Flake - Reflections: The Festival File Volume Thirteen (1989)

(Australian 1968 - 1974, 1989 - 1991)

In those years between Normie/Billy/Stevie scream boom and the rise of the likes of Skyhooks and Sherbet, those wastleland years when Australian bands were treated as something less than vermin by Australian metropolitan (particularly Sydney) radio stations, Flake could be said to have had a dream run. In eighteen months they notched up four consecutive top forty hits and were given the opportunity to record a fairly inventive album.

The first formation of Flake came together on November 14, 1968, around a core of vocalists, Geoff Gray (ex Eli), Sharon Sims and Denise Caines, and irrepressible drummer Wayne Thomas (ex Reggie Norton & The Ideas, Plastic Tears). Two months after formation, Flake won 2UW';s 'Bands To Watch' competition and were soon joined by bassist Denis Moore (ex Him & The Others), lead guitarist John Russell (ex Amber, Plastic Tears) and rhythm guitarist Billy Taylor (ex Purple Vision).

Signed to Martin Erdmans's Du Monde label (home of King Fox, Erl Dalby & Pyramid, Damael Lilith, Elm Tree, Clapham Junction, the 69ers, Toby Jugg, Wheelbarrow and Ben Turpin), Flake went into the trusty World Of Sound Studio in Ramsgate in the first half of 1970 and laid down Jackie Lomax' "You've Got Me Thinking" and a more than competent version of the Julie Driscoll (with Brian Auger & The Trinity) version of Bob Dylan's "This Wheel's On Fire".

Flake - Spinning Wheel Disco 1969

Radio interest was initially minimal, but as luck would have it, the start of a seven month radio ban on British and major-label Australian records saw radio stations desperate for programmable material. 2 UW's Gary Jaeger snuck the B-side onto the station's playlist while programme director Ray Bean was on holidays and within weeks the single was in the Sydney top five (top twenty nationally). Radio 2SM later presented the band with an Australian Talent Award, in the form of a gold disc.

Given this unexpected opening, Flake covered another banned and passed-over British record - Marmalade's "Reflections Of My Life" - and reached No.11 in Sydney (top thirty nationally). The flipside featured one of four competing local versions of the Rotary Connection's "Teach Me How To Fly" (the others being done by Jeff St. John & Copperwine, Gene Pierson and Erl Dalby), with Sharon Sims and Shauna Jenson sharing lead vocals. By this stage, new bassist Greg Higgs (ex Stringers) had come on board and the group was firing on all cylinders as a confident, glossy hard-edged pop outfit with soulful overtones.

"Life Is Getting Better", a workmanlike Vanda/Young composition (the band also recorded the pair's steaming Quick Reaction) reached No.15 on the Sydney charts in the middle of 1971 (on Erdman's new Violet's Holiday label). By Christmas, they had their fourth and final hit (No.35) with "Under The Silent Tree". The album "How's Your Mother?" also made it to the market for the festive rush. A late 1972 single, "See The Light", was ignored by radio, Sharon Sims went off to record solo and that, for all intents and purposes was the end of Flake.

Not quite. The carcass of the faded unit was rolled over and infiltrated by three former members of Blackfeather - Neale Johns, Jim Penson and Warren Ward (also ex Flying Circus) - who, with John Russell, tried to wring some recognition factor out of the name. The single "Scotch On The Rocks / Breadalbane" might just as well have been issued under the name Blackfeather, for all that it had to do, musically, with the Flake that radio listeners knew.

This collection feature's all of Flake's hits, their better B-Sides and album cuts, a Sharon Sims solo side and a special bonus previously unreleased live track from a long-forgotten Rex Mossop-hosted television variety show. Let Flake not be forgotten. [Liner notes by Glenn A.Baker]

Sharon Sims

Flake reformed in 1989 with Thomas and Lindsay Askew joined by the latter's brother Rob Askew on bass guitar, Gordon Sheard on guitar and Anna Medley on lead vocals; in response to Festival issuing this compilation album 'Reflections'. The group continued on the Sydney pub and club circuit until 1991.

P.S This compilation album was dedicated to Wayne Thomas who, during his years behind the counter at Martha's Record Farm, turned more than a few naive young lads onto the sounds that mattered.

This 'New Years Day' post consists of FLACs ripped from vinyl (thanks to Mr. Purser) and includes full album artwork for both vinyl and CD media. Thanks to daveallen-flake for the Flake photos included in this post.

Track List

A1 This Wheel's On Fire

A2 Teach Me How To Fly

A3 Reflections Of My Life

A4 Life Is Getting Better

A5 Under The Silent Tree

A6 See The Light

A7 Take My Word

B1 Quick Reaction

B2 Story

B3 You've Got Me Thinking

B4 Where Are You

B5 Scotch On The Rocks

B6 To Be The One You Love

B7 Say Goodbye

Personnel:

Lindsay Askew – guitar (1968–69, 1989–91)

Mick Gaul – bass guitar (1968–69)

Geoff Gray – lead vocals, percussion (1968–73)

Sharon Sims – lead vocals, percussion (1968–72)

Rob Toth – keyboards (1968–70)

Wayne Thomas – drums, piano, vocals 

(1968–72, 1989–91)

Denise Caines – vocals (1969–70, 1973)

Shauna Jensen – vocals (1970)

Dave Allen – flute, sax (1969–70)

Ross Jeffries – guitar (1969)

John Russell – guitar, autoharp (1969–74)

Dennis Moore – bass guitar (1969–70)

Greg Higgs – bass guitar, vocals (1971–73)

Billy Taylor – guitar (1971–74)

Ted Atkinson – bass guitar (1973–74)

Mick Meehan – guitar (1973)

Jim Penson – drums (1973–74)

Royston Johnson; - vocals (1973-74)

Neale Johns – vocals (1973–74)

Warren Ward – bass guitar (1973–74)

Rob Askew – bass guitar (1989–91)

Gordon Sheard – guitar (1989–91)

Anna Medley – vocals (1989–91)

David Clouston – keyboards (1991)

Flake Link (379Mb)