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 Vocal Groups. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vocal Groups. Show all posts

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Silver Roads..Australian Country-Rock and Singer-Songwriters of the 70's



47 track compilation of country-rock and singer-songwriters from the 70's including The Dingoes, Country Radio, Axiom, Russell Morris, Richard Clapton, Stars, Anne Kirkpatrick, Flying Circus, Daddy Cool, Johnny Chester, Fraternity, Doug Ashdown.

1-1 Country Radio– Gypsy Queen
1-2 Axiom – Arkansas Grass
1-3 Russell Morris– Lay In The Graveyard
1-4 Brian Cadd & Don Mudie– Show Me The Way
1-5 The Dingoes– Starting Today
1-6 The Flying Circus– The Longest Day
1-7 Anne Kirkpatrick– Feel A Whole Lot Better
1-8 Third Union Band*– Hyway Ryder
1-9 Richard Clapton– Down The Road
1-10 Home – Forget Me Not
1-11 John J. Francis– Play Muma Play (Sing Me A Song)
1-12 Carrl & Janie Myriad– Back In The Wildwoods Again
1-13 Fotheringay– The Ballad Of Ned Kelly
1-14 Quinn – The Mighty Quinn
1-15 Bluestone – Wind And Rain
1-16 Sundown – Outback Dan
1-17 Saltbush– Brown Bottle Blues
1-18 Uncle Bob's Band– Mr Domestic
1-19 Digby Richards– People Call Me Country
1-20 Lee Conway– I Just Didn't Hear
1-21 Johnny Chester– Midnight Bus
1-22 Daddy Cool – Just As Long As We're Together
1-23 Gary Young's Hot Dog– Rock-a-Billy Beatin' Boogie Band
1-24 The Autodrifters– The Birth Of The Ute

2-1 Billy Thorpe And The Aztecs– Cigarettes & Whiskey
2-2 Stars – Land Of Fortune
2-3 The Dingoes– Boy On The Run
2-4 Cold Chisel– Khe Sanh
2-5 Fraternity Featuring Bon Scott– Sommerville
2-6 Chain – Show Me Home
2-7 Broderick Smith– She's Gone
2-8 Axiom – Ford's Bridge
2-9 Johnny Chester– Glory Glory
2-10 The Laurie Allen Revue– Not Born To Follow
2-11 Gary Shearston– Faded Streets, Windy Weather
2-12 Margret Roadknight– Girls In Our Town
2-13 Doug Ashdown– Winter In America
2-14 Ross Ryan– I Don't Want To Know About It
2-15 Russell Morris– Alcohol Farm
2-16 Ray Brown & Moonstone – Call Me A Drifter
2-17 The Flying Circus– Silvertown Girl
2-18 Tymepiece– Sweet Release
2-19 Autumn – Falling
2-20 Max Merritt And The Meteors– Slippin' Away
2-21 Little River Band– It's A Long Way There
2-22 Hot Knives Featuring Greg Quill– Wintersong


                                                                 
                                                                 



Sunday, February 25, 2018

Feeding the Future...Australian contemporary music sampler from early 90's



This compilation sampler was released in 1994 in conjunction with Australian music day for that year. An 18 track eclectic mix of contemporary artists of that time including Culture Shock, Defryme, Chocolate Starfish, Skunkhour, Stephen Cummings, The Sharp, Tiddas and Marcia Hines.



Monday, April 17, 2017

Dappled Cities Announce Album Launch As Part Of Vivid Sydney 2017



After returning with their critically praised new single ‘Stone Men’ and announcing their fifth studio album ‘Five’ (stylised as |||||), Sydney’s statesmen of indie-rock, Dappled Cities, have just revealed news that their Sydney album launch will be taking place at City Recital Hall on Sunday June 4, as part of Vivid Sydney’s official program.

CLICK TO VIEW 'STONE MEN' VIDEO

Combining their trademark layered soundscape with an immersive lighting spectacle, the event also titled ||||| will see the band re-imagining music from their highly acclaimed career and showcasing material from their stunning new record.

In collaboration with Sydney-based Studio Days and featuring works from Californian artist Paul Juno, the one-off concert event will feature imagery taken from the band’s rich visual history, accompanying the characteristic ethereal melodies and textures that have made Dappled Cities one of the most beloved indie bands to emerge from Sydney over the past two decades.

‘Stone Men’ has quickly climbed into the Top 20 Hype Machine Now charts and picked up early airplay from both triple j and double j. The accompanying video has also been well received garnering support via MTV and ABC’s Rage.



In the coming weeks, Dappled Cities will unveil some very special guests who will join them for all three East Coast capital shows, including the City Recital Hall event, Howler in Melbourne on Saturday May 6 and The Foundry in Brisbane on Friday May 12.

Vivid Sydney is the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas. Now in its ninth year, the event is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.

www.vividsydney.com/music

‘Five’ is out through Chugg Music / MGM on May 5 2017


FOLLOW DAPPLED CITIES

DAPPLED CITIES
||||| ALBUM TOUR
Tickets on-sale now at www.dappledcities.com
SAT 6 MAY | HOWLER, MELBOURNE, VIC
With Special Guests
FRI 12 MAY | THE FOUNDRY, BRISBANE, QLD
With Special Guests
SUN 4 JUNE | CITY RECITAL HALL, SYDNEY, NSW
With Special Guests


“’Stone Men’ is a fantastic return from the Sydney act whose new album has quickly sprung to the top of my most anticipated releases of the year.”
Indie Shuffle (USA)
“Dappled Cities’ always-adventurous modus operandi, even after over a decade, remains excitedly enthralling, regardless of terrain.”
Rolling Stone Australia

Sunday, January 17, 2016

The Glorious release outstanding new album "Falcon" produced by Julian Mendelsohn



Three piece Melbourne folk/pop/rock outfit The Glorious have just released their second album, "Falcon". Produced by Julian Mendelsohn (Kate Bush, Paul McCartney), this album has leanings towards the sublime sounds of  artists like The Jayhawks and Real Estate with a nod towards the psychedelic sounds of 60's artists like The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash. 

Marty's review: Combining jangling guitars and sweet harmonies with peddle steel, piano and strings, this smooth and tightly produced effort is an album that improves with each listen. It comes at you in a "full sound" which in some ways reminds one of the Phil Spector productions. With an overall feel that's not quite laid back but not overblown either, this collection of heartfelt and emotional tunes leaves you almost gasping after each track. Songwriter and guitarist Dave Mather has opened up some personal musings in his writing and these come across in a way that demands attention. Standout tracks for me are St Clare, Wheel of Confusion, The Wave and I Wake Up. Each track on the album does stand out on its own without being long winded and in some cases almost understated. 




Neil Rogers of The Australian Mood, notably said The Glorious create a “captivating sound with great songs, soaring harmonies, and heartfelt playing.”

Visit the band’s social media channels: OFFICIAL SITEFACEBOOK|YOUTUBE  





                                                         

Monday, December 28, 2015

Stevie Wright 1947-2015 RIP - Former Easybeats vocalist dies aged 68. Tribute post.


From ABC news: Stevie Wright, who fronted rock outfit The Easybeats in the 1960's, and is widely regarded as Australia's first international pop star, has died at the age of 68. The ARIA hall of famer became ill on Boxing Day and was taken to Moruya Hospital on the New South Wales south coast, where he died on Sunday night with his son Nick by his side. Rock historian Glenn A Baker said Wright "was a dynamo on stage". Read full article HERE.



Stephen Carlton "Stevie" Wright (20 December 1947– 27 December 2015), formerly billed as Little Stevie, was an Australian musician and songwriter who has been called Australia's first international pop star. During 1964–1969 he was lead singer of Sydney-based pop/beat/rock and roll band The Easybeats, widely regarded as the greatest Australian pop band of the 1960's (see original post on this blog about The Easybeats HERE).

After The Easybeats disbanded in 1969, Wright fronted numerous groups including The Stevie Wright Band and Stevie Wright and The Allstars; his solo career included the 1974 single, "Evie (Parts 1, 2 & 3)", which peaked at No. 1 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart. (See original post on this blog HERE).




Wright's life was detailed in two biographies, Sorry: The Wretched Tale of Little Stevie Wright by Jack Marx (1999) and Hard Road: The Life and Times of Stevie Wright by Glenn Goldsmith (2004). On 14 July 2005, The Easybeats, with Wright as a member, were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame alongside Renée Geyer, Hunters & Collectors, Smoky Dawson, Split Enz and Normie Rowe.

Albums:











The Easybeats - Definitive Anthology

see original post from this blog HERE




Visit my other music blogs here:
Twitter @islandmanrocks


Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Australia's The Glorious Give a Taste of Forthcoming Album with Premiere of "Toward Neptune"



The Glorious are ready for American success with their forthcoming album “Falcon” due out January 8th. Compared to sweetly sublime stylings of The Jayhawks and Real Estate, the Aussie band has teamed up with producer Julian Mendelsohn (Paul McCartney, Belle & Sebastian) on this upcoming album.

Listen to the premiere of “Toward Neptune” here.

(Los Angeles, CA) November 30, 2015 - The Musebox today announced the premiere of “Toward Neptune”— the finely crafted pop single from Australia’s The Glorious. “Toward Neptune” is the second release from Falcon, the Melbourne band’s forthcoming full-length album co-produced by Julian Mendelsohn (Paul McCartney). Neil Rogers of The Australian Mood, notably said The Glorious create a “captivating sound with great songs, soaring harmonies, and heartfelt playing.”



“Toward Neptune” is a chronicle of a journey into deep space. Inspired in equal measure by George Harrison's 'Beware of Darkness' and the Ridley Scott film 'Prometheus', It is a literal exploration of an imaginary mission to our farthest planet. Produced by singer-songwriter Dave Mather and Julian Mendelsohn (Kate Bush, Paul McCartney), the song bristles with metallic guitars, spacey keyboards and a dead-eye unison vocal by Mather and drummer Dan Gard'ner. The clenched-fist rhythm section nails the track down while the melody floats in dreamy echo, evoking a mixture of bliss and dread as the song moves toward the outer reaches of the universe.

Founded in Melbourne in 2004 by Mather and longtime friend and collaborator Dan Gard'ner, The Glorious began as a vehicle for Mather's songwriting before evolving into a full band. The band's lineup solidified with the addition of Joel Loukes (bass) and Danny Stain (guitar).

Find out more and download FREE tracks on their website HERE.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “I WAKE UP” HERE


Visit the band’s social media channels: OFFICIAL SITEFACEBOOK|YOUTUBE  


Visit my other music blogs here:


Twitter @islandmanrocks


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Australia's "I Know Leopard" return with new single 'Perfect Picture'



Following the release of their debut EP, Illumina, earlier in the year, Sydney four piece I Know Leopard have wasted no time jumping back into the studio, today unleashing Perfect Picture, the first taste of the band’s sophomore EP. The offering is trademark I Know Leopard –celestial, swimming, string-enhanced pop, a bit of synth and all of the feels.

Added straight to full rotation on Australia's national radio tastemaker network Triple J,  ‘Perfect Picture’ sees I Know Leopard keeping to their heady sonic intent but this time with a kraut-rock inspired groove.  Despite the lively tempo, the song remains meditative like its predecessors with dizzying layers of the lushest of strings and synths throughout. 


With all the right pop sensibilities for success, their debut EP featuring Hold This Tight, received instant radio support and nods of approval from the discerning ears of bloggers and journalists worldwide.The result was 140,000 Soundcloud spins, a hugely successful national tour and more than a handful of glowing reviews consolidating I Know Leopard’s reputation as king of the indie pop jungle.



Listen to 'Perfect Picture' and 'Illumina EP' on Soundcloud

Watch singles Hold this TightShe and Daisy Eyes on Youtube

www.knowleopard.com




“One of the most criminally underrated bands in the country. Not for much longer if they keep this shit up.” 5 Stars - Lachie Machara (JJJ)



“The five-piece's return to the spotlight has been an absolute delight to watch” - Indie Shuffle


 Superior Singing Method


Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The Charade...lost gem of an album from Australian vocal group from the late 1960's



A regular reader and contributor of this blog was kind enough to share this rare gem of an album, and it's been sitting on my hard drive for some time, almost forgotten. Unfortunately, I don't have much information on the group themselves, but if anyone out there knows any other details I would be more than appreciative.

The Charade released this one album on EMI back in 1969. They were a vocal group consisting of the following personnel: DAVID COOPER gtr vcls, BRIAN O'TOOLE gtr vcls, SIOBHAN SHEPPARD vcls. The album was produced by Gus McNeil, and arranged by The Charades and Gus McNeil. It was engineered by David Woodley-Page and John Taylor.

Several of the tracks on the album were written by Paul Williams/Roger Nichols, 3 of which were from Paul Williams' early band The Holy Mackerel. There are also covers of "Cinderella Rockefella", "Classical Gas", "Windy" and Gene Clarke's "Train Leaves Here This Morning". The vocals and instrumentation of the group are nothing short of superb, and the production of the album is as good as anything similar from the era. 

Their sound is akin to the likes of The Seekers, Peter, Paul and Mary and The Mamas and The Papas. 

1.BITTER HONEY
2.THE LADY IS WAITING
3.CINDERELLA ROCKFELLA
4.L.A.BREAKDOWN
5.TO PUT UP WITH YOU
6.WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
7.CLASSICAL GAS
8.PEACE OF MIND
9.TRAIN LEAVES HERE THIS MORNING
10.HAND-ME-DOWN MAN
11.CYCLES
12.WINDY
13.OUT ON THE SIDE
14.LOVE SO FINE
15.SONG TO RAYMONDO
16.TAKIN' LIFE EASY

click here for more information

There is also a podcast link from Southern FM which tells the Charade story as told by Charade member David Cooper.

This first video on YouTube is them performing "Keep the Customer Satisfied" on Australian Bandstand. The line-up is noted as Linda Keene, Brian O'Toole and David Cooper.



This second video is "Hand-Me-Down Man" from the album


There are several other videos on YouTube including their covers of "Melting Pot", "California Soul" and "Carpet Man". Just search on "The Charade Live on Bandstand".

There are also several clips of Linda Keene and Brain O'Toole performing at the memorial concert for Greg Quill.


Saturday, September 27, 2014

Fanny Adams....first Aussie "supergroup"...rare, one-off album from 1971



On paper, Fanny Adams looked like a dream team, with four of Australasia's best musicians combining in a 'supergroup' and intent on conquering the world. Given the talent involved, this should have been a great group who did grand things, but, as so often happened in OzRock, the reality proved to be drastically different.

Vince Maloney, Johnny Dick, Teddy Toi and Doug Parkinson were veterans of some of Australia and New Zealand's top bands of the 1960s:

Vince Maloney had been in the original 1963-65 lineup of The Aztecs, but quit in '65 (along with the rest of the band) after a financial dispute. He and fellow Aztec Tony Barber then formed a shortlived duo, followed by a stint with Tony Worsley & The Fabulous Blue Jays. Vince then formed his own band The Vince Maloney Sect, which became the house band on the mid-'60s pop show Kommotion. Moving to England, he spent several years as lead guitarist in the late-60s UK lineup of The Bee Gees with drummer Colin Petersen

Johnny Dick had joined Max Merritt & The Meteors in 1963 in New Zealand and came to Australia with them in '65, alongside Teddy Toi. After the original Aztecs split from Thorpe, he and Teddy jumped ship and joined the "new" Aztecs, which lasted until 1966. He later teamed up with 'Parko' in the highly-regarded Doug Parkinson In Focus

Teddy Toi was a highly respected bassist, already a rock'n'roll veteran whose CV went back to New Zealand in the late '50s with Sonny Day & the Sundowners and included a stint in the second lineup of The Aztecs in 1965-66.

Doug Parkinson was (and still is) one of Australia's finest male singers. He started his career in a high-school band The A Sound, followed Newcastle pop outfit The Questions, which evolved into Doug Parkinson In Focus with Johnny, Duncan McGuire and Billy Green, scoring a Top 20 hit in '68 with their superb rendition of The Beatles' "Dear Prudence" and winning the Hoadley's Battle Of The Sounds in '69.

Fanny Adams were, unfortunately, short lived. Due to various issues within the band and resistance from a sceptical public, they went their separate ways, but left us with this, now rare, album which showed the enormous talent that was within.

text courtesy of Milesago







Friday, July 11, 2014

Spectrum...Part One and Milesago...1971..progressive rock from legendary band


During their short but illustrious career, Spectrum were in the vanguard of progressive rock in Australia, and they left a legacy of innovative and imaginative music. The central figure in Spectrum was singer/songwriter/guitarist Mike Rudd (no relation to Kevin!), one of the many outstanding expatriate New Zealand performers who have contributed so much to the Australian music scene. 

Mike arrived in Australia in 1966 as rhythm guitarist for the NZ group Chants R'n'B. Chants only lasted a short time after they arrived in Australia, but Mike remained in Melbourne, where he soon teamed up with young singer-songwriter Ross Wilson and guitarist Ross Hannaford. Their first band The Pink Finks (which had also just broken up) worked in a similar vein to Chants, and had some local chart success in Melbourne. Mike was invited to be the bass player in a later lineup of their next band, the short-lived but legendary Party Machine (1967-69). This was followed by the more experimentally-oriented Sons of The Vegetal Mother (1969-71).

Sons of the Vegetal Mother was an occasional project rather than a full-time band, but Mike was apparently involved on a regular basis, even after the formation of Spectrum, and he played bass on the Vegetal's only recording, an ultra-rare EP called The Garden Party, of which only about 250 copies were ever pressed. Although close connections between them continued, by 1970 Wilson and Hannaford were concentrating on the Vegetals new offshoot Daddy Cool, so Rudd decided to put together his own band, continuing down the progressive path he had been following with Party Machine and the Vegetals.

Although Mike later described the formation of the band as "incredibly haphazard", his choices were all fortunate ones. Bassist Bill Putt, from Melbourne bands Gallery and The Lost Souls formed a lasting friendship and musical partnership with Mike, and they worked together until Putt's recent passing. Organist Lee Neale happily left his current band, Nineteen 87, who were apparently scornful of his lack of 'pop image'. A hotshot young drummer called Mark Kennedy, who had already worked with Putt in Gallery, completed the lineup. Kennedy's musical strength helped carry the band through a difficult first year, during which time the band honed their skills and found their sound.

Initially, Spectrum drew on the work of contemporary bands like Traffic, Soft Machine and Pink Floyd and they played covers of these groups in the early days, but they soon outgrew these formative influences, developing their own highly individual style. Many elements contributed to this –- their synergistic playing style, the rock-solid yet supple rhythm Putt-Kennedy rhythm section, Lee Neale’s superb keyboard playing, Mike's skewed, rather Goonish sense of humour, which was manifested in his wry song titles and lyrics, his expressive finger-picked guitar, and of course his voice, one of the most distinctive in Australian music. 

See full story here at milesago.com




Mike Rudd (vocals, guitar, recorder, harmonica) 
Bill Putt (bass) 
Mark Kennedy (drums) 1969-70 
Ray Arnott (drums, vocals) 1970-73
Lee Neale (keyboards, vocals) 1969-72
John Mills (keyboards) 1972-3


Sunday, June 1, 2014

Greg Quill and Country Radio...Fleetwood Plain...classic 1971 album



The blending of rock with elements of country music and folk was one of the most important directions in music in the late Sixties and early Seventies. Singer-songwriter Greg Quill and his band Country Radio were pioneers in this field in Australia. Many people will remember Country Radio for their popular and enduring hit "Gypsy Queen", which made the Australian Top 20 in late 1972. 

Prior to forming Country Radio, Quill was already well-known on the Sydney folk scene as a solo performer, and he also ran The Shack, the fondly-remembered folk venue at Narrabeen, on Sydney's Northern Beaches in the late 1960s. A meeting with publisher and producer Gus McNeil led to Greg being signed to Gus's new Cellar Music publishing company. Gus produced Greg's first commercial recordings, the single "Fleetwood Plain" and the subsequent album of the same name, recorded for EMI in 1970, on which he was backed by John Walsh (bass), Chris Blanchflower (harmonica), Orlando Agostino (guitars) and members of Pirana, the band which had formed from the final lineup of McNeil's old backing group The Nomads -- Graeme Thompson (bass), Jim Yonge (drums),  Tony Hamilton (lead guitar) and  Stan White (piano). The LP was released on EMI's new progressive subsidiary, Harvest.

1. "Empty Pockets/Leaving The City" 
2. "Fleetwood Plain" 
3. "Paradise" 
4. "Just Goodbye"  
5. "I'd Not Let You Be"  
6. "Song To David" 
7. "Commissar" 4:32 
8. "Observations From A Second Storey Window" 
9. "Windy On The Main" 
10. "Susannah Lee"  
11. "If You Ever" 

12. "Kitty's Song" 





Saturday, May 10, 2014

Peculiar Hole In the Sky..various artists..top notch Oz 60's psych, freakbeat and pop...many rare tracks



Another classic compilation of rare and classic musical gems from the 60's. You will recognise some names here like Normie Rowe, The Valentines, Jeff St John, The Wild Cherries and The Cam-Pact, but there are many you may not have heard of. A collection of psychedelic pop that will certainly take you back.

1. Peculiar Hole In The Sky - The Valentines
2. Imagine This - The Iguana
3. Still I Can Go On - The James Taylor Move
4. I Can't Help Thinking Of You - The Bucket
5. Going Home - Normie Rowe
6. House Of Bamboo - Peter Wright
7. Gained For A Fall - 1863 Establishment
8. Emily On Sunday - Clapham Junction
9. Unforgotten Dreams - King Fox
10. Long Live Sivinanda - Inside Looking Out
11. Girl In The Garden - Hugo
12. Moving In A Circle - The Executives
13. Eastern Dream - Jeff St. John & The Id
14. Zoom Zoom Zoom - The Cam-Pact
15. King Of The Mountain - The Proclamation
16. Upstairs, Downstairs - Jon
17. Krome Plated Yabby - The Wild Cherries
18. Magic Eyes - The James Taylor Move
19. Brass Bird - Lloyd's World
20. Walking & Talking - R Black & The Rockin' V's
21. Mr Guy Fawkes - The Dave Miller Set
22. Picture Of A Girl - 1863 Establishment
23. Sitting By A Tree - The Escorts
24. Morning Sun - Inside Looking Out
25. Drawing Room - The Cam-Pact
26. Hey! Watch Out - Hugo
27. Tell Me Love - Marty Rhone



Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Ray Brown & The Whispers.. Sydney,1964-66 ...short lived but very successful beat band



Ray Brown and the Whispers were in the vanguard of the first wave of Australian beat pop, from 1964-67, and during their brief career they were one of the most successful and celebrated bands in the country. Aided by his boyish good looks and considerable charm, singer Ray Brown ranked alongside Stevie Wright, Billy Thorpe and Normie Rowe as one of the most popular stars of the period, and The Whispers are now widely recognised as being one of its most accomplished bands. Although they enjoyed unprecedented success at the time, the group was short-lived, and their contribution to Australian music, both during and after the beat boom, is still sadly under-appreciated.

From the outset, Ray and The Whispers distinguished themselves as a top-notch performing unit, both live and on record, and they thoroughly road-tested all their material. In retrospect their only real weakness, as far as a long-term career was concerned, was that there were no writers in the group (unlike The Easybeats, The Blue Jays and their label mates The Bee Gees). But like The Blue Jays, their choice of material showed off both their versatility and their wide-ranging tastes.




Probably the Whispers' greatest love, though, was American soul and R'n'B, and they were tireless champions of the style, covering many numbers by the top performers of that period.Their first major break in came late in the 1964 when they secured the gig as resident band at Sydney's Surf City and The Beach House, taking over from Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs. Within a short time the Whispers were regularly pulling in 2000 punters per night on Fridays and Saturdays, and by the new year they were rivalling The Easybeats for popularity in Sydney.

Their rise to national fame was meteoric -- in just six months they scored four Top 5 hits in a row in Sydney, including their record achievement -- still unbroken -- of three consecutive #1 hits from their first three releases! They were also among the most prolific recording outfits of the day, with a nine singles, ten EPs and five albums to their credit in in little more than two years.

This 2 for 1 album combines their first 2 albums and contains all their hits.




Ray Brown & The Whispers 
Lawrie Barclay (rhythm guitar) 
Ray Brown (vocals) 
Al Jackson (lead guitar) 
Pat Jeffrey (drums) 
John Manners (bass) 
Bobby Richardson (lead guitar) 1964

Ray Brown & The New Whispers (early 1967) 
Ray Brown (vocals) 
Dave Russell (guitar) 
Ronnie Peel (bass) 
Steve Hardy (drums)


 

Friday, April 18, 2014

Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs...Don't You Dig This Kind of Beat..2 albums from 1965 and 1966


This is a double treat for fans of the original Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs. These 2 albums were released at the height of their popularity in the mid 1960's. They show why they became so big, so fast. The tracks on these albums were a combination of beat, pop, rock 'n'roll and rhythm'n'blues, which highlight the versatility and talent within the group. 

They covered numbers from the likes of The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Ray Charles and capitalised on the beat boom from Great Britain. Listening to these again after nearly 50 years of their original release, you can see what the excitement was all about.






See also 2 other previous posts from this blog on The Aztecs:
http://theaussiemusicblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/billy-thorpe-and-aztecs-1964-75its-all.html
http://theaussiemusicblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/billy-thorpe-and-aztecsmore-arse-than.html