Billy Thorpe - Million Dollar Bill (1975)

(Australian 1956 - 2007)

By 1975, Thorpie was segueing from manic, denim-clad rock warrior, to a stylish, sophisticated, adult-oriented funk rock performer, firmly targeted on the US market. His first album of this period, was immodestly-titled Million Dollar Bill, which featured the self-penned and gloriously jazz-inflected "It’s Almost Summer".

Clearly Billy Thorpe was heading into MOR adult contemporary territory here, when he entered Festival’s Studio 24 in Sydney to record this track where he had assembled a fine group of session musicians, Billy Kristian (bass), Gil Matthews (drums), Jack Hislop (electric piano), Warren Morgan (keyboards), Don Wright/Tony Buchanan (Saxophone), William Morzing (synthesizers), and the backing singers Alison McAllum, Janice Slater, and Kerrie Biddell.

Thorpie's Band 1975

Produced by Peter Dawkins, "It's Almost Summer" was the first record on which Thorpe had used open guitar tunings, in similar style to the G-chord tuning of Keith Richard’s five string guitar on Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar, and Start Me Up; and the D-chord tuning of Bob Dylan on many of his recordings. This tuning imparted a unusual ambience to the guitar riffs, not unlike that of a lap steel guitar sound, Billy was in fine voice too, his vibrant tenor and falsetto wrapped around the languid, summery lyrics, “And you-ou-ou my lady/ I’m makin’ love in the sand, while the surf keeps time…” to produce a wistful, sultry, ode to summer, as timeless and euphoric as the rolling surf and sun-drenched days, of the season. The promo clip by David Westray intercut beach scenes shot in the 70’s at Kiama (NSW), and there was not a smart phone or laptop in sight, you can see the single fin boards without leg ropes, and almost smell the coconut oil tanning lotion, it was the quintessential family beach scenario of another era.

 It's Almost Summer Promo

Billy claimed full authorship of "It's Almost Summer", stating he wrote it when in Melbourne, waiting for summer to arrive, but others have also claimed to have submitted a demo of this song to Billy’s manager in the late 1960’s, without registering copyright, and further claimed that Billy said it was not his style, and was more suitable for The New Dream (a bubblegum group). But he obviously had a change of heart, it remains one of the best songs about summer, but was under-appreciated and charted #44 in December ’75, it would be the last single to chart in Australia for Thorpe for almost four years.

[extract from 4therecord.com]

The album 'Million Dollar Bill' entered the Kent Music Report album charts on 15 August, 1976 and peaked at #24.  In December 1976, Thorpie relocated to Los Angeles in the United States, although he returned to Australia periodically to tour with varied line-ups of the Aztecs.

Album Review 

Thorpe released albums and singles consistently through the 60s and 70s on a variety of labels. But until this album, not much of his output could really be described as funky. Thorpe combines the best of funk and rock on his stellar version of Back On The Street Again. The cut begins with a nice break and rolls into the familiar bass stabs of Etta James’ version. Thorpe’s voice makes this version just different enough from Etta’s to keep things interesting, without sacrificing any of the soul in her version. Drive My Car also starts with a nice funky interplay of drums and bass. Standing Too Close to the Fire would be a disco-funk cut if it wasn’t for just the right amount of guitar to solidify it as a funky rock number. The Theme from Million Dollar Bill is a great instrumental soundtrack cut too. All in all, a very strong album, and the best value for money album on the Infinity label in my opinion. (by DJ Kinetic)

Poster sized 'Million Dollar Bill' insert found in Australian Pressings

And now for something a little off topic, but still of interest with respect to the great 'Thorpie'

One of Australia’s rowdiest rock’n’rollers once lived — and partied hard — in a neighbourhood close by. 

Banchory Cottage, Gipps St, East Melbourne

Yep, this unassuming little cottage in Gipps Street was once home to Billy Thorpe — at the height of his pub-rockin’, ‘sink-more-piss’ phase, no less. It was in this ‘house of lunacy’ that ‘a million brain cells died and the Sunbury Aztecs were born,’ recalls Thorpie in his second autobiography, 'Most People I Know (think that I’m crazy)'. Judging by his detailed descriptions of the nocturnal festivities that went down there, I’d say that was more like a trillion!

Joining Thorpie in this den of debauchery were his girlfriend Jackie and two of his bandmates, Paul Wheeler and Jimmy Thompson. They hit town from Sydney in December 1968, and within no time, a constant flow of freaks and friends was beating a path to their front door.

After a few months of this madness, the desperately sleep-deprived singer resorted to a drastic measure. He nailed a big sign to the front door, emblazoned with the following hand-painted message:

To those about to knock. About every 8 minutes DAY and NIGHT some arsehole knocks on this door and I’m going fucking insane! My bedroom is the front window to your right and I haven’t slept in 6 fucking months. Regardless of what you’ve been told this is not the Melbourne Salvation Army, the Hilton or the Thumping Tum East, IT’S OUR HOUSE. We don’t save souls, take confessions, serve breakfast, arrange marriages, sell cars, arbitrate disputes, find lost dogs, supply inspiration, give spiritual guidance, sell drugs, bust virgins, counsel lost teenagers, or need your stimulating conversation. Therefore:-

•       If you’re not bleeding from every orifice and about to die.

•       If your gear hasn’t blown up and you need to borrow an amp.

•       If you didn’t leave your clothes here last night and you’re naked in the street.

•      If you’re not a philanthropist with a million dollars to give away.

•      If you’re not a record company that wants to give us a deal.

•      If you’re a debt collector.

•      If you haven’t called so we know you’re coming.

•      Or if you’re a copper without a legal search warrant then;

FUCK OFF!!!!            Peace and love

The sign wasn’t up for long. An outraged old lady called the cops, who made Thorpie take it down.

Don’t you just love it that little gems of rock’n’roll history like this still exist in the most unexpected places?  [extract from holy-gogo-boots-batman with thanks]

This post was ripped from vinyl in FLAC format and includes artwork for both Vinyl and CD media. Label scans and all photos are included. Sadly the photo of the Million Dollar Bill is not mine, as my copy of the album did not come with this very rare insert (and is probably now worth its face value from a collectors point of view!) 

Tracks

01. Back On The Streets Again  - 4:54
02. Drive My Car - 3:28
03. I Really Miss You - 4:20
04. It's Almost Summer  - 3:01
05. Do The Best You Can  - 4:25
06. Theme From Million Dollar Bill  - 4:55
07. Mama Told Her - 3:21
08. Standin' Too Close To The Fire - 6:06
09. Don't Need No Protection - 3:41

Thorpie's Band:
Bass – Billy Kristian
Bongos – Peter Dawkins

Cello – David Pereira, Frederick McKay, H. Gyors, L. Kuring, Robert W. Miller, Vanessa Butters

Congas – "J.C." Trevisano
Drums, Percussion – Gill Mathews
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Jack Hotop
Guitar – John Fetter
Guitar, Vocals – Billy Thorpe
Keyboards – Warren Morgan
Saxophone – Don Wright, Tony Buchanan
Synthesizer – William Motzing
Trombone – Arthur Hubbard, Bob McIvor, George Brodbeck, Ken Herron
Trumpet – "Boot" Thompsen, Ed D'Amico, Keith Dubber, Mike Bukousky, Mike Cleary
Violin – Alice Waten, Della Woods, Frank Coe, Gordon Bennett, John Lyle, Julie Batty, Klara Korda, Phillip Hart, R. Ingram
Backing Vocals – Allison McAllum, Janice Slater, Kerrie Biddell

Million Dollar Bill Link (248Mb)