performance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London before members of the Royal family. From 1995 until 2000, Maggie was Co-Director of the South Pacific International Song Contest Pty Ltd. The company was responsible for staging the prestigious South Pacific International Music Awards, a pre-release awards event and hit predictor show casing the best young talent from the world’s music industry. Taking place annually and involving a variety of events presented over a five- day period.  The South Pacific International Music Awards Gala Concert was a televised presentation hosted by Maggie Britton, broadcast in Australia on the NBN network and internationally in twelve Countries.Maggie is recognised as a music producer, who skilfully and patiently guides both the artist and the project. The resulting product is commercially viable and achieved within the budget. Production credits include awards for Best Producer 2002 and Best Album 2002 presented by the Recording Industry Association, Queensland. Thanks to Henry DeRooy for the art work.Flac

Post 764 - Autumn - The Singles

 

Autumn formed in Sydney in 1969. Their debut single, "Mr Henry's Lollipop Shoppe", was released early in the following year via EMI/Columbia. They were signed to Chart Records during the 1970 radio ban, which had started in May as a "pay for play" dispute between major record labels and commercial radio stations. Autumn's second single, "Yellow River" 1970, was a cover version of U.K. band Christie which was not played on commercial radio due to the ban. For Autumn's recording the line-up was Glenn Beatson on drums, Rick Graham on bass guitar, Greg Jacques on organ, Steve McMurray on guitar and Tony Romeril on lead vocals. After ten weeks on the Go-Set National Top 60, it peaked at No. 1 on 31 October 1970. "Looking Through the Eyes of a Beautiful Girl" '71 was their next charting hit, which reached No. 24. They were also the backing band for Dave Allenby, who issued a cover version of UK group Edison Lighthouse's "She Works in a Woman's Way". Autumn issued their debut album, "Song to Raymondo". By March 1971 Jacques was replaced by Alan Marshall on guitar. The new line-up released another charting single, "Falling". Unlike their previous charting hits, "Falling", was an original – written by their drummer, Beatson. Their second album, "Comes Autumn", appeared later that year via Warner. At the end of 1971 Charlie Wright joined on piano and organ. Their final single, "Just Couldn't Believe It" '71 featured Marshall, its writer, on lead vocals. The group travelled to the UK but disbanded there early in 1972.After splitting Beatson, Marshall and McMurray formed a UK group, "Mecca" before relocating to Canada. In 1976 they formed a Canadian rock band, "Wireless", which issued three albums. Romeril lived in Italy, for a few years, where he recorded material as Andy Foxx. Graham and Romeril reformed Autumn in Sydney in 1976 with James Caulfield on keyboards, Dave Hallard on guitar, and Con Westaberg on drums; but disbanded soon after. Autumn reunited for a tribute, benefit concert, Gimme Ted in March 2001 in support of contemporary singer-songwriter, Ted Mulry. Their performances appeared on a 2×DVD video album, Gimme Ted – The Ted Mulry Benefit Concerts (May 2003). In 2015 Romeril released a tribute album, "Will You Remember Me: a Tribute to Ted Mulry... Songwriter", he sang on five of its thirteen tracks, which were written by Mulry. He also engineered and produced the album. Thanks to Henry DeRooy for the art work.Flac

Post 763 - Split Enz - Next Exit - Two Of A Kind - Remember When

 

Had a request to post this song, - "Next Exit" (K-9035) is a song by Split Enz. It was written by Tim Finn and released as a non-album single in Australia in March 1983 on Mushroom Records. An earlier version of "Next Exit", together with one of its B-sides "Remember When", was originally recorded as a demo during the Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes sessions in 1978Flac

Post 762 - Robin Jolley - The Fable Years

 

Robin Jolley started singing with the Melbourne group “Windy & Warm” whilst in his mid teens. Neville Kent discovered him and enticed him to come to Hobart where he got him off the ground as a solo singer. The next step was a record deal, in 1972 he returned to Melbourne in the search for one. Radio DJ Paul Konik introduced him to Brian Cadd  which presented him with a song called “Marshall’s Portable Music Machine” which Brian had co-written with Don Mudie. Cadd and Konik produced the single and it was snapped up by Fable Records. Here for you are all Robin's Fable singles plus a few bonus recordings. Again thanks to Henry DeRooy for great art work. Flac

Post 761 - Rory O'Donoghue - The Collection 1967 - 1981

 

"The Pogs" were popular on the wealthy North Shore party circuit in Sydney and also played university architecture revues. It was at one of these revues that they met songwriter producer Peter Best who helped score the band a recording deal with Festival Records subsidiary label Leedon Records. They recorded their debut single, "Claret and Tears" b/w "Heidi", in mid-1966. Both sides were composed and produced by Best (as were the A and B sides of all four of the band's singles). None of the band's four singles made the charts however, and in 1967 they were dropped by Leedon. "The Pogs" did make one further curio however - "Aboriginal Referendum Jingle (Vote Yes for Aborigines)" a tune in support of the "Yes" vote for the 1967 Australian referendum, also penned by Best. In 1967, "The Pogs" recruited organist Graeme Thompson and lost bassist Nino Bellantonio. Thompson was then drafted into the Australian Army and was replaced by Bruce Hadden. Drummer Paul Brownlow also left to concentrate on his electrical business and he was replaced by Greg "Max" MacManus. The band also changed their name to "Oak Apple Day" and went into a more psychedelic rock direction, influenced by bands such as The "Doors". "Oak Apple Day"continued performing in university revues, even touring with them professionally, and it was there that Rory O'Donoghue first collaborated with future Aunty Jack Show co-star Grahame Bond.O'Donoghue was also booked as a session singer for a single entitled "Moonshot" (released in July 1969, obviously to coincide with the Apollo 11 moon-landing), which was a crazy, fun, psychedelic workout replete with spacey sound effects and corny control tower instructions ("All systems A-OK!"... "Trajectory A-OK!"). The single was written by the duo Bannerman-Stokes on the RCA label under the name "Oak Apple Day with The Deadly Pair" and it has distinction of being one of the first 45rpm singles in Australia to be issued in stereo."Oak Apple Day" broke up in 1970 and Rory went on to play jazz before joining "The If" who performed The Who’s rock opera "Tommy". He also worked on the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" before once again hooking up with Grahame Bond to play “Thin Arthur” in the hit ABC TV comedy "Aunty Jack". Rory formed the "Cool Bananas" sometime in 1973, original drummer Robbie Dearlove was replaced by Russell Dunlop in time for their first single, "Been And Gone", which was released on the Albert label.  Rory's other musical credits in this period included playing the lead guitar solo on the hit 1974 Kevin Johnson single "Rock 'N' Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)". In 1980 "Fatty Finn" E.P written by Grahame Bond and Rory O'Donoghue was released, Rory sang 3 of the 5 songs with his Mother Sybil singing on "Mean Woman Blues".On the 15th of December 2017, O'Donoghue's daughter Jessica announced on Facebook that he had died on 13 December. In a follow-up post the next day, she stated that he had been undergoing treatment for depression and mental illness, and had taken his own life in hospital. 

This post is a labour of love a few years ago I talked to Rory about doing this but at that stage I was missing a few songs to complete. Rory & I never met in person but had many conversations on Face Book about his music, the Aunty Jack show and he was always very helpful and nothing was ever to much trouble, he was such a friendly nice guy and I miss our talks very much. So Rory here it is and I hope you like it, R.I.P my friend. Image Marco Del Grande. Art work Henry DeRooy. Flac