Thursday Jan 20, 2022
#39 Theme-Series-EP.1 Surf Music 1962-3
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
Monday Dec 27, 2021
Monday Dec 27, 2021
The first half of 1964 rounds out with very few Australian releases high in the charts. In fact, the highest-charting 45 is from New Zealand's Bill & Boyd; the beginning of a very successful recording career in Australia. Rock 'n' Roll revival is certainly a theme with entries from Johnny Devlin, Merv Benton, Johnny Chester, and Johnny O'Keefe with "Shout Parts 1 & 2", a revival of his 1959 hit, this time with the backing of "Australia's Beatles", The Rajahs! And a chart entry from another under-recorded female singer, April Byron who was soon to come under the patronage of The Bee Gees. Enjoy the sounds of mid-1964.
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
The 1st part of the second quarter of 1964 is led off by Johnny O'Keefe and perhaps his best-remembered ballad, She Wears My Ring. The highest charting hit is Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs' first big one; Poison Ivy, backed with Broken Things. We'll hear the last chart entries from the now-distant Summer of Surf, including The Delltones' Out The Back. And the final of 12 tracks is the lowest-charting; the much under-recorded Del Juliana with You're Driving Me Crazy, a video mashup of which can be found here.
Wednesday Dec 01, 2021
Wednesday Dec 01, 2021
Perhaps the term "uber-diverse" best captures the spirit of this episode. We'll hear songs written by Barry Gibb, Dmitri Kabalevsky, Georges Bizet, Joe Halford & Jay Justin, Artie Wayne & Ben Raleigh and many more! Featured artists include Rob E.G., Jimmy Little, Judy Stone, Little Pattie and, The Cicadas and again, many more. Three of my favourites in this episode; Billy Thorpe & The (Original) Aztecs' first 45, Blue Day; The Atlantics epic, light years ahead of its time, War of The Worlds, and the wonderful Judy Stone with 4 003 221 Tears From Now. Enjoy the Music!
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Another split quarter to open 1964 because of the volume of Australian Music released. Sadly though, not many will reach the higher rungs of the charts as The Beatles' dominance starts to bite. The quarter opens with a rare instrumental track from The Hawking Brothers, Mexicali Rose, my copy of which is in less than pristine condition; "Sound" apologies! It's mostly the 'usual suspects' in Part 1A, with the addition of Digger Revell & The Denvermen's 'classic', My Little Rocker's Turned Surfie and the group which backed Little Pattie on her early recordings, The Statesmen with Beachcomber. Remember when it was Rockers -v- Surfies, then Rockers -v- Mods? And yet again it will be Frank Ifield with the highest charting hit. Enjoy the start of 1964!
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
In part two of unpacking the 1975 compilation LP, So You Wanna' Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star Vol. 1, we go national with Blues Rags & Hollers from Adelaide, The Five from Brisbane and Glen Ingram & The Hi-Five from Perth. There's even a NZ band that (sort of) became an Australian band; The Librettos! We delve into the mystery of Melbourne band, The Mystrys. We will also hear great raw Australian garage rock from; Steve & The Board, The Blue Beats, The Pogs, The Morloch and The Showmen. There's also some great stories (sadly, of short-lived success) in this collection of bands. Enjoy!
Tuesday Nov 02, 2021
Tuesday Nov 02, 2021
A bit late with last week's episode but: A different approach this week, with ten tracks from the 1975 compilation LP, released on Festival; "So You Wanna' Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star Vol. 1". These ten tracks come from the period 1964-6. Groups featured, playing some absolute garage, beat-boom gems include; The Amazons, Chris Hall & The Torquays, The A Sound (Doug Parkinson's 1st band), The Vince Maloney (Melouney) Sect, The Black Diamonds and five more. In collector's terms, most of these tracks are "very rare", only a couple actually made the charts! I'll feature another ten in the next episode.
Friday Oct 22, 2021
Friday Oct 22, 2021
A Surfin' end to 1963 as Australian artists ride the Surf Music boom. Little Pattie's much celebrated double-sided debut 45 highlights the last few weeks of 1963. There's Surf Music from around Australia with chart hits not only coming from Sydney but also from Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane bands. The Atlantics hit with The Crusher, the followup to Bombora whilst in Brisbane, a band named The Pacifics hit with a double-sider. The 'old guard', Johnny O'Keefe and Dig Richards, re-enters the charts whilst we hear a debut 45 from the much-underrated Taylor Sisters. Ride the wild surf as 1963 closes out!
Friday Oct 15, 2021
Friday Oct 15, 2021
So much Australian content for the last quarter of 1963 that I've split it into two parts. Part A will take us through to mid-November, as the 'Summer of Surf' cranks up. The Delltones, The Denvermen, The Joy Boys & Johnny Devlin provide the surfin' action. Some old favourites chime in with new music, including Jimmy Little and his best-remembered song, Royal Telephone. Johnny O'Keefe has yet another double-sided hit with Shake Baby Shake/Good Luck Charm. And, almost from left field, The Seekers' career is launched with their first 45, a version of Waltzing Matilda, with Bruce Woodley taking the lead. Enjoy Part A and I'll get Part B up next week.
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.