Post 417 - Men Of Harlech - Charlie's Getting Married At Last / Tribute

The Innocents (who used to be called “Beathoven”), with 25 + years of experience, from self-made Pop Stars to elder statesmen of Power pop, this iconic Tasmanian musical outfit has done nearly everything......except have a smash hit record. Perhaps this is part of the magic of their story; massive success may have spoilt the story. They modestly refer to themselves as The No Hit Wonders from Down Under. They toured with AC/DC, Stevie Wright, Ted Mulry, Split Enz, and Steptoe and Son (Yes, The British comedy legends),while performing their Swan Song tour of the Antipodes. They loaned their guitars to Meatloaf, Foreigner and Blondie when they performed on the legendary Australian TV Pop Show Countdown (they themselves performed several times and had two top ten hits). .....Wrote and recorded an album in one night with Kim Fowley.....Sang over the phone to Bruce Springsteen......performed to a crowd of over 100,000 people under the pseudonym, The Men of Harlech "Charlie's Getting Married at Last" b/w "Tribute" (K-8312) which was the Queens favourite song in 1981. Here for you to download is that single recorded for Mushroom Records, produced by Ol' 55's Jim Manzie for Jim Manzie Productions at Trafalgar Studios in Sydney and engineered by Malcolm Devenish.

Post 416 - Rabbit - Too Much Rock 'n' Roll LP

Rabbit was described as frenetic and violently hedonistic, and their second album here for you to download "Too Much Rock n Roll" (SBP 234866) was released in October, 1976 after the release of another two singles. Tinson and Screen then left the band. Barry Lytton joined as drummer and Tinson was not replaced. Recorded at Albert Studios and produced by Peter Dawkins & Bruce Brown this was their last LP for CBS. A non LP single, followed a version of The Raiders' "Let Me", appeared in early 1977. Rabbit split up that same year when both Evans and Porteus left. Tinson, Porteus and Screen then formed Heroes who released an album in 1980. Hinds joined Finch. Tinson and Screen also worked together in Swanee and The Tex Pistols. Dave Evans went on to a string of other bands.

Post 415 - Rabbit - Rabbit LP

Rabbit, Originally "The Cherries" was an Australian hard rock band from Newcastle. The band was formed in 1973 by Mark Tinson (guitar, vocals), Phil Screen (drums) and Jim Porteus (bass). Vocalist Greg Douglas joined in 1974 and was replaced in October of that year by Dave Evans, formerly of AC/DC. The band played a mixture of originals and covers by artists such as Alice Cooper, The Who and The Sweet. Two early singles were followed up by a self-titled album "Rabbit" (SBP 234748) in 1975 for CBS, here for you to download. Backing vocals were by Pamela Barnett and the album was produced by John Egginton at Trafalgar Studios in Sydney. David Hinds joined as rhythm guitarist in 1976.

Post 414 - Jon English - Stand By Me / Stand By Me (Dance Mix)

In 1993, Jon English starred in the television comedy series "All Together Now". Playing the part of absent-minded, washed-up rock star Bobby Rivers was a good example of English's talents and the self-deprecating sense of humour that has made him a popular figure for so long. English issued "All Together Now" as a single. A new "Best of" album came out in July 1993, and he issued a single in September 1994 here for you to download, "Stand by Me" b/w "Stand By Me (Dance Mix)" (PDSCD 570) on Possum Records. Royalties from this single were donated to the N.S.W. Parkinson's Syndrome Society. Backing vocals was Justine Ballen and Amanda Hanna. Peter Dawkins produced the single with engineer Gavin Dutfield.

Post 413 - Grand Junction - Married Women / Three Plaster Ducks

Grand Junction was a NSW country rock outfit who scored a minor hit with this track in 1979. It was recorded in Parramatta. They were part of Tamworth's 2TM radio station development program. "Married Women" b/w "Three Plaster Ducks" (103516) was their first of three singles and two LP's for RCA Records. In 1980 Doug Rowe from Flying Circus fame join the band until 1982.In 1973 they were known as the Grand Junction Country Band, you can find that single on post #224.

Post 412 - Normie Rowe - Elizabeth / Little Ray Of Sunshine

Normie Rowe's continued to record through the '70s, '80s and 90s. He switched to the Astor label in 1975 and had considerable success with the single here for you to download, "Elizabeth" (A-7265), which won the Best Song category at that year's Tokyo Song Festival. The B-side was Normie's version of the Axiom classic "A Little Ray of Sunshine".

Post 411 - ALISON McCALLUM - Excuse Me / Honk Honk

McCallum's music career began in 1967 at the age of 16. She began with the Jeff Bulls Jazz Band soon leaving to join the Big Apple Union, a Sydney soul band, which evolved into Dr Kandy's Third Eye, in which she shared lead vocals with Gulliver Smith, later of Company Caine. At the end of 1970 she joined Freshwater, a progressive band, who had achieved a certain level of notoriety with their 1970 single "Satan", a song about the Sharon Tate murders. Originally sharing lead vocals with Ian Johnson, by September 1971 she was sole lead vocalist. November 1971 saw the release of her first recorded release with her lead vocals on the bands final single "I Ain't Got The Time", a track that reached the top 20 in the Sydney charts. In 1975 she released her second and final hit single,here for you to download, "Excuse Me" b/w "Honk Honk" (AP-10476), which spent 42 weeks in the national top 30. This was followed by an album, Alison, which spent just two weeks on the top 100 album charts. The single was released on Albert and produced by Simon Napier-Bell. If you look at the pic of the label you will notice Alison's name is spelt "MacCallum" which is a nightmare when looking on eBay as you have to use both spellings to find her...oh the hassles of a record collector.

Post 410 - The News - Boomerang / Louise Louise

The band were Marty Kristian, Brian Engel and Mick Flinn, all were members of the New Seekers at one time or other. They set up their own record label "Megaphone" for this sole release in 1981. Kristian was brought up in Australia, originally training to be an architect at Melbourne University. In 1969 he became a member of the original line up of the New Seekers. Mick Flinn was the bass player for The Mixtures from 1967 - 1972, The Mixtures travelled to the UK in 1971, where Flinn remained after the band's break-up. Subsequent UK projects included Springfield Revival among others. Brian Engel joined the New Seekers in 1978, he was introduced at the bands live shows as "the new guy on the end". Here to download is the one and only single released by The News "Boomerang" b/w "Louise Louise" (MEGA 1). The single was produced by The News. The strange thing we found out is a year earlier in 1980 Frankie J Holden released a version (which can be found at post # 379) with the composer being Mick Flinn but on The News's version in 1981 the composer states Flinn/Kristian/Engel.

Post 409 - Brian Cadd - My Baby Loves To Hurt Me / For The Love Of A Woman

Brian George Cadd was born on the 29th of November 1946, in Perth, Western Australia. He is an Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist and producer who has performed as a member of The Groop, Axiom, Flying Burrito Brothers and a brillante solo artist. Although he was briefly called Brian Caine in late 1966, when first joining The Groop. Cadd was a child prodigy: winning a TV talent quest when 12 and offered his first professional job as a pianist for a children's TV program. His family relocated to Tasmania and then Melbourne, where Cadd became involved in jazz music of the early 1960s, playing with the Beale Street Jazz Band and The Castaways. Cadd produced fellow Australian acts, Robin Jolley, Ronnie Burns, Broderick Smith, Tina Arena and Glenn Shorrock,and established his own record label called Bootleg Records. From 1966 until his departure for America in 1975, Cadd was one of the most prominent musicians on the local scene. Mushroom issued a one-off single, here for you to download "My Baby (Loves To Hurt Me)" b/w "For The Love Of A Woman (K-8904) in September 1982, The A side was penned by Brian and Max Merritt with the B side by Brian. In 1983 Brian returned to Australia for a two-year period where he ran Graffiti Records for the Polygram Group. Brian set up his production company Shameless Productions, then issued an album and two singles, "Land of the Video" (March 1985) and "Still Hurting Me" (June 1985) on the Graffiti label. To read more about Brian go to http://www.briancadd.com/history.cfm

Post 408 - Anne & Johnny Hawker - Cinderella Rockefella EP

Johnny Hawker achieved success with the Johnny Hawker's Band. After he married singer Anne Hathaway it was natural for them to record together. They hit the charts in 1968 with "Cinderella Rockefella" which had been a number 1 hit for another husband & wife duo Esther & Abi Ofarim. The record boosted them to be a sought after act for club and TV appearances. This single was followed in 1969 with another hit "Dear World" and "Real True Loving". After moving to Festival Records they released the single "Felix & Delilah" in 1973. Here to download is the EP from 1968 “Cinderella Rockefella" (AEP-4055) on Astor Records, the EP was produced by Ron Tudor.

Post 407 - Gaye Brown - Let A Little Love Come In / Minstrel Song

Not much to say about this single as I have said it all on post # 406, Gaye was a member of The Cleves which turned into Bitch when they moved to the UK. Here for you to download is Gaye's one and only solo single from 1974 “Let A Little Love Come In” b/w “Minstrel Song” released on Anchor Records. I came across this link, which is some interesting reading, http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/musicfeatures/20110514/more

Post 406 - Bitch - Collection

The three Brown children grew up on their parent’s farm in Clevedon, just south of Auckland. They all studied music and began to play together before adding another local, Milton Lane to their line-up. Milton played rhythm guitar and they called themselves the Clevedonaires

By 1965 they had changed their style and were then covering hits by The Who, the Small Faces and The Beatles. In 1966 they released their first recording on the Impact label called "How You Lied". 1967 saw two more singles, "He's Ready" and "Funny How Love Can Be". A final single, "Sunny Godge Street" was released in 1968, just prior to the group departing for Australia

On arrival in Australia they shortened their name to The Cleves. Their was plenty of work around Sydney, at one stage they had Vince Maloney (ex Bee Gees) in their line-up. From 1968 to 1970 they recorded three singles, "Tintookies 2000", "Sticks And Stones" and "You And Me" for Festival, along with two EP's, "A Taste Of Energy" and "Music From Michael" in 1970 and an album "The Cleves" in 1971.

The band moved to England in 1971, at which point Graham decided to return to New Zealand and was replaced by Aussie drummer Ace Follington (ex Chain and Country Radio). At this time they renamed themselves to Bitch. They recorded three singles here for you to download.

The three singles were "Laughing"/"House Where I Live" (CB-151) in 1971, "Good Time Coming"/"At The Party" (WB-16235) in 1973 and "Wildcat"/"I'm Gonna Love You" (K-16313) also in 1973. The first single was a cover of The Guess Who's 1970 hit. None of the singles were commercially successful. Bitch recorded an album for Warners which was never released.

After releasing a solo single Gaye Brown returned to New Zealand. Bass player Rob Aickin returned home in the mid-1970s and ended up producing Hello Sailor, The Dudes and Golden Harvest. He currently lives in Australia. Guitarist Ron Brown returned to New Zealand and along with Gaye and Graham Brown are now playing together again as The North Road Band.

Post 405 - Kids - Care For Kids / Through Children's Eyes

Peter Best was born on the 18th October 1943 in Adelaide, South Australia. He is an award-winning Australian film composer who has contributed to such films as "Doing Time for Patsy Cline" (1997), "Muriel's Wedding" (1994), "Crocodile Dundee" (1986), "Crocodile Dundee II" (1988), "Bliss" (1985) and "The Adventures of Barry McKenzie" (1972). His career started in 1970, but here’s a single from 1979 writen and produced by Peter Best for the Children Of The World during the "International Year Of The Child". The single also features Linda George and Paul Meaney. Here to download is the single "Care For Kids" b/w "Through Children's Eyes" (AP 11890) on Albert Productions. Big thanks to Peter for this one.

Post 404 - John St. Peeters - So Many Ways / Al Capone

John St. Peeters got his start under the name Johnny Lo Piccolo. His first singles were accordion tracks as the fresh-faced Johnny was known as the “Squeezebox Kid”. John has achieved a number of chart-placed singles, including “Deep Inside of Me”, “High Class Woman”, “Wonderworld” and the single here for you to download "So Many Ways" b/w "Al Capone" (103294). The single was produced by Spencer Lee in 1978 for RCA Records. His big run of hits from 1978-1980 were on RCA and none of them have yet been released CD. In 2001 John did some foreign language versions of this single.

Post 403 - Harry Young & Sabbath - Paper Girl / Bus Driver's Son

This was the second last single released by Chart Records, Harry Young & Sabbath who had the hit "Wheat In The Field", it was also their second last single release in 1971. The rest of Harry Young & Sabbath recording were released on a CD called "Recollections" which Includes their hit singles "Wheat In The Field", and "San Bernadino" plus many previously unreleased tracks. The members went their own way some years ago and are all still involved in the music industry. Neither this single nor it's B side were on that CD.(label change would be the reason I'm thinking.) Here to download is the single "Paper Girl" b/w "Bus Driver's Son" (CHK-4384). A side penned by Harry and the B side penned by Harry & Tony Mitchell. The single was produced by Ron Patton. To buy the "Recollections" CD go to http://ozsongs.com.au/ It's well worth a listen.

Post 402 - Australian Cricket Team 1972 - Here Comes The Aussies / Bowl A Ball Swing A Bat

The 1972 Australian Cricket Team recorded this single to coincide with their Ashes Tour of England. It was done some years before the mass marketing of World Series Cricket. The whole of team sang on the record. There were many great cricketers in the side at the time: Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh, Doug Walters and a dozen or so other household names. The single was co-written by Rod McQueen & Daniel Boone who had the hits "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast", "Skydiver" and "Beautiful Sunday". It was produced by Larry Page for Penny Farthing Records. Here to download is that single "Here Come The Aussies" b/w "Bowl A Ball Swing A Bat" (PFK-4776). The team of 1972 drew the series 2 all and thus England retained the ashes. In the next series in Australia 1974-75 Jeff Thomson and Denis Lillee ripped the English apart and we indeed won the ashes back. As a bonus we have included what we think must have been the English B side of the single, the same song appears on the A side and the same on the B side except the B side has a complete different musical arrangement bit of a mystery, maybe someone out there may enlighten us.......

Post 401 - Alan Hawking - If I Win Tattslotto / The Partner Nobody Chose

Alan was born on the 7th of July 1931, he worked as a cabinetmaker, so he made his first guitar which led to a guitar making hobby. Later he joined the well known fretted instrument maker in Melbourne, “Maton” he stayed 15 years until he became a professional musician. In 1955 Alan & Brother Russell formed The Hawking Brothers, as a duo they recorded their first 78rpm Regal Zonophone disc, “My Darling Daisy”. Since then almost 30 more recordings in the Hawking Brothers name for W & G, Parlophone”, “Fable”, “Planet”, “Crest”, “Columbia” and “RCA”. Alan recorded 3 LP's and 5 singles for RCA as a solo artist, here to download is his 1982 single "If I Win Tatts Lotto" b/w "The Partner Nobody Chose" (103973). In 1988 sadly Alan passed away on 19th September.

Post 400 - Kerri-Anne Kennerley - Sounds Of Christmas / Sounds Of Christmas (Instrumental)

Kerri-Anne Wright Kennerley was born on 22nd of September 1953 in Brisbane, she is an Australian television personality. She is one of Australia's most seasoned light entertainment hosts. She is noted for her very professional and personable hosting style, and her ability to handle awkward guests and situations with gentle humour and composure. In 1981 she landed her first adult role on Australian TV, as the dowdy Melinda Burgess in TV series The Restless Years, She hosted the breakfast TV program Good Morning Australia a role she held for 11 years. During the 1980s Kerri-Anne also performed as a singer, and released a self-titled album "Kerri-Anne" as well as a Christmas single in 1985 here for you to download. The single "Sounds Of Christmas" b/w "Sounds Of Christmas (Instrumental)" (K 9899) released on Festival Records was written by Geoff & Anne Hales.

Post 399 - Eurogliders - Christmas In Kings Cross

Eurogliders changed record labels from Polygram to CBS in 1983, At the height of the band's success, Grace Knight and Bernie Lynch reconciled their relationship and were married in 1985 but the union was short-lived. Despite their marital separation, they stayed together in the band for another four years. In 1988 they released the LP "Groove" one of the singles lifted from that LP was "Listen", to keep in the Christmas theme, for you to download is the non album track B side of the single "Christmas In Kings Cross" (652859 7) written by Bernie Lynch and recorded at CBS Studios in East Sydney. Eurogliders official website was shut down in September 2008.

Post 398 - Col Elliott - Merry Xmas / Don't Winge And Scream

Col Elliott is an Australian stand-up comedian who has since been active since the early 1970s, based mainly on character based comedy. He has released more than 20 albums. His first taste of the business was in his Navy days, moonlighting in the bars of Singapore and Hong Kong for drinks and tips. He left the Navy in 1972 and as Col puts it, he wasn’t quite prepared for Civilian life. He joined the Navy as a boy of 15. Col said “ I left the Navy with a basic knowledge of Bingo, I could ask for a beer in five different languages, and track a submarine, that didn’t exactly give me many options in the middle of Melbourne in 1972". Col said he stumbled into show business in 1973. He needed tyres for his clapped out old car and the coppers had put it off the road - “...they didn’t like my Angry Anderson tyres"!Here to download is Col's Christmas single released in 1984 " Merry Xmas" b/w "Don't Winge And Scream" (CES-1383). Alan Caswell and Mick Hamilton penned the A side with Col writing the B side, both song come from the "Move Over Rover" LP. Another version of this song can be found on post #192 by Sanity Clause.

Post 397 - Bjorn Again - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town / Little Drummer Boy

Björn Again was created in 1988 in Melbourne, by Rod Leissle and John Tyrell. After the first Björn Again show at a small pub in Melbourne called The Tote Hotel on May 6 1989 the show's popularity increased quickly, which took it Australia-wide then overseas to international acclaim. Björn Again has also occasionally covered songs by other artists. When Erasure produced an EP of ABBA covers called Abba-esque, Björn Again responded with an EP of covers of Erasure songs done in the style of ABBA, called Erasure-ish. The EP included the songs 'Stop!' and 'A Little Respect' that achieved Number 25 on the UK charts in September 1992. In August 2009 the band covered Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' during their set at the Sonisphere Festival in tribute to the headlining act. Here to download is their Christmas single from 1992 released on Polydor records "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" b/w "Little Drummer Boy" (861 189 2). ABBA's Benny Andersson was quoted as saying in 1999, "BJÖRN AGAIN are the closest you can get to seeing ABBA. ABBA will never reform!"

Post 396 - Yu-En - Little Drummer Boy / Little Drummer Boy (Dub MiX)

The only single release by Yu-En in 1986 on Mushroom Records. An all star cast of Melbourne musicians and singers with the likes of Joe Creighton, Venetta Fields, Chong Lim, Little River Band's Derek Pellicci, David Hirschfelder from John Farnham's band, Daddy Cool's Ross Hannaford along with Russell Coleman, Sherlie Matthews and Joanne Campbell.Here to download is that single "Little Drummer Boy" b/w "Little Drummer Boy (Dub MiX)" (K 182).

Post 395 - Tommy Leonetti - I Remember White Christmas / A Handful Of Happy New Years

Tommy Leonetti was born on the 10th September 1929 and was an American pop singer. In Australia his most famous song was "My City of Sydney" and was used by the Australian TV channel ATN7 in Sydney for station identification into the 1980s. He married the American actress Cindy Robbins and was stepfather to her daughter, Kimberly Beck. They lived in Sydney, Australia in the 1960s and 1970s before returning to America.While in Australia, Leonetti hosted his own talk-show from 1968 to 1970 for ATN-7, and provided the basis for the parody character Norman Gunston (according to creator Garry McDonald). He had a major Sydney hit with "Let’s Take a Walk" with his step-daughter Kim in 1968. Leonetti's rendition of "My City of Sydney", as used by ATN7 for nightly sign-off. Sydney punk rockers XL Capris (with lead vocalist Johanna Pigott) provided their version in 1979, this promo includes blue-tinged portions from Leonetti's TV sign-off. Other versions were performed by yodeller Mary Schneider, 1990s punk rockers Frenzal Rhomb. Here to download is Tommy's Christmas single also from 1968 "I Remember White Christmas" b/w "A Handful Of Happy New Years" (101903), the single was produced by Tommy for RCA Records. Leonetti died in 1979 in Houston, Texas, of cancer, at the age of 50.

Post 394 - Rolf Harris & Rick Parfitt - Christmas In The Sun

Collaborating with Rick Parfitt of Status Quo on 2009 Rolf Harris released a Christmas single based on his memories of eating a traditional hot turkey dinner in the scorching heat during his early years in Perth. It has been 40 years since Rolf Harris topped the Christmas charts.Rolf and Rick worked with guitarist Wayne Morris to celebrate the memories of growing up in Western Australia. The track was recorded in Red Cube Studio in Hamburg, Germany with producer Wolfgang Birnbacher. “Dad's got a cold one from the fridge to help him brave the barbecue,” Rolf sings and it doesn’t getting any more Aussie than that. "Christmas In The Sun" begins with a ukulele introduction before exploding into a rock track with a typical Status Quo seven bar blues riff. The song contains a couple of puns which Quo fans (if no one else) will appreciate! Here to download is that single penned by Rolf along with a version 2. Parfitt insisted the duo’s effort was destined to become a festive classic. He said: "Forget Rock ‘n’ Roll, this is Rick ‘n’ Rolf. This is a great track that will be played for years to come".

Post 393 - Ricky May - It's The Christmas Man LP

In 1986 Festival Records released a Christmas album by Ricky May called "It's The Christmas Man" (L 38686). Ricky shared this album with the kids from the Johnny Young Talent School in Sydney. Recorded at Glebe Studios with producer Dave Skinner and engineer's John Frolich and Dave Richards, the Lp features to original compositions by Ricky "Ain't It Christmas Day" and "Christmas Man". Ricky recorded a single in 1983, as The Big Boys with Jonathan Coleman. It was called "Built For Comfort" and can be found at post #28.

Post 392 - Bev Harrell - Carols By Candlelight / You've Got To Save Me

Petite 4'9" blonde pop vocalist Bev Harrell was one of the most popular female solo singers in Australia in the late 1960s. Bev began her career on radio, starting out when she was just six in the children's radio talent series Kangaroos on Parade in her hometown of Adelaide, South Australia. She started performing as a pop vocalist as a hobby in 1965 while she was still at school. Her debut single was a cover of "What Am I Doing Here with You?", originally a hit for Johnny Rivers. In 1969 and 1970 Bev was one of many Australian female entertainers who were sent to Vietnam to entertain Australian troops. In 1970, she travelled overseas, and cut a single for the US Bell label. She toured through Europe, Canada (where Bev had her own television special "Two New" on Toronto TV), the Caribbean, South Africa and South East Asia. In January 1971 in London, Bev released a single on Bell, "Back To The People" / "Travelling Easy". The single is of interest to Bee Gees aficionados because the A-side was co-written and the single produced by Maurice Gibb. According to Bee Gees expert Joseph Brennan, Bev did not know the Gibbs and was simply offered the song by their publisher. Later that year, as England's representative in the 1971 Tokyo World Song Festival, Bev took out the 'Outstanding Composition and Performance' award.Returning to Australia in 1972, she signed to RCA and issued three singles, "It Was Easy" '73 and here for you to download "Carols by Candlelight" b/w "You've Got to Save Me" (102380) in October 1973. Her last single, "Bring Back Those Memories", was released on the Polydor label. Today, Bev lives back in Adelaide and continues to work regularly on the musical stage and on the club and corporate circuit. She was awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2006.

Post 391 -Ol'55 - Greasemarks LP

Fanis, was a part-time covers band formed in 1972 in Sutherland, Sydney with Pat Drummond on lead guitar and vocals, Rockpile Jones on rhythm guitar and vocals, Jimmy Manzie on bass guitar, Paul McCann, and Geoff Plummer on drums. Plummer worked as a public servant for the NSW Postmaster-General's Department in the Department of Media alongside, future rock music journalist, Glenn A. Baker and invited Baker to hear the band. In 1975, Baker took on their management, he introduced former chartered accountant, Peter Bryan—who performed as Frankie J. Holden—on lead vocals. Fanis was renamed as Ol' 55 from the Tom Waits song. We have many of Ol'55's recordings on our Blog and we were asked for this one which was their 4th release out of 7 albums. Released in 1980 on K-Tel here for you to download is "Greasemarks" (NA-561) covers the hits from '76 - '79 with a few non album songs and the odd B side as well as Frankie's solo "My Right Of Way".

Post 390 - The Wheelbarrow - Dame Zara / Trying So Hard

The Wheelbarrow recorded this one and only single for Spin Records in 1970 and was produced by Martin Erdman.The band was made up of Charlie Wright, Tony & James Mitchell and John Foley. Wright & Foley penned the A side with Foley writing the B side of the single. Erdman employed Wheelbarrow and session musician Mike Cassidy to do some backing vocals for other singers on the Du Monde label. Erdman wanted to release a Aussie cover of the Pipkins song at the time "Yakety Yak". Charlie Wright did the high vocals and Martin Erdman did the half talking low voice. It was released by Du Monde under the name of 1957 Stadium Rockers with a Charlie Wright song called "Felicity" on the B side under the name of The 1905 Ramsgate Ballroom Dance Band. Charlie Wright & Tony Mitchell went on to join Harry Young & Sabbath who released a few singles but no LP. Tony later joined Sherbet and with Garth Porter co-wrote most of Sherbets hits including "Howzat". Charlie Wright toured the U.K with Autumn. Here to download is ther one and only single "Dame Zara" b/w "Trying So Hard" (EK-3381). The engineer's on this single were Richard Batchens & Barry Nagel with John Egginton doing the strings arrangment.

Post 389 - The Crimefighters Inc - Bat Attack '89 / Bat Attack '89

Here is another one of these bands that there is not a lot of information about out there. The only thing we can find out is that Chuck McKinney is credited as vocals and according to the books he is the only band member. Chuck also was in the Hot City Bump Band in the '70s. Sadly, Chuck passed away in September 1994. This is the only single release by The Crimefighters in 1989 on RCA and it was followed by a S/T 12" in 1990. Here to download is that single "Bat Attack '89" b/w Bat Attack '89" (105074). The single was produced by Ean Sugarman, Ross Inglis and Doug Brady at Metropolis Studios.

Post 388 - Josh Morgan - Here's To The King / Feelings

Josh Morgan is a Tasmanian Elvis impersonator and is here with his self penned tribute to the King Elvis Presley. Released on Fable Records in 1977 the single was produced by Ian Cline and recorded at Spectangle Productions Hobart with Nick Armstrong. The B side was a cover of Morris Albert's Feelings. Here to download is the single "Here's To The King" b/w "Feelings" (FB-310).

Post 387 - Allan Caswell - The Australia's Cup / Lonelyhearts Waltz

Allan's song “On the Inside” (the theme for the t.v soapie “Prisoner”) recorded by Lynne Hamilton, reached No.1 in Australia and New Zealand, No.3 in England and made the Country Charts in the USA (his own version was a top 20 country hit in Europe in 2004). At last count, Caswell has had well over 900 songs published and over 500 recordings of his songs released worldwide by the likes of Cilla Black, The Irish Rovers, Patti Page, Slim Dusty, James Blundell and The Living End. At the height of The America’s Cup hysteria when "Australia 2" was in trouble, Caswell wrote and released “The Australia’s Cup”. The record, recorded for $38 and released independently, went to No.1 in Sydney and top 5 nationally in 1983. Here to download is that single "The Australia's Cup" b/w "Lonelyhearts Waltz" (13515). Caswell penned both sides of the single.

Post 386 - Nolan - In Vain The Christian / What You'll Do

If your memory is good enough, go back to 1969 to a television program about drug addiction called “No Roses For Michael”, you might also remember the name of the man who wrote the music, being Sydney artist Aidan Nolan. Aidan played with various Sydney rock bands during the late 1960’s including Daisy Roots, their drummer Alan Sandow went on to drum for Sherbet. Other bands he played with were Garage Plus, Papa Skragg’s Patent Leather Nightmare and Pro to name a few. In 1973 he began to lay down tracks for an album, Tales From The Sun, but with the album still not completed, he decided to travel to England. While in London aidan was offered a contract to record cover versions of American songs. Apparently he found great difficulty relating lyrically and, such musical honesty being financially unrewarding, he was down to the ancient art of busking, making use of the excellent acoustics of Green Park station in the London underground. However, it was when John J Francis who produced and arranged "Tales From The Sun" took aidan's album to London, the former street busker was immediately signed to the British Sparks label. The album will be released in England and Europe. Here to download we go back to 1971 with a single he recorded for M7 Records called "In Vain The Christian" b/w "What You'll Do" (LW-4532), both sides were penned by Nolan and the single was produced by Allan Crawford. To read more about Aidan Nolan go to http://www.aidannolan.com/index.html

Post 385 - Billy Miller & The Great Blokes - Perpetual Motion / Perpetual Motion (Extended)

Billy Miller is an Australian musician who started singing and playing guitar back in the 1960s. After a 3 year stint in the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar, he formed The Ferrets, who in 1977 had a no 1 hit "Don't Fall In Love". Between 1979-1982 he performed as Billy Miller & The Great Blokes and only released one single for Mushroom Records here for you to download. The single "Perpetual motion" b/w "Perpetual Motion (Extended)" was penned by Billy. It was produced by John French & Trevor Countney. The only other song that I know of by this band is a track on the "Mushroom Evolution Concert" "She Took My Heart" which is a great song, I only wish that they did a studio version of this song.

Post 384 - Steve Hill Collection

Skyhooks formed in March 1973 in Melbourne with Steve Hill on vocals (ex-Lillee), Daddy Cool frontman, Ross Wilson was playing in his group Mighty Kong with Skyhooks as a support act. Wilson was impressed with the band and signed Macainsh to a publishing deal. Skyhooks gained a cult following around Melbourne including university and pub rockers, but a poorly-received show at the January 1974 Sunbury Pop Festival saw the group booed off stage.Two tracks from their live set, "Hey What's the Matter?" and "Love on the Radio" appeared on Mushroom's Highlights of Sunbury '74. After seeing his performance on TV, Hill phoned Macainsh and resigned because he didn't like the sound of his voice. The only other know recording of Steve is "All My Friends Are Getting Married" (Demo Version) from the "Demos & Dialogue Rarities" Box Set. Sadly Steve Hill passed away after a long battle with cancer on 31st October 2005. His final wish was to play one last show with his Skyhooks mates, which he did on 13/9/05 at the Annandale Hotel, Sydney.

Post 383 - The Cherokees – Your Bulldog Drinks Champagne / Heart Full Of Country

Melbourne based Cherokees were formed from Johnny Chester’s Chessmen, Chester suggested they name their new band The Cherokees after an ice cream that was popular at the time. The Cherokees were Billy Dale and Barry King (Guitars), Barry Windley (Drums) and Peter Tindall (Bass). Starting as a vocal and instrumental act, the group switched to vocals only in 1965 with great success. Their first single coupled the U.S group The Five Whispers track “Moon In The Afternoon” backed with a Doug Trevor original “Running Wild”. Trevor had been the lead guitarist with the Marksmen and later joined the Cherokees on bass and guitar. Lindsay Morrison (rhythm guitar), Peter 'Max' Bliney (drums), Marty van Wynk (guitar) and vocalists Mike McGuire and Kevin Smith were group members at various times. The group were selected to support the Monkees' 1968 tour, and continued into the 1970's. The single "Sally" was produced by Brian Poole, and probably recorded in England. Their last single, here for you to download “Your Bulldog Drinks Champagne” b/w “Heart Full Of Country” (RS-010) was produced by Keith Glass and Doug Trevor. The A side was a cover of a Jim Stafford song. The single was released on Real Records in 1974. Doug Trevor went on to manage Gina Jeffreys & Troy Cassar-Daley. To read more on the history of The Cherokees go to http://bluesola.com/artists.htm

Post 382 - Aunty Jack & Thin Arthur - Your Ugly / Queen Of The Gong

Recorded at Trafalgar Studios in Annandale in 1976 is another Aunty Jack single that seemed to have missed the original 1975 LP. Here for you to download is "Your Ugly" b/w "Queen Of The Gong" (2079 079) released on Polydor Records. Both sides were penned by Grahame Bond and Rory O'Donoghue.

Post 381 - Larry - Out Of Time / Lay Down

Keith Lamb was born on the 9th of January 1952, in Norwich, England. He was the lead singer and founding member of the glam rock band, Hush. He immigrated to Australia in 1970 with his school friend Robin Jackson. Lamb co-wrote the Hush's music with guitarist Les Gock. He was arguably Australia's best front man of the 1970s, along with Bon Scott and Doc Neeson. Lamb lived for performing and was heartbroken when Hush split up. He enjoyed and produced some great work with bands Airport and Larry, which is here for you to download. This in the only single released under the Larry name, recorded in 1979 on Infinity Records and produced by Lamb. The A side a cover of Jagger & Richard's "Out Of Time" b/w "Lay Down" (K-7495) written by Keith Lamb & Les Gock. Lamb remains involved creatively with music, art and sculpture and is a partner in the embroidery company Rajmahal. He has two children and three grandchildren.

Post 380 - Rolf Harris – Ringo For President / Head Hunter

We had never heard of this single by Rolf until we found it on EBay and as a Beatle fan we just had to have it. Recorded in 1964 for Columbia Records but till now the song as escaped me and I wonder just how many of Rolf’s singles have never seen the light of CD. Harris sang “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport” (with The Beatles singing backing vocals) in the first edition of the From Us to You BBC radio show, in December 1963. Harris completely customized the original lyrics to a version that was specially written for The Beatles. It was after that recording that Harris gave Ringo his first Wobble Board of which Starr now has the largest collection outside Australia. Here to download is the single “Ringo For President” b/w “Head Hunter” (DO-4509).

Post 379 - Frankie J Holden – Boomerang / Dinkie Di (Bobs Your Uncle)

This is Frankie’s second single release from 1980 on 7 Records. This is very different from his first single “My Right Of Way” and his recordings with Ol’ 55. The A side was penned by Mick Flinn of The Mixture’s fame, and Frankie writing the B side. The single was produced by Steve Bywaters. Here to download is “Boomerang” b/w “ Dinkie Di (Bobs Your Uncle)” (MS-451).

Post 378 - The Same Day Twins - Walking And Talking / A Little Bit Afraid

Perth brother and sister duo, John and Shirley Read began their career in the music business in 1967. The Same Day Twins won the Festival of Perth Talent Quest, they performed around Perth with such acts as “The Shadows” and Billy Thorpe and appeared on Club 17, the local teenage TV Show. In 1968 they toured South Vietnam with the first West Australian Concert Party, sponsored by Channel 9 and AFOF (Australian Forces Overseas Fund). Upon their return, they moved to Sydney where they became Robert Stigwood’s only Australian-based act, recording two singles at EMI, released on the Festival label. They appeared on Bandstand, The John Laws Show, The Gordon Chater Show, This Day Tonight, The Bob Rogers Show, The Brisbane Tonight Show, The Dick McCann Show, Celebrity Blind Date, The Easybeats Special, and were regulars on Rex Mossop’s Club Show. The duo also supported many local and international touring acts including Billy Preston, Matt Munro, Winnifred Atwell. In 1970, Shirley toured with acts including Normie Rowe, Johnny O’Keefe and Freddy Hampton, with whom she formed Trik, releasing two singles. Here to download is their single one and only single for Festival Records "Walking And Talking" b/w "A Little Bit Afraid" (FK-2511) produced by Pat Aulton in 1968. In 1973 Shirley moved to Melbourne and joined Brian Cadd and the Bootleg Family, for their national tour. During this time Shirley also appeared on recordings by Billy Thorpe, Colleen Hewitt, Kevin Borich and Ross Wilson. In 1975 she toured nationally with The Renee Geyer Band. Her next projects were with her then husband, Russell K. Smith, in a revival of ‘70’s cult band Company Caine and with reggae outfit Billy T, producing the album “No Definitions” on CBS and co-writing the single Gotta Keep On Dancin’. In 1998 Shirley’s career took a turn when she was elected Secretary of the Musician’s Union, Sydney Branch, NSW District, a position she held for a four years. She is credited with rebuilding the Union, which was about to close its doors. In 2002 she decided to return to her first love, performing and returned once more to the Perth Blues Club and recorded her first solo CD.