Before things get too serious here at Rock On Vinyl, I thought it might be fun to post a song / album at the end of each month, that could be categorized as being either Weird, Obscure, Crazy or just plain Korny.
(Australian 1972-1974)
Air was a very obscure Australian progressive and folk-rock band based in Sydney in the early 70's. Signed to the Philips label they released two singles, ''Crazy Lady / So Many People'' (1972) and ''Ted's Saloon / Super Situation'' (1973). Both singles failed to chart.
Very little is known about the band, only the name of the members is known and the fact that they released a self-titled, independent album on the Polydor label in 1974, which was produced by Freshwater's David Fookes. Featuring a blend of multiple guitars, ethereal flute lines, and male/female vocal harmonies, and a rhythmic section that gave them a feel similar to UK folk-psych bands like Trees or Tudor Lodge.
The highlight of the album are the vocals by "Jenny McGregor" who went on to become a successful opera soprano in Australia. [Limited info sourced from Milesago.com]
Band Members were:
Jenny McGregor (vocals), Philip "Pip" Owen (guitar, vocals), Steve Nicholas (guitar, vocals), Nicky Dunn (guitar, bass, vocals), Patrick Conroy (bass)
Jennifer McGregor
Born in Sydney, she is the sister of actress Julie McGregor. She was first heard on record with Sydney soft rock band Air. In 1974 they released a self-titled LP on the Polydor label produced by Freshwater's David Fookes. McGregor graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium Opera School and spent three years in music theater performing leading roles in The Sound of Music, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Cabaret, The Venetian Twins and Candide.
She began her operatic career as one of Richard Bonynge’s protégés, singing Ophelia to Sherill Milne’s Hamlet. Her Lucia di Lammermoor was the first to be sung in Australia after Dame Joan Sutherland, with whom she worked in Die Fledermaus and Alcina. She left the opera in 1986. From 1988 to 1990 she was a principal with Germany's Heidelberg Opera.
Her album 'The Jennifer McGregor Album', recorded with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, was nominated for the 1988 ARIA Award for Best Classical Album. Together with Judi Connelli and Suzanne Johnston she formed the Three Divas. In 2000 they released a self-titled album. [ extract fromWomen of Aussie Music]
This post consists of MP3's (320kps) ripped from vinyl (thanks to Dusty from Midoztouch2) and includes low res artwork and label scans. This month's WOCK post certainly ticks the Obscure box and like many other short lived Aussie bands from the 70's, they were under recorded and often discarded by their record companies with little chance of developing their music and building their fan base. And so, Air simply vanished into thin air (punn intended) without leaving a trail to follow.
Track Listing:
A1 Crazy Lady
A2 So Many People
A3 The Sea
A4 I Wonder Why
B1 Message
B2 Baby, It's The Way
B3 Ted's Saloon
B4 Super Situation
Band Members:
Vocals – Jenny McGregor, Steve Nicholas
Bass – Nicky Dunn, Patrick Conroy
Drums – Gary Hyde, Tony Bolton
Guitar – Nicky Dunn, Philip 'Pip' Owen, Steve Nicholas
Piano – Bobby Gebbert
Born in Sydney, she is the sister of actress Julie McGregor. She was first heard on record with Sydney soft rock band Air. In 1974 they released a self-titled LP on the Polydor label produced by Freshwater's David Fookes. McGregor graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium Opera School and spent three years in music theater performing leading roles in The Sound of Music, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Cabaret, The Venetian Twins and Candide.
Her album 'The Jennifer McGregor Album', recorded with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, was nominated for the 1988 ARIA Award for Best Classical Album. Together with Judi Connelli and Suzanne Johnston she formed the Three Divas. In 2000 they released a self-titled album. [ extract fromWomen of Aussie Music]
This post consists of MP3's (320kps) ripped from vinyl (thanks to Dusty from Midoztouch2) and includes low res artwork and label scans. This month's WOCK post certainly ticks the Obscure box and like many other short lived Aussie bands from the 70's, they were under recorded and often discarded by their record companies with little chance of developing their music and building their fan base. And so, Air simply vanished into thin air (punn intended) without leaving a trail to follow.
Track Listing:
A2 So Many People
A3 The Sea
A4 I Wonder Why
B1 Message
B2 Baby, It's The Way
B3 Ted's Saloon
B4 Super Situation
Band Members:
Vocals – Jenny McGregor, Steve Nicholas
Bass – Nicky Dunn, Patrick Conroy
Drums – Gary Hyde, Tony Bolton
Guitar – Nicky Dunn, Philip 'Pip' Owen, Steve Nicholas
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