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)

The Glory Days of Aussie Pub Rock Vol.2....various artists compilation

Volume 2 of The Glory Days of Aussie Pub Rock gathers once again gathers the cream of Aussie Rock from the 70's, 80's and 90's. 

It features different tracks from the much the same list of big names as last time and much much more. That list of big names is massive. Cold Chisel, The Angels, Men at Work, Australian Crawl, the Sports, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons, Mental As Anything, Split Enz, Sunnyboys, Screaming Jets, Rose Tattoo, the Radiators, Paul Kelly & The Coloured Girls, the Dingoes, Ian Moss, Goanna, Dragon, Flowers, Noiseworks, Hunters & Collectors, Skyhooks (their lone post-Shirl hit 'Over the Border'), Baby Animals, Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, TMG, Dragon, Dave Warner's From the Suburbs, Choirboys, Richard Clapton, the Saints, the Reels, Mi-Sex, Mondo Rock, the Models, The Badloves (with Jimmy Barnes), Matt Finish, V Spy V Spy, Uncanny X-Men, Warumpi Band, Weddings Parties Anything, Russell Morris, Black Sorrows; all these and more are represented by tracks that not only shook pub walls back in the day but pumped out of transistor radios and, in most cases, Sunday night ABC TV screens too. 

Also featured are plenty of big names who weren't included last time, including the Hoodoo Gurus, Jim Keays with his 1975 remake of 'Undecided', Ol'55, Kings of the Sun, Daddy Cool (with the rare 1975 comeback single 'All I Wanna Do Is Rock'), Little River Band, Mother Goose, Kevin Borich Express, Rose Tattoo slide guitarist Peter Wells' brilliant 'Between the Saddle and the Ground', Little Heroes with 'One Perfect Day', indigenous reggae-rock trailblazers No Fixed Address with 'Black Man's Rights', Vika & Linda rocking up a storm on a song that Paul Kelly wrote but never recorded with the Dots 'I Didn't Know Love Could Be Mine', Sydney '80s faves Flaming Hands, the Riptides and Dynamic Hepnotics, Melbourne mainstays Nick Barker & The Reptiles, Mike Rudd & the Heaters and the Spaniards (featuring Billy Miller & Mick Pealing), and glam-era pub favourites Hush, Taste and Supernaut. 

Other noteworthy tracks include rare singles by Stars (1976's 'With A Winning Hand', which never appeared on an album) and post-Ol'55 power poppers the Breakers who featured in the original 'Puberty Blues' movie, and the first ever reissue of anything by Gary Young & the Rocking Emus (the great single 'Rockabilly Heaven', featuring the great Daddy Cool/Jo Jo Zep drummer together with late fellow DC members Wayne Duncan and Ross Hannaford). There's also the rare but great 1971 single 'If You Got It' by legendary Adelaide group Fraternity, featuring Bon Scott on vocals. 

The collection ends with the Party Boys and John Swan - John had replaced Bon in Fraternity - who together give us an idea of what AC/DC might've sounded like if Swanee had also replaced Bon (or Brian) in AC/DC, with a ripping 'High Voltage.'

A sheer smörgåsbord for lovers of classic Aussie Rock!

see also blog post for Vol.1: https://theaussiemusicblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-glory-days-of-aussie-pub-rockvol1.html

available on Amazon HERE:

one times  x two times x three times x four

Sydney band GRILL release single 'DIRTY TWO'....funky grooves with prog-rock

Sydney four-piece, Grill, have summoned the Gods of Groove to manifest the funk within your soul with their new independent release single 'Dirty Two'  .

Created for the singular intention of getting down on the dance floor, Dirty Two is a tasteful blend of thunderous funk grooves of Funky Knuckles, with the gnarly rock guitars of King Crimson.




“I like to describe Dirty Two as a thick fluid of funk, that's snaking through a solid rock backbone.” Andres, Guitarist of Grill.

Grill have again chosen to address deeper concepts in their latest release with Dirty Two’s lyrics, “You’re made to be blind, by design" depicting a society absent from social and cultural awareness. Grill previously released their debut album “ The Eternal Presence” in April which symbolised the relationship between Man and Earth.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GrillSydney/

"The new single flows through a variety of sonic soundscapes, leaving a trail of funk-fuelled destruction wherever it goes." - Happy Mag

“A band that makes you think” - Permafrost

“There is a LOT of good progressive music being made around this globe; this album is VERY good progressive music.” - Progressive Rock Fanatics

Sydney-based emerging rock band Grill release debut single "Heart of the City"

Grill are an emerging Rock band whose performance bravado and improvised grooves have gained a committed following. They recently released their debut single ‘Heart of the City’ at The Factory Theatre. The lyrics describe the bitter sweet harmony between living in the city and the peaceful serenity of their homes (Blue Mountains and Northern beaches).

The song begins with a homage to modern jazz fusion, contrasting the bright and lively guitar melody with lush chordal accompaniment. The verse speaks of mixed experiences within the chaotic metropolitan whilst the chorus illustrates the crimson autumn leaves and the saline breeze of the harbour, a reminiscence of home. The solos conclude the comparison and their awareness of the coherent nature of the city. 

   

“Not just a band that rocks, but a band that makes you think”, Willem, host of Retro Rehash (Blue Mountains Radio).

Grill consists of Jarrah Dhyan and Andres Rodriguez on Rhythm and lead guitar, intuitively they communicate through their instruments to Kalon Captain, whose fusion grooves blend well with Robert Mouat’s souring vocals and bass guitar, to complete the ensemble.

‘Heart of the City’, Recorded at Q-Studios (AIM) will encapsulate audiences with its musical diversity and progression. ‘The Eternal Presence’ - Grills’ debut album is set for release in May, 2018.

Steve Kilbey and Martin Kennedy release 5th album, Glow and Fade

Glow and Fade is album number 5 from Steve Kilbey and Martin Kennedy, celebrating a decade of collaboration.  The 8 track musical trip released through Golden Robot Records is available now on CD and digital release, with the vinyl edition for collectors to follow in late July, exclusive to the SFR Store.

“The songs are about wide-eyed naivete and crushing cynicism, nature of time, time of nature, the struggle and the defeat, love in all its old disguises. It really is quite a journey.” – Steve Kilbey

“Musically, it is the ultimate convergence of all my music projects and influences from my childhood love of Pink Floyd to the atmospheric landscapes of my All India Radio project and the dream rock of our Kilbey Kennedy output. It all comes together on Glow and Fade.” – Martin Kennedy

The album features artwork by the legendary, Bruce Pennington, famous for his evocative artwork for Frank Herbert’s Dune books in the 1960,s.  Together with the music, it brings back memories of classic concept albums of the past. 

The latest masterpiece from Kilbey Kennedy includes the spacey, dream rock of the title track, Glow and Fade, which immediately transports the listener to another world with Kilbey’s melancholic optimism reminding all of our earthly, human limitations.  The Game Never Changes is a sixteen minute prog-rock inspired epic, going through some of Kilbey’s darkest ever lyrics and ending with a soaring solo of Pink Floyd proportions. With echoes of David Bowie and Roger Waters then comes They Know, with its oblique lyrics inter-weaved with lush acoustic guitar, strings and trumpet. 

The fourth track on the album, We Are Still Waiting, is the first single to be lifted from the album.  It’s driving synth laden dream pop with everything that was good about the 80’s and showcases Kilbey’s lyrical mastery in a beautiful duet with Melbourne vocalist, Selena Cross.  Cross also joins Kilbey for The Law of the Jungle, a real-life break-up being the catalyst for this heart achingly raw song.  Levitate and The Story of Jonah, continue the brilliance, with slow beats, dark synth, and prog-rock overtones.  Completing the magic is One Is All, a play on All Is One from Kilbey Kennedy’s first album together, providing a fitting bookend to the ten years of collaboration and an uplifting conclusion to Glow and Fade.

The official music video for We Are Still Waiting is a visually striking video by Polish experimental filmmaker Lukasz Pytlik and the mesmerising accompaniment to Steve Kilbey and Martin Kennedy's Simple Minds-esque track.  Check it out here: View We Are Still Waiting by Kilbey Kennedy on YouTube

SFR Store (signed CD, fan bundles & vinyl, with bonus tracks) | bit.ly/KK-GF-SFRStore
iTunes (with bonus track) | http://bit.ly/KK-GF-Digital
JB Hi-Fi | http://bit.ly/KK-GF-JB
Sanity | http://bit.ly/KK-GF-Sanity


About Steve Kilbey
Steve Kilbey…singer, songwriter, bassist, painter, writer, poet, actor, sage, and dispenser of arcane wisdom, is one of Australia’s most loved artists.

Steve got his first bass guitar at age 16, joined a “cabaret” band at 18, formed a couple of bands “Precious Little” who morphed into “Baby Grande” (Peter Koppes was in both these groups too), and in 1980, formed The Church and has released 14 solo music albums since.

The popular song Under the Milky Way won the "Best Single of the Year" award at the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) awards event in 1989. For his work with The Church, Kilbey then accepted, together with his band mates, an induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

About Martin Kennedy
The music of Martin Kennedy aka ARIA nominated soundscapers, All India Radio, has featured in CSI: Miami, One Tree Hill, The Lying Game, the UK’s long running Emmerdale, Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery, Bondi Rescue, sci-fi feature film The Rare Earth and many more.

Martin and All India Radio have released ten acclaimed albums since 1999 and have worked with Steve Kilbey, Ed Kuepper and David Bridie.  A Science Fiction fan ever since his mother took him to see 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1976, multi-instrumentalist/All India Radio mastermind, Martin Kennedy has been exploring his fascination with outer space, not least through the cinematic ambient soundscapes of his long-standing, prolific band and its evocative song titles, but also his use of science fiction themed album artwork.


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Dave Graney and The Coral Snakes...The Baddest

David John "Dave" Graney is a musician, singer-songwriter and author from Melbourne. Since 1978, Graney has been accompanied by drummer, Clare Moore. The pair have fronted numerous bands including The Moodists (1980 to 1987), Dave Graney and The White Buffaloes (1989 to 1990), Dave Graney and Coral Snakes (1987 to 1989, 1991 to 1997), The Dave Graney Show (1998 to 2003) , Dave Graney and Clare Moore featuring the Lurid Yellow Mist or Dave Graney and the Lurid Yellow Mist (2004 to 2011). He was awarded 'Best Male Vocalist' at the ARIA Music Awards of 1996 for his work on The Soft 'n' Sexy Sound, while "Feelin' Kinda Sporty" won 'Best Video' in 1997 and he has received seven other ARIA Award nominations. 

Graney and Moore formed Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes in late 1987 and played in London pubs and clubs. Other members were, Gordy Blair on bass guitar, Malcolm Ross (ex-Orange Juice, The Moodists) on guitar and Louis Vause on piano and keyboards. In 1988, with Barry Adamson (former member of Magazine, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) producing, they recorded enough material for an extended play, At His Stone Beach released in September on the Fire label. Graney had adopted a cowboy image, wearing snake skin and brown suede, sporting a curled moustache and waxed goatee. The band released My Life on the Plains in 1989 with Phil Vinall producing.

During June 1990, Graney, Hayward and Moore travelled to London and recorded I Was the Hunter... and I Was the Prey with Blair on bass guitar, Ross on guitar, and Vause on piano. The album was produced by Vinall at a Croydon home studio run by former Procol Harum organist Matthew Fisher. For their April 1993 album, Night of the Wolverine, the band signed with PolyGram, Andrew Picouleau (ex-Sacred Cowboys) provided the bass guitar and Cohen co-produced. Graney adopted a new persona, "The Golden Wolverine", with the album described as "a certified Australian rock classic". It captured Graney at the peak of his songwriting powers "... [tracks were] full of elegant and eccentric detail". The band's next album, You Wanna Be There But You Don't Wanna Travel, which peaked at No. 10 on the ARIA Album Charts, was released in June 1994.

The group's July 1995 album, The Soft 'n' Sexy Sound, was produced by Victor Van Vugt. It reached the Top 40 and earned Graney the 'Best Male Artist' accolade at the ARIA Music Awards of 1996. In his acceptance speech, Graney wore a hot pink, crushed velvet suit and a wig to declare himself (under his breath) 'King of Pop'. The next album, The Devil Drives, (May 1997), reached the Top 20. It was recorded in Melbourne and mixed in London at Maison Rouge studios and co-produced by Graney, Moore and David Ruffy. It spawned the single, "Feelin' Kinda Sporty".

They released this compilation, The Baddest, in September 1999. It includes an unreleased version of "The Sheriff of Hell" from The Devil Drives which was re-recorded and remixed with Andrew Duffield (ex-Models) on keyboards, Phil Kenihan and Billy Miller (The Ferrets) on guitar and vocals. It also features an unreleased cover version of the AC/DC song "Show Business". 

                                             

                                                                             

Split Enz...Second Thoughts (1976) and Dizrythmia (1977)

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Second Thoughts, released in 1976, was Split Enz' second album. It was recorded in London with Roxy Music's guitarist Phil Manzanera producing the album. Four of the songs on the album were reworked versions of songs from their 1975 debut album Mental Notes. Two other songs on the album had been first recorded during the Mental Notes sessions, but left off and re-recorded for Second Thoughts. There were two new songs, both written by Phil Judd, and a re-recording of an early Judd/Finn composition ("129"), which for the Second Thoughts version, was renamed "Matinee Idyll".

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Dizrythmia, Split Enz' third album, released in 1977, was the first Split Enz album without co-founding members Phil Judd and Mike Chunn. Neil Finn and Nigel Griggs, the first being the younger brother of band leader Tim Finn, replaced them respectively. Meanwhile, Nigel's old friend and former band mate Malcolm Green took the place of Emlyn Crowther who also left around this time. The album was released domestically by Mushroom Records, and overseas by Chrysalis Records.

The single "My Mistake" was a hit in New Zealand and Australia, but failed to make much impact overseas. "Bold as Brass" was the second single. The album is regarded as the start of the band's breakthrough, and marked a shift from art rock to more pop-oriented songs.

The album's title comes from circadian dysrhythmia, more commonly known as jet lag. The back cover was originally intended as the front cover. Both were designed by Noel Crombie, who also designed the band's costumes.

Tim Finn coughs forty-four seconds into "Nice To Know", a feature erroneously left in the final mix. Both Tim Finn and Eddie Rayner were disappointed with the final mix of "Charlie" feeling that the vocals sounded very flat. Geoff Emerick, the engineer for the album thought it was a beautiful vocal however, so it stayed.

see previous post on Mental Notes
Split Enz on Wikipedia

 

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Kush...Presents Snow White and the Eight Straights...1974 album

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Kush was formed in 1971 with Jeff Duff on Vocals, John Santos (aka Montesante) and Colin Chapman on trumpet, Ron Anderson on piano and saxophone, Stephen Ball on keyboards, Tom Cowburn on guitar, harmonica and backing vocals, John Ellis on clarinet, flute and saxophone, Rob Matthews on bass guitar, and Graham McDonald on drums. They released covers of "Peter Gunn", "MacArthur Park" and "Walk on the Wild Side" as well as originals such as "(Livin' on) Easy Street".

Their 1974 album release "Presents Snow White and the Eight Straights" is a fusion of jazz meets progressive rock and showcases Jeff Duff's cabaret style tenor vocals. It is one of those forgotten gems of the 1970's that still sounds good today. Kush were together from 1971 to 1975 and are notable for performing to 45000 people at the 1974 Sunbury Pop Festival. 

Geoff "Jeff" Stephen Duff, or Duffo, has used various personae, wardrobe, and satire as features of his performance. Duff's show 'Ziggy' is a portrayal of the music of David Bowie, whom he met while Bowie was a Sydney resident. Duff is a regular performer on Australian television and continues to headline some of Australia's leading Jazz festivals.

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Split Enz...Mental Notes...1975 release...underrated progressive rock album

Split Enz  formed in 1972 in New Zealand, by founding members Phil Judd and Tim Finn. One of the most successful New Zealand musical acts of the late 1970's and early 1980's, the band would go on to achieve chart success in New Zealand, Australia and Canada – most notably with their 1980 single "I Got You" – and built a cult following elsewhere. Their musical style was eclectic, incorporating influences from art rock, vaudeville, swing, punk, rock, new wave, and pop. Split Enz established a reputation for a distinctive visual style, thanks partly to their colourful, offbeat costumes and hairstyles.

The group's career falls into two phases. They began as an acoustic folk band in the early 1970's and by the time they recorded their first album they had changed to electric instruments and took on a progressive rock sound. From 1977 onward, with the departure of songwriter/guitarist Phil Judd and the arrival of Neil Finn, Split Enz' sound began to move from progressive rock towards new wave and pop.

In two weeks during May/June 1975 Split Enz recorded their debut album Mental Notes at Festival's Studio 24 in Sydney. It was produced by David Russell, who was also their tour manager in 1975 – 76. The engineer was Festival staffer Richard Batchens.

After its release in July it sold 12,000 copies in Australia, reaching No. 35 on the album chart for one week, and peaking at No. 7 in New Zealand. It was also a critical breakthrough. Much of the material derived from Tim Finn's and Phil Judd's fascination with the work of English writer and artist Mervyn Peake – notably "Spellbound", "Stranger Than Fiction" (their concert centrepiece) and "Titus", named after the hero of Peake's Gormenghast trilogy.

The album cover was painted by Phil Judd in 1973–74. The original painting is now in the collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

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Ayers Rock...Big Red Rock....1974 album

Ayers Rock were an Australian jazz fusion, progressive rock band which formed in August 1973. Ray Burton (guitar and vocals), Mark Kennedy (drums) and Duncan McGuire (bass), members of Leo de Castro and Friends, left to form the eponymous trio of Burton, McGuire & Kennedy. They added a guitarist, Jimmy Doyle, changed their name to Ayers Rock and invited Col Loughnan (saxophones and flutes) to join. The group signed with independent label Mushroom Records in December 1973. Burton left the following March, and was replaced by Chris Brown (guitar, vocals). With live appearances, coverage in print media and word of mouth the group had a high national profile despite little radio airplay, and journalists praised their musicianship, music and live energy.

The band's first album, Big Red Rock (November 1974), received positive reviews and peaked at number 32 on the Australian Kent Music Report album chart. It featured mainstream rock and three longer, instrumental tracks which introduced progressive styles, including jazz fusion. Label owner Michael Gudinski promoted Ayers Rock in Los Angeles and they signed with A&M Records, the first Mushroom Records artists to sign with an international label. 

The United States release of Big Red Rock in February 1975 was followed by a tour there, later that year. The band played to large crowds, supporting major international artists (including Bachman–Turner Overdrive) before 35,000 people – the first Australian band to perform in large US stadiums. Ayers Rock were named 1975 Musicians of the Year on RAM's "New Year's Honors List".

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Python Lee Jackson...In A Broken Dream...rare album from 1972

Python Lee Jackson were active in Australia from 1965 to 1968, before a brief sojourn in the United Kingdom. The group's most famous hit was "In a Broken Dream", featuring Rod Stewart as guest vocalist.

The original Python Lee Jackson formed in December 1965 in Sydney by two British men – singer Frank Kennington and guitarist Mick Liber – after meeting drummer David Montgomery. Together with bass player Roy James they played the underground circuit. A new Python Lee Jackson line-up came together around March 1966 when keyboard player and singer David Bentley left Sydney group Jeff St John & The Id to join Liber and Montgomery alongside former Unit 4 bass player Lloyd Hardy (aka Cadillac Lloyd Hudson).

Arriving in the UK in October 1968 Bentley, Liber and Montgomery (joined by former Levi Smith Clefs' bass player John Helman) played at the Vesuvio club on Tottenham Court Road. In early 1969 they performed at the Arts Lab on Drury Lane for several months where they were spotted by DJ John Peel. In April 1969 Bentley, Liber and Montgomery, joined by Jamie Byrne from The Groove, recorded three tracks in the studio with Rod Stewart.

Stewart was brought in to sing a few songs and one in particular, since Bentley had informed his band mates that he didn't think his own voice was right for it. Recorded by John Peel, "In a Broken Dream" and two other songs sung by Stewart, Doin' Fine (a version of Cloud Nine) and The Blues, remained unreleased until 1970 when Miki Dallon re-produced the track for his Youngblood label and released it, having bought the masters from John Peel. Rod Stewart was paid a set of seat covers for his car for doing the session. The single was not a success on its release but Dallon re-released it in August 1972 to coincide with Rod Stewart's release of "You Wear It Well", his second big solo single. With Rod being more famous by then, "In A Broken Dream" rose to number three in the UK Singles Chart and #56 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

The Album "In A Broken Dream" was originally released in 1972 and was then re-released under the title "Funny Blend".

See full bio at Wikipedia HERE

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Sebastian Hardie..Four Moments...progressive rock classic from 1975

Sebastian Hardie were Australia's first symphonic rock band. They formed in Sydney in 1967 as Sebastian Hardie Blues Band but dropped the 'Blues Band' reference when they became pop-oriented. By 1973 they developed a more progressive rock style, and later performed as Windchase, but disbanded in 1977. An early member of Sebastian Hardie was Jon English (vocals, rhythm guitar), who starred as Judas Iscariot in the Australian version of the stage musical Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972, he subsequently had a solo career as a singer, actor and playwright. A later member, Mario Millo (lead guitar, mandolin, vocals) became a multi-award winner for his television and movie music.

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Sebastian Hardie's other early members included Graham Ford (lead guitar), Peter Plavsic (bass guitar) and his brother Alex Plavsic (drums). After English and Ford had left, the Plavsic brothers were joined by Millo and Toivo Pilt (keyboards). With their addition, Sebastian Hardie developed extended progressive rock tracks to become a symphonic rock group before they released their definitive album Four Moments in 1975, which peaked at No. 13 on the National albums chart. They followed with a second album Windchase in 1976, but it had less chart success. Millo and Pilt formed the band, Windchase, to release Symphinity in 1977, it was a heavier jazz-fusion album but didn't have chart success and they disbanded.

see more on Sebastian Hardie at Wikipedia here
also at the Mario Millo website

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Pirana and Pirana II...1971-72...underrated and semi-legendary prog-rock band from Sydney

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Critics have pigeonholed Pirana as mere Santana clones, and while comparisons are understandable and the influence of Santana is obvious, this arguably did the group a considerable disservice. Its dynamic and rhythmic performance at the definitive Sunbury music festival in 1972 drew inevitable comparisons to the Latin-rock champions of Woodstock, due in no small measure to their superb performance of Santana's "Soul Sacrifice". But there was much more to Pirana than that facile categorization allows.

Beyond that, we can hear examples of fine, melodic songwriting -- mainly from keyboardist Stan White on the first album, but consummately taken over by guitarist and vocalist Tony Hamilton on the second -- that displays a diversity of influences while still keeping the band's innate individuality. 

For a start, Tony Hamilton's guitar was never less than wonderful. He sang commandingly, with soul, atop Jim Yonge's fluid drumming, supported by the anchorage of Graeme Thompson's throbbing bass. Keyboards were vital to the Pirana sound, and Stan White and his successor, Keith Greig, provided rich Hammond organ reinforcement for the overall feel of the band.

In Pirana, members came and went, but it is essentially the core band comprising Duke-Yonge, Thompson, Hamilton and Greig (who replaced Stan White after the first LP), who made the records and sustained the bulk of the band's performing tenure, and must be most remembered as the definitive entity.

Pirana's first recordings were as the backing group for Greg Quill's 1970 solo album Fleetwood Plain. They signed to Harvest in 1971 and issued two singles. Here It Comes Again (May) was reputedly the first local single released in stereo, and can still be found on Raven's Golden Miles compilation CD.

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In concert they were always regarded as a top-drawer act; they went down a storm at the inaugural Sunbury rock festival, and their live version of Santana's "Soul Sacrifice" earned them a track on the Sunbury '72 album. EMI issued their second LP Pirana II in November 1972, by which time Richard McEwan had replaced Hamilton on guitar. Andrew James replaced Greig in 1973 and Phil Hitchcock replaced Graeme Thompson on bass in 1974. The band continued to work on the dance and pub circuit, but they didn't record again, and they eventually broke up in late 1975.

(from Original article by Paul Culnane on Milesago)

Sydney 1970-75
Stan White (keyboards) 1970-1971
Keith Greig (keyboards) 1971-72
Jim Duke-Yonge (drums) 1970-1973
Tony Hamilton (guitar) 1970-75
Graeme Thompson (bass) 1970-75
Phil Hitchcock (bass) 1974
Andrew McCue (keyboards, flute) 1973
Richard McEwan (guitar, vocals) 1972
Paul Spetter (drums) 1973

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