Thursday Aug 12, 2021
Australian-Charts-EP.13 1962 Pt.1
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
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!
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Leaving the Chart Series for the next three episodes and returning to the Singers Series. Episode 2 in this series brings us Part 1 of The Little Pattie Story: The Stomp Years. Little Pattie's canon of recordings is so great that there will be four episodes of The Little Pattie Story. In this first episode we trace Little Pattie's four 45s released in 1963-4 and hear a couple of tracks from her first LP titled, "The Many Moods of Little Pattie". A word for listeners who may be 'first-timers': Chart listings are taken from David Kent's epic work, "Australian Chart Chronicles 1940-2008" and thus, are on a national basis. The starting-point? Something about a blonde-haired surfer who could stomp.....
Thursday Jul 29, 2021
Thursday Jul 29, 2021
As 1961 drew to a close, it wasn't a particularly high-achieving time for Australian Music. Bryan Davies' Five Foot Two/Ladder of Love achieved the highest national chart position, 16 - lasting 15 weeks, with Patsy Ann Noble's Good Looking Boy just behind, 17 - lasted 23 weeks. One notable first chart entry was Betty McQuade's, Midnight Bus (29-19), the John D. Loudermilk song. Beyond those notables, we'll hear a 'bit of sunshine' from Warren Carr, Barry Stanton gets 'down on his knees' and Ernie Sigley returns with a Christmas song. Merry Christmas for 1961!
Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
The Winter-Spring of 1961 is a time of some 'deep' cuts; deep in terms of the song's origin. We'll hear an instrumental version of a popular dance that apparently was a favourite of Abraham Lincoln! And, a hit for The Joy Boys that has its origins in Ragtime! We'll also attempt to unravel The Sapphires conundrum (at least four different groups with the same name!). We'll even hear an instrumental hit for a Melbourne group with a unique (for the time) structure; there was no bass guitarist. No problem though, because the future Musical Director for The Monkees, played the bassline on the bass strings of his guitar! Biggest hit wise, it's Johnny O'Keefe again with I'm Counting On You, backed with Right Now. And much, much more.......
Sunday Jul 25, 2021
Sunday Jul 25, 2021
Love was certainly in the air in April of 1961: The Crescents, The De Kroo Brothers and, Col Joye & The Joy Boys all contribute to the voluminous "Love" musical canon! In May, we'll dance to the Hokey-Pokey, courtesy of a national chart debut from Johnny Chester with The Thunderbirds. And, in June, Bryan Davies has the highest-ranking chart success of the quarter with the very definition of "dreamy pop", Dream Girl! There's also a chart hit for Barry Stanton with a song penned by Johnny O'Keefe, that has one of the most ironic titles in (teen) pop history??
Sunday Jul 25, 2021
Sunday Jul 25, 2021
It's a mixed bag of hits for the first quarter of 1961. A country duo hit with their first Australian 45 release; The Le Garde Twins, Tom & Ted, had previously released two 45s in the USA, where they were based. The highest-ranking chart success comes from The Delltones with You're The Limit. We also hear national chart debuts from a range of Australian artists; The Thunderbirds, Gaynor Bunning, Frankie Davidson, Tony Brady, Kevin Shegog, Ian Crawford, and The Leemen (sans Lonnie). We'll also learn about the man who invented beer!? Enjoy...
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
This final episode of 1960, October-December, produces some genuine oddities; such was the state of Australian Music as 1960 drew to a close! How about a 45 release for an Olympic swimmer backed by a group that included a future Australian drumming legend and, the future Musical Director at St George Leagues Club, Sydney? We'll hear about "zacs in the pocket" and more than once! The rather suggestively-titled, Pretty Keen Teen makes the charts. A song titled, Little Miss Mufffet, hits!? And, under a pseudonym, a famous hypnotist becomes a singer! Quite a time for Australian Music! Enjoy......
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.