classic and rare Australian popular music from the 1950's, 1960's. 1970's and beyond..including rock and roll, pop, beat, rock, surf and progressive, plus contemporary artists, new releases, reviews and other fun stuff

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Monday, January 13, 2025

Dragon - A Collection

 


Dragon is a New Zealand rock band which was formed in Auckland in January 1972, and, from 1975, based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The band was originally fronted by singer Graeme Collins, but rose to fame with singer Marc Hunter and is currently led by his brother, bass player and co-founder Todd Hunter. The group performed, and released material, under the name Hunter in Europe and the United States during 1987.

The name "Dragon" came from a consultation of I Ching cards by founder vocalist Graeme Collins.

Keyboard player Paul Hewson wrote or co-wrote most of the group's 1970's hits: "April Sun in Cuba" peaked at No. 9 in New Zealand and No. 2 in Australia; "Are You Old Enough?" reached No. 6 in New Zealand and No. 1 in Australia in 1978; and "Still in Love With You" reached No. 35 and No. 27 in each country respectively that same year. Later hits, from when the band re-grouped in the 1980's, were written by other band members, often working with outside associates: The Hunter brothers, with Todd's partner, Johanna Pigott, wrote "Rain", a No. 2 hit in 1983, while other, more minor hits were written by the Hunters and/or Alan Mansfield, frequently in collaboration with any combination of Pigott, Mansfield's partner Sharon O'Neill, Marc Hunter's partner Wendy Hunter, or producers Todd Rundgren and David Hirschfelder.

Dragon were a premiere live act in their heyday, and released a stack of classic singles. As Australian rock historian Ian McFarlane writes, ‘Dragon were one of the most popular and notorious acts on the Australian scene … the band earned a reputation for fierce live shows, arrogant behaviour and a decadent lifestyle.’













    
                                      Power Play - 1979                                         




















Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Lethal Weapons - Suicide Records (AUS) 70's Punk/New Wave compilation

 



Suicide Records was originally formed back in 1978 by a collective of people from the Australian music industry which included Michael Gudinski, Ray Evans, Philip Jacobsen and Barrie Earl. The label was solely to promote the music of up and coming punk/new wave/independent artists at the time.

This compilation was originally released on white vinyl in 1978 as a promotional for some of the artists on their roster.

1 Teenage Radio Stars– Wanna Be Ya Baby 2:53

2 Teenage Radio Stars– Learned One 2:23

3 Wasted Daze– Roadrunner 2:30

4 Wasted Daze– Mona 3:53

5 Jab – Let's Go 1:58

6 Jab – Blonde And Bombed 3:24

7 The Survivors– Baby Come Back 2:51

8 The Survivors– Mr. Record Man 2:35

9 The Boys Next Door– These Boots Are Made For Walking 2:40

10 The Boys Next Door– Masturbation Generation 2:19

11 The Boys Next Door– Boy Hero 3:04

12 The Negatives– Planet On The Prowl 6:40

13 X-Ray-Z – Three Glorious Years 3:31

14 X-Ray-Z – Valium 5:38

15 Teenage Radio Stars– Sweet Boredom 3:18


Lethal Weapons

https://www.aztecrecords.com.au/



Thursday, January 2, 2025

The Soundtracks Collection - Part Three

 



Dirty Deeds is a 2002 film shot in Australia. It was directed by noted fringe director David Caesar and stars Bryan Brown, Toni Collette, Sam Neill, Sam Worthington, John Goodman and Andrew Sommerich.

Barry Ryan is a late 1960's Australian mobster who controls the Sydney gambling scene and is making huge profits from casino slot machines. His profitable venture attracts the unwanted attention of the American Mafia, who attempt to secure a piece of the action by sending in two of their henchmen: the pensive, world-weary veteran Tony and his violent, not-too-bright sidekick Sal. Ryan soon finds himself fending off the trigger-happy "yanks", outback-style, while also contending with his feisty wife, needy mistress, and a crooked cop.

Dirty Deeds (Music From The Motion Picture)

1 You Am I With Tex Perkins– Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 3:55

2 Paul Healy – Titles Sequence 0:47

3 Grinspoon– And I Heard The Fire Sing 2:59

4 You Am I With Bernard Fanning– Trouble 5:37

5 Paul Healy – New Flat 1:28

6 Palladium – I'll Be Gone 3:54

7 You Am I With Billy Thorpe– Sometimes I Just Don't Know 5:15

8 Dallas Crane– Wild About You 2:44

9 Bernard Fanning And Bruce Haymes– No Good Without You 4:30

10 Paul Healy – Making Pizza 1:25

11 You Am I– Draggin' Yer Bones 3:29

12 The Loved Ones – Everlovin' Man 2:08

13 You Am I With Phil Jamieson– Made My Bed, Gonna Lie In It 3:00

14 Lisa Miller, Jody Bell And Tim Rogers – Washboard Rock'n'Roll 1:47

15 Powder Monkeys – Black And Blue 4:25

16 You Am I– Calendar Eyes 4:01

17 Daddy Cool – Bom Bom 2:33

18 Tim Rogers And Lisa Miller– Losin' My Blues Tonight 2:43

19 Paul Healy – Plane Leaves 1:26


Thunderstruck
is a 2004 Australian film directed by Darren Ashton and starring Stephen Curry, Damon Gameau, Ryan Johnson, Callan Mulvey, and Sam Worthington. Its plot concerns five AC/DC fans who make a promise that if one of them died, the other four would have him buried next to grave of their idol, Bon Scott. When one of them dies, the remaining four embark on a road trip to fulfill their promise.

Thunderstruck (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

1 The Jack– Long Way To The Top 4:59

2 David Campbell – Run To Paradise 4:45

3 The Casanovas– Living In The City 4:20

4 Senor Coconut And His Orchestra – Smoke On The Water 3:33

5 Audius and Carmel Merciti– Hello How Are You 3:21

6 Killing Heidi– Take It 3:47

7 Hayseed Dixie– TNT 2:42

8 David Thrussell and Francois Tetaz – The Quest 3:51

9 Peggy Scott Adams – Spousal Abuse 4:56

10 The Thunderstruck Boys– Total Eclipse Of The Heart 1:48

11 Bonnie Tyler– Total Eclipse Of The Heart 4:32

12 David Thrussell and Francois Tetaz – Good Times Medley 2:23

13 Europe – Final Countdown 5:11

14 Scooter Lee– High Test Love 3:09

15 The Blackeyed Susans – Drop Kick Me Jesus 3:56

16 David Thrussell and Francois Tetaz – Boys In Action 2:59

17 Bon Scott and Fraternity– Jupiter's Landscape 2:50

18 David Thrussell and Francois Tetaz – Robbo And Simmo 1:46

19 The Jack– Crash And Burn 4:00


Travelling Light is a 2003 Australian film directed by Kathryn Millard and starring Pia Miranda, Sacha Horler, and Anna Torv.

Leanne (Pia Miranda) is training to be a teacher in 1971 Adelaide, but she is more interested in seeing life through the lens of her camera. To make matters worse, she has to suffer the indignities of living at home with her parents (Heather Mitchell and Marshall Napier). Her older sister Bronwyn (Sacha Horler) is finding it difficult to adjust to married life in remote Yallaroo with her husband Brian (Tamblyn Lord) and runs away. Then, visiting American hip poet Lou (Brett Stiller) comes to town, urging all to 'seek out the light'.The younger generation embraces the challenge enthusiastically, and Leanne's neighbor Gary (Tim Draxl) and her friend Debra (Anna Torv), are drawn to Lou.

Travelling Light (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

1 Richard Vella– Opening Titles

2 Alex Lloyd– Coming Home

3 Steve Balbi & Universe – Because I Love You

4 Donovan– Cosmic Wheels

5 Lou Bonetti– Whose Plot Is This

6 John Rowles– Cheryl Moana Marie

7 Richard Vella– Super 8

8 Russell Morris– Part Three Into Paper Walls

9 The Master's Apprentices– Think About Tomorrow Today

10 Zoot – Eleanor Rigby

11 Lou Bonetti– Turn Your Mind Off

12 Cream – Sunshine Of Your Love

13 Masters Apprentices*– Rio De Camero

14 Russell Morris– Only A Matter Of Time

15 Richard Vella– Bus Ride

16 Donovan– Catch The Wind

17 Richard Vella– Because I Love You (Airport)

18 Simon Burke – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

19 Richard Vella– Closing Credits


The Real Macaw is a 1998 Australian adventure film written by Bruce Hancock and Matthew Perry and directed by Mario Andreacchio. It was filmed on location in Brisbane, Queensland. The film was released in Australia on 24 September 1998 and released on VHS in the United States and Canada on 11 July 2000 by Paramount Home Entertainment. It stars Jamie Croft as Sam Girdis, Deborra-Lee Furness as Beth Girdis, Joe Petruzzi as Rick Girdis, John Waters as Dr. Lance Hagen, and Jason Robards as Grandpa Girdis. The voice of Mac the Parrot was performed by Daniel Murphy in the Australian version and by John Goodman in the North American version.

The Real Macaw Original Soundtrack

1 Adelaide Symphony Orchestra– Overture

2 Rod Davies– Treasure In You

3 The Song Cafe Society– You Talk Too Much (Reprise)

4 Wendy Matthews– Big

5 Mental As Anything– Too Many Times

6 Felt – Heal The Child

7 John Farnham– When All Else Fails

8 Merril Bainbridge– Miss You

9 Joe Camilleri– Speedo

10 Joe Camilleri– You Talk Too Much

11 The Black Crowes– New Craze


Friday, December 27, 2024

Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons - A Collection

 


One of the more popular Australian bands of their day, Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons was primarily a vehicle for frontman Joe Camilleri, who assembled the group in Melbourne in 1976. The band's lineup fluctuated regularly over the years; in addition to Camilleri, the nucleus consisted of guitarists Jeff Burstin and Tony Faehse, bassist John Power, saxophonist Wilbur Wilde and drummer Gary Young

At the outset, the Falcons were a gritty, sax-powered R&B unit -- a sound dominant on their 1976 debut LP Don't Waste It -- but they remained wildly unpredictable in the years to follow, moving from genre to genre with ease. Whip It Out appeared in 1977; in 1979 the Falcons moved to the Mushroom label, soon issuing the LP Screaming Targets. However, after 1980's Hats Off Step Lively fared poorly, the band kept a low profile for several years before announcing their retirement in 1983. 

They reunited in 2003 for the album "Ricochet".



























Monday, December 23, 2024

Spin Into Christmas - various Australian artists compilation

 


1 Ol' 55– (I Want A) Rockin' Christmas 4:22

2 Johnny O'Keefe– Pretty Paper 2:34

3 The Joy Boys– Christmas Guitar 1:55

4 Col Joye– Jingle Bells 2:10

5 Ray Melton – Sleigh Ride 2:19

6 Noeleen Batley– Silent Night, Holy Night 2:28

7 Col Joye– I'll Be Home For Christmas 2:33

8 Jimmy Little– Christmas Roses 2:25

9 Reg Lindsay– Ting A Ling A Jingle 2:11

10 Rolf Harris– Happy Birthday Father Christmas 2:28

11 Mike Preston– Christmas Alphabet 1:58

12 The Aussie Singers– Merry Christmas Land 2:29

13 Dale's Gang*– Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer 3:26

14 The Love Machine– The Lonely Hearts Christmas Club Christmas Party 3:07

15 Ol' 55– Little Saint Nick 3:10

16 Jo Jo Zep And His Little Helpers– Run Rudolph Run 3:23

17 Red Hot Rockin' Santas– Another Rock'N'Roll Christmas 3:47

18 Shirley*– Christmas Time In The Neighbourhood 2:26

19 Incredible Penguins– Happy Xmas (War Is Over) 3:51

20 Riff Raff*– Reindeers On The Rooftop 3:02

21 Shirley*– Christmas Children 3:41

22 Dalvanius & The Fascinations– Mary's Boy Child 4:18

23 Yu-En– Little Drummer Boy 4:37

24 Mick Hamilton– Merry Christmas Mary 3:04


Spin Into Christmas

Friday, December 20, 2024

To Hal and Bacharach - an all Australian artists tribute to Hal David and Burt Bacharach

 


1 Rebecca's Empire– Always Something There To Remind Me 4:25

2 The Mavis's– Walk On By 3:20

3 Leonardo's Bride– This Girl's In Love With You 4:45

4 The Dumb Earth– Trains & Boats & Planes 3:20

5 Lisa Miller And Tex Perkins– The Look Of Love 4:17

6 Cordrazine– Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head 3:37

7 Frank Bennett – What's New Pussycat 2:11

8 The Whitlams– I'll Never Fall In Love Again 3:35

9 Regurgitator– The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 2:14

10 The Avalanches– Do You Know The Way To San Jose 4:56

11 Kim Salmon And The Surrealists– Anyone Who Had A Heart 2:54

12 Chris Wilson – 24 Hours From Tulsa 4:49

13 Kiley Gaffney– Wives And Lovers 2:50

14 The Earthmen– I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself 4:00

15 The Blackeyed Susans – Make It Easy On Yourself 4:35

16 Billy Baxter– (They Long To Be) Close To You 4:18

17 Kiva– You'll Never Get To Heaven If You Break My Heart 3:35

18 Dave Graney And Clare Moore Vs The Dirty Three – What The World Needs Now (Is Love) 4:25


To Hal and Bacharach