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
The origins of BUFFALO began in Brisbane, Queensland in 1966 when mates, Dave Tice (vocals) & Pete Wells (bass) played in a band called THE ODD COLOURS. When this band dissolved, Dave & Pete had a brief stint in STRANGE BREW (66/67) and then formed THE CAPITOL SHOW BAND later in ’67 which became highly successful in the local market.
The band's major recording break came in March 1972 with BUFFALO signing to the prestigious UK label, Vertigo. This was very significant at the time because BUFFALO were the first band to sign with the label outside of the UK. Their ’stablemates’ included BLACK SABBATH and URIAH HEEP. The band immediately went into the United Sounds studios to record their first album with producer, Spencer Lee. The album, "Dead Forever", was released in 1972. See original blog post HERE.
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
The origins of BUFFALO began in Brisbane, Queensland in 1966 when mates, Dave Tice (vocals) & Pete Wells (bass) played in a band called THE ODD COLOURS. When this band dissolved, Dave & Pete had a brief stint in STRANGE BREW (66/67) and then formed THE CAPITOL SHOW BAND later in ’67 which became highly successful in the local market.
The band's major recording break came in March 1972 with BUFFALO signing to the prestigious UK label, Vertigo. This was very significant at the time because BUFFALO were the first band to sign with the label outside of the UK. Their ’stablemates’ included BLACK SABBATH and URIAH HEEP. The band immediately went into the United Sounds studios to record their first album with producer, Spencer Lee. The album, "Dead Forever", was released in 1972. See original blog post HERE.
Kevin Borich Express was formed in early 1976 by Borich on lead guitar,lead vocals and occasional flute with Harry Brus on bass guitar (ex-Blackfeather) and Barry Harvey on drums (Wild Cherries, Chain). They recorded a track, "The End of Me" before Brus and Harvey were soon replaced by Reuben San Fiansco on bass guitar and Gil Matthews on drums.Subsequent line-ups were typically a three piece with a succession of bass guitarist and drummers.They released their debut single, "Goin' Somewhere" in October using Fiansco, and John Annas on drums (Wendy Saddington Band), following in March 1977 was their debut album, Celebration! with Annas, and Tim Partridge on bass guitar (Mighty Kong, The Johnny Rocco Band).The album was favoured by critics and peaked in the top 30 on the Australian albums charts.
Hush were a very successful 1970's Australian Glam Rock group and became famous during frequent appearances on the ABC TV show Countdown for live concerts and teenagers. During their peak they were more popular than AC/DC, and actually toured with them as headliners.
Hush were formed, with Keith Lamb on vocals, in the Sydney suburb of Seven Hills in 1971 as a five piece band including a keyboardist. Keyboardist Chris Nolan had previously been with a band called Grandmars Observers. Hush first came to attention when they made the NSW finals of Australia's national rock band competition Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds in 1972. They first made the Australian charts in October 1973 with their own composition, "Get The Feeling". By this time they were down to the "classic" four-piece line-up of Keith Lamb (vocals), Les Gock (guitar), Rick Lum (bass) and Chris "Smiley" Pailthorpe (drums). By the time they made No. 1 on the charts in September 1975 with a rocked up, driving version of Larry Williams' Bony Moronie, they were riding the wave of the glam-rock craze in Australia.
They were well placed to make an unforgettable performance on pop TV show Countdown's early colour episodes with their colourful outfits. In 1976 they added a second guitarist, Jacques De Jongh. Rick Lum left soon after. The band broke up in 1977.
In August 2004, Hush reformed for the Nordoff-Robbins charity event. The line-up was Keith Lamb, Rick Lum, Smiley Pailthorpe and Les Gock performing together for the first time over 25 years. Les Gock's son Adam joined them on stage.
In September 2006, Hush played Australia wide with many other artists who appeared on Countdown during the seventies in the Countdown Spectacular Tour.
The origins of BUFFALO began in Brisbane, Queensland in 1966 when mates, Dave Tice (vocals) & Pete Wells (bass) played in a band called THE ODD COLOURS. When this band dissolved, Dave & Pete had a brief stint in STRANGE BREW (66/67) and then formed THE CAPITOL SHOW BAND later in ’67 which became highly successful in the local market.
The band's major recording break came in March 1972 with BUFFALO signing to the prestigious UK label, Vertigo. This was very significant at the time because BUFFALO were the first band to sign with the label outside of the UK. Their ’stablemates’ included BLACK SABBATH and URIAH HEEP. The band immediately went into the United Sounds studios to record their first album with producer, Spencer Lee.
Prior to the album being released, their first single “Suzie Sunshine” backed with the non album track, Chuck Berry’s “No Particular Place To Go” was released early in April to wet fans appetites. The single received little airplay with the radio station programmers virtually ignoring it, much to the annoyance of the record company, the band and their management. In order to gain more airplay, Phonogram put on a bash for the media at the Paddington Town Hall on 28/5/72 featuring BUFFALO performing live as well as CHAIN, SPECTRUM & COLOURED BALLS.
In May, the album “Dead Forever” was released and received good reviews, although the cover caused quiet a stir, setting the scene for even more controversy on later albums. BUFFALO liked their music loud and this was imparted to fans on the back cover by stating “play this album LOUD!“ Live, the BUFFALO volume was loud like a huge stampede and they soon had the reputation as being Australia’s loudest band.
The roots of Rose Tattoo, AC/DC and everything else that's good about working class Australian rock, Buster Brown released only one album, Something to Say, in 1974. Featuring the likes of Angry Anderson and Phil Rudd, the band were very popular on the pub circuit and with the 'sharpie' crowd. Their sound was hard rock mixed with blues rock influences. They formed in Melbourne in 1973 with Gary 'Angry' Anderson on lead vocals (ex-Peace Power and Purity), John Moon on guitar, Paul Grant on guitar, Phil Rudd on drums, Ian Ryan on bass guitar (ex-Ash, Chook) and Chris Wilson on keyboards.They enjoyed local notoriety and played at the 1974 Sunbury Festival in January. Later that year, Mushroom Records released a Various Artists live album, Highlights of Sunbury '74 Part 1, which included the group's tracks "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Buster Brown". Early in the year, Geordie Leach replaced Ryan on bass guitar. Along with Coloured Balls, Billy Thorpe, Madder Lake and Chain, they were supported by suburban-based sharpie gangs. Their first album, Something to Say was produced by Lobby Loyde and released in 1974. Rudd left to join an early version of AC/DC while Anderson continued with new line-ups and eventually disbanded the group in November 1975. Anderson joined Rose Tattoo which later included former Buster Brown band mates, Geordie Leach on bass guitar and Dallas 'Digger' Royall on drums.
Once more, I have updated some of the older, expired links. Thanks to a request from a recent visitor, the following links have now been updated. If you come across any links that do not work, please leave a comment or send me a message through the contact page. Visit these for the first time or revisit again. Just CLICK on the LINK to go to the original post.
Bakery was formed in Perth at the start of 1970. Regarded as one of the leading "underground" groups of their day, they are remembered for their superb studio album Momento, the innovative Rock Mass for Love LP and the powerful single "No Dying In The Dark". The original lineup was John Worrall, "wild-haired guitarist" Peter Walker (ex-Jelly Roll Bakers), Mal Logan (ex-The Rebels), Eddie McDonald and Hank Davis. McDonald and Davis were both ex-members of the NZ Avengers. In the words of encyclopedist Vernon Joyson, Bakery's work: "... blended hard rock and country with jazz using complex arrangements. Their main strength was the variety of their music which could switch from gentle acoustic passages to booming heavy progressive assaults on the senses within the same song." Bakery released only two singles, but both were impressive heavy rock efforts. The first, released on the RCA label, was "Bloodsucker" / "Leave Scruffy Alone" (February 1971). By the time they released their second single in July 1971, Bakery had signed with the Melbourne-based Astor label, who issued "No Dying in the Dark'" / "Trust in the Lord". Both singles displayed the band's main stylistic influences, primarily the new wave of "heavy" bands spearheaded by British groups Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. "Bloodsucker" was in fact a Deep Purple cover, sourced from their In Rock LP. "No Dying in the Dark" was very successful in Perth, peaking at #9 on the local chart, and it's the track for which they are now best remembered. The B-side of the single was a track from their Rock Mass For Love LP. This unusual project was a significant thematic departure from Bakery's usual progressive/hard rock style. Recorded live at a mass at St George's Cathedral, Perth on 21 March 1971, it was one of the first Australian musical musical works of its kind, preceding the first Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar by almost a year. Rock Mass for Love was issued in August 1971, narrowly missing the national Top 20, and it was also issued in the USA on the Decca label. After the LP came out, Mark Verschuer (ex-Barrelhouse) replaced Tom Davidson on vocals. Verschuer sang lead vocals on their fantastic second album, the studio LP Momento released a year later in August 1972. Ian McFarlane lauds it as "a fine example of European-influenced, heavy progressive rock" and Vernon Joyson reserves particular praise for the track "The Gift", written by Peter Walker, which he describes as "an eight-minute barrage of bombastic riffs, arse-kicking solos and swirling Hammond organ in the mould of acts like Deep Purple and Leaf Hound". ...text courtesy of Milesago
As a tribute to the late Doc Neeson, here are the first 2 albums by The Angels with the now iconic and classic tracks "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again", "Comin' Down", "Take A Long Line" and "After the Rain". The Angels originally formed in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1974. The band later relocated to Sydney and enjoyed huge local success, clocking up hit singles across four decades, including "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again", "Take a Long Line", "Marseilles", "Shadow Boxer", "No Secrets", "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place", "Let The Night Roll On", "Dogs Are Talking", and "Caught In The Night". The Angels were cited by Guns N' Roses and a number of Seattle grunge bands, including Pearl Jam and Nirvana, as having influenced their music. In November 1970, brothers Rick and John Brewster formed The Moonshine Jug and String Band. In 1971, the band was joined by Belfast-born Bernard Neeson, an arts student and former Army sergeant and already a prominent figure on the Adelaide music scene. In 1974 they changed their name to The Keystone Angels, switched to electric instruments and began playing 1950s rock and roll on the pub circuit. In 1975, the band supported AC/DC during a South Australian tour, and later performed as the backing band for Chuck Berry. In 1975, on the recommendation of Bon Scott and Malcolm Young from AC/DC, the band was offered a recording deal with the Albert label. They dropped "Keystone" from their name and became simply "The Angels". At this point the band had four members: Neeson on bass guitar, Charlie King (Peter Christopolous) on drums, Rick Brewster on lead guitars and John Brewster on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. The Angels' first single, "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again", was released in April 1976. They made their TV debut appearance on Countdown. Later in the year, Charlie King, at the time AWL from the army, was replaced by Graham "Buzz Throckman" Bidstrup on the drums. This was the first of three different versions of the song the band released as singles throughout their career. The band's second single, "You're A Lady Now", was released in July 1977, followed a month later by their self-titled debut LP, The Angels. By now Chris Bailey had joined the band on bass, allowing Neeson to concentrate on vocals. Bailey had been a member of Mount Lofty Rangers with Bon Scott in 1974. Neeson's move to specialist frontman allowed the band to develop an energetic and theatrical live presence. Neeson typically appeared on stage as a wild extrovert, dressed in a Dinner suit and shaking maracas. As a foil, Rick Brewster remained motionless and wore sunglasses for every performance. He has stated that Beethoven convinced him not to move on stage. 1978's Face to Face album reached No. 16 in November and stayed on the Australian charts for 79 weeks. Mark Opitz engineered, and along with The Angels, co-produced the album. Peter Ledger, who designed the cover, won Best Australian Album Cover Design Award. Face to Face contained the band's first hit single, "Take a Long Line", which has become one of the Angels' most-recognised songs. In November, the band supported David Bowie on his first Australian tour, resulting in The Tour EP 7" single.
This is AC/DC's original first album as it was released in Australia. It shows that even from the beginning the band had that sheer energy that propelled them to the international success they are today. AC/DC were formed in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who have remained constant members. Commonly referred to as a hard rock or blues rock band, they are also considered pioneers of heavy metal and are sometimes classified as such, though they have always dubbed their music as simply "rock and roll". To date they are one of the highest-grossing bands of all time. Malcolm and Angus Young developed the idea for the band's name after their sister, Margaret Young, saw the initials "AC/DC" on a sewing machine. "AC/DC" is an abbreviation meaning "alternating current/direct current" electricity. The brothers felt that this name symbolised the band's raw energy, power-driven performances of their music. "AC/DC" is pronounced one letter at a time, though the band are colloquially known as "Acca Dacca" in Australia. In November 1973 Malcolm and Angus Young formed AC/DC and recruited bassist Larry Van Kriedt, vocalist Dave Evans, and Colin Burgess, ex-Masters Apprentices drummer.Pushing hard for the band's success were Australia's legendary roadie Ray Arnold and his partner Alan Kissack. Gene Pierson booked the band to let the band play at Bondi Lifesaver on New Year's Eve, 1973. By this time, Angus Young had adopted his characteristic school-uniform stage outfit. The idea was his sister Margaret's. Angus had tried other costumes: Spider-Man, Zorro, a gorilla, and a parody of Superman, named Super-Ang. In its early days, most members of the band dressed in some form of glam or satin outfit but this approach was abandoned seeing as Melbourne band Skyhooks had already adopted this approach to their stage presentation.
The Young brothers decided that Evans was not a suitable frontman for the group because they felt he was more of a glam rocker like Gary Glitter. On stage, Evans was occasionally replaced by the band's first manager, Dennis Laughlin, who was the original lead singer with Sherbet prior to Daryl Braithwaite joining the band. Evans did not get along with Laughlin, which also contributed to the band's ill feeling toward Evans. In September 1974 Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott, an experienced vocalist and friend of George Young, replaced Dave Evans after friend Vince Lovegrove recommended him to George Young. Like the Young brothers, Scott had been born in Scotland before emigrating to Australia in his childhood. By October 1974, the Australia-only album High Voltage had been recorded. It took only ten days and was based on instrumental songs written by the Young brothers, with lyrics added by Scott. Within a few months, the band's line-up had stabilised, featuring Scott, the Young brothers, bassist Mark Evans and drummer Phil Rudd. High Voltage was released on 17 February 1975.
