DOWNLOAD NO.119 - DOUG PARKINSON AND THE LIFE ORGANISATION

In 1974-1975 Doug Parkinson, a talented Newcastle NSW performer and singer, made an interesting musical digression with a band called Doug Parkinson's Life Organisation which played 1940s big band jazz. The line-up included: Teddy Toi, Graham Morgan, Peter Martin (guitar; ex-SCRA), Warren Ford (guitar, piano), Bill Motzing (trombone, keyboards) and, briefly, the mercurial Wendy Saddington (vocals). The Life Organisation released a few singles, the first being a cover of the Glenn Miller standard "In the Mood (40s Style)" charting in June 1973, which surprisingly reached #36 in Sydney. Life Organisation also backed Parkinson on his second solo single (lifted from No Regrets), "Love Gun" / "Dear Prudence" (April 1973).

Doug Parkinson's Life Organisation 1974-75

Johnny Dick (drums)
Peter Figures (drums)
Warren Ford (piano, guitar)
Peter Martin (guitar)
Graeme Morgan (drums)
Bill Motzing (brass, keys) – He later scored big-time with “Hooked On Classics” with the Neon Philharmonic Orchestra.
Teddy Toi (bass)

The Singles

June 1973 In the Mood (40s Style) (Australia #76, Sydney #38 - it charted with its "B" side called "In The Mood (70s Style)").

Nov 1973 Boogie Woogie

Feb 1974 Pink Steamroller

May 1974 American Patrol

June 1974 The Time Warp

Aug 1974 Beyond the Blue Horizon (Adelaide #5)

Enjoy the "A" side"In the Mood (40s Style)":

http://rapidshare.com/files/181008057/life_organisation_-_in_the_mood__40s_style_.mp3

This one is the "B" side "In The Mood (70s Style)":

http://rapidshare.com/files/181631609/life_organisation_-_in_the_mood__stereo_70s_style_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.118 - FANTASY

Fantasy was a Melbourne pop group that was originally John Farnham's backing band. They had a huge novelty hit in 1973 with "Marrow Song" (which was the "B" side of the single). If you listen to John's old material you can hear that the Fantasy boys were adept at providing vaudevillian backing for some of John's schmaltzy hits. Their second hit "Just Another Pretty Face" was also very successful and had a great nostalgic sound from a bygone era.

Personnel (up to 1975):

JEFF BUZAGLO keyb'ds, vcls

COLIN ROSS drms, vcls

CHRIS STUDDARD bs, vcls

DAVE STUDDARD gtr, vcls

KEITH McKAY keyb'ds

They went on to record an album, Tribute To Australian Rock And Roll (Hammond) in 1977. They put out 3 singles, of which 2 did very well.

45s:

1 Universal Sun / Suzie - 1971 - non-charting

2 Forty Days Of Rain / Marrow Song - 1973 - got to #11

3 Just Another Pretty Face / Look Around - 1973 - got to #45

My favourite was the bouncy "Just Another Pretty Face" which should have been on a C.D. by now, but as usual, after 30 years of looking it hasn't shown up on anything in my town! "Just Another Pretty Face" appeared on the album Hot Aussie Night in 1974.

This home-made transfer of "Just Another Pretty Face" sounds so good, you'd think it was C.D. quality. Enjoy!

http://rapidshare.com/files/180962023/fantasy_-_just_another_pretty_face.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.117 - SLIM NEWTON AND TEX MORTON

Unlike some D.J.s who stick to one music preference I have always enjoyed a wide variety of Oz music (as you can tell if you have ventured into this blog). The country is where I was born, in a little town near Mudgee, NSW. As a small child dad's job took us to a town not far from Tamworth - the country capital of NSW.

Now, when you work as a mobile D. J. you get asked to do parties in odd places...once, I had 400 people squeezed in a shearing shed /wool shed, in the upper Hunter Valley for a surprise 50th birthday party for a farmer's wife...and of course I had to have a repertoire of country tracks for the celebration which went to almost dawn...

Two really big Oz country hits were "A Redback On The Toilet Seat" and "Goondiwindi Grey". They both ran less than 3 minutes in length, so of course I had to remedy that and make some longer versions...for dance purposes...as you do!

Here is a little info about the two artists responsible, Slim Newton and Tex Morton:

Tex Morton (born Robert William Lane in Nelson, New Zealand, August 30, 1916; died July 23, 1983) was a pioneer of Australian country music. At just 14 years of age, the young Robert Lane ran away from home, beginning an adventurous life which would take him to all parts of the world. In the early '30s, Tex recorded a number of tracks on custom made, 7 inch aluminium discs in Wellington N.Z. Two are now in the National Film & Sound Archive in Canberra and another in Country Music Capital's Walk A Country Mile. Tex moved to Australia in 1932 (age 16) and took to carrying his swag and working wherever jobs were offering on outback stations where he first began to get his performing name. He participated regularly in the Australasian Country Music Awards as a special guest and his recording of "The Goondiwindi Grey" won the Golden Guitar for APRA Song of the Year in 1974.

FROM TOP 100 AUSSIE RECORDS for 1973 – Country Singles

1. HEAVEN IS MY WOMAN'S LOVE Col Joye

3. THE WORLD'S GREATEST MUM Johnny Chester

11. GOONDIWINDI GREY Tex Morton

18. PLAYGROUND IN MY MIND Johnny Ashcroft

Slim Newton was a native of Perth, Western Australia, (real name Ralph Ernest Newton), he came from a family of three boys. His first record, "Redback on the Toilet Seat" made history, and has earned Slim three gold records. Slim sang the song on the live "Big 'T' Jubilee" radio show (2TM, 3MA, 4CA, 7LA) with a huge and immediate response. An instant blackout was placed on the song until the disc was released in March 1972. Late in April "Redback" was showing the first signs of being a gigantic hit. The E.P. broke via 2CH and 2UE and started to appear on prediction charts around Australia soon after. Within the first 12 months of the release of "Redback on the Toilet Seat" there were recorded four cover versions of the song: three in Australasia and one in the USA (by a New York rock group!). Slim's recording had also been issued in New Zealand, and Australasian sales of that original E.P. record (it was never a single) passed the 100,000 sales before being deleted on 8th June 1978.

Enjoy two extended 12" Tom Mix versions for the price of one:

http://rapidshare.com/files/180889595/extended_country_tom_mix.rar

DOWNLOAD NO.116 - HUSH

Hush was a 1970s pop group and became famous during frequent appearances on Countdown. Hush were formed, with Keith Lamb on vocals, in the Sydney suburb of Seven Hills in 1971 as a five piece band including a keyboardist. Hush first came to attention when they made the NSW finals of Australia's national rock band competition Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds in 1972. (Hoadley’s the sponsor was a famous confectionary maker responsible for the original Violet Crumble Bars, mmm). Hush first made the Australian charts in October 1973 with their own composition, "Get The Feeling" which got to #14 in Sydney and NSW. By this time they were down to the "classic" four-piece line-up of Keith Lamb (vocals), Les Gock (guitar), Rick Lum (bass) and Chris "Smiley" Pailthorpe (drums).

“Get The Feeling” length-wise was about 2 mins 25 secs, which is short for a top 40 single in the Glam Rock Era! So…I made a longer version for BBQs and parties, back when I was working as a mobile D.J. My version runs at a more respectable 3 mins 30 secs. It was amazing how drunken revellers enjoyed this one! Cheers!

“Get The Felling” for a little longer:

http://rapidshare.com/files/180640669/hush_-_get_the_feeling__ext_tom_mix_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.115 - DELILAH

Delilah was raised in Baltimore, Maryland USA, where she learned to sing in the local Pentecostal churches. Later, inspired by the gospel music, Delilah headed for San Francisco, singing Jazz and Rhythm & Blues in a Pizza Parlour. Delilah's undoubtable talents were quickly recognized alongside the likes of Sly Stone and Bobby Freeman. Bookings in Canada resulted and were followed by a successful trip to Japan. Delilah's professionalism was however then cultivated over a five-year period spent in Las Vegas. There, she appeared with people like Duke Ellington, Sammy Davis Jnr., Lou Rawls and Robert Goulet. A trip to Australia in the early 70s paved the way to a successful weekly television show "Just Delilah" followed amidst modelling assignments, stage shows and a film. It was around that time that Delilah decided to make Sydney her permanent home. She has appeared on every major national television show as a guest artist often singing big hits of the day. By 1976 Delilah made a big impact on the live disco scene and became firmly established on the club circuit. This was topped by a nomination as the "Queen of Discos". Delilah also performed in Tokyo at the World Popular Song Festival 1979.

Her hit disco single “My Guy” got to #44 in 1977 but the extended 12” version, which was a club hit well into the 1980s when I was working as a D.J., has never made it to C.D. The song was originally released on Miracle records a subsidiary of Wizard/RCA.

Here is "My Guy" the 12" mix:

http://rapidshare.com/files/180619624/delilah_-_my_guy__extended_version_.mp3

DOWNLOAD N0.114 - GRAEME BELL, JOHNNY O'CONNOR, RED PERKSEY WITH RAY DICKSON, THE LE GARDE TWINS & JOHN CURRIE

A MIXED BAG OF AUSSIES:

In the 1940 and 1950's Australia's music tastes were satisfied by a blend of English and American music played on the radio. The first Australian recorded music stars were country bush balladeers such as Tex Morton, Slim Dusty and Reg Lindsay. Other than Australian country music, some big bands did a little recording and the first actual 'Hit Parade' style of performer was the Les Welch Band with “They Called It Dixieland”, in May 1956.

The Red Perksey Band came in second with a song from the then new movie “A Town like Alice” in Sept 1956. Red Perksey was a French jazz musician who arrived in Australia in 1951 and began to record conventional dance music for the Pacific label in 1953. The singer with the band was Ray Dickson. The song “A Town like Alice” got to chart position #5 in 1956.

“(Be My) Saturday Girl” by Johnny O’Connor with orchestra conducted by Julian Lee, got to #24 in 1959. The song was from the stage musical “Lola Montez”. The CD of this production was available for sale at one stage.

Graeme Emerson Bell AO MBE, b.1914 Melbourne, is ‘The Father of Australian Jazz”. Graeme was 11 when he began studying classical piano, but he was converted to jazz by his younger brother, trumpeter Roger. One of Graeme’s pop hits was “Rag Trade Rag” which got to position #19 in 1963.

The Le Garde Twins had a #32 hit in 1961 with “Where Can The Lovelight Be”. Some of their material surfaces on C.D. but is not widely distributed.

"Rocking" John Currie had a #29 hit in 1974 with his traditional folk ballad “Four Maries”. John tried the following year with "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" which charted briefly in NSW.

Here is a RAR file download which contains:

“A Town like Alice”

“(Be My) Saturday Girl”

“Rag Trade Rag”

“Where Can The Lovelight Be”

“Four Maries”

http://rapidshare.com/files/180563234/tom_mix_oldies_from_oze.rar

This download is “They Called It Dixieland”:

http://rapidshare.com/files/180590857/les_welch_-_and_they_called_it_dixieland.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.113 - ARIEL

Ariel was an Australian progressive rock band based around the duo Mike Rudd and Bill Putt, who formed the band in 1973 after the breakup of their previous group Spectrum - see further over at end of this blog for a rare version of "Ill Be Gone" by Spectrum.

Ariel had a slow chart run with nothing too spectacular to show for their effort. By early 1977 the band were stagnating. The breakup was announced in July 1977. Their final gig was a lavish affair with an "island" theme, held at Melbourne's Dallas Brooks Hall on 31 August 1977; it was recorded live and later released over two albums: Aloha Ariel and Live - More From Before.

A farewell single, "It's Only Love", was released to coincide with the concert. The single got to #33 in late 1977.

http://rapidshare.com/files/180551496/ariel_-_it_s_only_love.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.112 - BARTHOLOMEW JOHN

Bartholomew John (born John Suckling 24 August 1952 in Christchurch, N.Z.) is an adopted Aussie actor best known for his roles on television. He played Dr. Chris Piper in the Australian soap opera The Young Doctors from 1977 to 1979 followed by appearances in Skyways and Waterloo Station. More recent credits include: Murder Call, All Saints and Always Greener.

He released two singles on the Interfusion label in N.Z., the first in 1972 "Straight From A Rainbow"/"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" and the second in 1974 "Someone"/"Is This The End".

The “A” side "Someone", after charting in the N.Z. top 40, charted well in NSW and the got to #37 in June 1974. Bart relocated to Australia after this and released one more single in 1975 called "Getting Over You"/"That's The Way I Feel".

Here is his single of "Someone" which has not made it to C.D.:

http://rapidshare.com/files/180545241/bartholomew_john_-_someone__vinyl_tom_mix_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.111 - SANDY SCOTT

Sandy Scott was the only son of English parents. In his teens, he took a day job at a bank in Sydney and at night he was singing with local bands. He was making studio recordings in the early 1960s. His big break came with national exposure on Brian Henderson's television show, Bandstand. Sandy was very popular and signed a 10-year contract to appear exclusively on the program. His biggest selling hit song came with Wallpaper Roses in 1966 and at that time he was rated the country's #1 vocal star.

In 1971 his album Great Scott - It's Sandy went gold. His big hit single in 1972 was “Now” a sweeping waltz ideal for weddings. “Now” reached #38 and was his last major hit on the top 40 before he concentrated more on stage work. He played lead roles in stage shows such as Hello Dolly, Mame and The Desert Song. His career highlights include performances in front of Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles in 1988, a Command Performance for The Queen Mother in Adelaide and touring America as a representative of the Australia Music Industry. He also worked as a television compare, hosting shows such as Family Feud, Sound of Music and $10,000 Winner Circle. He married Carol Jacobsen (Col Joye's sister) and they had two boys.

Here is his last hit single, "Now":

http://rapidshare.com/files/180366489/sandy_scott_-_now.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.110 - KIDS

"CARE FOR KIDS" WAS A 1979 JINGLE THAT CAME WITH THE MEDIA BLITZ TO COINCIDE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD...THE T.V. COMMERCIAL HAD A NICE SIMPLE CARTOON AND THIS GREAT LITTLE CATCHY JINGLE WHICH HAD A MEMORABLE SET OF WORDS AND A FEEL ALMOST LIKE THE SONG "UP THERE CAZALY".

NOT LONG AFTER THE CAMPAIGN STARTED, OUT CAME THE 7" SINGLE "CARE FOR KIDS" FEATURING THE KIDS. IT WAS ON THE ALBERT LABEL.

IT GOT TO #10 IN THE TOP 100. NOT BAD FOR A JINGLE!

1979 WAS THE YEAR I STARTED TEACHING AND OF COURSE I USED THIS SONG IN AN ASSEMBLY WITH MY CLASS - IT WAS A BIG HIT WITH THE KIDS.

ENJOY THIS CUTE SONG FROM 1979:

http://rapidshare.com/files/180337887/kids_-_care_for_kids__tom_mix_vinyl_mix_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.109 - BILL AND BOYD

BILL AND BOYD WERE FROM N.Z. THEY KICKED OF THEIR INVASION OF THE OZ CHARTS IN 1964 WITH "CHULU CHULULU" WHICH WENT TO #9.

IT WAS A CUTE SONG WITH A"PACIFIC ISLAND" FEEL. IT SOUNDS LIKE A BEACH BOYS SONG DUBBED WITH EVERLY BROTHER'S VOICES. IT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT THE ROTORUA SOUND SHELL N.Z. in 1963 AND RELEASED ON THE PHILLIPS LABEL. THE BOYS LEFT N.Z. TO MAKE THEIR FORTUNE IN OZ AND BY 1968 THEY WERE TOURING AMERICA WITH THE SUPREMES AND AND HERB ALPERT .

HERE IS A LINK TO THE ORIGINAL 1964 HIT VERSION OF "CHULU CHULULU" WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ON AN OZ SOLD CD BUT YOU CAN BUY AN AUSTRALIAN MADE CD FROM NZ AS AN IMPORT...GO FIGURE!

http://rapidshare.com/files/182013218/bill_and_boyd_-_chulu_chululu__1964_original_live_version_.mp3

IN THE 1970S THEY STARTED TO RECORD ON THE FABLE LABEL. THEY DID A REMAKE OF THEIR HIT ORIGINAL WITH AN UPDATED SOUND.

HERE IS A COPY OF THEIR REMAKE VERSION OF "CHULU CHULULU":

http://rapidshare.com/files/180291582/bill_and_boyd_-_chulu_chululu__vinyl_tom_mix_.mp3

BUT YOU WANT MORE...YOU SAY!

THERE IS ANOTHER VERSION ON A RARE C.D. - JOHNNY O'KEEFE (SINGER) HAD A TELEVISION SHOW IN THE 1960S WHERE ACTS CAME TO PERFORM THEIR HITS AND SOME OF THE RECORDINGS HAVE BEEN PRESERVED - SO THERE IS A LIVE TAKE DONE FOR TELEVISION (BUT THEY ACTUALLY MIMED ALONG TO THEIR HIT 1964 RECORD "CHULU CHULULU") - GET OUT YOUR PENS AND WRITE DOWN THIS TITLE: “AUSTRALIAN ROCK'N'ROLL COLLECTION [sound recording]: ORIGINAL DISCS, RADIO, PRIVATE RECORDINGS, AND TELEVISION SHOWS OF THE 1950S AND 1960S / STARRING JOHNNY O'KEEFE”. ON THIS DISC, IF YOU CAN FIND IT AT YOUR STATE SOUND LIBRARY VAULTS, BILL AND BOYD ARE TRACK 12.

DOWNLOAD NO.108 - COLLEEN HEWETT

AUSTRALIA DAY IS CELEBRATED ON 26TH JANUARY HERE IN OZ. WE KEEP IT LOW KEY LIKE MOST OZ FAMILIES, BUT MY CHILDREN HAVE AN INTERESTING HERITAGE...

MY MUM'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY COMES FROM TWO FIRST FLEET CONVICTS, ANTHONY ROPE AND ELIZABETH PULLEY. THEY "MET" (A GENEALOGICAL TERM) THE DAY THE WOMEN WERE ALLOWED ASHORE ON THE 6TH FEBRUARY 1788.

SOME OF THE OFFICERS AND MALE CONVICTS HAD BEEN ASHORE SINCE 20TH JANUARY MAKING CAMPS AND LOOKING FOR SETTLEMENT SITES FOR ALL THE NEW ARRIVALS. THEY HAD MOVED FROM THE LESS SUITABLE BOTANY BAY TO SYDNEY COVE TO CLAIM AUSTRALIA FOR ENGLAND BY THE 26TH JANUARY...

WELL, NINE MONTHS AFTER THE LADIES WERE ALLOWED ASHORE (6TH FEBRUARY 1788), ANTHONY AND ELIZABETH HAD THE FIRST CONCEIVED AND BORN OFFSPRING IN THE COLONY....THERE HAD BEEN OTHER CHILDREN CONCEIVED ALONG THE WAY OF COURSE, BUT THEY WERE NOT "AUSTRALIAN MADE".

MY CHILDREN HAVE EUROPEAN HERITAGE AND ABORIGINAL HERITAGE FROM MY WIFE'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY. HER ANCESTORS CAME FROM THE MANNING VALLEY AND DUNGOG DISTRICTS OF NSW. I THINK THIS MAKES US A TYPICAL BLENDED AUSSIE FAMILY.

AND NOW, FOR THE MUSIC...

COLLEEN HEWETT HAD A HIT IN 1973 WITH A VERY DIFFERENT VERSION OF "WALTZING MATILDA" AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE ORIGINAL SINGLE VERSION HAS NOT MADE IT TO C.D.

AFTER TRANSFERRING THIS ONE TO C.D. I REALISED JUST HOW CLEAN AND CRISP SOME OLD SONGS CAN SOUND AFTER A BIT OF SONIC SHAPING.

TO CELEBRATE OZ DAY, HERE IS THE ALMOST PRISTINE VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL 7" SINGLE:

http://rapidshare.com/files/180291581/colleen_hewitt_-_waltzing_matilda__1973_vinyl_version_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.107 - MATT FLINDERS

Below is an excerpt from a transcript Matt Flinders wrote to a friend early in 2004.

Briefly: I was born in Egypt of mixed European parentage (French/Italian/English) and came out to Australia in 1951 after a year in England. The name I was known by was Louis Bonett at that stage. I started playing double bass with a couple of groups and toured Japan and worked around Australia until the early sixties when I went to England, formed my own group and worked in London for four years. On my return to Australia I had the band at the Chevron Hotel in Melbourne, still playing bass and singing. A Melbourne musician (Johnnie Hawker) used me in some singing commercials for radio and television and these came to the attention of Ron Tudor. Ron offered me a recording contract on behalf of Astor records and suggested the name change to Matt Flinders to make it easier for DJ’s to remember. My first record “Something is Happening” went to #14 on the charts. A year or so later, late 69, I recorded “Picking up Pebbles” still on Astor. This went to #1 and had the distinction of replacing the Beatles' hit Hey Jude. From then on I recorded on Ron Tudor’s label, Fable.

“Butterfly” was one of the biggest hit songs Matt had on the Fable label. It reached #6 in 1971. "Butterfly" according to Matt was recorded under very strange circumstances. Matt got the song offered to him but he thought the lyrics could be improved as the English translation he had didn't seem to work well. He wrote to the original song writer, Danyel Gerard (who had 3 different language versions of the song recorded), and asked if he could re-write the lyrics. Danyel said yes. Then when Matt's version of the song became a hit, Danyel insisted that he got all the royalties, even though Matt had given it new lyrics. Danyel Gerard's version on C.B.S. records was not a big hit in Oz. But the saga grew stranger...Danyel got Matt to sing the English version he had authored to seal the royalties. Matt has a second version in the can and below is the alternate version of "Butterfly" using the Danyel Gerard penned lyrics. It uses the same backing track as the hit single.

Matt says: I am not working in the business any more, and only perform rarely for charitable or other organisations in a very low-profile way. I am now a Civil Celebrant, doing Marriages, baby-naming and Funerals, and keeping busy and useful in my senior years.

Here is the alternate "Butterfly":

http://rapidshare.com/files/180034031/matt_flinders_-_butterfly__alternate_version_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.106 - KAMAHL

KAMAHL HAS HIS OWN WEB SITE AND HAS VIDEOS AND INFORMATION ABOUT HIS HITS ETC. I DON'T NEED TO INFORM YOU ABOUT HIM TOO MUCH...

Click link: http://www.kamahl.com/biography.html

ONE SONG THOUGH DOESN'T RATE MUCH OF A MENTION IN HIS BIOGRAPHY - "JESU CHRISTO" - IT IS ONE OF THOSE SONGS WHICH HAS NOT MADE IT TO C.D. AND IT WASN'T A BIG HIT BUT IT ALWAYS FASCINATED ME WITH ITS TRIBAL BEATS. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SONG FROM "HAIR" OR ANY OF THE FLOWER-POWER SHOWS OF THE EARLY 1970S.

KAMAHL'S TOP 40 HIT SINGLES AND YEARS OF CHARTING IS SHOWN BELOW..."JESU CHRISTO" WAS NOT A BIG HIT BUT IN CONTEXT YOU CAN SEE IT FILLED THE GAP IN 1972...

Sounds of Goodbye 1969

You've Got to Learn 1970

All I Have to Offer You (Is Me) 1970

100 Children 1971

Danny Boy 1971

Love Is A Mountain 1971

Jesu Christo 1972 - non-charting!

Boy From Dundee 1973

Our Love Song 1974

The Elephant Song 1975

What Would I Do Without My Music 1978

Before You Was Nothing 1981

"JESU CHRISTO" WAS RELEASED ON E.M.I. RECORDS IN MARCH 1972. IT WAS BACKED BY "MY WORLD KEEPS GETTING SMALLER EVERYDAY". THIS DOWNLOAD IS AN EXTENDED 12" TOM MIX OF "JESU CHRISTO" SO PUT ON YOUR CAFTAN AND GET DOWN:

http://rapidshare.com/files/179989443/Kamahl_-_Jesu_Christo__Ext_Tom_Mix_2009_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.105 - SOFFROK

“Set Me Free” was a hit song by a young Aussie band that seemed destined for a big future. In 1972 the song reached #40 in the NSW top 100 and the main man behind it was legendary muso Rick Turk.

Here is a little about him from his online biography:

I started playing the piano when I was 5. I joined a band at 14 and we were doing school dances within a year or so. We ended up doing supports for a few of the well-known bands around Sydney and as I was still underage - the rest of the guys were older than me and had driving licenses The singer in our band, 'The Blue Feelings' - I know, don't say anything - went on to change his name and became a famous pop singer in OZ called Marty Rhone. The rest of us went our own ways and ended up in different bands. I was sent off to Uni to do a degree so that I'd have "something to fall back on." At Uni, I met a couple of guys through a mutual friend, Jeremy and Richard to give them names, who played bass and piano respectively. We found a great drummer named John Proud and 'a group was born'. We started off by being the backing group for a singer who had a recording contract - he shall remain nameless - and we ended up with a recording contract with Alberts/EMI ourselves. We couldn't think of a name for the group, but we were playing a kind of soft rock style of music, for restaurants, clubs and piano bars etc, so what did this really creative foursome do - we called it 'Soffrok'. No points for originality but heaps for stating the bleeding obvious. No one ever got the spelling right. We recorded 5 of my songs and one, "Set Me Free", actually made it to #40 on the charts with the help of Simon Napier-Bell (the guy that signed WHAM! and ripped them off - but he was a great producer!) We were off - or so we thought - with dreams of tours around the world and platinum album sales. Not to be. We split up 2 years later.

Here is a link to Rick Turk's web page:

http://www.rickturk.com/bio.html

I don't know if anyone else hears a similarity with Elton John's "Country Comfort" but to me they seem very similar. The song is presented here as an extended Tom Mix. Enjoy!

http://rapidshare.com/files/179958424/Soffrok_-_Set_Me_Free__Ext_Tom_Mix_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.104 - SHARON O'NEILL

SHARON O'NEILL IS FROM N.Z. BUT WE HAVE ADOPTED HER. SHARON HAS ENJOYED MUCH SUCCESS IN OZ.

HER BIG HIT SINGLES AND SOME ALBUMS HAVE MADE IT TO C.D. BUT SOME OF HER SONGS WERE REMIXED AND SOLD ON 12" VINYL - FEW OF WHICH HAVE MADE IT TO C.D. FOR MASS CONSUMPTION.

HERE IS THE VINYL 12" TRANSFER OF "PHYSICAL FAVOURS" A SONG WHICH WAS A CLUB HIT IN ITS DAY. THE ORIGINAL SINGLE VERSION CAME FROM THE ALBUM "DANCED IN THE FIRE". THE SINGLE GOT TO #35 IN 1987.

http://rapidshare.com/files/179885741/Sharon_O_Neill_-_Physical_Favours__Extended_Vinyl_Tom_Mix_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.103 - WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (REAL NAME JOHN CAVES) WAS AN ARTIST PRIMARILY HONED BY VANDA AND YOUNG THE LEGENDARY AUSSIE WRITING AND PRODUCING DUO WHO WROTE "FRIDAY ON MY MIND" AMONGST OTHERS.

"LAST NIGHT", WAS A LATE HIT IN WILLIAM'S CAREER CHARTING IN 1976 AND GETTING TO #41 IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA BUT IT DIDN'T CRACK THE BIG TIME IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. HIS FIRST 3 SINGLES ARE AVAILABLE ON HIS GREATEST HITS C.D. BUT NOT "LAST NIGHT" WHICH IS A PITY AS IT IS FONDLY REMEMBERED.

THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THIS SONG CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING U.R.L.:

http://ozziemusicman.blogspot.com/

I USED THE ORIGINAL FROM THE ABOVE SITE, WHICH IS RUN BY OZZIE THE MUSIC MAN, CLEANED IT UP SONIC-WISE, AND MADE AN EXTENDED 12" TOM MIX REMIX AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD HERE:

http://rapidshare.com/files/179882475/William_Shakespeare_-_Last_Night__Ext_Sonic_Tom_Mix_2009_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.102 - AUSTRALIAN CRICKET TEAM, 1972

"Here Come The Aussies" is an ultra rare song recorded by the 1972 Australian Cricket Team to coincide with their Ashes Tour of England. It was done some years before the mass marketing of World Series Cricket. The whole of the team laid down the "A" side called "Here Come The Aussies" and the "B" side called "Bowl a Ball, Swing a Bat".

My brother Geoff (who forwarded this song) said he remembers hearing that Ritchie Benaud's wife Daphne, had something to do with getting this song recorded.

It should be pointed out that there were many great cricketers in the side at the time: Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh, my uncle-in-law Doug Walters and a dozen or so other household names. The "Come On Aussie, Come On" song is found further over in this blog, it features lyrics about my uncle Dougie.

This awesome song was co-written by Daniel Boone who had the hits "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast", "Skydiver" and "Beautiful Sunday". It was produced by the legendary Larry Page....and with all this credibility it has still not made it to C.D.

Despite the lyrics, the cricket team of 1972 drew the series 2 all and thus England retained the ashes. In the next series in Australia 1974-75 Jeff Thomson and Denis Lillee ripped the Poms apart and we indeed won the ashes back again.

Here is a Tom Mix remixed version of "Here Come The Aussies":

http://rapidshare.com/files/179827362/1972_Australian_Cricket_Team_-_Here_Come_The__Aussies__Tom_Mix_remix_.mp3

Here is a copy of the flip side "Bowl a Ball, Swing a Bat":

http://rapidshare.com/files/180308010/Australian_Cricket_Team_1972_-_Bowl_A_Ball__Swing_A_Bat.mp3

At last SBS TV has got into the sports music business and they have a CD called "Stumped!" which contains a copy of the 1972 single "Here Come The Aussies" by the 1972 Cricket Team....

Also on the CD:

Sherbet
Gangajang
The Church
Paul Kelly
The Mables
John Williamson
Greg Champion
and heaps more...

Buy it at big outlets for about $20 as of July 2009 or while stocks last.

Cheers, Tom Mix

DOWNLOAD NO.101 - SAXONY

THE GROUP SAXONY WERE FROM SYDNEY AND THEIR FEMALE LEAD SINGER HAD A DISTINCTIVE VOICE. THEY ONLY HAD ONE HIT CALLED "SMOKEY" IN AUGUST 1975.

THE SONG WAS RELEASED ON A K-TEL ALBUM CALLED "TURNED ON". THE 7" SINGLE CHARTED IN THE SYDNEY TOP 40 AND GOT TO POSITION #35. THEN THE GROUP DISBANDED AFTER NO FURTHER CHART ACTION.

I ALWAYS LIKED THE SONG BUT IT WAS ALWAYS A BIT TOO SHORT. SO HERE IT IS, REBORN ANEW, AS THE EXTENDED TOM MIX 12" - IT GOES ABOUT 60 SECONDS LONGER THAN THE ORIGINAL SINGLE!!!

"SMOKEY" 12" BY SAXONY:

http://rapidshare.com/files/179627819/saxony_-_smokey__ext_tom_mix_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.100 - JOHNNY O'KEEFE

What to do to celebrate 100 downloads?

Hmm, I thought, hmm...

Why not celebrate the lowest reaching top 40 hit by pioneer Oz rocker Johnny O’Keefe who died in 1978? What else!

I picked this song because it has rarely been included on any C.D. compilations as it doesn’t match the sound of anything much from the 1970s, the decade in which it charted. The song “High Rollin' Man” harks back to a sound and style of a Memphis rocker of the 1950s.

Most of Johnny’s work got higher than this one in the charts. “High Rollin' Man” just got to #45 nationally in 1973. It was a follow up to his big hit of 1972, a remake of his earlier hit song “So Tough”, which was originally in the high end of the top 40 back in 1958 (the same year I was born).

Johnny’s rendition of the classic crowd-anthem "Shout" remains, to this day, an integral part of rock'n'roll's global legacy (B&W vintage footage of O'Keefe performing live is used on the opening sequence of the ABC's weekly video program Rage), oh another little known fact (lol), his nephew Andrew O'Keefe is a T.V. host who can sing, but doesn't!

Just a moot point, look at the list of performers and their songs at Sunbury in 1973's Rock Festival. I wonder if many of them are as well remembered as J.O.K.?

SUNBURY 1973

Carson - Friday Night Groove, Johnny O'Keefe-High Rollin' Man, Friends-Bird On The Wire. Mighty Mouse - Sunset Song, Friends-La La Song, Healing Force - Erection, 69ers-Harry Rag, Country Radio - Silver Spurs, Lobby Loyde-Johnny B. Goode, Matt Taylor - Brisbane To Beechworth, Madderlake-Down By The River, Sid Rumpo - Sailing, Mackenzie Theory - New Song, Madderlake-12lb Toothbrush, Band Of Light-Messin' With The Kid, Glenn Cardier - Australia, Bakery - Living With A Memory, Billy Thorpe-Going Back Home, Blackfeather-I'm Gonna Love You.

Here is the extended 4 minute 12” Tom Mix version of “High Rollin' Man”:

http://rapidshare.com/files/179608072/Johnny_O_Keefe_-_High_Rollin__Man__Ext_Tom_Mix_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.99 - FREDDY HAMPTON

“Let There Be Peace” was written by Slater and Baulderstone as an anti Vietnam War song. It was recorded in 1970 and released in January 1971 by Freddy Hampton a singer who had earlier hits.

In 1965, he had “I’m Plannin’ Keepin’ You” on the W&G label and 1967 with “Felena Malone” on the Spin label. Freddy also had a group called Freddy Hampton’s Big Roll Movement which had band member Fred Payne who worked with Livi Smith’s Cleffs.

“Let There Be Peace” got to #8 nationally. Not long after this hit Freddy joined with Shirley Smith to form the duo Freddy Hampton and Trik, they had two singles. Their memorable single “Hooch” was #4 nationally in 1971. Freddy then had another hit as Freddy Hampton and Paint: “Keep On Groovin’” in 1972 which was his last chart outing.

Here is "Let There Be Peace":

http://rapidshare.com/files/179539766/freddy_hampton_-_let_there_be_peace__Single_mix_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.98 - LORI BALMER

Lori Balmer (b.1958 - same year as moi!), is an Australian pop singer who started recording with the Bee Gees (around age 6-8). She has put out a number of records under her first name "Lori" and has been a session singer and appeared on TV, both in Australia and Britain. Through her family connection to the Gibb family she was offered two Barry Gibb songs to record "Who's Been Writing On The Wall Again " and "In Your World" which were both “A” and “B” sides of her third 7” single at the ripe old age of eight. Barry Gibb was supposedly on backing vocals.

Lori Balmer toured or recorded, under pseudonyms with many artists such as Tina Turner, Cliff Richard, Bryan Ferry, U2, Joe Cocker, George Harrison, Lionel Richie, Van Halen and Johnny Rotten. In the mid/late 1970s, at a less tender age, she released a number of singles in Australia. She eventually married John Vallins (ex-member of bands, Steve and The Board and Tin Tin) and formed a duo with him called Short Notice.

Here is Lori with husband John in their 1979 disco hit “La Booga Booga” which has not yet been on C.D. It is credited to Lori Balmer and Short Notice.

http://rapidshare.com/files/179529732/lori_balmer_-_la_booga_rooga__vinyl_tom_mix_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.97 - THE REJECTS

HERE IS AN OZ SONG WHICH HAS BEEN LOCKED AWAY FOR MANY YEARS WAITING FOR ITS MOMENT TO SHINE. IT HAS NEVER MADE IT TO C.D.

IF YOU EVER WENT TO ONE OF THE LIVE SYDNEY GIGS WHERE MARC HUNTER AND DRAGON PERFORMED AS THE HEADLINE ACT YOU MAY HAVE ACTUALLY HEARD THIS SONG. IT IS BY A SMALL BLACKTOWN BASED BAND CALLED THE REJECTS.

THE REJECTS WERE A SUPPORT ACT FOR DRAGON WHEN THEY WENT WEST OF THE HARBOUR BRIDGE. THEIR LEAD SINGER AND SONG WRITER, ARCHIE BROWNE, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR WRITING ONE OF DRAGON'S ALBUM TRACKS. HE SOMETIMES GIGGED WITH DRAGON AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS WAS GOOD FRIENDS WITH THE BAND.

ARCHIE AND HIS BAND'S FIRST SINGLE WAS CALLED "ALL THE YOUNG GIRLS" AND COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN MISTAKEN FOR A DRAGON TRACK AS IT SOUNDS MUCH LIKE THEIR MATERIAL.

ARCHIE BROWNE IS A BROTHER-IN-LAW OF MY BROTHER GEOFF. THANKS TO GEOFF FOR MAKING THIS FIND POSSIBLE.

THERE IS A 'B' SIDE OF THIS 45 RPM BUT IT WILL STAY A HIDDEN GEM UNLESS YOU KNOW ARCHIE PERSONALLY!

http://rapidshare.com/files/179497069/The_Rejects__Archie_Browne__-_All_The_Young_Girls__Tom_Mix_Remix_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.96 - DONNIE SUTHERLAND

DONNIE SUTHERLAND WAS A RADIO ANNOUNCER AND T.V. SHOW HOST. HIS TELEVISION PROFILE BOOMED WHEN HE BECAME HOST OF SOUNDS UNLIMITED WHICH WAS A SATURDAY MORNING POP SHOW FOR THE TEENYBOPPER SET.

I WAS WORKING PART-TIME (DURING HIGH SCHOOL YEARS 11 AND 12) IN AN ELECTRICAL GOODS DEPARTMENT STORE AT CESSNOCK, ROUGHLY AT THE SAME TIME SOUNDS WAS ON AND USED TO WATCH HIM IN BETWEEN SELLING RECORDS AND SO ON. IT MADE THE JOB FUN EVERY SATURDAY MORNING.

DONNIE SUTHERLAND HAD 2 HITS: "FAIRYLAND" IN 1969 AND "DANCING MAN" IN 1977.

"DANCING MAN" WAS RECORDED IN 1976 AND HIT THE TOP 100 IN 1977, REACHING #43 NATIONALLY. IT IS A SONG AIMED SOLELY AT THE DISCO MARKET OF 1977 AND HAS THE SAME SOUND THAT ANY HIT OF THE DISCO ERA HAD e.g. ABBA'S "DANCING QUEEN" OR "FUNKY FEET" ETC...DONNIE CAN'T BE EXCUSED THOUGH, FOR THE CHOREOGRAPHY IN THE CLIP THAT WENT WITH THIS SONG!

DONNIE'S BROTHER TED SUTHERLAND WAS THE MANAGER OF OSCARS RECORD BAR HERE IN NEWCASTLE. HE WAS A GREAT BLOKE AND OFTEN SHOPPED THE WORLD TO GET ME RARE DANCE TRACKS. IT WAS HE WHO FOUND ME MY FIRST "HOT TRACKS" REMIXES AND "DISCONET" GOODIES.

HERE IS "DANCING MAN":

http://rapidshare.com/files/179292784/donnie_sutherland_-_dancing_man__Single_Edit_.mp3

HERE IS "FAIRYLAND":

http://rapidshare.com/files/179299589/Donnie_Sutherland_-_Fairyland.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.95 - AL STYNE

O.K. ALL YOU CLEVER CLOGS OUT THERE IN CYBER SPACE, TIME TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP!

AL STYNE HAD A MODERATE HIT RECORD OUT IN 1979 CALLED "DO THE JOG". IT WAS ALSO RELEASED IN FOREIGN LANDS ON A 12" AND IT WENT ABOUT 5 MINS 30 SECS. THE SINGLE 7" MIX WHICH IS FOR DOWNLOAD BELOW IS 4 MINS 25 SECONDS...

SO WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS...WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?? WHERE IS HE NOW??

ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, HE HAD A SINGLE OUT IN 1969 CALLED "RED WINE".

THE NEXT SIGHTING WAS IN 1977 WITH A SONG CALLED "YESTERDAY WHEN THE WORLD WAS WARM".

AFTER "DO THE JOG" IN 1979 HIS CAREER SEEMS TO HAVE FALTERED...

ANY INFO AT ALL, PLEASE LEAVE IN COMMENT BOX.

THE REAL AL STYNE HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO LEAVE A REPLY AS TO WHAT HE IS DOING NOWADAYS: "I am enjoying a successful business career under my real name which I am not going to disclose...Lester Ramano who ever he is, has posted a "Do the jog" video on You Tube using his image with my voice and music. To set the record straight I will be posting the original video of "Do the Jog"".

http://rapidshare.com/files/179246496/al_styne_-_do_the_jog.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.94 - JUDY STONE

IN JANUARY 2008, LEGENDARY OZ SINGER JUDY STONE AND COUNTRY SINGER LEANNE DOUGLAS PRESENTED ME WITH AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE CHARITY FUND RAISER 12" SINGLE BY THE SUPER GROUP OF ARTISTS WHO CALLED THEMSELVES "AUSTRALIA TOO". THE SONG WAS CALLED "THE GARDEN". IN 2007, I HAD HELPED JUDY WITH SOME MUSIC LEGAL ISSUES AND FOR MY KINDNESS THEY SURPRISED ME WITH A LOVELY MEMENTO OF ONE OF THE TIMES JUDY AND LEANNE HAD WORKED TOGETHER. YOU WILL FIND THEIR NAMES IN THE LIST OF ARTISTS - CLICK LONG LIST PHOTO BELOW...

JUDY AND LEANNE ARE IN THE PHOTO AT RIGHT WITH MOI...YES, THAT'S ME...THE SHORT, OLD, BALD, FAT ONE...

"THE GARDEN" IS ALMOST 6 MINS LONG. THE NUMBER OF SINGERS ON IT INCLUDES ALL THE BEST THAT AUSTRALIA HAD TO OFFER AT THE TIME. ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE RECORD WENT TO FREEDOM FROM HUNGER FOR AFRICA. THE SONG WAS WRITTEN BY ALLAN CASWELL WHO ALSO WROTE THE THEME "ON THE INSIDE" FOR THE POPULAR OZ T.V. SHOW "PRISONER".

THIS WAS THE FIRST RECORD I EVER CONVERTED TO C.D. AND IT SOUNDS GREAT..

http://rapidshare.com/files/178956427/australia_too_-_the_garden__ext_vinyl_tom_mix_.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.93 - FRANKIE J. HOLDEN

Frankie J. Holden (real name Peter Bryan, mild mannered chartered accountant by day) released his debut solo single “My Right Of Way” in April 1977. The “A” side of the single was the theme to the Australian movie “F. J. Holden”. It reached #34 nationally. Frankie, as a solo artist, was competing against his own band’s material in the same year; he being the lead singer of 1950s tribute group Ol’55 who had a few hits under their belt by this time.

Frankie was the lead singer of Ol’55 beginning in 1975 but by 1977 he was trying to find an out. By the end of 1977 Frankie had gone totally solo. “My Right Of Way” is a much remembered song but not officially released on CD as of 2009.

The movie has been released on DVD. “F. J. Holden” was Michael Thornhill's second feature film as director and was filmed in late 1976. The young lead actors used in the film were not experienced, apart from acting in local school productions. A very young Sigrid Thornton makes her feature debut with this film in the minor role of Wendy. The singer Frankie J. Holden also appears in the movie…The original music for the film is credited to Jim Manzie. The 7" single (as indicated) was written by Jim Manzie and Glenn A. Baker - the promoter and manager of Ol'55 (also arch rival of Molly Meldrum - see the Norman Gunston notes futher over).

Other music used in the film comes from various popular Australian musicians of the era. The bands suitably featured on the soundtrack include Ol'55, Skyhooks, The Renee Geyer Band and Stars .

This is an almost pristine copy of “My Right Of Way”. Enjoy!

http://rapidshare.com/files/178941668/Frankie_J_Holden_-_My_Right_Of_Way.mp3

DOWNLOAD NO.92 - THE ALLEN BROTHERS

Chris and Peter Allen were a fictitious set of brothers – real names: Peter Richard Woolnough and Christopher Bell. Peter was a pianist from Tenterfield NSW but was making little money as a solo act. By 1959, he was in Sydney, where he became a last-minute replacement in a duo appearing on the television show Australian Bandstand with guitarist and singer Chris Bell. The act was successful and the two became known as the Allen Brothers.

In late 1960, they had an Australian hit with "My Secret" which got to #28 nationally. After a couple more lesser remembered songs they went off to tour the Far East. While performing at an hotel in Hong Kong in the spring of 1964 Judy Garland saw them and was impressed. (Click to see photo with Peter, Judy and Chris). She got them bookings and brought them to London, where they were her opening act. She also introduced Peter Allen to her daughter, Liza Minnelli, and the two became engaged. The Allen Brothers made their American debut at the Diplomat Hotel in Miami in December 1964, then, they moved to New York. For the rest of the 1960s, they appeared in clubs around the U.S., notably at the various Playboy Clubs. After a lengthy engagement, Allen and Minnelli married on March 3, 1967.

The rest of Peter Allen's story is well documented and easy to locate on the internet. Here is their very first hit "My Secret" in glorious mono :

http://rapidshare.com/files/178676747/Allen_Brothers_-_My_Secret.mp3