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
This 19 track compilation was released in 1992 in aid of the Australian Paralympic Federation. It features the cream of Aussie talent including Hunters and Collectors, Angry Anderson, Diesel, Kylie Minogue, Icehouse, Boom Crash Opera, Jimmy Barnes, Kate Ceberano, INXS, Midnight Oil, John Farnham, Dragon, Yothu Yindi and a few more. The tracks selected were themed in relation to inspiration, competitiveness and achieving one's dreams and goals. Tracks like Angry Anderson's "Bound for Glory" and Midnight Oil's "King of the Mountain" have become anthems in sport and for athletes in all fields.
Dragon formed in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1972 with a line-up that featured Todd Hunter on bass guitar, guitarist Ray Goodwin, drummer Neil Reynolds and singer/pianist Graeme Collins. All had been in various short-lived bands in Auckland, Collins is credited with using I Ching to provide the name. By 1974 several personnel changes had occurred, with Todd Hunter's younger brother Marc Hunter joining on vocals and Neil Storey on drums. They relocated to Sydney in May 1975. Keyboard player Paul Hewson wrote or co-wrote most of the group's 1970' hits: "April Sun in Cuba" peaked at #2 on the 1977 Australian singles chart; "Are You Old Enough?" reached #1 in 1978; and "Still in Love with You" reached #15 also in 1978. On the recommendation of fellow NZ expatriate Mike Rudd, CBS house producer Peter Dawkins went to see the group at the Recovery Wine Bar in Camperdown, Sydney in early 1976 and he was so impressed by their performance and Hewson's material that he immediately signed them to a contract with CBS Records. Between 1977 and 1979, the classic Dragon lineup - the Hunter brothers, Taylor, Hewson and Jacobson - had a string of major hits on the Australian charts with singles "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?" and "Still In Love with You" and albums Sunshine, Running Free and O Zambezi. These releases, and their dynamic concert performances, made them one of Australia's most popular rock acts. See also previous post: first 2 albums...Universal Radio 1974 and Scented Gardens For the Blind 1975
Before Dragon became the huge success they were in Australia, they recorded two albums in New Zealand that have now become very sort after.
Dragon originally formed in Auckland, New Zealand, in January 1972, with a line-up that featured Todd Hunter on bass guitar, guitarist Ray Goodwin, drummer Neil Reynolds and singer/pianist Graeme Collins. All had been in various short-lived bands in Auckland. Collins is credited with using I Ching to provide the name Dragon. Their first major gig was an appearance at The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival in early January 1973. By 1974 several personnel changes had occurred, with Todd Hunter's younger brother Marc Hunter joining on vocals and Neil Storey on drums. The band recorded two progressive rock albums in their native New Zealand, Universal Radio in 1974 and Scented Gardens for the Blind in 1975, both on Vertigo Records.
Their debut album "Universal Radio", a progressive rock style production, became a bestseller underground , and the group, meanwhile, had earned a reputation for their shocking concert paraphernalia . With a troupe of mimes, transvestites, pregnant strippers, a rotting pig's head on a microphone stand, as well as the musical mayhem and stage equipment - all worked to boost the scandalous reputation of the group.
Tracks:
01. Universal Radio - 8:33
02. Going Slow - 6:14
03. Patina - 11:45
04. Weetbix - 2:55
05. Graves - 6:56
06. Avalanche - 11:08
Bonuses:
07. Black Magic Woman (Unreleased Live) - 6:37
08. X-Ray Creature (Single A-Side of Marc Hunter, 1973) - 3:05
09. Dinghy Days (Single B-Side of Marc Hunter, 1973) - 3:30
