Peter Doyle - 1989 - Stupidity FLAC

Speechless/Stupidity/What'cha Gonna Do About It/Do It Zulu Style/High Time Baby/Like I Love You/Heigh Ho/Something About You/The Great Pretender/Everybody Loves A Lover/Tweedle Dee/Mr. Goodtime/Lovey Dovey/Something You Got/Go Away/Is This The Dream/




Peter John Doyle (28 July 1949 – 13 October 2001) was an Australian pop singer who had success with a number of Top 40 hits in Australia in the 1960s, then success internationally as a member of the New Seekers in the early 1970s, before resuming a solo career in 1973.



He started his career at the age of 9 appearing on a children's television talent show called Swallow's Juniors and appeared as a regular on that show for the next five years. At the age 10 he made his first recording on a 78rpm acetate, "Lucky Devil"/"If Irish Eyes Were Shining". He was performing in Sunday afternoon pop shows at Melbourne's Festival Hall at the age of 14 and at 16 he was signed to a record contract with Ivan Dayman's Sunshine label (whose roster included top singers such as Normie Rowe and Tony Worsley). This led to regular appearances on Melbourne’s teen TV show, "The GO Show".

 

 From 1965 to 1967 he released ten 45 records in Australia, of which seven made the Top 40, the most successful of which were a cover of Conway Twitty's Speechless (The Pick Up), and a rousing version of Solomon Burke's Stupidity. He was backed by Melbourne band The Phantoms on all these recordings. He then recorded two singles with the band Grandmas Tonic as lead vocalist. His last two singles, once again under his own name, were for the Astor label although he was still backed on them by Grandma's Tonic,(ex-members of Tony Worsley's backing band 'The Fabulous Blue Jays').

May 1968 saw him join the vocal trio 'The Virgil Brothers', Australia's answer to The Walker Brothers. The Virgil Brothers released two singles in Australia in 1968, "The Temptations 'Bout to Get Me" (a Top 5 hit) and "Here I Am". They then relocated to the UK where they recorded their third single, When You Walk Away with producer David McKay. He then quit the trio which broke up soon after.

In 1970, not long after the Virgil Bros had dissolved, he joined the second lineup of The New Seekers. Recommended by melbourne radio DJ Stan Rolfe. This line-up was their most successful and enduring and during his time with them they had a string of international hits, such as Melanie Safka's "What Have They Done To My Song Ma", Delaney & Bonnie's "Never Ending Song of Love" and "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing".

In 1972 The New Seekers came second representing the UK, in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Beg, Steal or Borrow", on which he co-vocalled with Lyn Paul. As well as sharing vocals in The New Seekers he was a talented songwriter and contributed many songs to their albums which included ballads such as "I Can Say You're Beautiful" and "Lay Me Down" and more uptempo numbers like "Boom Town" and "Cincinnati".

 He quit The New Seekers, apparently disillusioned with lack of monetary rewards, in 1973 and resumed his solo career, as a singer-songwriter. He continued working in the UK until 1981, during which period he issued five solo singles, including a cover of The Easybeats "Friday On My Mind", and one album, Skin Deep. During this time in the UK he also recorded advertising jingles for Ribena and Sugar Puffs, provided the vocal for a children's single, "Jungle Ted and the Laceybuttonpoppers" and did backing vocals on Lyn Paul's solo single, "It Oughta Sell A Million". It did not. In 1975 he was offered and declined the job as Little River Band's lead vocalist.

Glen Wheatley asked Peter to join the Little River Band but at this stage, Peter wanted to make his way as a solo performer. By 1976, with the backing of David Mackay, Peter had secured a recording with RCA and his first single, released on 13 August 1976 was an incredible version of the Easybeats' Friday on My Mind. Inexplicably this failed to chart, as did his follow up single, Skin Deep. His album, also entitled Skin Deep , released in 1977, included a variety of musical styles and six songs penned by Peter, but even this failed to give him the solo success he so greatly deserved. It was around this time that Peter met the love of his life, Jane Garner, who later became his wife.

He returned to Australia in 1981 to work with a band called Standing Room Only. In 1982, ex-Wings drummer, Steve Holly invited him to join the group Regis in the US, where he worked for the next five years.

Returning to Australia in 1987, he regularly performed on the club circuit. In 1991 to 1992 he joined the Ram Band in Melbourne on vocals, played bass and keyboards, Colin Cook vocals, guitar and saxophone, Tony Faehse guitar and vocal, Marty Stone guitar, John van Boxtel vocals and drums. This was curtailed when he suffered ill-health in the 1990s. He died in Castlemaine, Victoria, of throat cancer, on 13 October 2001. He is buried at Muckleford Cemetery.

Kate Ceberano - 2009 - Merry Christmas FLAC

White Christmas/Feliz Navidad/Jingle Bell Rock/Santa Baby/I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas/Santa Claus Is Coming To Town/Jingle Bells/The Christmas Song/Blue Christmas/Happy Christmas (War Is Over)/It's Only Christmas (duet with Ronan Keating)



 Merry Christmas is the first Christmas album recorded by Australian recording artist Kate Ceberano and was certified Gold by ARIA. The album includes a duet with Ronan Keating. Merry Christmas features 12 tracks, the album was re-released in 2010. 

Reviews for Merry Christmas were generally positive. Thomas' music reviewer said, "Get ready to be wowed and well and truly in the Christmas spirit with the exceptional new Christmas album from Australia's much loved and award winning Kate Ceberano! Kate has added her charms to a new level of 'Christmas album', featuring classics with a twist, that only Kate could deliver". Beauty and Lace said, "Kate Ceberano’s Merry Christmas contains classics that everyone is familiar with, twisted to suit Kate’s style. It has a very upbeat and jazzy feel to it that will get your toes tapping and have you singing along before you even realise".

Merry Christmas debuted at number 33 before peaking at 17 in the week commencing 27 December 2009. It re-entered in December 2010, peaking at 35 for the chart issued 26 December 2010.

Kate Ceberano 1989 - Bedroom Eyes (12 inch) FLAC

Bedroom Eyes (Extended Version)/Bedroom Eyes/Kate's Blues


"Bedroom Eyes" is a 1989 song by Australian singer Kate Ceberano. It was released as the first single from her third solo album, Brave, in May 1989 on the Festival Records label. It spent six weeks at No. 2 on the Australian singles charts, and became the 7th highest-selling single in Australia and the highest selling single in Australia by an Australian artist in 1989.

She’s been Australia’s high priestess of pop, an award winning jazz singer, wears the hat of a fine artistic director and, above all that; Kate Ceberano is a songwriter with the talent to take a tune to the top of the charts. 2016 sees the release of the Kate Ceberano Anthology, her 24th album - three Disc, 53 Song celebration of the 30 year anniversary since the release of her 1st album “Bear Witness” with Kate fronting the band I’m Talking. Remarkably, she shows no sign of slowing down, let alone stopping.

 In 2014 Ceberano became the first Australian woman to be inducted into the Australian Songwriters Association (ASA) Hall of Fame. Joining such luminaries as Don Walker, The Easybeats, LRB and The Angels. Time Out Melbourne got it right when they wrote “(the) first thing you notice about Ceberano is her energy, which actually sends the atoms crackling as she walks in the room. Flashing eyes, a ready roar, warm and funny – she’s your dream conversationalist”. Whether it is that soulful voice, her charismatic nature or exotic looks: Kate’s earned her ‘Australian icon’ status. Kate first found fame with her funk band I’m Talking. I’m Talking are acknowledged as the band “who pioneered New York-style art pop in Australia during the Jurassic Period of Pub Rock”. The group was managed by Ken West, now famous for being co-founder of the Big Day Out. The group’s ‘platinum’ debut album included three top ten singles and won the Best New Talent (1984) gong at the Countdown Awards.

Kate followed that up the following year with the award for Best Female Vocalist (1985). Kate won Best Female Singer (1985) at the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Awards. Like many high-profile musicians, Kate Ceberano uses her celebrity to support and bring awareness to many causes close to her heart; for many years Ceberano has been an Ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. This role sees Kate help raise funds and awareness about an illness that affects so many lives. Over the 9 years Kate has been a supporter of the NBCF, Kate has also personally donated album royalties to the cause. “I like to be as involved as I possibly can in causes I feel strongly about,” Ceberano said of her appointment. “Yes I am a musician, but if I can do more to help others then I will.”

Stars - 1980 - 1157 Live FLAC

Watching The River Flow/Living A Lie/Cocaine/I'd Rather Be Blind/Paradise/Watch Out For Lucy/Mainline Florida/Since You've Been Gone/Jive Town/Rescue Me/Never Coming Back



Stars were an Australian country rock band formed in Adelaide, South Australia in 1975 and disbanded in 1979. Founding members were Glyn Dowding on drums; Malcolm Eastick on guitar and vocals; Mick Pealing on vocals; and Graham Thompson on bass guitar. They were joined by guitarist, songwriter, Andrew Durant in 1976 and relocated to Melbourne. Thompson then left and was replaced by a succession of bass guitarists including Roger McLachlan (ex-Little River Band) and Ian McDonald.

The band's debut album, Paradise, peaked at No. 11 on the Australian Kent Music Report in 1978 and included their highest charting single "Look After Yourself" which reached No. 21 on the related singles chart. Their second album, Land of Fortune, was released in 1979 but did not reach the Top 50. By that time Durant had been diagnosed with cancer, the band had their last performance on 5 November and Durant died on 6 May 1980 at age 25. A tribute performance by Stars members and other Australian acts followed in August and a double-LP, Andrew Durant Memorial Concert was released in 1981. It peaked at No. 8 on the albums chart with proceeds donated to Andrew Durant Cancer Research Foundation.

 Adelaide band Astra Kahn formed in 1972, including Glyn Dowding on drums, Andrew Durant on guitar, and Malcolm Eastick on guitar and vocals. They disbanded by 1973 with Dowding and Eastick forming Flash in 1974 with Mick Pealing on vocals. In May 1975, Dowding, Eastick and Pealing formed Stars with Graham Thompson on bass. As a country, rock band they were touted as Australian rock'n'roll cowboys and played the local pub and club circuit. They were noticed by pop group, Little River Band's guitarist Beeb Birtles, they signed to Mushroom Records and relocated to Melbourne. Birtles produced their debut single, "Quick on the Draw" which reached the Australian Kent Music Report top 30 in July 1976. Durant joined in August on guitar and became their principal songwriter.

Their second single, "With a Winning Hand" peaked into the top 40 in October. Founding bass guitarist Thompson left and was replaced first by Michael Hegerty and then by Roger McLachlan (ex-Little River Band). The band supported Joe Cocker on his Australian tour in mid-1977. They released their third single, "Mighty Rock" which reached the top 30 in August. By November, Ian MacDonald replaced McLachlan and they released, "Look After Yourself" which became their highest charting single at No. 21. It was issued ahead of their debut album, Paradise (January 1978) which peaked at No. 11 on the Kent Music Report albums chart. The album spawned two more singles, "Back Again" in April and "West Is the Way" in June. In September, founding drummer Dowding was replaced by John James Hackett (ex-Phil Manning Band).

Stars continued touring including supporting The Beach Boys and Linda Ronstadt on their Australian tours in 1978–1979. A second album, Land of Fortune appeared in June 1979, it was produced by Ern Rose and Eastick. By that time Durant had been diagnosed with cancer and Stars performed a last concert on 5 November. A live album, 1157—titled for the number of career gigs—appeared in July 1980, which was produced by Eastick. Durant had died on 6 May at age 25. A tribute performance by Stars members and other Australian acts followed in August and a double-LP, Andrew Durant Memorial Concert was released. It peaked at No. 8 on the albums chart with proceeds eventually donated to Andrew Durant Cancer Research Foundation.

Aidan Nolan - 1974 - Tales From The Sun

Spaceman/One Out On A Limb/Till I Get Me Some Money/Thursday/Wastin' My Time/Melanie Moonbeam/Can't Go On Like This/Rock You/Laughing/Sweet Soft Summer Sound/Q/Down Again



 If your memory is good enough, go back to 1969 to a television program about drug addiction called “No Roses For Michael”, you might also remember the name of the man who wrote the music, being Sydney artist Aidan Nolan. Aidan played with various Sydney rock bands during the late 1960’s including Daisy Roots, their drummer Alan Sandow went on to drum for Sherbet. Other bands he played with were Garage Plus, Papa Skragg’s Patent Leather Nightmare and Pro to name a few. In 1973 he began to lay down tracks for an album, Tales From The Sun, but with the album still not completed, he decided to travel to England. While in London aidan was offered a contract to record cover versions of American songs. Apparently he found great difficulty relating lyrically and, such musical honesty being financially unrewarding, he was down to the ancient art of busking, making use of the excellent acoustics of Green Park station in the London underground. However, it was when John J Francis who produced and arranged "Tales From The Sun" took aidan's album to London, the former street busker was immediately signed to the British Sparks label. The album was released in England and Europe.

 
 By the time aidan nolan was 4 years old he had lived in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide (Australia) and London (UK). Perhaps it was this relentless mobility in those years that created the need for one inner constancy in his life, music. Not the music of others, although there’s no doubt he is influenced as are all artists by those that go before, but for the ability to create a song.  Even the APRA (Australia’s ASCAP) Journal has run an article outlining that aidan was a songwriter at 5!
 Perhaps it has been his continuing geographical and career mobility that keeps forging his songs. aidan has worked and travelled extensively in Europe and Australia.
 

He has been a store-person, landscaper, postal carrier, driver, laborer, busker (street entertainer) and post-university (college) a school-teacher, rising to the lofty (if not culturally shock-inducing) position of Assistant Headmaster in exclusive Australian private schools. Finally, after walking out on that established career and some time in business, he built an international speaking consultancy with clients in the US, Australia, Asia and New Zealand.  Over the years he has lived in small Australian country towns, the Australian state capitals of Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide as well as a number of years in London.
 Now a US citizen and resident of New York, aidan’s early music is experiencing a renaissance of interest that is un-paralleled for an indie artist and a very respectable surge of interest in his contemporary work.  While he has a strong following of all ages, he is particularly of interest with those in their late-teens to mid-thirties, probably because the word is spreading primarily through social media.

Julie Anthony - 1975 - Hello In There FLAC

Hello In There/Light A Light/Sally/Without You/ Loving You/Lovers/Candle In The Wind/Here's That Rainy Day/My Elusive Dreams/I'm Your Song/For Old Love's Sake/Whispering Grass/ a.Goodnight b.Hello In There (Reprise)



Born Julie Moncrieff Anthony, 23 August 1951, Galga, South Australia. Anthony was born in Galga (population 15) and raised on the family farm. In her teens she began singing with a local band and in 1970 won an amateur television talent quest. Her victory and the first prize ($600 and a trip to Tasmania) led to regular appearances on the Adelaide Tonight Show. She moved to Sydney, making television appearances and performing on the club and cabaret circuit, and eventually embarking on international tours. An engagement at the Hong Kong Hilton in 1973 was followed by the lead role in the Australian production of Irene. Three years later she starred in the UK version at the Adelphi Theatre. The Play and Players of London honoured her with the Best Newcomer (Actress) award for 1976. She returned to Australian television and appeared in three national specials, and in the same year she married her manager Eddie Natt. In 1977 she won the Sammy and Penquin awards for Best Television Variety Performer. Tours of America followed and Anthony worked with Bill Cosby, Roy Clarke and Merv Griffin. In 1980 she was awarded an OBE for services to the entertainment industry. Three years later she accepted the role of Maria in The Sound Of Music; following a season in Sydney, the show successfully toured major and regional centres.

 For the 1988 World Expo held in Brisbane, Anthony was invited to sing with the re-formed Seekers, joining the group as lead singer from 1988-89. In 1988 she sang the national anthem at the official opening of Australia’s new Parliament House. The same year she returned to the stage in I Do!, I Do! In 1990, she was awarded AM in the Order of Australia for services to the entertainment industry. In 1994, Anthony further demonstrated her versatility by teaming with jazz musician Don Burrows (reeds/flute) for tours, including a successful appearance at the Jazz and Blues Festival at the Gold Coast International Hotel in 1995. A year later she returned to cabaret with a season at the Tilbury Hotel in Sydney. In her extensive repertoire she demonstrated great conviction, whether singing ‘Amazing Grace’ or material ranging from Stephen Sondheim to the Beatles. In June 1996 she accepted a cameo role as a band singer in the Bruce Beresford film Paradise Road, starring Glenn Close and Jean Simmons. Julie Anthony is one of the best and most durable theatre and variety performers in the post-war Australian entertainment industry. She has won the prestigious Mo Award for Entertainer Of The Year three times, and Best Female Variety Performer nine times. An admirable singer and engaging personality, she has successfully blended her career and family duties.

Eurogliders - 1983 - Pink Suit Blue Day FLAC

Jeepney Talk/Without You/Through Your Window/Laughing Matter/Darkest Hours/Get Me Out Of Here/Touching Me/On The Nightline/ Time/Magneto/Americans



Pink Suit Blue Day is the debut album by Australian indie rock band Eurogliders, released in 1982. Their debut single, "Without You", was released in June and peaked into the top 40 of the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart. A follow-up single, "Laughing Matter" in September did not chart into the top 50. Pink Suit Blue Day, produced by Englishman Lem Lubin, did not peak into the top 50 of the Australian Kent Music Report albums chart.

Guitarist and singer, Bernie Lynch (as Rip Torn) fronted a new wave band, The Stockings, in Perth, Western Australia in the late 1970s. He left in early 1980 to form Living Single with his domestic partner, UK-born vocalist, Grace Knight, which included Crispin Akerman on guitar, Don Meharry on bass guitar, Guy Slingerland on drums and Amanda Vincent on keyboards. By the end of 1981, drummer John Bennetts replaced Slingerland and the band changed their name to Eurogliders. They were signed by manager, Brian Peacock, to their first recording and publishing contracts with Polygram. They recruited Melbourne bass player Geoff Rosenberg to replace Meharry.

In late 1981, Eurogliders travelled to the Philippines capital of Manila, to start recording their first album, Pink Suit Blue Day, produced by Englishman Lem Lubin, which did not peak into the top 50 of the Australian Kent Music Report albums chart. From Manila, they relocated to Sydney where several tracks were re-recorded and the entire album was remixed. They released their first single in June, "Without You", which peaked into the top 40 on the Kent Music Report singles chart. A follow-up single, "Laughing Matter" in September did not chart into the top 50.

Johnny Farnham - 1997 - Memories Of Christmas FLAC

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town/Christmas Is/The Ringing Reindeer/Little Drummer Boy/Jingle Bells/Good Time Christmas/Christmas Happy/ White Christmas/The First Noel/Silent Night/ There's No Place Like Home/Little Boy Dear/It Must Be Getting Close To Christmas/ Everything Is Beautiful


Christmas Is... Johnny Farnham (later re-released twice as Memories of Christmas by Johnny Farnham, with different cover art, at the time of the album's release, he was now recording under John Farnham) is a studio album of Christmas songs recorded by Australian pop singer John Farnham (then billed as Johnny Farnham) and released on EMI Records in December 1970. The single, "Christmas Happy", was also released in December. The album was re-released under the new title of Memories of Christmas, on 13 November 1995 and again on 6 December 1997 with different covers and an altered track list each time.

Background Johnny Farnham's first #1 single on the Go-Set National Singles Charts was the novelty song "Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)" released in 1967. Selling 180 000 copies in Australia, "Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)" was the highest selling single by an Australian artist of the decade. His first Christmas song was a non-album single, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", in November 1968.[6] A cover of B. J. Thomas' "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" was released in November 1969 and peaked at #1 for seven weeks in January–March 1970. After his third album, Looking Through A Tear was released in July 1970, a non-album single, "Comic Conversation" was released in October and peaked at #10 on the Go-Set National Top 60 Singles Chart.[9] Farnham recorded his fourth album as Christmas Is... Johnny Farnham, it was released in December and contained Christmas songs but did not chart on the Go-Set National Top 20 Albums Chart. One of the songs, "Good Time Christmas", was written by Farnham. The single, "Christmas Happy", was also released in December.

Eurogliders - 1985 - Absolutely FLAC

Can't Wait To See You/The City Of Soul/What Kind Of Fool/So Tough/We Will Together/Absolutely/Jesse/Moving Away/Enough Love



Absolutely is the third studio album by Australian Indie pop, rock band Eurogliders, released in October 1985. It peaked at #7 on the Australian Kent Music Report albums chart and remained in the charts for 47 weeks, it spawned three top ten hit singles, "We Will Together" in April, "The City of Soul" in September and "Can't Wait to See You" in November. Two further singles, "Absolutely" and "So Tough" appeared in 1986.


Guitarist and singer Bernie Lynch (as Rip Torn) fronted a new wave band, The Stockings, in Perth, Western Australia in the late 1970s. He left in early 1980 to form Living Single, with keyboard player Amanda Vincent. Together, they recruited Crispin Akerman on guitar, Don Meharry on bass guitar and Guy Slingerland on drums through a series of advertisements. The following year, Grace Knight – Lynch's future domestic partner – joined as lead vocalist. By the end of 1981, drummer John Bennetts replaced Slingerland and the band changed their name to Eurogliders. They were signed by manager, Brian Peacock, to their first recording and publishing contracts with Polygram. They recruited Melbourne bass player Geoff Rosenberg to replace Meharry. In 1982, Eurogliders travelled to Manila, capital of the Philippines, to record their first album, Pink Suit Blue Day, produced by Englishman Lem Lubin, which did not peak into the top 50 of the Australian Kent Music Report albums chart. From Manila, they relocated to Sydney to release their first single in June, "Without You", which peaked into the top 40 on the Kent Music Report singles chart.

Eurogliders changed record labels from Polygram to CBS in 1983, they replaced bass guitarist, Rosenberg, with Scott Saunders and travelled to the UK in July. While there, they recruited bass guitarist Ron Francois, formerly of The Sinceros, The Teardrop Explodes and Lene Lovich. With this line-up they recorded This Island, produced by Nigel Gray (also worked with the Police) which was released in May and peaked at No. 4 on the Australian albums chart. The single, "Heaven (Must Be There)", also released in May, reached No. 2 on the Australian singles charts. Released several months later in North America, the single peaked at No. 47 in Canada, and at No. 65 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album peaked at No. 140 on the Billboard 200 chart. In Australia, "Heaven" was followed by a domino effect of two more top 10 hits, with "We Will Together" (No. 7, April 1985), and "Can't Wait to See You" (No. 8, November 1985). Their third album Absolutely, which peaked at No. 7, spent 47 weeks in the Australian charts. Between 1984 and 1986, Eurogliders toured Australia, the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan and New Zealand.

At the height of the band's success, Grace Knight and Bernie Lynch reconciled their relationship and were married in 1985 but the union was short-lived. Despite their marital separation, they stayed together in the band for another four years. Lynch and Knight dismissed Brian Peacock, and took over the band's management. 

In early 1987, journalists documented Lynch and Knight's claim that Bennetts, Francois and Vincent left the band voluntarily. Vincent went to London on a world tour with the Thompson Twins, and stayed in the UK to tour and co-wrote with Boy George. Francois became a session musician in Australia, while Bennets toured with Eartha Kitt, and later worked in the Educational IT industry before founding Monkeydrum Studios.

Reduced to a duo, Lynch and Knight recorded their fourth album (Groove) with session musicians, including Akerman. However, despite Akerman's presence on the album it was clear that Lynch and Knight by themselves were now the Eurogliders, as they were the only people pictured on the album cover or inner sleeve, or on any of the album's associated singles.

Groove peaked at No. 25 on the Australian charts in April 1988. The related single, "Groove" had peaked at No. 13 in February but the next singles, "It Must Be Love" in June, "Listen" in September and "Precious" in March 1989 did not reach the top 50.

For the album tour, Lynch, Knight and Akerman were joined by Guy Le Claire on guitar, Rex Goh on guitar (ex-Air Supply), Lindsay Jehan on bass guitar and Steve Sowerby on drums. Later in 1989, the Eurogliders disbanded. Akerman returned to his visual art background and became a painter, Lynch initially pursued a solo music career; while Knight became a successful jazz singer.

       

Eurogliders reformed in October 2005, with Grace Knight and Bernie Lynch using session musicians including former member, Rex Goh, and they released their fifth studio album, simply called Eurogliders and included the single, "Hummingbird", but neither album nor single peaked into the ARIA top 50 charts. They started touring again in April 2006 and performed on the Countdown Spectacular during June to August, which was a nostalgic tour of Australian bands from the 1970s and 1980s, as featured on the pop television show Countdown with its host Ian "Molly" Meldrum. In 2013, it was announced that the Eurogliders were expected to reform to support The Boomtown Rats on a planned reunion tour of Australia in May. However, the tour was cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

Dingoes - 1974 - The Dingoes FLAC

Come On Down/Boy On the Run/The Last Place I Wanna Be/Way Out West/Pay Day Again/Goin' Down Again/Aaron//My Sometime Lady/Sydney Ladies/Dingoes Lament



The Dingoes with John Lee on drums, Broderick Smith on lead vocals and harmonica, Chris Stockley on lead guitar, John Strangio on bass guitar, and Kerryn Tolhurst on guitar and mandolin, were formed in Melbourne in April 1973. Strangio left in August and was replaced on bass guitar by John Bois, who had been a member of Melbourne '60s pop band New Dream and was later a member (with Tolhurst) of Country Radio. The Dingoes combined R&B, country and rock 'n' roll with songs that used Australian themes and imagery.

The Dingoes were an early signing to the fledgling Mushroom Records label, it issued their debut single "Way Out West" which was jointly credited to Lee, Bois, Smith, Stockley, and Tolhurst although Bois' book confirms that the song was written by Tolhurst alone. A week before the single was released Stockley received a serious gunshot wound during an incident at a party in Melbourne that resulted in a two-month stay in hospital, initially described as an 'accidental shooting', according to music historian, Ian McFarlane's Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop, Stockley was shot by notorious drug dealer Dennis Allen, who was trying to gate crash the party. An eight-hour benefit concert was held for Stockley on 4 November 1973 at Leggett's Ballroom, Greville Street, Prahran. While recuperating, Stockley was replaced by keyboard player Mal Logan (ex Healing Force, Carson), who stayed on, after Stockley returned, until the end of 1974.
 

Released in October 1973, "Way Out West" peaked into the top 40 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart, and reached #26 in Melbourne, it became their signature tune. The Dingoes appeared at the third Sunbury Pop Festival in 1974, held on the Australia Day long weekend, and their performance featured on Mushroom's Highlights of Sunbury '74, released later that year. The same month, they recorded their self-titled debut LP, The Dingoes, which was produced by John French. Logan contributed keyboards on several tracks, including "Goin' Down" and "Sydney Ladies". "Way Out West" was later covered by James Blundell and James Reyne (ex-Australian Crawl) in 1992, their version peaked at #2 on the ARIA Singles Charts, Smith supplied harmonica for this version.

Lee left in May 1974 to join Ariel and was replaced on drums by Ray Arnott, (ex-Cam-Pact with Stockley, Spectrum, Mighty Kong). The Dingoes was released in June 1974, along with a second single "Boy on the Run", co-written by Stockley and Smith, which peaked at #24 in Melbourne but did not break into the top 50 nationally. The LP reached #24 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart in July, it was the Federation of Australian Broadcasters' "Album of the Year" for 1974. A non-album single, "Smooth Sailing", written by Tolhurst, and backed with "Dingoes Lament" (an instrumental written by Bois), was released in October. During the year The Dingoes toured nationally with various artists including Bad Company, Leo Sayer, Bo Diddley, and Freddy Fender.

 Early in 1975, after appearing at the fourth Sunbury Pop Festival, The Dingoes received a phone call from expatriate Australian roadie Billy McCartney, who had seen them when visiting from the United States, where he had established himself as a tour manager for Elvis Presley and Rod Stewart. Returning to the US, McCartney recommended the band to Peter Rudge, who was then tour manager for The Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and, after ten months negotiations, Rudge agreed to manage The Dingoes in the US.

The following months frustrated the band—with an expected summons from Rudge at any time, they were unable to commit to long-term tours or to recording—they lost valuable ground in Australia when they could have consolidated on the success of the LP and singles. Meanwhile, they provided two tracks, "Marijuana Hell" and the Percy Sledge cover "When a Man Loves a Woman" to the Various Artists live album Live at the Station which was released on Lamington Records in 1976. An American tour was finally arranged for mid-1976, by the time they arrived Rudge's attention was focused on Lynyrd Skynyrd. Just prior to leaving, Arnott quit the group by "mutual agreement" and Lee returned to the fold, meeting up with the band in North America. Arnott pursued a solo career and was later with Renée Geyer Band, Cold Chisel, and Jimmy Barnes.

The Dingoes signed a two-album deal with US-based, A&M records, on recommendations from McCartney and Rudge, and undertook three months of rehearsals in Canada, then headed for the US, where they set up base in Mill Valley, Northern California, at the start of 1977. They recorded tracks for their A&M album, Five Times the Sun, in San Francisco during January and February, produced by Elliot Mazer (Janis Joplin, Neil Young), with session contributions from keyboardists Nicky Hopkins and Garth Hudson; it featured liner notes by author Emmett Grogan. Five Times the Sun, which peaked at #25 on the Australian albums chart in August, included re-recorded versions of tracks from their first album. "Way Out West" and "Smooth Sailing", released in September, as a double A-single in Australia, did not peak into the top 50 Soon after, band members were granted their prized green cards, allowing them to base themselves in US, in their two-year stay they toured 40 states by road. A serious blow to the band's future came on 20 October when several members of proposed tour mates, Lynyrd Skynyrd, were killed in a plane crash, a tragedy which destroyed the morale of The Dingoes' management team.

 Stockley left the band and returned to Australia in early 1978, initially he joined Greg Quill's new band Southern Cross, and later founded Stockley, See & Mason. He was replaced in The Dingoes by American session guitarist Andrew Jeffers-Hardin, the group had moved east and settled near Woodstock, in upstate New York. In mid-1978, they recorded a third album, Orphans of the Storm, at New York's famed The Hit Factory, and continued to tour around the US until late 1978, but their efforts to enter the US record charts were unrealised. Orphans Of The Storm was released in February 1979, along with a final single, "Into the Night", but by this time Smith had returned to Australia and The Dingoes had split. 

Billy Thorpe And The Aztecs - Best Of FLAC

Over The Rainbow/I Told The Brook/About Love/Hallelujah, I Love Her So/Twilight Time/Baby, Hold Me Close/My Girl Josephine/That I Love/Funny Face/Don't Cha Know/Sick & Tired/Mashed Potato



 Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs were an Australian pop and rock group dating from the mid-1960s. The group enjoyed success in the mid-1960s, but split in 1967. They re-emerged in the early 1970s to become one of the most popular Australian hard-rock bands of the period. Thorpe died from a heart attack in Sydney on 28 February 2007.


Originally a four-piece instrumental group who had put out one surfing instrumental, "Smoke & Stack", they formed in Sydney in 1963. With the advent of the Merseybeat sound, they added a lead singer, Billy Thorpe. His powerful voice and showmanship (which made him one of the most popular and respected rock performers in Australian music), completed the original line-up, which consisted of drummer Col Baigent, bassist John "Bluey" Watson and guitarists Valentine Jones and Vince Maloney (who later played with The Bee Gees). Valentine Jones left the band shortly after Billy Thorpe had joined and was later replaced by Tony Barber.
Chart success

 The group broke through in mid-1964 with a massive nationwide hit, their cover of the Leiber and Stoller classic "Poison Ivy", which famously kept The Beatles from the No. 1 spot on the Sydney charts at the very moment that the group was making its first and only tour of Australia—a feat which resulted in Thorpe being invited to meet the Fab Four at their hotel. Over the next twelve months the band reigned supreme as the most popular 'beat' group in Australia, scoring further hits with the songs "Mashed Potato", "Sick And Tired" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", until they were eclipsed by the emergence of The Easybeats in 1965. The band's recording success confirmed Albert Productions, their recording company, with its worldwide distribution deals through EMI and Parlophone, as one of the most important in Australia's embryonic pop industry.

During 1965 the original Aztecs quit after a financial dispute, so Thorpe put together a new five-piece version consisting of drummer Johnny Dick, pianist Jimmy Taylor, guitarists Colin Risbey and Mike Downes and NZ-born bassist Teddy Toi. This group performed until 1966, scoring further hits with "Twilight Time", "Hallelujah I Love Her So", "Baby, Hold Me Close", "Love Letters" and "Word For Today".

Thorpe went solo in 1967 and for a brief time hosted his own TV show, It's All Happening, but personal problems and a widely publicised bankruptcy brought this phase of his career to an end in 1968. Thanks to Don for the FLAC Files.

Southern Cross - 1976 - Southern Cross FLAC

Money Maker/You Need It/ Jessie/What Am I Waiting For/Harris Street/Story Teller/Games/Stormy Lady



Sydney-based hard rock band Southern Cross had its roots in heavy progressive rock pioneers Buffalo. John Baxter had been sacked from Buffalo at the end of 1974. Baxter's savage guitar work had virtually defined the Buffalo sound and approach; his departure robbed the band of its most distinctive feature and boldest asset. The band's spirit simply faded thereafter.     Original line-up: Alan Milano (vocals; ex-Buffalo), John Baxter (lead guitar; ex-Head, Buffalo), Michel Brouet (bass, vocals), Jeff Beacham (drums)

 

Initially Baxter formed Boy Racer before teaming up with original Buffalo singer Alan Milano in Southern Cross. Baxter wrote much of the band's early live set, although he left six months after formation. Eighteen-year-old Bruce Cumming replaced Baxter on guitar. Alongside the likes of Finch, The Angels, Kevin Borich Express, Rose Tattoo and Chariot, Southern Cross swiftly became one of the most popular hard rock bands on the Sydney scene. Southern Cross signed to the independent Living Sound/Laser label and issued its debut single, `Stormy Lady'/`Queen of Rock'n'Roll', at the end of 1976. The funky, bluesy and heavy `Stormy Lady' was a good indication of the band's over-the-top style. The band's self-titled debut album (1977) featured melodic, raunchy hard rock in the vein of Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs and UK band Bad Company. It mixed flat-out, riff-rockers (`You Need It', `Money Maker', `Stormy Lady') with moody rock ballads (`Jesse', `Story Teller' and `Games').

The album scored only minimal sales, despite its strong points. By 1978, Southern Cross had broken up and Cumming and Brouet moved on to The Press. Steve Kot (vocals) and Rick Doolan (drums) completed the line-up.

Also included in this post as a bonus is a rehearsal tape from June 1976. Thanks to Tom for the FLAC Files.

Lana Cantrell - 1967 - And Then There Was Lana

 Isn't This A Lovely Day/I Will Wait For You/If You Go Away/ Let Yourself Go/I'm All Smiles/Stay/Nothing Can Stop Me Now/ I've Got A Penny/Breakfast At Tiffany's/Since I Fell For You/A Man And A Woman



Impassioned Australian singer Lana Cantrell, who found international success in the 1960s and 1970s, did not do things the easy way. A self-taught singer with no formal training, the tall, trim, shaggy-haired beauty entered the music industry and, for the duration of her career, remained true to her own vision and uniqueness every step of the way.

She was born on August 7, 1943, in Sydney, Australia, and grew up in a home filled with music. Her father, a jazz musician, was a tremendous influence and she displayed prodigious musical gifts from a very early age. Singing and playing the piano at the Sydney Town Hall by age 10, she became a viable entertainment name on the concert stage and TV by her late teens. Lana had ambitions, however, that extended far outside of her native Australia. At age 19, long before phenom Helen Reddy put Australia on the Billboard singing map in America with her #1 "I Am Woman" feminism, Lana was chartering American waters seeking her fame and fortune.

Her career began slowly in America, yet her determination and love for performing never wavered. Perhaps too quirky for mainstream stardom, she evolved into a popular marquee headliner especially on the night club and TV circuits. With the trendy, angular, slightly awkward looks of a Twiggy, with her boyishly cropped hair and large eyes, she was a highly emotive belter/chanteuse often compared to a Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Eydie Gormé or Lainie Kazan. Lana played nearly every Las Vegas hotel on the strip during her prime and wound up appearing on Ed Sullivan's popular variety show a whopping 15 times. A foreign import favorite on a host of variety show formats including "Kraft Music Hall Presents" and Red Skelton's weekly series, she served as a vibrant opening act for such stars as Jerry Lewis on the road.

Lana moved strongly into the recording arena with seven albums/CDs recorded for RCA. With such titles as "Another Shade of Lana," "Lana!" and "Act III: Lana Cantrell," a number of her singles found status back in Australia, but her Billboard charting in America was not a success. One of her songs, "Like a Sunday Morning," reached #63 in 1975. Her taste was eclectic for the changing times yet each had her own personalized stamp on them -- "I'm All Smiles," "Since I Fell for You," "If You Go Away," "I Will Wait for You," 'I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise," "What Now My Love," "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and "When You Wish Upon a Star". For every nostalgic "Yes, Sir, That's My Baby" on an album, one could also find an odd, contemporary version of a rock song such as "The House of the Rising Sun". She wasn't ahead of her time or behind the times; she merely sang and swayed to her own beat and style, refusing to be pigeon-holed. Many would say that made her relevant for all times. 

Lana spread her wings to include musical theatre as well, playing the role of Dorothy in a 70s stage version of "The Wizard of Oz" alongside baritone star Alfred Drake. But she was at her best on the concert/festival circuits and she performed all over the world -- from New York's St. Regis and Waldorf-Astoria hotels to the Sydney Opera House.

The never-married singer is a dedicated yoga disciple and, sports-wise, was once the table-tennis champion of New South Wales. Never one to be pinned down to any single interest, Lana retired from singing in 1988 (age 45) to pursue a law degree. She now practices entertainment law in New York. In 1996 she made an isolated singing appearance at the Sydney Festival Club to much public clamor, and has since showed up on a rare occasion.

Frankie Davidson - 1977 - Music FLAC

Music/Wedding Vows/Happy Anniversary/ In The Mornin'/ Rainy Sundays/What I Did For Love/ Jezabel/Do I Love You/Da Do Da Dum Dum Dum/European Flowers/You're Breaking My Heart Cos You're Leaving/Happy


 Frankie was born in the Melbourne suburb of Black Rock and began singing to amuse his fellow servicemen. By the mid-fifties he had become a regular featured vocalist at the Ziegfeld Palais Ball Room in Melbourne. Frankie worked there with Max Bostock and his Rockets. He also recorded a series of rock’n’roll EPs on the Dance Land label. Then, in 1959, Frankie was snapped up by W&G Records. In 1961 he found his niche with ‘Yabba Yabba Doo’, which entered the charts in December. This was followed by what probably became his signature tune, ‘Have You Ever Been To See King’s Cross?’ The song achieved national acclaim for Frankie and made a mockery of the short-sighted Melbourne/Sydney rivalry of the period. After all, a Melbourne singer performing a song about an area of Sydney in 1962 was strange. In 1970 he began recording for the Fable label and produced his biggest selling single, ‘Gimme Dat Ding’, followed by ‘Ball Bearing Bird’. Frankie had also become an accomplished actor appearing in dramas such as Matlock Police, Homicide and the ABC’s production of Dynasty. In 1975 he switched to M7 Records and released an album called A Generation Of Children’s Hits. Frankie certainly made his mark with clever novelty material. Songs that followed included ‘Hector The Trash Collector’ and ‘50,000,000 Blowflies Can’t Be Wrong.

  The mid 80s saw Frankie take a new tact, releasing his first country abum with `Australian Born, Australian Bred’ which included `Hope Your Chooks Turn Into Emus and Peck Your Dunny Down’ – a hit on both the pop and country charts around the country. The show business stalwart, who in the past decade has worked diligently on improving his vocal talents which span from baritone to tenor, believes his efforts were rewarded with the 1992 MO Award nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year. “I changed from Versatile Variety Performer in 1976 to Male Vocalist in 1992 – which shows people are paying more attention to that side of my work.”

Richard Clapton - 2004 - Diamond Mine FLAC

Obsession/Some Sunny Day/Bomb the Bomb/Diamond Mine/High as the Heavens/The Simple Things/Head Full of Rain/Paradise Drive/Zweite Neon/ The Dark End of the Road/Tides of Time/What Does It Take to Get Lucky/All Stand Together



In a career spanning thirty-two years and eighteen fantastic albums, Richard Clapton has earned himself a very special place in the history of Australian contemporary music. A singer/songwriter who combines masterful poetic insight with a passionate rock ‘n’ roll heart, he has articulated the hopes and dreams – and the disappointment and disillusionment – of a generation of Australians. With the dedication of a true artist, he has mapped out the landscape of the human heart.

Richard Clapton is indisputably one of the most influential figures in Australian rock history. Respected by peers and critics alike for his finely-honed abilities as a musician and songwriter, he has also kept up a steady flow of hits and a loyal live following over the past two decades. He stands among a very small group of songwriters who have created timeless classics; songs which explore and reflect upon the realities of contemporary Australia, remaining fresh and relevant years after they were written.

The fact that so many of his songs are still heard on Australian radio stations every day is proof of the enduring qualities which make his music so special. The titles say it all, from Girls On The Avenue, Capricorn Dancer and Deep Water, through to Down In The Lucky Country, The Best Years Of Our Lives and I Am An Island, Richard has never stopped creating brilliant music. In recent years, he has continued to impress with songs like Angelou, Trust Somebody, Glory Road, Distant Thunder and Oceans of the Heart. Clapton spent four years writing and recording the album, Diamond Mine, at his home studio, a process he described as the most creatively liberating experience of his recording career. It was released in May 2004—eight years after his previous studio album—but did not chart.

Richard Clapton - 1982 - The Great Escape FLAC

I Am an Island/Universal/Spellbound/Flow in Motion/The Best Years of Our Lives/Syncopation Train/I Fought the Law/All Night Long/Walk on Water




Australian singer/songwriter Richard Clapton played with several bands during the late '60s and '70s as he traveled across Europe before returning to Australia in 1972 to begin his solo career.

His debut single, "Last Train to Marseilles," released in October 1972, was not commercially successful and he joined the jazz-rock band Sun for a six-week stint. His debut album, Prussian Blue, was released in November 1973, but his first chart success was with the single "Girls on the Avenue," which reached number two nationally in March 1975. He released the Girls on the Avenue album followed by the album Main Street Jive in July 1976. A European tour followed at the end of the year. Clapton's contribution to the 1977 Highway One soundtrack album, "Capricorn Dancer," peaked at number 20.

Clapton's third album, Goodbye Tiger, was released in August 1977 and is considered one of his finest works. It peaked at number five nationally during November. The next year was spent touring and recording in Los Angeles. Two tracks from the American sessions, "Steppin' Across the Line" and "When the Heat's Off," appeared on the compilation album Past Hits and Previews, released in November 1978. Clapton's American-recorded album Hearts on the Nightline peaked at number 17 and kicked off a national tour. Dark Spaces was released in 1980 and was dedicated to his rhythm guitarist, Andrew Durant, who died in June. Clapton sang three tracks on the Andrew Durant Memorial Concert album of 1981.

The Great Escape
A new record deal with WEA in 1982 produced The Great Escape, which peaked at number seven in March. The single, "I Am an Island," peaked at number 20 while the compilation album, The Very Best of Richard Clapton, peaked at number 15 during the same time. Another national tour followed which included bassist Garry Gary Beers and drummer Jon Farriss from INXS as part of his backing band; an association that began when Clapton produced their 1981 album, Underneath the Colours. In 1983, Clapton joined the Party Boys for a short time and appeared on their Greatest Hits (of Other People) album. In 1984, Clapton released his next solo album, Solidarity, and again toured the country. Glory Road followed in 1987, produced by Jon Farriss in return for Clapton's work on Underneath the Colours.

In September 1989, The Best Years of Our Lives, a live album recorded on April 16, 1989, was issued. The next four years were spent undergoing contractual difficulties until Clapton signed a five-album deal with Sony. Between record deals, Clapton remained popular on the touring circuit and went on to release Distant Thunder in 1993 and Angeltown in 1996. In 1982 he signed with WEA and the Mark Opitz-produced The Great Escape had contributions from members of Cold Chisel and INXS. The album, which peaked at No. 8 in March, spawned three singles. The hard-rocking "I Am an Island", with Cold Chisel's Ian Moss on guitar and Jimmy Barnes on backing vocals, reached the top 20. Two other singles, "Spellbound" (April) and "The Best Years of Our Lives" (September) did not chart in the top 50. In May, WEA released his compilation, The Very Best of Richard Clapton, which reached No. 18 with The Great Escape still in the top 20.

Australian Crawl - 1985 - Two Can Play 12" FLAC

Two Can Play (7'' Version)/Two Can Play (12'' Extended Mix)/Two Can Play (Instrumental)




 Australian Crawl (often called Aussie Crawl or The Crawl by fans) were an Australian rock band founded by James Reyne (lead vocals/piano), Brad Robinson (rhythm guitar), Paul Williams (bass), Simon Binks (lead guitar) and David Reyne (drums) in 1978. David Reyne soon left and was replaced by Bill McDonough (drums, percussion). They were later joined by his brother Guy McDonough (vocals, rhythm guitar). The band was named after the front crawl swimming style also known as the Australian crawl.

Australian Crawl were associated with surf music and sponsored a surfing competition in 1984. However, they also handled broader social issues such as shallow materialism, alcoholism, car accidents, and cautionary tales of romance. 

 

 Between a Rock and a Hard Place was the final studio album from Australian rock band Australian Crawl. It was produced by English producer Adam Kidron (Ian Dury, Cabaret Voltaire, Aztec Camera). The album was initially released by Freestyle Records on vinyl and reached #11 on the ARIA album charts but slipped out of the top 40 two weeks later. The album was subsequently re-released on CD in 1997.

When the album virtually failed to chart, the band was ready to split but had to go out on tour for the next year to pay off the enormous $400,000 cost of producing the album. After completing their national tour of Australia in January, 1986, the band split up. Australian Crawl released a successful live album, The Final Wave, on the Freestyle Record label, towards the end of October, 1986.

 There were four singles lifted from the album, "Two Can Play"/"Two Can Play" (released June, 1985), "If This Is Love"/"You Told Me" (released September, 1985), "Trouble Spot Rock"/"Newly Weds In The Morning" (released November, 1985) and "Two Hearts"/"Across the Way" (released January, 1986).

All the singles failed to have significant chart success with "Two Can Play" reaching #44 and only remaining in the charts for nine weeks, "If This Is Love" peaking at #87 and remaining for three weeks, whilst "Trouble Spot Rock" reached #69 and stayed in the charts for four weeks.

Martin Plaza - Concrete and Clay 12" FLAC

Concrete & Clay [Extended Mix]/Concrete & Clay [7'' Version]/I Could Be So Good



  Martin Plaza is the pseudonym of Martin Edward Murphy (born 1 January 1956), who is a vocalist/guitarist/songwriter with Australian pop/new wave band Mental As Anything. Plaza also has a solo music career and in 1986 had a No. 2 hit in Australia with his cover of the 1960s Unit 4+2 song "Concrete and Clay". Plaza has worked in other bands and is an accomplished artist.

Plaza was born Martin Murphy on the North Shore of Sydney. He attended St. Pius X at Chatswood, excelling in sporting and artistic pursuits but showing little interest in other subjects. After attending Hornsby Technical College he switched with fellow student Steve Coburn to what was then known as the East Sydney Technical College (now known as the National Art School) in Darlinghurst in the mid-1970s where he met Chris O'Doherty. Around this time he was working part-time at KFC. With O'Doherty (later known as Reg Mombassa), Coburn and another student, David Twohill, he formed the pop/rock band Mental As Anything in May 1976. Mental As Anything went on to become one of Australia's most popular bands touring widely in Australia and overseas.
 

 All early members of Mental As Anything are also artists and have exhibited their artworks since 1982. Whilst not being as acclaimed as Mombassa or Reg's brother Peter O'Doherty, Plaza has certainly become quite prolific in recent years, holding numerous solo exhibitions working with a variety of media and has entered the Archibald Prize, notably with a self-portrait and a portrait of Mombassa. In the mid-1990s his artwork appeared on his own line of Dodgy brand clothing as well as his designs appearing on Mambo clothing. Many of Plaza's artworks have had a Hawaiian or Hula flavour.


In the early days of Mental As Anything, band members would often invent pseudonyms for each other that combined an exotic last name with a common Australian first name. Martin Plaza was one of the products of that amusement whilst obviously being inspired by the famous Sydney pedestrian mall Martin Place. He has in the past jokingly stated that his full name is Martin DeJesus Plaza.

 

In 1986 Plaza performed with The Rock Party, a charity project initiated by The National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NCADA), which included many Australasian musicians such as Crowded House members Neil Finn, Tim Finn, Paul Hester and Nick Seymour; GANGgajang members Geoff Stapleton, Robbie James and Mark Callaghan; Models members Jenny Morris and Sean Kelly; Reg Mombassa (Mental As Anything), Eddie Rayner, Mary Azzopardi (Rockmelons), Andrew Barnum (The Vitabeats), Lissa Barnum, Michael Barclay, Peter Blakely, Deborah Conway, Danny De Costa, Greg Herbert (The Promise), Spencer P Jones, John Kennedy, Paul Kelly, Robert Susz (Dynamic Hepnotics) and Rick Swinn (The Venetians). The Rock Party released a 12" single "Everything to Live For", which was produced by Joe Wissert, Phil Rigger and Phil Beazley.

In 1986, Plaza had a No. 2 hit in Australia with the 1960s Unit 4+2 song "Concrete and Clay", the subsequent solo album Plaza Suite also charted. Further singles were not as successful. In 1991 another planned solo album morphed into a collaboration with former member of Models, James Freud. Entitled Beatfish, it became one of the very first Australian Dance or House flavoured albums. Another surprising turn was his 1994 album Andy's Chest. Composed almost entirely of Lou Reed covers, it divided critics at the time. Another collaboration with Freud in 1996 produced the Hawaiian inspired Moondog project however Plaza only appears on some tracks.

The Dedikation - 1969 - The Dedikation

Greenburg, Glickstein, Charles, David Smith & Jones/Here Comes Jane/Be a Woman/ Barefootin'/Roly/ Season of the Witch/Wait for Me Mary-Anne/Travelling Circus/Pretender/Ruby Tuesday/Reach Out/Mr Dieingly Sad




The Dedikation were originally formed in the Upper Hutt around 1967, with the original drummer Michael Parlane being replaced by Bruce Whitelaw when they turned professional.

Their first single was released in 1969 and was a huge hit. It was "Wait For Me Maryanne"/"Sally Had A Party" and reached number 2 on the national charts. "Maryanne" was a far superior cover of the original song by the Marmalade from 1968. The Marmalade version lacks the depth of sound that the Dedikation managed to give it.

The song was a monster and few bands are capable of following up such a hit with another smash. Their second single was "Hayride"/"Barefootin'" and didn't even make the charts. The third single, a cover of the Rolling Stones did better. It was "Ruby Tuesday"/"Be A Woman" and reached number 12 on the national charts in 1970.

One self-titled album was released in 1969 and by 1970 the Dedikation had called it quits.

 Line-Up:
    Ray Mercer (Lead Guitar)
    Graeme Collins (Keyboards / Vocals)
    Graham Harvey (Bass Guitar)
    Bruce Whitelaw (Drums)

Airlord - 1977 - Clockwork Revenge ( 2004 Rem.) FLAC

Clockwork Revenge/Pictures In A Puddle/Ladies Of The NightEarthborn Pilgrim/Out Of The Woods/ Is It Such A Dream/You Might Even Be


Airlord was formed in Wellington in 1976, played the pubs and flew to Australia the following year, recorded an excellent albeit ignored album, "Clockwork Revenge", and disbanded in 1978. The group failed to secure a large New Zealand audience, largely because they performed original material. Airlord had to escape to Australia to earn a decent living, and although they were never a top draw card across the Tasman, their lifespan was a lot longer than had they stayed in New Zealand.

 Line-Up:
    Steve MacKenzie (Guitar / Vocals)
    Ray Simenauer (Guitar / Vocals)
    Brad Murray (Bass / Vocals)
    Alan Blackburn (Keyboards)
    Rick Mercer (Drums)



There seems to be two main singing voices, one of whom sounds like an early Peter Gabriel on steroids, while the other is a plummy tenor akin to Ray Thomas. Fortunately, the latter is the more prominent, and with some excellent rich high harmonies the Moody Blues comparison is quite striking, nowhere more than the superb Out Of The Woods. Guitars dominate the instrumentation, often with acoustic varieties providing excellent rhythmic support. Both guitarists get the chance to shine with some excellent lead runs and solos, though just occasionally a little extra spark of inspiration would come in handy. Keyboards largely fulfill a background role, mostly filling in the gaps, but the rhythm section is very good and the bass is especially inventive and forward in the mix.

 The standout songs are also the two longest - Ladies Of The Night and Out Of The Woods - each succeeding in combining wonderful songwriting with changeable 'symphonic' arrangements and scintillating rock-guitar work-outs. A couple of masterpieces there, and the rest of the album isn't far behind, except perhaps for the story-telling opening track which tries much too hard to recreate the battle of Epping Forest with overblown vocal theatrics! The finale (You Might Even Be) returns to a similar style but is more successful in marrying the theatrics with a strong sense of melody.

Despite the Gabriel-like vocals, this is no Genesis clone but an interesting, superior venture into their territory, quite at home with the likes of Fantasy or England. Had it been produced five years earlier it may well have made an impact. In retrospect, a terrific album that will appeal to lovers of Classic Prog and well worth the effort to seek it out.    New Link Added 02.06.2020