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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Showing posts with label Collection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Collection. Show all posts

Sunday, August 31, 2025

Split Enz - A Collection

 


Split Enz were a New Zealand band formed in 1972 in Auckland. Regarded as the first New Zealand band to gain significant recognition outside of Australasia, they were initially noted for their progressive/art rock sound, flamboyant visual style and theatrical performances. The band later moved toward a pop/new wave sound that yielded hit singles such as "I See Red" (1978), "I Got You" (1980), "History Never Repeats" (1981), "Dirty Creature" (1982) and "Message to My Girl" (1983). The band also released several critically-acclaimed and commercially successful albums, including Mental Notes (1975), Dizrythmia (1977), True Colours (1980) and Time and Tide (1982). Split Enz broke up in 1984. Since that time, the band has staged several brief reunions.
























Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Little River Band - A Collection (1975-1983)

 


Little River Band (LRB) originally formed in Melbourne, Australia, in March 1975. The band achieved commercial success in both Australia and the United States. They have sold more than 30 million records; six studio albums reached the top 10 on the Australian Kent Music Report albums chart including Diamantina Cocktail (April 1977) and First Under the Wire (July 1979), which both peaked at No. 2. Nine singles appeared in the top 20 on the related singles chart, with "Help Is on Its Way" (1977) as their only number-one hit. Ten singles reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Reminiscing" their highest, peaking at No. 3.

They have received many music awards in Australia. The 1976 line-up of Glenn Shorrock, Graeham Goble, Beeb Birtles, George McArdle, David Briggs and Derek Pellicci were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) hall of fame at the 18th annual ARIA Music Awards of 2004. Most of the group's 1970s and 1980s material was written by Goble and/or Shorrock, Birtles and Briggs. In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations, named "Cool Change", written by Shorrock, as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. "Reminiscing", written by Goble, received a 5-Million Broadcast Citation from BMI in 2020.

The group have undergone numerous personnel changes, with over 30 members since their formation, including John Farnham as lead singer after Shorrock first departed in 1982. None of the musicians now performing as Little River Band are original members, nor members in the 1970s. In the 1980s, members included Farnham, Wayne Nelson, Stephen Housden, David Hirschfelder and Steve Prestwich.








Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Buffalo - A Collection

 


Buffalo was an Australian rock band formed in August 1971 by founding mainstay Dave Tice on lead vocals (ex-Head). Fellow founders, also from Head, were Paul Balbi on drums, John Baxter on guitar, and Peter Wells on bass guitar; together with Alan Milano on lead vocals (ex-Mandala). Milano left after their debut album, Dead Forever... (June 1972), and Balbi was replaced on drums by Jimmy Economou. Their next two albums, Volcanic Rock (July 1973) and Only Want You for Your Body (June 1974), were also issued by Vertigo Records. After 1975 line-up changes resulted in a more commercial sound and the group disbanded in March 1977. 

Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane noted that there was "nothing subtle about Buffalo's primal, heavyweight sound, but it was delivered with a great deal of conviction ... combining the dense, heavy riffing ... with the progressive blues chops ... the band certainly captured the arrogant disposition of the times in a bold and thunderous fashion". 

Alongside Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs and Blackfeather, Buffalo pioneered Australia's heavy metal, pub rock and psychedelic rock movements. 

After Buffalo disbanded, several members went on to other projects. Peter Wells formed Rose Tattoo, playing both slide and bass guitar, he also had a solo career. Peter Wells died on 27 March 2006, aged 58. Dave Tice went to the UK to join The Count Bishops (alongside Paul Balbi) but returned to Australia to work as a solo artist and as a member of The Headhunters. As of July 2005, he was playing with ex-AC/DC bass guitarist Mark Evans as Tice & Evans.









Friday, May 16, 2025

The Soundtracks Collection - Part VII

 



Head On is a 1998 Australian LGBT-related romantic drama film directed by Ana Kokkinos, who wrote the screenplay with Andrew Bovell and Mira Robertson. The film is based on the 1995 novel Loaded by Christos Tsiolkas. The film stars Alex Dimitriades, Paul Capsis, Elena Mandalis and Damien Fotiou. The film tells the story of Ari (Dimitriades), a dissolute 19-year-old second generation Greek-Australian in Melbourne. Ari is caught between his conservative Greek background and modern Australia, amid his homosexual desire.

1 Ollie Olsen– Head On Opening Theme 0:37

2 Lunatic Calm– Leave You Far Behind 3:11

3 Death In Vegas– Opium Shuffle 5:03

4 The Saints – Know Your Product 3:12

5 Silverchair– Freak (Remix For Us Rejects) 4:12

6 Hot Chocolate– You Sexy Thing 3:55

7 The Habibis– Thrash 9 4:06

8 Underground Lovers– Las Vegas 5:31

9 Danii*– Everything I Wanted 4:40

10 Ammonia – You're Not The Only One Who Feels This Way 3:48

11 The Visitors – Tiny Little Engines 8:26

12 The Master's Apprentices– Living In A Child's Dream 2:38

13 The Habibis– The Spaso Kupes (I'll Break Cups) 5:21

14 Isaac Hayes– Theme From "Shaft" 3:15

15 Ollie Olsen– End Theme 3:22

16 Primal Scream– Loaded 7:01

Head On 




Garage Days is a 2002 Australian comedy-drama film directed by Alex Proyas and written by Proyas, Dave Warner and Michael Udesky. Garage Days is the story of a young Sydney garage band desperately trying to make it big in the competitive world of rock music. Its soundtrack includes the song "Garage Days" composed by David McCormack and Andrew Lancaster and performed by Katie Noonan. The climax of the film was filmed at the Homebake festival in Sydney in 2001.

The film made its US premiere at the 2003 Sundance film festival.

1 The D4– High Voltage 3:55
2 Supergrass– Alright 3:02
3 Motor Ace– Kooks 2:59
4 Spiderbait– Buy Me A Pony 1:43
5 David McCormack* / Andrew Lancaster– Rockin' It 0:19
6 David McCormack* / Andrew Lancaster Featuring Katie Noonan– Garage Days 3:04
7 Roxy Music– Love Is The Drug 3:59
8 Sonicanimation*– Add It Up 4:30
9 David McCormack* / Andrew Lancaster– Walk Up 0:48
10 Rhombus– Ghost Town 3:54
11 The (International) Noise Conspiracy*– Smash It Up 3:12
12 28 Days– Say What? 3:32
13 The Jam– That's Entertainment 3:32
14 David McCormack*– Masterplan 2:36
15 Joey Ramone– Stop Thinking About It 2:57
16 The Hives– Mad Man 2:19
17 David McCormack* / Andrew Lancaster / Antony Partos– Get The Tarp 1:05
18 The Moldy Peaches– Lucky Number Nine 2:12
19 Tom Jones– Help Yourself 2:51




Dogs in Space is a 1986 Australian drama film set in Melbourne's "Little Band" post-punk music scene in 1978. Written and directed by Richard Lowenstein, the film stars Michael Hutchence as the drug-addled frontman of the fictitious band from which the film takes its name.

The script was based on Lowenstein's personal experiences of living in a shared house in Melbourne in the late '70s. Prior to making the film, Lowenstein had made a series of promotional clips for songs from the INXS album The Swing and wrote the lead role with singer Michael Hutchence in mind.

1 Iggy Pop– Dog Food 1:42
2 Michael Hutchence– Dogs In Space 2:57
3 Ollie Olsen– Win / Lose 4:55
4 Gang Of Four– Anthrax 2:57
5 Brian Eno– Skysaw 3:20
6 The Marching Girls– True Love 3:01
7 The Boys Next Door– Shivers 4:23
8 Thrush& The C**ts*– Diseases (Instrumental) 2:55
9 Primitive Calculators– Pumping Ugly Muscle (Instrumental) 5:10
10 Michael Hutchence– Golf Course 2:54
11 Michael Hutchence– The Green Dragon 2:21
12 Marie Hoy & Friends– Shivers 4:03
13 Iggy Pop– The Endless Sea 4:52
14 Michael Hutchence– Rooms For The Memory 5:04


Thursday, May 1, 2025

Ross Ryan - a collection


Ross Edwin Ryan (born 13 December 1950) is an American-born Australian singer-songwriter and producer. His signature tune, "I Am Pegasus", was released in September 1973, which peaked at No. 2 on the Australian Singles. Its parent album, My Name Means Horse, was released in February 1974, which reached No. 3 on the Australian Album charts.....more








 

Monday, March 31, 2025

The Angels - A Collection (1977 - 1998)

 


The Angels are an Australian rock band that formed in 1974 in Adelaide as the Keystone Angels with Bernard "Doc" Neeson on lead vocals and bass guitar, John Brewster on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, his brother Rick Brewster on lead guitar and backing vocals, and Peter "Charlie" King on drums. In 1976, King was replaced by Graham "Buzz" Bidstrup on drums, Chris Bailey took over bass duties so Neeson could focus solely on vocals, and they changed their name to just 'the Angels'. 

Their studio albums that peaked in the Australian top 10 are No Exit (1979), Dark Room (1980), Night Attack (1981), Two Minute Warning (1984), Howling (1986) and Beyond Salvation (1990). Their top 20 singles are "No Secrets" (1980), "Into the Heat" (1981), "We Gotta Get out of This Place" (1987), "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" (live, 1988), "Let the Night Roll On" and "Dogs Are Talking" (both 1990).

They were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in October 1998 with the line-up of Bailey, John and Rick Brewster, Eccles and Neeson. Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane declared that "The Angels had a profound effect on the Australian live music scene of the late 1970's/early 1980's. [They] helped redefine the Australian pub rock tradition... [their] brand of no-frills, hard-driving boogie rock attracted pub goers in unprecedented numbers. In turn, The Angels' shows raised the standard expected of live music. After 20 years on the road, the band showed little sign of easing up on the hard rock fever." Chris Bailey died of throat cancer on 4 April 2013, aged 62. Doc Neeson died of a brain tumour on 4 June 2014, aged 67.

The current line-up are touring Australia with their 50th anniversary tour in 2025.