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Part B of September 1966 brings us to the point where “Spicks and Specks” enters the charts. It is a turning point, not just for The Bee Gees but for Australian Music as well. Few groups were afforded the opportunity of releasing 12 (45 singles) before making it close to the top of the charts. This episode also brings us a couple of ‘lost’ Garage classics. With the help of the Pop Archives site, we untangle the fascinating back-stories of a couple of tunes that appear in this episode. We also attempt to untangle the use of the word “Sect” in many, many rock group titles. Oh, and there’s a Seekers’ song, which actually reached the Top 40 that I’ve never heard before.
Enjoy the episode!
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Apologies for the gap between Podcasts; chemotherapy is a strange beast! The combined effects of fatigue and dry-mouth present some challenges. Anyway, today we have Part A for September of ‘66. In two parts because of the number of Australian artist releases, with a couple of real gems that only reached the lower echelons of the Top 100. The Twilights achieved the highest chart position, with other chart entries from artists as diverse as; Sandy Scott, The Atlantics, Bill and Boyd, Lynne Randell and Grantley Dee. Enjoy revisiting the Australian Music for the first half of September ‘66.
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An eclectic mix of 45s awaits us as we explore the Australian artist chart hits that entered the National Chart in August of 1966. From the down-and-dirty Blues of The Throb and The Purple Hearts, the frantic energy of The Loved Ones, to the style and grace of Judy Stone. In addition, we hear from The Last Straws, and a certain medical student who started a record label, before opening a chain of medical centres adorned with grand pianos! And much much more!
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I was about to start the Top Ten for 1966 when I realised that I had not completed the Chart Series for 1966. So, here's the Australian artist chart entries for July of '66. The Easybeats score the highest-placed chart entry with a song from an EP! We hear from Buddy England, Donna Gaye, Max Merritt & The Meteors, The Twilights and several others; only one #1 but a series of well-remembered songs, including The Skye Boat Song.
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MEDICAL UPDATE: By way of explaining my erratic publishing schedule: So far this year I've; been diagnosed with Parkinson's, had a brain biopsy, been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's B Cell Lymphoma in the brain (not related to the Parkinson's), had a relatively mild Flu (which delayed the following) and, started Chemotherapy (two days a month for six months). The prognosis for the Lymphoma is positive but Stevie Wright's "Hard Road" does come to mind!
1965 was a seminal year for Australian Music! To make this Top 11 (tie), the lowest chart position achieved had to be a #3. There are #4 releases that reach #1, and two of those were recorded overseas. Only one group from the 1964 chart appears in the 1965 Top 11. In total there are only four groups in this Top 11. All but one of those has multiple entries! There is only one individual in the Top 11. You can probably guess some of that but "do yourself a favour" (sorry Molly!) and take a listen to this episode.
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1964 brings the winds of change to the Australian Music scene! There are no instrumentals in the Top 10. One group appears four times in the Top 10! Two groups that came from NZ score Top Ten hits. And four survivors from previous Top Tens score hits. Of course all of this Australian Music was created in the shadow of The Beatles’ full emergence, driven to unheard of heights by their Australian tour. I've also included a couple of challenges within the podcast. See how you go! And, who is that group with four Top 10 hits?
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The Top Australian Artist Chart Hits of 1963.
Yet again, we have four instrumentals in the Top Ten but, as you will gather from the intro music, two of those four have a particular theme. Two artists, one a group, each score two Top 10 hits. Three songs reached #1 and a couple of biggest hits for two Australian vocalists. Quite a year for Australian Music!
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Moving to the Top 10 Australian Artist hits of 1962 and a year where Australian Artists surged to the top of the charts!
Again, three instrumentals appear in the Top 10, two artists appear twice, a breakthrough hit for a Melbourne artist, a group of hits for regular Top 10 artists and, a song that was to become an iconic Australian classic at #1.
Enjoy the Top Ten of 1962!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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This weeks episode takes us back to the Singers series, with Part One of the Johnny O’Keefe story. The first episode takes us from July ‘57 to May ‘58. So there’s a lot to go and a lot more research to do! Particular thanks to Bob Hayden and Don Hudson for their definitive work, “Johnny O’Keefe Discography”(2020) which lays out a complete and accurate music chronology.
Highlights of Episode 1: Johnny O’Keefe & The Dee Jays’ first record release was on 78 only. We’ll hear Eddie Cochran’s version of Am I Blue, the first 45; you will notice a difference to Johnny’s version! We talk about the first Lee Gordon Big Show and how Johnny & The Dee Jays were signed-up after Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps were stranded in Hawaii. And we’ll attempt to unravel The Wild One/Real Wild Child confusion. Plus, the Festival applause over-dubbing on the 2nd EP, Shakin’ at The Stadium Vol.1. which wasn’t ‘live’ at all but which did give the world the career-defining Wild One. Enjoy the Music!
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After the Christmas/New Year break, we return and head into the Australian Music hitting the charts in June 1966. The highest charting 45 was a double-sider for Johnny Young & Kompany on the Clarion label out of Perth. In fact, three Perth groups hit the charts this month, along with a group out of Hobart and another out of Adelaide; certainly reflecting a more national chart. Sydney and Melbourne artists are also represented with the likes of The Vince Melouney Sect, The Groop and Ronnie Burns. On an international level, four future Number Ones hit the chart. Which one lasted the longest? And which Australian artist, outlasted them all at 37 weeks? Enjoy the music!
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May 1966, the last month of Autumn, brings a load of 60s classics entering the charts, including Frank Sinatra’s return to the top of the charts with Strangers in the Night. On the Australian artist side, Normie Rowe reaches the highest position with Pride & Joy/The Stones That I Throw (and who wrote that one?). We’ll also hear debut chart success for Grantley Dee, Ray Hoff & The Offbeats (on Clarion) and The Loved Ones. Tony Barber rounds out the month with Wait By The Water (and who wrote that one?). Enjoy the music of May 1966!
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April of 1966 brings us Bobby & Laurie’s No.1 hit, Hitch Hiker. The Easybeats reach No.3 with Come and See Her, yet another Wright-Young composition. There’s certainly a couple in the “should have been bigger” category; Mike Furber & The Bowery Boys with You Stole My Love reaching 36, and The Allusions with Gypsy Woman reaching 27. There’s some satire from a folk trio originally from WA, The Twiliters with Dismal Currency. And, we hear Gil Mathews playing guitar in Max Hamilton & The Impacts’ I’m Blue. There’s some quality Australian music in this lot; take a listen
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