Healing Force...short lived but legendary Aussie progressive rock supergroup

The legendary Healing Force were something of a 'supergroup', and its history intersects with several other important bands of the period, notably King Harvest and Friends. They made only one single, but it is still widely regarded as one of the flagship Australian progressive rock releases of the early '70s. All the members had a wealth of experience -- Pryor had been the drummer in the The Twilights; Charlie was from Nova Express; Logan was from The Rebels and Wells had been a member of Perth's prog-rock pioneers Bakery.

Original line-up: 
Laurie Pryor (drums) 
Charlie Tumahai (vocals, bass) 
Mal Logan (organ) 
Lindsay Wells (guitar) 

Other members: 
Lindsay Wells (bass, guitar) 
Ray Findlay (bass) 
John Pugh (guitar) 
Joe Tattersal (drums) 
Mal Capewell (sax, flute) 
Gus Fenwick (bass)

In July 1971, they released their one brilliant single. The 'A' side, "Golden Miles", by Lindsay Wells, is one of the most admired Australian progressive rock recordings of the period and it rates as the best Australian progressive recording of the era. It was deservedly successful and spent nineteen weeks in the Melbourne charts, barely missing out on entering the Top 30. It features rippling Hammond organ by Logan with a beautiful melody line and a dramatic chorus, highlighted by the soaring vocals of the late, great Charlie Tumahai. The flip-side, "The Gully", another Lindsay Wells composition, was heavier but almost as good. Just before the single hit the charts, Charlie quit to join Chain and the group returned to a four piece. Pryor left soon after and was replaced by Joe Tattersall (ex-Barrelhouse), but then Lindsay also left and the band fizzled out.

In November 1972, Healing Force reformed with Logan, Pryor and Pugh, plus newcomers Gus Feniwck (bass) and Mal Capewell (ex-Company Caine) on reeds. This version performed at the Sunbury Pop Festival in January 1973, with Charlie rejoining especially for the show. One track from their set, "Erection", was included on the Mushroom Records Sunbury '73 album. They disbanded shortly afterwards, during preparations for a planned LP, leaving their considerable promise sadly unfulfilled.

This is a four track (unofficial) EP, compiled from their one single and 2 extra live tracks:

1. Golden Miles
2. The Gully
3. My Boogie
4. Poem of Joy (from the GTK tapes)

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see also Golden Miles progressive rock compilation on this blog

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

Peculiar Hole In the Sky

Raven Records Sixties Downunder Series Volumes 1 to 4...Essential Collections for Aussie Music Fans

These collections from Raven Records have been posted on this blog previously and I wanted to bring them back again to reiterate what a classic collection of tracks they feature and also for anyone who may not have seen the original posts. They are essential for any serious Australian music aficionado. Here they are again:

volume one

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volume 2

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volume 3

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volume 4

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The Masters Apprentices..Complete Recordings 1965-1968

The Masters Apprentices (or The Masters to fans) were an Australian rock band fronted by mainstay Jim Keays on lead vocals, which formed in 1965 in Adelaide, South Australia, relocated to Melbourne in February 1967 and attempted to break into the United Kingdom market from 1970, before disbanding in 1972.Their popular Australian singles are "Undecided", "Living in a Child's Dream", "5:10 Man", "Think About Tomorrow Today", "Turn Up Your Radio" and "Because I Love You". The band launched the career of bass guitarist, Glenn Wheatley,later a music industry entrepreneur and an artist manager for both Little River Band and John Farnham.

The band reformed periodically, including in 1987–1988 and again subsequently; they were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 1998 alongside The Angels. Both Keays, with His Master's Voice and Wheatley, with Paper Paradise, wrote memoirs in 1999 which included their experiences with the band.

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Sixties Downunder Vol.4..28 Oz Rock Classics..Various Australian Artists..Essential Collection

The final installment in this Raven Records series, Vol. 4, focuses on the beat and pop ends of the musical spectrum, with choice cuts ranging from Johnny Young and Kompany’s ‘Step Back’, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs’ ‘Over The Rainbow’ and The Cherokees’ ‘Minnie The Moocher’ to The Iguana’s ‘California, My Way’, Pastoral Symphony’s ‘Love Machine’ and The Flying Circus’ ‘Hayride’. Once again, this fine collection ends with several of the finest pop productions of the era in The Easybeats’ ‘St Louis’, Axiom’s ‘Arkansas Grass’ and King Fox’s ethereal ‘Unforgotten Dreams’. 

1 Dinah Lee– Don’t You Know Yokomo

2 Merv Benton & The Tamlas*– Yield Not To Temptation

3 M.P.D. Limited– Lonely Boy

4 Grantley Dee– Let The Little Girl Dance

5 Billy Thorpe And The Aztecs– Over The Rainbow

6 Bev Harrell– What Am I Doing Here With You?

7 Johnny Young & Kompany– Step Back

8 The Easybeats– Come And See Her

9 Bobby And Laurie– Hitchhiker

10 Glen Ingram & The Hi Five*– Skye Boat Song

11 Normie Rowe– Ooh La La

12 The Executives – My Aim Is To Please You

13 The Cherokees – Minnie The Moocher

14 The Loved Ones – Sad Dark Eyes

15 The Groove – Simon Says

16 The Iguana– California, My Way

17 The Virgil Brothers– Temptation’s ‘Bout To Get Me

18 Pastoral Symphony– Love Machine

19 The Strangers – Happy Without You

20 Ronnie Burns– Age Of Consent

21 Zoot – 1x2x3x4

22 The New Dream– Groupie

23 The Flying Circus– Hayride

24 Russell Morris– The Girl That I Love

25 Ronnie Charles– Katy Jane

26 The Easybeats– St. Louis

27 Axiom – Arkansas Grass

28 King Fox– Unforgotten Dreams

Sixties Downunder Vol.4..28 Oz Rock Classics

Sixties Downunder Vol.3...28 Oz Rock Classics..Various Australian Artists..Essential Collection

Volume 3 of Raven Records' essential Sixties Downunder series examines the R'n'B and psychedelic ends of the pop spectrum, with choice cuts ranging from The Easybeats’ ‘Wedding Ring’, The Throb’s ‘Black’ and M.P.D. Limited’s ‘Little Boy Sad’ to The Playboys’ ‘Sad’, The Wild Cherries’ ‘Krome Plated Yabby’ and Running Jumping Standing Still’s ‘Diddy Wah Diddy’. This fine collection ends with several of the finest pop productions of the era in Doug Parkinson In Focus’ version of The Beatles’ ‘Dear Prudence’, the Dave Miller Set’s soaring ‘Mr Guy Fawkes’ and Russell Morris’ reverberating psychedelic classic ‘The Real Thing’. 

1 The Easybeats– She's So Fine

2 Bobby & Laurie*– Someone

3 Peter Doyle & The Phantoms– Stupidity

4 M.P.D. Limited– Little Boy Sad

5 The Cicadas– That's What I Want

6 The Changing Times – Mary Lou

7 Bobby & Laurie*– Judy Green

8 The Easybeats– Wedding Ring

9 Normie Rowe– The Breaking Point

10 Ray Brown & The Whispers– Ain't It Strange

11 The Allusions– Gypsy Woman

12 The Purple Hearts– I'm Gonna Try

13 The Throb – Black

14 The Running Jumping Standing Still– Diddy Wah Diddy

15 Phil Jones & The Unknown Blues*– If I Had A Ticket

16 The La De Das– Hey Baby

17 The Twilights – What's Wrong With The Way I Live?

18 Larry's Rebels– Painter Man

19 The Wild Cherries– Krome Plated Yabby

20 James Taylor Move– Magic Eyes

21 The Playboys – Sad

22 Procession – Listen

23 Somebody's Image– Hide And Seek

24 Terry Britten– 2,000 Weeks

25 Doug Parkinson In Focus– Dear Prudence

26 The Master's Apprentices– 5.10 Man

27 The Dave Miller Set– Mr Guy Fawkes

28 Russell Morris– The Real Thing

Sixties Downunder Vol.3...28 Oz Rock Classics

Sixties Downunder Vol.2...29 Oz Rock Classics..Various Australian Artists..Essential Collection

Volume 2 of Raven Records’comprehensive chronicling of the very best Oz 1960's pop. The hits that mattered from 1965 to 1970, plus a few gems that somehow escaped attention – 29 tracks in all. 

1 Normie Rowe & The Playboys– Shakin' All Over 2:31

2 Tony Barber – Someday 2:30

3 Mike Furber & The Bowery Boys– Just A Poor Boy 2:25

4 Normie Rowe & The Playboys– Que Sera Sera 2:35

5 Ray Brown & The Whispers– Fool Fool Fool 2:39

6 Ray Columbus & The Invaders– She's A Mod 2:08

7 Billy Thorpe And The Aztecs– Sick And Tired 2:27

8 The Twilights – Bad Boy 2:08

9 The Allusions– The Dancer 1:58

10 Johnny Young & Kompany– Caralyn 2:32

11 Ronnie Burns– Coalman 2:53

12 Lynne Randell– I'll Come Running Over 2:42

13 Normie Rowe & The Playboys– Tell Him I'm Not Home 2:14

14 The Throb – Fortune Teller 2:20

15 The Easybeats– I'll Make You Happy 3:07

16 Ronnie Burns– Exit Stage Right 2:33

17 The Purple Hearts– Early In The Morning 2:08

18 The Loved Ones – The Loved One 2:45

19 The Master's Apprentices– Undecided 2:22

20 The Groop – Sorry 2:20

21 The Vibrants – Something About You 2:32

22 Jeff St. John & The Id – Big Time Operator 2:29

23 Ray Hoff & The Offbeats*– Tossin' & Turnin' 2:42

24 Max Merritt And The Meteors– Shake 2:47

25 Python Lee Jackson– Um Um Um Um 2:56

26 The Easybeats– Friday On My Mind 2:46

27 The Master's Apprentices– Elevator Driver 2:21

28 The Twilights – Cathy Come Home 2:00

29 The Groop – Such A Lovely Way 3:17

Sixties Downunder Vol.2

Sixties Downunder Vol.1 ... 27 Oz Rock Classics..Various Australian Artists..Essential Collection

The first of Raven Records' essential SIXTIES DOWNUNDER collections – a compilation of the absolute creme de la creme of Australian 1960's pop/rock. A 72-minute collection, in vibrant sound quality, featuring all this country’s 1960's legends. Raven Records includes booklet with rare pics and informative notes.

1 Billy Thorpe And The Aztecs– Poison Ivy 3:00

2 Bobby & Laurie*– I Belong With You 2:07

3 Normie Rowe & The Playboys– It Ain't Necessarily So 3:16

4 Ray Brown & The Whispers– Pride 2:12

5 Mike Furber & The Bowery Boys– You Stole My Love 2:44

6 Tony Worsley & The Blue Jays– Just A Little Bit 2:33

7 The Pink Finks– Louie, Louie 3:12

8 The Easybeats– Sorry 2:30

9 The Twilights – Needle In A Haystack 2:09

10 Steve & The Board*– The Giggle Eyed Goo! 2:15

11 The Librettos– Kicks 2:26

12 The Purple Hearts– Of Hopes And Dreams And Tombstones 2:26

13 The Master's Apprentices– Buried And Dead 2:34

14 The Black Diamonds– I Want, Need, Love You 2:59

15 The Easybeats– Women 2:30

16 Max Merritt And The Meteors– Fannie Mae 2:38

17 Bee Gees– Spicks And Specks 2:49

18 The Groop – Woman You're Breaking Me 2:11

19 The Loved Ones – Ever Lovin' Man 2:08

20 The Wild Cherries– That's Life 3:17

21 The Twilights – 9.50 2:29

22 The Master's Apprentices– Living In A Child's Dream 2:28

23 The Groove – Soothe Me 2:44

24 Normie Rowe– It's Not Easy 3:05

25 The Town Criers – Everlasting Love 2:45

26 Lynne Randell– Ciao Baby 2:23

27 Somebody's Image– Hush 2:24

Sixties Downunder Vol.1