Thursday Sep 16, 2021
Australian-Charts-EP.18 1963 Pt.2
Australian Music Archives
Building on the work of many others, this series of podcasts charts the development of Australian Music. The Chart series commences at 1957 with the introduction of Top 40 charts. Other series will focus on Singers and Groups. Whilst 1957 is the starting-point, we will also be moving back in time to chart the rich history of Australian Music in many forms, before the beginning of the Top 40 era. The general principle in the development of these podcasts is 'let the music do the talking'. Thus, there will be a premium on musical content, with less emphasis on the narrative. Occasionally, when there is a good story to be told (and there are many!), I may wax a touch lyrical, more so in the Singers and Groups series. The key reference work is David Kent's "Australian Chart Chronicles 1940-2008", a truly monumental work in its breadth of detail. Many people/sites have contributed to the research for the podcasts; too many to name them all but special thanks to the History of Aussie Music Blogspot, the Milesago Facebook page, the Best of Bandstand Facebook page and the Pop Archives site, where you can answer the question, "Where did they get that song from?". Many video contributors on You Tube have been a great resource in finding obscure songs including Folk Rock Australian Rock More! sallie6 and Clem Viney and there are many others! The podcasts are designed to be a permanent record and as such this is a 'labour of love' and strictly not-for-profit. I have attempted to partner with a major Australian organisation but, alas, no interest! Thus, as my late Father would have said, I am the "chief cook and bottle-washer" which means that I'm researcher, scriptwriter, digitiser, narrator and producer. As such, especially in terms of digitising vinyl records, there may appear to the ear of the listener, to be less-than-optimal sound. I work all music through Audacity, vinyl or otherwise, but, at times with old vinyl, "you can only do so much"! So, please enjoy the podcasts and let me know what you think.
Listen on:
Episodes
Episodes
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
Onto 1963 and the first quarter, with the biggest hit going to The Delltones, now with lead singer Col Loughnan; Come a Little Bit Closer. The Denvermen kick things off with the soothing surf sound of Surfside, a summer before the main surf era in Australia, the summer of 1963/4. A solo debut for Colin Cook hits in January; It's Up To You. And plenty of instrumental action from The Thunderbirds, The Marksmen and a version of Mary Had a Little Lamb (yes-no typo!) for Melbourne band, The Premiers! Enjoy!
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Monday Aug 30, 2021
The last quarter of 1962 is full of Australian artist chart successes. Yet again, Frank Ifield scores the highest position with Lovesick Blues reaching No.2. Johnny O'Keefe chimes in with a couple of entries including a double-sided hit written by New York songwriter Alice Evelyn. Some very strong instrumentals appear, including The Chessmen (without Johnny) and The Rebel (Johnny Yuma), and The Phantoms with Stampede which, 12 months later, would be referred to as "Surf Music". With the nuclear threat very prominent, Kevin Shegog comes to the rescue with "Fallout Shelter", although it's not the shelter that will save you but rather......take a listen and enjoy! And, Merry Christmas for 1962 with The Joy Boys' Xmas Guitar!
Sunday Aug 22, 2021
Sunday Aug 22, 2021
Returning to the Singers Series and Part 1 of the Johnny Rebb Project: The Early Years with his band, The Rebels. For Donald James Delbridge, the story began with a sole Columbia release in 1958 before being signed, with The Rebels, to the Leedon/Lee Gordon label. This episode will chart the successful 45/EP releases of this period and Johnny's only-ever LP release, Some Swing Some Sweet. This is a real Australian success story, the course of which will be charted in future episodes.
Wednesday Aug 18, 2021
Wednesday Aug 18, 2021
Part 2 of The Bee Gees on Australian Television, highlights the surviving performances from 1964-6. It's fascinating to listen to the development of The Bee Gees as performers, when we move through these years. The performances come from four programs; Sing, Sing, Sing, Bandstand, Reg Lindsay's Country & Western Hour and, It's All Happening. Performances include the "Johnny O'Keefe and The Bee Gees" rendition of "Glad All Over", a hillbilly, stomping version of "The Battle of The Blue and The Grey" (including backing by a fiddle and piano accordion!) on Reg Lindsay's C&W Hour and, a remarkable rendition of The Rolling Stones' "Out of Time", with Robin on lead vocals. Again, thanks and kudos to the various You Tube Creators whose preservation work has made this episode possible. Enjoy the "Development of Brilliance"!
Monday Aug 16, 2021
Monday Aug 16, 2021
This is a short episode because for some odd reason there were not many Australian artist Chart successes in the second quarter of 1962; eight to be exact! And all of those artists had already tasted Chart success. However, a few genuine big ones among the eight; Today's Teardrops - Col Joye with The Joy Boys; Si Senor (I Theenk) - Rob E. G.; Have You Ever Been To See Kings Cross - Frankie Davidson and, Get a Little Dirt On Your Hands - The Delltones; all Top 10 hits! You may only need one cup of coffee to get through this episode.
Thursday Aug 12, 2021
Thursday Aug 12, 2021
Quite a bit of twistin' happening as we set out to explore Australian artists success on the charts in 1962; January-March in this episode. Some instrumental success for The Marksmen & The Dave Bridge Quartet also features. The very first Australian version of "Shakin' All Over" hits for Johnny Chester & The Thunderbirds and, of course, the big one for Lucky Starr, "I've Been Everywhere!
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Episode 4 of the "Groups" series, brings us to The Bee Gees on Australian TV, Pt.1. We'll hear the first ever appearance of The Bee Gees on Sydney TV (They had previously appeared on Brisbane TV but the episodes are lost.). Most of the episode will focus on 1963 and The Bee Gees first series of appearances on Bandstand, hosted by the late Brian Henderson. This episode is published the day after Brian's sad passing. Audio of Brian introducing The Bee Gees is included. This episode would not have been possible without the work of those You Tube contributors who have preserved the episodes. As the sound is captured from original TV performances, there will be some variable quality. Please bear this in mind because, even though everything is refined through Audacity, sometimes "you can only do so much". Enjoy 'The Birth of Brilliance'!
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Episode 2 of The Little Pattie Story is titled, "The Pop Years", covering the period 1965-6. These years were a time of significant change in Australia; the advent of the British Beat boom was shaping musical trends whilst Australia's growing involvement in Vietnam was the political focus of the time. In this episode, we'll hear Pattie's version of a Lennon-McCartney rocker, "I'm Down" from the "Pattie" LP and we'll recount the story of Pattie's Vietnam concert party trip; quite a life-changing moment. Also we'll hear a couple of well-remembered Pop hits and Pattie's excursion into the Japanese market, including a song sung in Japanese. Enjoy The Pop Years!
Welcome
Building on the work of many others, this series of podcasts charts the development of Australian Music. The Chart series commences at 1957 with the introduction of Top 40 charts. Other series will focus on Singers and Groups. Whilst 1957 is the starting-point, we will also be moving back in time to chart the rich history of Australian Music in many forms, before the beginning of the Top 40 era. The general principle in the development of these podcasts is 'let the music do the talking'. Thus, there will be a premium on musical content, with less emphasis on the narrative. Occasionally, when there is a good story to be told (and there are many!), I may wax a touch lyrical, more so in the Singers and Groups series. The key reference work is David Kent's "Australian Chart Chronicles 1940-2008", a truly monumental work in its breadth of detail. Many people/sites have contributed to the research for the podcasts; too many to name them all but special thanks to the History of Aussie Music Blogspot, the Milesago Facebook page, the Best of Bandstand Facebook page and the Pop Archives site, where you can answer the question, "Where did they get that song from?". Many video contributors on You Tube have been a great resource in finding obscure songs including Folk Rock Australian Rock More! sallie6 and Clem Viney and there are many others! The podcasts are designed to be a permanent record and as such this is a 'labour of love' and strictly not-for-profit. I have attempted to partner with a major Australian organisation but, alas, no interest! Thus, as my late Father would have said, I am the "chief cook and bottle-washer" which means that I'm researcher, scriptwriter, digitiser, narrator and producer. As such, especially in terms of digitising vinyl records, there may appear to the ear of the listener, to be less-than-optimal sound. I work all music through Audacity, vinyl or otherwise, but, at times with old vinyl, "you can only do so much"! So, please enjoy the podcasts and let me know what you think.