Monday Jun 27, 2022
Top10-Series-Ep.1 1959
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 Jun 01, 2022
Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
A couple of weeks off after this episode; the postponed summer holiday happens in winter!
And now for something completely different; Brian Henderson’s Bandstand! This is an early-1962 episode described in the liner notes as a “Super Bandstand”. Festival released the soundtrack on an LP titled, “Brian Henderson’s Bandstand”. The sound quality on the LP is surprisingly good and includes Brian’s ‘chats’ with the artists between tracks. Some of this chatter is likely to bring a smile to your face. The “very special guest” for this episode was Johnny O’Keefe and the “star of the show” was Col Joye; a fascinating hierarchy! In my own chatter during the podcast, I try to unravel the intent of the fairly extensive liner notes (beyond selling records!). Besides Johnny and Col, eight other artists feature on the LP. Enjoy this rare piece of Australian music/television history!
Tuesday May 24, 2022
Tuesday May 24, 2022
This week we return to the EP series with an episode focussed on Johnny O’Keefe & The Dee Jays’ first five EPs, 1958-60. This is an attempt to look at the career of Johnny O’Keefe from a different perspective. Future episodes will move through the EPs of the 60s and the early-70s; and there’s plenty of them! In researching this, and future, episodes, I’m indebted to the work of Jeff Ellis; “Australian Festival EP Deluxe Edition 2015”, and to Bob Hayden’s and Don Hudson’s work, “Johnny O’Keefe Discography 78s, 45s, EPs, LPs”. Do you know how many of the tracks on those five EPs also appeared on a 45? Listen - you may be surprised by the answer!
Thursday May 12, 2022
Thursday May 12, 2022
July of 1965 is jam-packed with great Australian Music. Ray Brown & The Whispers score the highest chart position, closely followed by The Seekers. And, another bag of chart debutants; Peter Doyle, The Spinning Wheels, Buddy England, Billy Adams, The Kravats and, The Kini Quartet. Regulars, Ray Columbus & The Invaders, The Playboys, The Henchmen and Digger Revell also contribute. Enjoy the Music!
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Another whole month of Australian Music; in this episode, June of 1965. Chart high points come with double-siders from Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs and The Easybeats. Laurie Allen & Bobby Bright reach No.20 with their 2nd 45. And a wide range of chart debuts from; Marcie Jones, John Perry, The Twilights, The Rondells, The Flies, Jade Hurley & The Wesley Three. Quite a month! Enjoy!
Wednesday Apr 20, 2022
Wednesday Apr 20, 2022
After recovering from Covid, the voice is back in operation: May of 1965 brings us the first release for Normie Rowe & The Playboys with the controversial “It Ain’t Necessarily So”. The highest chart position is achieved by The Seekers with “A World of Our Own”. The Pink Finks, led by Ross Wilson, have a hit with “Louie Louie” and establish their own record label, MOJO. We’ll also hear from Merv Benton, Digger Revell and others, including the first chart success for a Perth band, The Times with “Glad Not Sad”. Enjoy!
Monday Apr 04, 2022
Monday Apr 04, 2022
In this episode we feature April releases only, such was the Australian artist output, although there were only two that reached the Top 10 nationally. We’ll hear the first release from The Changing Times; the name itself an apt description for the month. There’s a noticeable shift to ‘tuff’ R&B, aligning with The Rolling Stones ascendancy; The Spinning Wheels with Got My Mojo Working, Ray Hoff & The Offbeats with Little Queenie & the afore-mentioned Changing Times with Mary Lou. Jay Justin and Little Pattie continue to chart whilst we hear debut 45s from The Henchmen, Peter Doyle and, The Easybeats. Ray Brown & The Whispers’ Pride reaches the highest chart mark at 3. Enjoy the changin’ times!
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
As we wrap the 1st quarter of 1965, we will learn to dance "The Cling", hear minor chart entries from 'regulars' Colin Cook, Johnny Devlin (Did McCartney really co-write?) and Dinah Lee. The highest chart success was Laurie Allen and Bobby Bright's "I Belong to You" on the GO!! label. We also hear the strange case of how a five-minute folk song reached 33 on the national chart in 1965! Gary Shearston did it! A new female artist hits the charts the charts for the first time; Lynne Randell, and Merv Benton wraps the quarter; short but certainly sweet!
Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
Part A of the 1st quarter of 1965 is another streamlined episode but not short on highlights. The Seekers hit No.1 with the Tom Springfield written and produced "I'll Never Find Another You". Ray Brown & The Whispers hit the ground running with the double-sider, 20 Miles/Devoted to You. We'll also hear a quite brilliant, organ-fuelled instrumental entry from The Playboys, before they link with Normie Rowe. And Brisbane band, The Pacifics, morph from a Surf to a Garage band with Bobby Dean as vocalist. Enjoy the music!
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.