Post 785 - XL CAPRIS - The Singles

 

XL Capris were an Australian indie-punk band formed in Sydney in 1978 by Julie Anderson (aka Nancy Serapax), Tim Gooding (aka Errol Cruz), Johanna Pigott (aka Alligator Bagg), and Kimble Rendall (aka Dag Rattler).

Their best known single was a punk version of Tommy Leonetti's "My City of Sydney" (1979). This single was the only Australian disc found in legendary UK DJ John Peel's "battered wooden box" of 142 favourite records when, following his death in 2004, the contents of the box were revealed to the public in a Channel 4 television special. XL Capris made two albums, Where Is Hank? (March, 1981) and Weeds (October, 1981) both produced by Todd Hunter of New Zealand/Australian band Dragon and released on their own label Axle Records. Hunter later joined XL Capris as guitarist and subsequently married Pigott; they became a successful songwriting team: cowriting "Rain" for Dragon and "Age of Reason" for John Farnham. Their first single was a punk version of Tommy Leonetti's "My City of Sydney" (1979), arranged by Gooding. The promo video, recorded at the Sheraton Hotel in a room The Beatles had occupied during their Australian tour, featured the four band members in bed together! The single received much independent radio airplay but was not a commercial success. "Skylab (Son of Telstar)", written by Gooding and Rendall, received radio airplay as a tape in mid 1979. It was never released as a single and did not appear on either of the XL Capris' two albums. The song does feature on later compilation albums featuring independent bands of the period. Prior to forming the XL Capris, Gooding was a film and television screenwriter.(The Aunty Jack Show; Wollongong The Brave/Kev Kevanagh: Beyond The Infinite; Heatwave). He and Pigott worked together creating the 1984 ABC-TV series Sweet and Sour which chronicled the activities of a fictional band, The Takeaways, and their efforts to succeed in 1980s Sydney Pop music scene. Thanks Henry DeRooy for the art work. Flac

Post 784 - Various - Generation Records

 

Generation Records was founded by Consolidated Press/GTV-9 Melbourne around 197O involving musician Gus McNeil.

 There were only seven singles released on Generation Records all produced by Gus McNeil.

Aesop's Fables - a Sydney band '68-'71 mixed covers & original songs but suffered from many lineup changes. Les Stackpool presents his song "Sandman" while Cheryl Blake gives a stirring cover of Jackie Lomax "Little Yellow Pills". (GE 001).

Company Caine - Melbourne progressive rock band '72-'76 was the brainchild of singer Gulliver Smith & Russell Smith. They released two singles "Trixie Stonewall's Wayward Home For Young Women" & "Dear Carolyn". (GE OO2 (GE 006).

Al Head - Sydney based singer, his version of "Mammy Blue" gained little airplay while "Walk The World Away" charted in the top 20. Al penned the B sides of his singes, sadly little was known of him till his passing in 2018. (GE 004) (GE OO7).

Jeff Phillips - Phillips had a number of singles between '68 - '81 in Oz & overseas. His Generation single 

"I Want To Be Famous Like My Dad" is a pop orchestrated song, there was a second single from the same recording session but remains unreleased. (GE 003).

Les Stackpool - Ex-Aesop's Fables guitarist used his previous band for a cover of Neil Young's "Down By The River" with a country self-penned tune on the B side. Besides Aesop's Fables he played with numerous bands such as Country Radio, Doug Parkinson In Focus, Chessmen ect. (GE 005).

Thanks to Henry DeRooy for the art work.flac

Post 783 - John Justin - The Singles Collection '84-'87

 

Original line-up: John Justin, Paul Hines , Gordon Pitt and Carl Manuel. 

Frontman John Justin was well known on the early 1980s Melbourne scene via his New Romantic glam rock bands Modesty and An Affair. Modesty comprised Justin, Shane Hayton (keyboards), Anthony Tavasz (bass) and Peter Black (drums). By August 1982, Modesty had evolved into An Affair when Stu Storm (keyboards) took over from Hayton, guitarist Peter Cook (ex-James Freud and the Radio Stars) took over from Black on drums and Anthony Moore (bass) replaced Tavasz. Early influences included Ultravox, Japan, Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran. An Affair broke up in 1983. Justin signed to Wheatley Records and issued his debut, solo single `It's Magic' in October 1984. For his next step towards commercial acceptance, Justin drew heavily on Marc Bolan and T. Rex for inspiration. Indeed, the name of his new band, The Thunderwings, was derived from a 1972 T. Rex B-side (to `Metal Guru'). John Justin and the Thunderwings' debut album, Justice (September 1986), was brimming with swaggering glam-pop material like the singles `Flash King Cadillac' August 1986, `Justice' November and `Little Miss Love' February 1987. `Flash King Cadillac' peaked at #20 on the Melbourne charts. More great art work from Henry DeRooy. flac

Post 782 - Adrian Campbell - The Collection

 

Adrian Campbell, a session vocalist has recorded and arranged backing vocals in countless albums in the land of Oz. Around 1976 he was the lead singer of Avalanche whose debut S/T album had moderate success, in 1980 Australia's commercial radio stations staged a high-profile campaign to promote radio listening. "Listen To The Radio" (BA 222673) this catchy jingle was written by Peter Best. There were two versions recorded by Adrian Campbell, and a more mellow one by Paul McKay. The jingles, in various forms, were played on Aussie commercial radio stations, Adrian's version was released for purchase by the general public. It failed to chart; the flipside was Paul McKay's "Listen To The Mellow Radio". In 1981 he formed Ada's Persuaders and released the single "Let The Girl Dance" (FMS 2106) on Full Moon Records. In 1985 came the single "You Are My Melbourne" with Lisa Edwards, from '86 he formed the funky synth-pop band Adrian's Wall which released four singles and the "Caught In The Web" LP for Zoom Records. Thanks Henry DeRooy for the art work. flac

Post 781 - Alston Koch - Best Of

 

Alston Koch is a Sri Lanka born Australian - Sri Lankan singer-songwriter, film producer, record producer and actor.

He was often lauded in the Australian and Asian media as "Asia's King of Pop" or "Pop King of Asia" after gaining international success in the late 1970s. He has performed worldwide and achieved international success in Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, India and Sri Lanka among other places. 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. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe awards Special Presentation to Koch in 2017. 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. In 1986 Alston Koch was selected and commissioned by the Australian Task Force to write, produce and perform the America's Cup album, The Kookaburra Connection with the theme song "Kookaburra" released both as a single and music video broadcast during the race. 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. In April 2012 his latest album "Don't Funk With Me" written and produced by Alston & the Sherifs, debuted at No. 42 on the official ARIA top 50 Albums chart, eventually peaking at No.16. Thanks Henry DeRooy for more great art work. Flac

Post 780 - Warumpi Band - The Singles 1983/1996

 

Warumpi Band were an Australian country and Aboriginal rock group which formed in the outback settlement of Papunya, Northern Territory, in 1980. The original line-up was George Burarrwanga on vocals and didgeridoo, Gordon Butcher Tjapanangka on drums, his brother Sammy Butcher Tjapanangka on guitar and bass guitar, and Neil Murray on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. Their songs are in English, Luritja and Gumatj. Their key singles are "Blackfella/Whitefella" (1985), "Sit Down Money" (1986), "My Island Home" (1987) and "No Fear" (1987). The group released three albums, Big Name, No Blankets (1985), Go Bush! (1987) and Too Much Humbug (1996). From late 1987 to mid-1995 the group rarely performed as Murray focused on his solo career. In early 1995, Christine Anu (former backing singer in Murray's touring group, The Rainmakers), issued a cover version of "My Island Home". Warumpi Band regrouped before disbanding in 2000. Burarrwanga died on 10 June 2007 of lung cancer, and Gordon Butcher died in early 2020 of unreleased causes. Thanks to Henry DeRooy for the art.

Various members were temporary, touring or recording only. From late 1987 to early 1995 there was little group activity as members pursued other interests.

George Rrurrambu Burarrwanga – vocals, didgeridoo (1980–2000, d. 2007)

Gordon Butcher Tjapanangka – drums (1980–1987, 1996)

Sammy Butcher Tjapanangka – bass guitar, guitar (1980–2000)

Neil Murray – guitar, songwriter (1980–2000)

Brian Butcher – bass guitar (1983)

Murray Cook – keyboards (1987)

Alan Murphey – drums (1987)

Kenny Smith – bass guitar (1987)

Bill Heckenberg – drums (1996)

Bill Jacobi – bass guitar, backing vocals

Denis Minor – bass guitar

Hilary Wirra – bass guitar

Flac

Post 779 - Dark Tan - The Singles

Dark Tan was formed in Sydney in 1975 by Alston Koch who emigrated here in 1969 from Sri Lankai. Dark Tan quickly established themselves as one of Australia's premier disco bands. After several national TV appearances on Bandstand the band developed a huge following.  Their first single ''Kings Of Soul (Superseded Rock And Roll)/Don't Stop It Now, Keep On Doing It was released in 1976 on the Living Sound Records. Moving to RCA they recorded on its subsidiary imprint Laser. Their first major hit, "Disco Lady" (1978), earned them a gold record. The song also won the 'best new talent' at the 1979 International Disc Jockey Association Awards. Music historian Glenn A Baker has said that 'Alston & Dark Tan' were the originators of Disco Music in Australia. The band and toured New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands. ‘Disco Lady’ was the most played track in discotheques across the dance floor in Australasia and the USA with legendary (New York) disc jockey Bobby Gattadaro playing it across America which led to an appearance with ABBA on their sell-out Australian Tour and the much publicised ‘ABBA Television Special’ in 1976 which was broadcast to the world. Thanks again to Henry DeRooy for more great art work. Flac

 

Post 778 - The Ferrets - The Mushroom Recordings

 

After favourable reactions from audiences in Melbourne and Sydney, The Ferrets produced a demo tape that caught the attention of Ian "Molly" Meldrum talent coordinator for Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) TV series Countdown. Meldrum got them signed to Mushroom Records and started producing their debut album, Dreams of a Love, in July 1976.In April 1977 they released their debut single, "Robin Hood", which did not chart. After nearly a year, production of the album was still incomplete, so The Ferrets took over—assisted by recording engineers Tony Cohen and Ian MacKenzie—Meldrum was attributed as "Willie Everfinish". In June 1977, The Ferrets released the double A-side single "Don't Fall in Love"/"Lies". Meldrum had carefully crafted "Lies" taking weeks whilst "Don't Fall in Love" was recorded in three hours. The Ferrets premiered on Countdown in an episode compered by Jon English performing "Don't Fall in Love", which peaked at No. 2 Nationally. They were awarded with 'Best Australian TV Performer' at the 1977 King of Pop Awards for their Countdown appearances.In October 1977, The Ferrets released "Janie May" which reached No. 25 nationally and was televised on Countdown on 13 November 1977, an episode which also featured an interview between Meldrum and Prince Charles which would go on to become infamous. Their debut album Dreams of a Love was released in October 1977 and achieved Gold record status. The album cover depicted a model (Wendy Bannister) holding a snarling ferret on her shoulder.By the end of 1977, guitarist Eizenberg and backing vocalist Pam Miller had left. After another single, "Are You Looking at Me?" was released in April 1978. Jane Miller also left. The Ferrets continued to tour and recorded their second studio album Fame at Any Price which was produced by Cohen and released in October 1978. There were disappointing sales for the related singles "This Night" and "Tripsville" and for the album itself. Firth also left to be replaced successively by George Cross and Ric Petropolis. The Ferrets had no further chart success and disbanded in March 1979.Thanks to Henry DeRooy for the art work.

Members-

Philip Eizenberg – guitar (1975–1977)

Kenneth Firth – bass guitar (1975–1978)

Billy Miller – vocals, guitar (1975–1979)

David Springfield – guitar (1975–1979)

Rick Brewer – drums (1976–1979)

Jane Miller – backing vocals, keyboards (1976–1978)

Pam Miller – backing vocals (1976–1977)

George Cross – bass guitar (1978)

Ric Petropolis – bass guitar (1978–1979)

Flac

Post 777 - Hush - Complete A & B Sides

 

Hush were a Sydney based Glam-Rock band of the 1970’s. They were, like many bands of the time, true “Road Warriors” who worked hard and worked often and appeared regularly on TV shows like Countdown.The original lineup was formed in 1971 and consisted of Keith Lamb on vocals, Chris Nolan on keyboards, Robin Jackson on guitar, Rick Lum on bass and John Koutts on drums. In 1972 Nolan, Jackson and Koutts left and were replaced by Les Gock on guitar and Chris “Smiley” Pailthorpe on drums. This lineup is probably considered the “classic” version of Hush. Jacques De Jongh joined in 1976 as a second guitarist but Rick Lum left soon after and they continued again as a four-piece band. They disbanded officially in 1977. Thanks to Henry DeRooy for the art work.

Members of Hush

Keith Lamb – Vocals 1971 – 1977

Chris Nolan – Keyboards 1971 – 1972

Robin Jackson – Guitar 1971 – 1972

John Koutts – Drums 1971 – 1972

Rick Lum – Bass 1971 – 1976

Les Gock – Guitar 1972 – 1977

Chris Pailthorpe – Drums 1972 – 1977

Jacques De Jongh – Guitar 1976 – 1977

Flac