Galapagos Duck - Right On Cue (1978)

(Australian 1969 - Present)
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Based in Sydney back in the 70's, Galapagos Duck was an integral part of the foundation and success of the Jazz Club 'The Basement'. The band continuously performed in the club as it's primary  'house band' for 16 years - during which time 'The Basement' became known as one of the greatest Jazz Clubs in Australia and around the world. 'The Duck' also toured extensively all throughout Australia, visiting the capital cities and - on many occasions - performed in country areas including the remote areas of Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
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How the ‘Duck’ got its name
I’ve heard a few versions of the story, but this was told me by Tom Hare and John Connelly during a radio interview in the 1980s in Townsville. The “Duck Flies North” tour was to promote their “Endangered Species” album, sponsored by the Australian Wildlife Society : ‘In the early days at “The Basement” in Sydney the band shared the stage with an assortment of props for various functions. Alongside the old paraphernalia was a large wheel with a clapper that produced a loud clacking-quacking sound when it was spun around the numbers on the outer edge, giving rise to much humour in dull moments.

The DUCK

Around this time general conversation was rife about the discovery of the last giant tortoise left on the Galapagos Islands, nicknamed “Lonely George”. Spike Milligan was a firm follower of the band, often sitting in on trumpet and when a visitor to the club asked him the name of the band, in his own peculiar habit of zany humour, Spike told him: “it sounds like a Galapagos Duck”.
The following week the new chum was heard telling his friends loudly, “Oh, they’re the Galapagos Duck”. The name stuck. It is often miss-spelt, but seldom forgotten, and followers agree the band will never become an 'endangered species'.

And so, it is no surprise to see the band pay tribute to their ring in' trumpeter by naming one of the tracks on this 1978 release - "Blues For Spike" and another named after their beloved 'Jazz Club' - "Basement Blues" [from Bundaberg-Jazz-Waves-Newsletter-Issue 25-February-2015, Editor: Valerie Brown]

Sahibs, Herren, or Guys?
Galapagos Duck will always remember 1978 as the Time of Travel, embracing three overseas tours, Asia, Europe and USA (Miami, Florida). Naturally, with such a band, the social history of these tours is rich in anecdote, but we are concerned with only random thoughts here.

The humidity and hospitality of Jakarta, riotous scenes at Bombay's jazz Yatra Festival, where the band was still on stage at 1.00am, and the humour, in retrospect, of the Poona concert. Thence to Colombo, where Gordon Tytler wrote - "I found they didn't swim like ducks at all. No: they floated like the swans they really are. I felt genuinely sorry for the hordes of 'pop' fans in this little island of ours who have never had the opportunity of listening to really good jazz - as distinct from that half-baked stuff that comes over the air-waves day-in and day-out. If you were there you'd have enjoyed a rare musical treat'!
The bustle of Hong Kong - the long awaited trip to Peking which is another chapter in itself - the Jazz Workshop at the University of Singapore, and the concert in the Conference Hall, of which Nancy Byramji wrote - "They are easy going, and have an individualistic style of improvisation that is reflected even in their name. Within 20 minutes of their performance, their chameleon-like versatility in switching instruments comes through delightfully"

Others in Asia said that their impressions of the Duck were - "organized vigour" - or "earthiness with polish" - (which could mean a salami sandwich!) but the reception everywhere was stimulating.
Printing lyrics on the inner sleeve seems de rigueur to the rocker-poppers, but we haven't, not even for Misty, so that subscribers can't sing along with Uncle Groovinham and mess up the subtle sonorities.

Thoughts on the European tour are even more random. Suffice to say that Galapagos Duck first tried their mettle on a German audience in Kassell (wonderful city!). Three encores.
Encouragement plus! So to Montreux Festival with pin tails up and another great reception.

In London, the High Commissioner swept protocol aside and insisted that the GD concert be held in the usually sacrosanct mam hall at Australia House - a boil over! The rainy Monday night at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, London - packed house - amazing scenes - the charge across the Channel for the public concert in the mam Opera House Square of Brussels. Belgian beer is ambrosia. Then the four nights at The Atlantis in Basel, Switzerland and the impact the band made there, playing a different programme each night. Back to the "new" Basement, with an awareness that Australian audiences are just as critical and appreciative as any in the world. The brief trip to Miami, Florida seems only days ago. Frantic stuff- another two encores. American beer is not ambrosia.
All of this jaunting about was possible because of the following benefactors - Musica Viva,  Department of Foreign Affairs, Qantas, PolyGram Records.

On the black plastic record herein, there are approximately 1,464 bars of music. We don't expect you to enjoy every bar - (although we have the usual wistful hopes), but make of them what you will - and know that they will always be playing 'right on cue' [Sydney, December 1978]
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This post consists of FLACs ripped from vinyl and includes full album artwork and label scans. Not a bad album I might say and for those of you who enjoy pure jazz, you'll really like this one.
If you've haven't explored Jazz as yet, then this LP is a good starting point as the sounds and tunes are both catchy and enticing. These boys are a tight unit, and are 'right on cue' when belting out popular tunes such as the "Pink Panther" and "Misty"

Although not credited on the album cover, there is a high chance that Spike Milligan was responsible for some of the sounds on this album, as he was touring Australia (Melbourne/Sydney) with 'his comedy stage show' at the same time when this album was being recorded. 
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Track Listing
01 - Marabi
02 - All In Love Is Fair
03 - What's Going On
04 - Blues For Spike
05 - The Pink Panther
06 - Basement Blues
07 - Misty
08 - Right On Cue
09 - My Mama Told Me So
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The Duck were:
Tom Hare: Flute - Alto sax - Trumpet - Drums - Conga - Timbales - Small Percussions - Vocals
Greg Foster: Trombone - Harmonica
Ray Alldridge: Acoustic and Electric Pianos - Hohner Synthesizers - Clarinet
Chris Qua: Bass Violin - Electric Bass
Len Barnard: Drums - Washboard - Small Percussion
Spike Milligan: Trumpet - Duck Calls
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Galapagos Duck FLAC Link (220Mb)
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