Daddy Cool - A Collection

 

Daddy Cool formed in Melbourne in 1970 with the original line-up of Wayne Duncan (bass, vocals), Ross Hannaford (lead guitar, bass, vocals), Ross Wilson (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica) and Gary Young (drums, vocals)

Their debut single "Eagle Rock" was released in May 1971 and stayed at number 1 on the Australian singles chart for ten weeks. Their debut album, July 1971's LP Daddy Who? Daddy Cool, also reached number 1 and became the first Australian album to sell more than 100,000 copies. The group's name came from the 1957 song "Daddy Cool" by US rock group The Rays. Daddy Cool included their version of this song on Daddy Who? Daddy Cool.

Daddy Cool's music was originally largely 1950's Doo-wop-style cover versions and originals mostly written by Wilson. On stage they provided a dance-able sound which was accessible and fun. Their second album, Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage Heaven from January 1972, also reached the Top Ten. Breaking up in August 1972, Daddy Cool briefly reformed during 1974–1975 before disbanding again. They reformed with the band's original line-up in 2005. Their iconic status was confirmed when they were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame on 16 August 2006. At the Music Victoria Awards of 2014, Daddy Cool was also inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame.

This collection gathers their studio and live albums, compilations, and post-Daddy Cool releases.

Daddy Who?, Daddy Cool (1971)

Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage Heaven (1972)

The Last Drive-In Movie Show (1973)

The Daddy Cool Story (1974)

The Missing Masters (1981)

Favourites (1985, cassette)

The Greatest and Coolest Hits (1994)

Eagle Rock (1995)

That's Cool: The Ultimate Collection (1999)

Live at the Myer Music Bowl 2005

The New Cool (2005)

The Essential (2007)

Live At The Whiskey Au Go Go 1971 (cassette)

Mighty Kong (Ross Wilson, Ross Hannaford) - All I Wanna Do Is Rock (1973)

Billy T (Ross Hannaford) - No Definitions (1977)

Gary Young - Rocking Emus..plus (1982)

Billy Thorpe - A Collection

 

William Richard Thorpe AM (29 March 1946 – 28 February 2007) was an English-born Australian singer-songwriter, and record producer. As lead singer of his band Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, he had success in the 1960s with "Blue Day", "Poison Ivy", "Over the Rainbow", "Sick and Tired", "Baby, Hold Me Close" and "Mashed Potato"; and in the 1970s with "Most People I Know Think That I'm Crazy". Featuring in concerts at Sunbury Pop Festivals and Myer Music Bowl in the early 1970s, the Aztecs also developed the pub rock scene and were one of the loudest groups in Australia.

Thorpe also performed as a solo artist. He relocated to America from 1976 to 1996; after moving, he released the space opera Children of the Sun, which peaked in the top 40 of the Billboard Pop Album chart in 1979. He worked with ex-Aztec Tony Barber to form a soft toy company in 1987 and co-wrote stories for The Puggle Tales and Tales from the Lost Forests. Thorpe also worked as a producer and composed music scores for TV series including War of the Worlds, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Columbo, Eight Is Enough and Hard Time on Planet Earth.

Thorpe returned to Australia in 1996 and continued as a performer and producer, additionally he wrote two autobiographies, Sex and Thugs and Rock 'n' Roll (1996) and Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy) (1998). According to Australian rock music historian Ian McFarlane, "Thorpie evolved from child star, beat pop sensation and cuddly pop crooner to finally emerge as the country's wildest and heaviest blues rocker. Thorpie was the unassailable monarch of Australian rock music". Thorpe was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 1991. He died of a heart attack in February 2007 and was posthumously appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in June for his contribution to music as a musician, songwriter and producer.

This collection features Billy's releases post his 1960's career.

The Hoax Is Over (1971)

Live At Sunbury (1972)

Downunda with Warren Morgan (1973)

More Arse Than Class (1974, remastered 2006)

Million Dollar Bill (1975)

Pick Me Up and Play Me Loud (1976)

Children of the Sun (1979)

21st Century Man (1980)

Stimulation (1981)

East of Eden's Gate (1982)

Shakin' the Cage (with Mick Fleetwood's ZOO) (1992)

Lock Up Your Mothers (1994)

Live ! At Sunbury (remastered 2005)

Solo: The Last Recordings (2007)

Tangier (2010)

Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs....the "heavy" version...Lock Up Your Mothers

Billy Thorpe himself openly acknowledged that the 'heavy' version of the Aztecs owed much to 'guitar hero' Lobby Loyde. Lloyde already had a cult following due to his stints in two of the most original Australian bands of the 1960's, The Purple Hearts and The Wild Cherries. While his stint in the new Aztecs was short (from December 1968 to January 1971), his musical influence proved crucial in steering Thorpe in a completely new direction, and he strongly encouraged Thorpe to keep playing guitar.

The new Aztecs' blues-based heavy-rock repertoire was dramatically different in style from the original group, and they quickly became famous (or notorious) for the ear-splitting volume at which they played. Thorpe had also drastically changed his appearance—he grew a beard, often wore his now shoulder-length hair braided in a pigtail, and he had long since traded the tailored suits for jeans and T-shirts. Needless to say this did not endear him to people who came to the shows expecting the 'old' Billy Thorpe of the "Poison Ivy" era, and this led to sometimes violent confrontations with disgruntled fans and promoters.

Their breakthrough recording was an ambitious album, The Hoax Is Over, recorded in September 1970 with new drummer Kevin Murphy. The album was an unequivocal signal of the Aztecs' new direction, containing only four tracks, three of which were Thorpe originals. The LP is dominated by two extended tracks: a version of Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "Gangster of Love", which clocked in at 24:35 and ran the entire length of Side 1 (an unprecedented move in Australian pop music) and Thorpe's own "Mississippi" which ran 19'35". According to Thorpe, the band (which at this time comprising himself, Murphy, pianist Warren Morgan, guitar legend Lobby Loyde and bassist Paul Wheeler), were all high on LSD and jammed continuously while engineer Ernie Rose just let the tapes roll. The result heralded the fully-fledged arrival of the new Aztecs and live shows at Melbourne venues consolidated the band's reputation and drew enthusiastic responses.

Lock Up Your Mothers

Boogie!...Australian Blues, R'n'B and Heavy Rock from the 70's

As the title suggests, Boogie! is a celebration of the Blues-based Rock sounds that dominated Australian music in the early 70's and onward. It is the first compilation to comprehensively cover this music, which was THE sound of young Australia in the 70's. The 44-track collection features original cover art by Ian McCausland, who designed iconic cover and poster art for the likes of Daddy Cool, Chain and the Rolling Stones back in the day, as well in-depth liner notes by Jen Jewel Brown who, as Jenny Brown and Jenny Hunter-Brown, was one of the most incisive Australian rock critics of the day. It was compiled by David Laing, who anthologized Australian garage rock of the punk-era and beyond with the acclaimed 'Do the Pop!' compilation some years ago.

The track list is very impressive....

Disc: 1
  1. Chain - Black and Blue
  2. Blackfeather - Boppin' the Blues
  3. Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs - C.C. Rider
  4. Band of Light - the Destiny Song
  5. Spectrum - I'll Be Gone
  6. La de Das - Gonna See My Baby Tonight
  7. Stevie Wright - Guitar Band
  8. Rose Tattoo - Bad Boy for Love
  9. Buster Brown - Something to Say
  10. Coloured Balls - Flash
  11. Kahvas Jute - She's So Hard to Shake
  12. Masters Apprentices - I'm Your Satisfier
  13. Buffalo - Sunrise (Come My Way)
  14. Madder Lake - 12LB Toothbrush
  15. Wendy Saddington and the Copperwine - Backlash Blues
  16. Friends - Bird on a Wire
  17. Indelible Murtceps - Esmeralda
  18. Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band - Your Feets Too Big
  19. Renee Geyer - Dust My Blues
  20. Cold Chisel - Home and Broken Hearted
  21. Ariel - Worm-Turning Blues
  22. Daddy Cool - Daddy Rocks Off

Disc: 2
  1. Matt Taylor - I Remember When I Was Young
  2. La de Das - Too Pooped to Pop
  3. Cold Chisel - Goodbye (Astrid, Goodbye)
  4. The Dingoes - Come on Down
  5. Madder Lake - Booze Blues
  6. Sid Rumpo - Breaking My Back
  7. Thump'n Pig & Puff'n Billy - Captain Straightman
  8. Kevin Borich Express - I'm Going Somewhere
  9. Buffalo - Lucky
  10. Ted Mulry Gang - Darktown Strutters Ball
  11. The Angels - Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again
  12. Lobby Loyde & the Coloured Balls - Mama Loves to
  13. Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs - Most People I Know Think That I'
  14. The Ferrets - Janie May
  15. Skyhooks - Saturday Night
  16. Martin Armiger - I Love My Car
  17. The Sports - You Ain't Home Yet
  18. Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons - Ain't Got No Money
  19. Daddy Cool - Hi Honey Ho

Boogie

                                                                        

Avalanche...boogie-rock from Melbourne..self-titled album from 1976

Avalanche were a Melbourne based boogie-rock band that released only one album and had a short life span from 1976 to 1977. With the break-up of The Bootleg Family Band in November 1975, Tony Naylor, Geoff Cox and Clive Harrison recruited Adrian Campbell and began gigging as Avalanche in early 1976. The band's catchy boogie/pop/rock sound was displayed on the singles 'Sweet Baby Brown Eyes' (July 1976), 'Landslide' (October 1976) and 'Good For Me Good For You' (March 1977), and on their self-titled album in September 1976.

The album was released on the Bootleg label. Their line up changed a few times and their most known member was drummer Geoff Cox who went on to a career in television.

Tony Naylor Guitar/Vocals 1976 - 1977
Clive Harrison Bass/Vocals 1976 - 1977
Adrian Campbell Lead Vocals 1976 - 1977
Geoff Cox         Drums 1976 - 1977
Barry Cram Drums 1977 - 1977
Gerard McCabe Keyboards 1977 - 1977
John Barnes Drums 1977 - 1977
Graham Thompson Bass 1977 - 1977

Avalanche (1976)

Stars...Paradise...debut album from 1977

Stars were a country and rock band formed in Adelaide, South Australia in 1975 and disbanded in 1979. Founding members were Glyn Dowding on drums; Malcolm Eastick on guitar and vocals; Mick Pealing on vocals; and Graham Thompson on bass guitar. They were joined by guitarist, songwriter, Andrew Durant in 1976 and relocated to Melbourne. Thompson then left and was replaced by a succession of bass guitarists including Roger McLachlan (ex-Little River Band) and Ian McDonald.

They were touted as the "rock'n'roll cowboys" and played the local pub and club circuit. They were noticed by Little River Band's guitarist Beeb Birtles and were signed to Mushroom Records. Birtles produced their debut single, "Quick on the Draw" which reached the Australian Kent Music Report top 30 in July 1976. Their second single, "With a Winning Hand" peaked into the top 40 in October.

The band's debut album, Paradise, peaked at No. 11 on the Australian Kent Music Report in 1978 and included their highest charting single "Look After Yourself" which reached No. 21 on the related singles chart. Their second album, Land of Fortune, was released in 1979 but did not reach the Top 50. By that time Durant had been diagnosed with cancer, the band had their last performance on 5 November and Durant died on 6 May 1980 at age 25. A tribute performance by Stars members and other Australian acts followed in August and a double-LP, Andrew Durant Memorial Concert was released in 1981. It peaked at No. 8 on the albums chart with proceeds donated to Andrew Durant Cancer Research Foundation.

Post Stars, Eastick joined Broderick Smith's Big Combo (1979–1982) and later provided guitar for different artists including Max Merritt and Jimmy Barnes. Pealing formed his own band Mick Pealing and the Ideals (1980–1981), they were also a backing band for Renée Geyer, he then formed The Spaniards (1983–1986) and worked with other artists including Eastick. McLachlan toured with Cliff Richard in 1978, worked with John Farnham (1987–1988), briefly rejoined Little River Band (1998–1999) and was a member of Mighty Oz Rock with Pealing in 2004.

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The La De Da's..Rock and Roll Sandwich...classic boogie-rock from 1973

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This brilliant album , Rock'n'Roll Sandwich, which Glenn A.Baker rightly lauds as "one of Australia's finest rock albums; a fiery, cohesive work dominated by the superbly talented Kevin Borich and carried off by the reliable gutsiness of Ronnie Peel and Keith Barber." Touring around the new LP, released in November 1973, the La De Das enjoyed their most successive period in their career, including supports for Elton John and Suzi Quatro on their Australian tours.

Tracks:
"No Law (Against Having Fun)" (Kevin Borich)""
"The Place" (Kevin Borich - Keith Barber)
"Searchin' "(Kevin Borich)
"She Tell Me What to Do "(Kevin Borich - Keith Barber)
"Temple Shuffle" (Kevin Borich)
"To Get Enough" (Kevin Borich)
"Who's The One You Love? "(Kevin Borich)

Recorded at the Doncaster Theatre and EMI Studio 301, Sydney
Producer by Rod Coe
Engineered by John Taylor

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see also from this blog:

The La-De-Da's ..How Is the Air Up There? 1966-1967

The La De Da's...first 3 albums 1966 - 1969

Visit my other music blogs here:

Soundtrack Heaven

The Aussie Music Blog

The Vintage Music Blog

The Jazz Music Blog

This Jukebox Rocks

The Blues and Roots Music Blog

Martin's Music Machine

Twitter @islandmanrocks

Mighty Kong...successor to Daddy Cool...All I Wanna Do Is Rock..1973

Mighty Kong was the 'supergroup' successor to the legendary Daddy Cool, which broke up in August 1972. It was also the fifth (and technically the last) in the line of groups that featured Ross "The Boss" Wilson and Ross Hannaford, which began with Pink Finks in 1965. Despite its all-star lineup, culled from three of the top groups of the time, the band was short lived and never really achieved its considerable potential, effectively relegated to being a footnote in the larger story of Daddy Cool. The main relic of this period was their excellent (and greatly underrated) LP, All I Wanna Do Is Rock.

Personnel:
Ross Wilson - chief vocals, pignose guitar (09)
Ross Hannaford - guitar, deep throat
Russell Smith - guitar, lead vocals (03)
Tim Partridge - bass guitar
Ray Arnott – drums
+
John Fishbach - producer, engineer

Tracks:
01. All Through The Day (Into The Night We Play) – 6:02
02. Callin’ All Cats (The Cats Are Callin’) – 4:01
03. Some Other New Address – 4:05
04. Hard Drugs (Are Bad For You) – 2:57
05. All I Wanna Do Is Rock!! #1 – 4:15
06. Jungle In My Blood – 5:57
07. Got My Beliefs – 4:34
08. With A Smile Like That (How Could We Refuse) – 7:30
09. Homesick & Horny – 4:18
Bonuses:
10. Callin' All Cats (The Cats Are Callin') [Single Version] – 3:28
11. All I Wanna Do Is Rock [Unreleased Studio Jam] – 8:40

Mighty Kong

Coloured Balls..Ball Power...1973 debut album. Greasy, no-frills boogie from Sharpie-Rock legends

Lobby Loyde formed the psychedelic/hard/blues-rock group Coloured Balls in March 1972 with Andrew Fordham on guitar and vocals, Janis Miglans on bass guitar and Trevor Young on drums.Their first single, "Liberate Rock", had been recorded by Loyde with Aztecs' members, Gil Mathews (on drums), Morgan and Wheeler as studio musicians – it was issued in August.

In January 1973, Coloured Balls teamed with guest vocalists Thorpe and Leo de Castro at the Sunbury Pop Festival, their performance was released in November as the "Help Me" / "Rock Me Baby" track on the live album, Summer Jam.The album included Coloured Balls' 16-minute version of "G.O.D.". Fordham had been replaced on guitar by Ian Millar early in the year. Coloured Balls released three singles including "Mess of the Blues" which reached the Top 40 in October.They supported Marc Bolan & T. Rex on their Australian tour. 

Coloured Balls released their debut studio album, Ball Power, in December, 1973 on EMI, which peaked at No. 13 on the Go-Set National Top 20 albums chart in February 1974. In January'74, Coloured Balls played at the Sunbury Pop Festival alongside hard rockers, Buster Brown, which included Angry Anderson on vocals and Phil Rudd on drums.

An article on rare albums in the December 2014 issue of Record Collector magazine had this to say about the album: "Coloured Balls personified the uber-macho "sharpie rock" style beloved of skinheads, men at work and other assorted ne'er do wells who frequented urban Australia's fearsome 70's pub scene. They were a mean bunch, and this record remains a rough-as-arseholes testament to antipodean rock'n'roll. The original EMI pressing is as scarce as a teetotaller in Alice Springs!" 

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