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Saturday, July 25, 2026
Buried Alive!! Demented Teenage Fuzz From Downunder 1965-70: Vols.1-6
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.
Thursday, September 19, 2024
The Clarion Set (The Story Of Australian Independent Label Clarion 1965-1974)
Compilation of the pioneering 60s/early 70s Australian independent Clarion label. A smorgasbord of driving R&B, sunshine pop, studio psychedelia and progressive rock recorded in Perth, Western Australia. Based in Perth, teenager Martin Clarke was working at a local radio station when he converted a spare bedroom into a makeshift recording studio. That modest early venture evolved into Martin Clarke Recording Studios, which opened in 1962 to become Perth's first professional recording facility. By the time the studio purchased a four-track in 1966, Clarke had launched the Clarion label, working with a constant stream of solo singers and beat/R&B groups. With a raised profile after Perth TV personality Johnny Young had a national hit with the Easybeats-penned 'Step Back', Clarion signed a number of promising new acts that included The Valentines (featuring a pre-AC/DC Bon Scott) and Young's TV colleague Robbie Snowden. Clarion went on to have a number of regional and national successes, releasing interesting music into the 70s (British expatriates The Birds and Chalice, plus local progressive rockers Fatty Lumpkin) before Clarke wound down the label and relocated to England.
'The Clarion Set' assembles the pick of the label's roster, with choice selections from the aforementioned acts as well as female-fronted folk rockers Gemini, powerhouse R&B/soul vocalist Ray Hoff, pre-Valentines garage band The Spektors and in-house psychedelic experiment The Vegetable Garden. (Amazon review)
1965-1967
1-1 Russ Kennedy And The Little Wheels– I've Got My Eyes On You (And I Like What I See)
1-2 The Times – Glad, Not Sad
1-3 Ray Hoff & The Off Beats– Bama Lama, Bama Loo
1-4 The Spektors– Gloria
1-5 Johnny Young– Cara-lin
1-6 Mort And The Mobees– Choose Who I Like
1-7 Terry Walker With The The Hi Five– Long Time Gone
1-8 Ray Hoff & The Off Beats– The Uncle Willie
1-9 Glen Ingram With The Hi-Five– Skye Boat Song
1-10 The Kompany– Tell Her No
1-11 Russ Kennedy And The Little Wheels– I've Been Watching You
1-12 Ray Hoff & The Off Beats– My Good Friend Mary Jane
1-13 The Spektors– On My Mind
1-14 Johnny Young– Step Back (demo)
1-15 Russ Kennedy And The Little Wheels– Little Wheel
1-16 Maggie Hammond– Go Laddie
1-17 Glen Ingram With The The Clan – Take This Hammer
1-18 Colin Cook– Cry I Do
1-19 The Valentines – Every Day I Have To Cry
1-20 Ray Hoff & The Off Beats– Looking For My Pig
1-21 Mort And The Mobees– Can't You See
1-22 Maggie Hammond– High Flying Bird
1-23 The Valentines – I Can't Dance With You
1-24 Johnny Young– Good Evening Girl
1-25 Ray Hoff & The Off Beats– Tossin' And Turnin'
1-26 Russ Kennedy And The Little Wheels– Too Much Monkey Business
1-27 Glen Ingram With The The Clan (8)– That It's Me
1-28 Robby Snowden– No One Really Loves A Clown
1-29 Maggie Hammond– You Won't Be Leaving
1-30 Ray Hoff & The Off Beats– Ain't Doin' Too Bad Pts. 1 And 2
1967-1969
2-1 Johnny Young– Hold On
2-2 The Proclamation– King Of The Mountain
2-3 The Valentines – Love Makes Sweet Music
2-4 The Kompany– The Family Way
2-5 The Clan – Peeping Tom
2-6 Chris James – Da Doo Ron Ron
2-7 Ray Hoff & The Off Beats– Love, Love, Love
2-8 Johnny Young– Come On Up
2-9 Robby Snowden– Talkin'
2-10 Glen Ingram– I'll Be Doggone
2-11 The Birds– No Good Without You
2-12 The Valentines – Sookie Sookie
2-13 Johnny Young– Craise Finton Kirk (Royal Academy Of Arts)
2-14 Robby Snowden– Sunshine Rides On A Trolley
2-15 The Troupadours– Come Home Baby
2-16 Colin Cook– You Baby
2-17 Ray Hoff & The Off Beats– I've Got To Get You
2-18 The Soul Purpose – Hip Huggin' Mini
2-19 Robby Snowden– Do You Want To Dance
2-20 The Troupadours– Near To Me
2-21 The Valentines – Peculiar Hole In The Sky
2-22 Johnny Young– Geno Pts 1 And 2
2-23 The Clan – Sunday Afternoon
2-24 Robby Snowden– Just A Little
2-25 The Troupadours– Little Boat
2-26 The Kompany– Little Joe The Boxer
2-27 Strawberry Fair– Come Back And Shake Me
2-28 The Proclamation– Tea And Sympathy (Don't You Worry)
2-29 Johnny Young– Every Christian Lionhearted Man Will Show You
2-30 The Valentines – She Said
2-31 Colin Cook– Riot In Cell Block Number 9
1969-1974
3-1 The Birds– Magic Words
3-2 Chalice – In My World
3-3 Swingshift – Somebody To Love
3-4 The Vegetable Garden– Hypnotic Suggestion
3-5 Gemini – Sunshine River
3-6 Willpower – Soul Finger
3-7 The Soul Purpose – Boogaloo Down Broadway
3-8 Strawberry Fair – Things We Said Today
3-9 The Vegetable Garden– Even Stevens
3-10 Fatty Lumpkin– Got To Get Back T' Nellie
3-11 Chalice – Ebenezer
3-12 The Birds– Dust In My Pants
3-13 Gemini – Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon)
3-14 Chalice – Mr. Won't You Help Me
3-15 The Soul Purpose – Share
3-16 Willpower – Spinning Wheel
3-17 Swingshift – We Can Work It Out
3-18 The Birds– Rene
3-19 Fatty Lumpkin– Don't Knock My Boogie
3-20 Chalice – Nearly Gone
3-21 Gemini– Butterfly Wings
3-22 Swingshift – Here, There & Everywhere
3-23 The Birds– I See The Rain
3-24 Chalice – Nine To Five Girl
3-25 Fatty Lumpkin – Millionaire
Monday, September 16, 2024
Blog resurrection and re-uploads of dead links
I've had many requests to re-post dead links on old posts so I'm resurrecting this blog for a short time. I will also be adding some new posts of releases which have not been added before and which I hope will be of interest to Aussie music fans.
Here are a few links to the original posts with re-posted links. There are more to come so stay tuned.
Zoot Locker - The Best of The Zoot
Down Under Nuggets - Original Australian Artyfacts
Benzedrine Beat! (1964-1970) - Purple Hearts & Coloured Balls
Peculiar Hole in the Sky- Pop Psych from Down Under
Sunday, January 19, 2020
So You Wanna Be A Rock'n'Roll Star - various Australian artists...the last and first post
Friday, November 22, 2019
Sydney-based indie-rock artist Timi Temple New Single 'Quick Words, Long Trouble'
Sydney-based indie-rock artist Timi Temple has returned with another rousing anthem in ‘Quick Words, Long Trouble’, produced and recorded by the artist himself.
The track opens up with purring flange guitar lines and woody drum rims, before expanding into a frenetic pre-chorus enveloped by Timi’s psychedelic screams. The choruses open up like a classic lighter-in-the-air era Brit-Rock sing-along, highlighted by a swift change in tempo and chunking rhythm guitars.
Timi talks about the meaning behind ‘Quick Words, Long Trouble’:
“’Quick Words, Long Trouble’ is my first song about love. I’ve generally tried to avoid writing songs about love because I think it’s been rinsed enough times by other artists. However, this song was cathartic and therapeutic to me as it helped me through a long-term breakup. The phrase is something that my mother used to tell me, somewhat translated from Thai meaning ‘don’t do anything in heated anger because the repercussions will last forever’. It’s served me well, but also probably lead to me not fighting for a salvageable relationship because I was too cautious with my words. The spoken word poem in the bridge of this song reflects this”.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Central Coast-based indie-rock trio IVY release fuzz-laden frenetic new cut ‘Sinners Grin’
Central Coast-based indie-rock trio IVY have recently released their fuzz-laden frenetic new cut ‘Sinners Grin’ – produced by Mitta Norath (Endless Heights, Introvert, Eat Your Heart Out)
Combining hard-hitting garage-infused rock n’ roll with psychedelic and blues inspired riffs, ‘Sinners Grin’ is another huge leap forward for the group, made up of its unapologetic walls of searing guitars, thumping rhythmic section and howling hooks from charismatic front man Kane Brown.
Since 2015 inception, IVY have become a mainstay on the East Coast touring and boutique festival circuit, supporting Violent Soho, British India and The Delta Riggs, and gracing the stages of Bluesfest, Mountain Sounds Festival and Snowtunes. Their previous tracks have been supported by the likes of triple j, MTV and worldwide radio.
“I love the punch this has and it's high energy”. - Claire Mooney - triple j (AUS)
“Prepared to be entranced in some quality indie rock swagger”.
Savage Thrills (AUS)
Friday, January 20, 2017
Hoodoo Gurus...Electric Soup..The Singles Collection
Hoodoo Gurus (referred to as "The Gurus" by fans), formed in Sydney in 1981, by the mainstay Dave Faulkner (songwriter, lead singer and guitarist) and later joined by Richard Grossman (bass), Mark Kingsmill (drums), and Brad Shepherd (guitar, vocals, harmonica). Their popularity peaked in the mid to late 1980's with albums Mars Needs Guitars!, Blow Your Cool! and Magnum Cum Louder.
Hoodoo Gurus had a string of acclaimed pop-rock singles including "Leilani" (1982), "Tojo" (1983), "My Girl" (1983), "I Want You Back" (1984), "Bittersweet", "Like Wow - Wipeout!", and "What's My Scene?". After touring the United States from 1984 onwards they gained popularity on the U.S. college rock circuit[4] with singles "Come Anytime" (1989) reaching No. 1 and "Miss Freelove '69" (1991) reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.The Gurus’ biggest Australian hit single was their 1987 Top 3 hit song "What's My Scene?" or, as modified for the National Rugby League 2000s theme, "That's My Team".
Hoodoo Gurus' iconic status on the Australian rock scene was acknowledged when they were inducted into the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame. Their induction announcement stated that the Gurus were one of the most "inventive, lyrically smart and exciting" bands from Australia. From 1960's power pop, and wild garage punk to hard driving rock and funky psychedelic kitsch their music stood out from Sydney's Detroit-inspired bands.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Down Under Nuggets - Original Australian Artyfacts 1965-1967..Various Artists
Down Under Nuggets is a collection of 29 gems from the heyday of Aussie sixties music. From garage to punk, surf, mod, beat, psychedelic and just plain groovy! Many well known artists like The Easybeats, The Atlantics, Bobby and Laurie, Bee Gees, Wild Cherries, Cherokees, The Loved Ones, Purple Hearts, Missing Links, MPD LTD plus a few more lesser known for you to discover. I'm not going to say much more about this release so I'll let the track listing do the talking. Enjoy!
Monday, June 16, 2014
The La De Da's...first 3 albums 1966 - 1969.. New Zealand band who made success across the Tasman
Talented, sexy, sophisticated, adventurous, dynamic, innovative -- just some of the many tags that have been been attached to The La De Das' name. But one word was always associated with them more than any other - the La De Das were cool.
Their career spans the entire '64-'75 period. Formed in New Zealand at the very start of the beat boom, they were already major stars at home when they relocated across the Tasman a couple of years later. They're practically the only major group (on either shore) to emerge from the beat boom of 1964-65 who managed to ride out the massive musical changes of the Sixties and adapt to the new scene in the Seventies, emerging as one of Australia's most popular hard rock groups during the first half of the Seventies.
There are a lot of similarities to their Aussie contemporaries The Masters Apprentices. Both were touted as their country's answer to The Rolling Stones. Both survived for so long in that mercurial era because they had tons of talent, determination and the ability to adapt their sound and look to align with prevailing trends. Both groups went through major personnel changes -- by the time the Masters split, singer Jim Keays was the only remaining original member, and by the time of their final 1973-74 'power trio' incarnation, only guitarist and singer Kevin Borich remained from the original La De Das lineup.
Like the Masters, they started off as blues/R'n'B purists, and their original style leaned heavily on British R'n'B practitioners - The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers - and on the American originals like John Lee Hooker, Elmore James and Muddy Waters. They moved into their 'mod' period - with covers of Ray Charles, Motown and Northern Soul favourites, replete with tartan trousers, satin shirts and buckle shoes. Then they plunged headlong into psychedelia (the obligatory concept album, covers of songs from West Coast outfits like Blues Magoos, paisley shirts, sitars, long hair and moustaches). They almost came unstuck after the inevitable -- and ultimately futile -- attempt to "make it in England". But it's here that the stories diverge -- the Masters fell apart in England in 1972, but the Las De Das survived (just) limped back to Australia, regrouped, and bounced back with a mature and reinvigorated take on their R'n'B roots. Their final incarnation as a hard-rockin', no-frills, blues & boogie band carried them very successfully through to the mid-70s.
Here are there first 3 albums which were all originally released in the sixties.

































