The Moir Sisters - Lost Somewhere Beyond Harmony (1975) / State Of Shock (1978) / Singles Collection

 (Australian 1970 - 1975, 1982 - 1983, 1990 - 1996)

The Moir Sisters were formed in 1970 as a folk, pop trio in Melbourne by Jean (born 1956) on co-lead vocals, Margot Rae (born 1959) on co-lead vocals and guitar, and Lesley Moir (born 1961) on co-lead vocals. They were born in Scotland, to Edward Hoy Moir and June Moir (née Stirling), and emigrated to Melbourne in 1962. They returned to Scotland, where their youngest daughter, Leanne, was born in 1968. Margot was given a guitar as a gift; she took to it immediately, and was soon writing her own songs.

The sisters launched their musical trio upon return to Australia late in 1970. In 1974 they won a heat of the TV talent quest, New Faces, on Melbourne's GTV-9, and then they competed in the national final. To capitalise on the national exposure of their New Faces appearances, the trio were signed EMI Music Australia. Their self-penned debut single, "Good Morning (How Are You?)", was released on 5 August 1974 and featured their distinctive high-pitched harmonies. It was produced by Ian Miller, arranged by film critic and musician Ivan Hutchinson, and engineered by Roger Savage. It peaked at No. 8 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart and and remained on the Australian national charts for 27 weeks. The Australian Issue 45rpm 7' Single was complimented with the B-Side: "We Will Never Change" (EMI 10520).

The sweet-voiced trio with sharpie haircuts and distinctive three-part harmonies, wrote their own songs released their debut album 'Lost Somewhere Beyond Harmony' in 1974. It was produced by Ian Miller, arranged by Geoff Hales (who also played synthesisers and keyboards), engineered by Ross Cockle, with backing from session musicians: guitarists Phil Manning and Billy Green (later known as Will Greenstreet), bass guitarists Barry Sullivan and Duncan McGuire, drummers Graham Morgan, Mark Kennedy and Gary Hyde, keyboard player Mal Logan, jazz saxophonist Brian Brown and backing vocalist, Dan Robinson (ex Wild Cherries). The trio undertook a national tour supporting the Osmonds, but their career was limited as Lesley was 13 at the time, which meant that their live performances had to be approved by the Child Welfare Department of the Victorian Government.

By the late 1970s they were managed by former musician, Glenn Wheatley (then-manager of Little River Band), and after leaving EMI, they signed to Oz Records in Australia, and to Elton John's label, The Rocket Record Company internationally. They shortened their name to the Moirs, and travelled to Los Angeles to record their second album, State of Shock, which was produced by expatriate Australian musician, songwriter and producer, John Farrar, and released later in 1978.

In the early 1980s the trio were signed to Warner Music Group in Australia and issued two more singles, "So Excited" (1982) and "Running Scared" (1983), but neither charted.

In 1989 Margot Moir released her solo single, "Scarlet Skies", and it was followed by the album, Strong and Mighty in 1996. In 2003, the sisters were interviewed for ABC-TV's music documentary series, Love Is in the Air, episode two, "She's Leaving Home". Margot Cesario (née Moir) died on 26 January 2015, aged 56, from complications due to long term diabetes. Margot was the middle sister to Jean and Lesley Moir. [Extracts from Wikipedia and other sites]

State Of Shock (A reflection by Ill Folks)

Back in the day, I was a young rock writer specializing in all the weird and edgy stuff that the rock editors didn't keep for themselves. They tossed me a dozen demo albums with a warning: "Pick one…ONE of these obscure debut albums to review for the next issue." I interviewed people nobody else on the staff cared about or wanted to talk to. So it was, that I scored a copy of "State of Shock," with a three page bio on light blue paper from Rocket Records' publicity department. Whatever drone was working for that label didn't know anything about writing an eye-grabbing opening line:

"Fifteen years ago the entire Moir family emigrated to Australia from their native forfar, in Scotland. On returning for a two-year sojourn some years later, a neighbour gave one of the girls a guitar, which helped to ease the tedium of their return to Australia. It began with Jean, but Margot soon joined with early dabblings in music and vocal techniques."

Note: I did know what a sojourn was, but not a "forfar." It turned out to be a typo and should've been the town of Forfar. So far, so uninteresting. But happily for the girls, they did have a top ten Aussie hit in 1974 with "Good Morning (How Are You?)" and the following year recorded the album "Lost Somewhere Beyond Harmony."

Three years later, Rocket Records thought America might want a spooky, pedo-goth trio of Kate Bushes. Or maybe a girl-group variation on The Chipmunks. So "State of Shock" became the first album by The Moirs to be released in America. 

How sad that when I wangled an invite to a Rocket Records party for new artists, I got to talk to President Elton John himself, and Colin Blunstone, and Lorna Wright, but...nope. The Moirs weren't there. I never did get to see the three sirens in the flesh, assuming they had any. But I kept the 1978 record, which turned out to be their last. 18 years later, Margot issued a solo album that included a new version of "Who Needs a Man." What she did for the next 18 years, I have no idea, however it was sad to hear that Margo (see below) has died at the age of 56. She's survived by her two sisters, the younger Jean (born in 1957) and older Lesley (born in 1962).

So, "Who Needs a Man?" Why not you? The music's a cheesy brand of vaudeville rock, somewhere between "Winchester Cathedral" and "Maxwell's Silver Hammer." There's a doodle-ee-doo type bit of scatting as well, which might be a nod to the aggravating ""A Doodlin' Song" from the 50's, or just a variation on vodo-ee-odo. I guess "nyaa nyaah" was already done by McCartney and wife. The precocious number is the only one on the album with music by Margot. The lyrics are by Jean (who wrote the music for all the other songs). The sisters chide a girl for not hooking up with a willing lesbian:

"Met up with a girl who had a surprise. WOOO! You thought she was strange because she wanted to hold your hand. She said "Listen sugar, are you disappointed 'cause I ain't a man? Who needs a man?"

"Well your parents just wouldn't understand how a daughter could not love a man (too bad). Loving like this can bring a lot of pain. Some people don't think that you are the same. Who needs a man?"  

[Extract from illfolks.blogspot.com]

Moir Sisters On Coundown singing 'Good Morning, How Are You'

And so, this post is an attempt to pay tribute to Margot and acknowledge the contribution that she and her two sisters made to the Aussie Music Industry. As such, I have called upon the assistance of a well known Aussie Rock historian, Mr Who's Who of Australian Rock - Mr. Chris Spencer - who has kindly provided rips of 'State Of Shock' and a collection of non-album singles. In addition, I would also like to thank SunnyToo for providing the rip of their debut LP - Lost, Somewhere Beyond Harmony.

All tracks are in FLAC format, except for Mago's rework of "Who Needs A Man" which is in MP3 format. Full artwork and label scans are also provided of course.

Lost Somewhere Beyond Harmony (1975)

A1 Good Morning (How Are You) 3:11

A2 Stop The Music 3:00

A3 Ryan 3:45

A4 Harmony Blues 2:52

A5 We Will Never Change 3:46

B1 Fading Memories 3:24

B2 What's Going On 2:51

B3 Keep On Giving 2:43

B4 How Does It Feel 3:47

B5 Lost - Somewhere Beyond Harmony 3:32

FLAC's  (237Mb)

State Of Shock (1978)

A1 Lately It Seems 4:16

A2 Who Needs A Man 3:25

A3 State Of Shock 4:26

A4 We Could Have Been Together 4:00

A5 Winter You've Caught Me Out Again 3:32

B1 Jody 4:44

B2 So Hard To Be A Woman 4:20

B3 Love Will Find A Way 3:44

B4 House Of Secrets 3:21

B5 State Line 3:33

FLACs (247Mb)

Singles 

01 Wandering Home    3:40

02 Don't Tell Your Mama    2:30

03 So Excited    2:50

04 You Won't Get Me    3:55

05 Running Scared    3:45

06 See You Coming   3:23

07 Scarlet Skies   3:17

08 Tightrope    4:00

09 Margot Moir - Who Needs a Man (1996 Version)   3:26

FLACs (186Mb)