Wednesday Jul 03, 2024
Top10-Series-Ep.4 1962
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
Friday Jun 28, 2024
Friday Jun 28, 2024
Back to the Top 10 Series, this time for the dreamy days of 1961. Most interestingly, in this Top 10 is the prevalence of instrumentals, four in the Top 10 and another three just outside. In there, is even a version of an instrumental tune that was first published in 1899! We'll also hear big chart successes from Bryan Davies, Patsy Ann Noble, Col Joye and The Joy Boys, and at No.1, Johnny O'Keefe. Enjoy the journey through the time tunnel!
Friday Jun 07, 2024
Friday Jun 07, 2024
Finally got another one of these elusive podcasts completed! In this episode we return to the TV series and listen to an episode of Bandstand aired on 18 May 1968. I've worked on improving the sound quality with mixed results. This episode features some outstanding Australian talent including Col Joye, Johnny Farnham and Janice Slater. There's also a performance by the elusive Johnny Marco and the only surviving footage of the very talented Cathy Wayne who was to lose her life in Vietnam, 1969. I relate a summary of that tragic event. We'll also hear Brian Henderson's presentation of a Gold Record to Johnny Farnham for, you guessed it, Sadie! Enjoy!
Monday Nov 13, 2023
Monday Nov 13, 2023
Apologies for the delay in getting this episode published. The throat is still not clear and then, I had to update my audio editor; and we know what can happen with updates! Cheryl Gray's career has been a remarkable one. In this first episode we sort out the 'name' issue (Cheryl Gray/Samantha Sang), trace Cheryl's remarkable musical grounding and listen to some of the six 45s that Cheryl released from late-1966 to early-1968; quite an achievement! And quite a voice!
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
After a few months off the scene, I'm back with an opening episode featuring the music of The Atlantics. This episode focusses on 1963 and The Atlantics rapid rise in the space of a few months. As well as the classics; Bombora and The Crusher, we'll hear The Atlantics as backing band for Kelly Green, Kenny Shane and Johnny Rebb. There's a lot of great music in this episode and much more to come!
Tuesday Jun 13, 2023
Tuesday Jun 13, 2023
Made it again after more medical misadventures; Covid this time, with various implications for the voice! I am going to take a three-month break with the publication of this one; recharge the batteries! Episode 3 of the TV Series is taken from an LP, The Johnny O’Keefe Show (a 1962 episode). The LP was reissued on CD. However, no attempt was made to fix the pitch of Johnny’s various introductions; he sounded like he had a peg on his nose! To the best of my limited skill, I have recalibrated the pitch with, hopefully a better sound (no pegged noses!).
The episode itself presents a bevy of Australian Rock & Pop stars including; Warren Williams, The Crescents, The Fauns, Ian Crawford, Lonnie Lee, Paul Wayne, Barry Stanton, Warren Carr and, JO’K himself. Enjoy The Johnny O’Keefe Show!
Friday May 12, 2023
Friday May 12, 2023
Apologies for the delay in publishing the next episode but I’ve been making a one-person assault on Medicare; many tests but not much to see!
This episode is another where we play and comment on a whole LP; in this instance, “My Favourite Kinda’ People”, W&G 1965. The “My” in the title refers to Brian De Courcy who managed four of the seven artists who appear on the LP. It’s a snapshot of W&G, arguably at the height of its power, in 1965. When you sit back and listen to the 14 tracks (2 per artist), you’ll discern many quality productions (one exception that is easily recognised). The seven featured artists are; The Strangers, Pat Carroll, The Pink Finks, Merv Benton, Johnny Cooper, Colin Cook & Little Gulliver.
Enjoy the music!
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Episode 2 of the Johnny O’Keefe story covers the period from July ‘58 to August ‘59. This was a period of significant advancement for Johnny O’Keefe & The Dee Jays.; several hit records and the release of the first LP; the seminal TV show, Six O’Clock Rock began; several appearances on Lee Gordon Big Shows and an appearance on promoter Bill Watson’s “Shower of Stars” tour - a rival to Lee Gordon. The highest charting hit nationally was Why Do They Doubt Our Love which reached 8. Plenty more of course, including a songwriting credit to JO’K for the Swan-ee River hit; it’s all about the hyphen! Enjoy the music!
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Monday Feb 06, 2023
A belated return to the Television Series with Brian Henderson’s Bandstand ‘63. This episode was released as an LP, from which the songs used in this podcast have been digitised. The songs also appeared on the Brian Henderson’s Bandstand CD, issued in the “SPIN” series around the turn of the century. The LP is a part-snapshot of the Australian Music Industry in ‘63, albeit a powerful one with the combination of Bandstand and Festival Records. However, The Beatles were hitting the charts and the full impact of the British Beat Boom would hit in 1964. As the ‘era of the instrumental’ was ending, this LP features five instrumentals. Sadly, only one female is featured; the wonderful Judy Stone. There’s a couple of oddities on the LP, including a rendition of a little ditty called “Persian Kitty”! Enjoy Brian Henderson’s Bandstand ‘63!
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.