Saturday, September 30, 2017

W.O.C.K on Vinyl: James Galway & Henry Mancini - In The Pink (1984)

 
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 Wacky, Obscure, Crazy or just plain Korny.

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The Pink Panther is a series of comedy-mystery films featuring an inept French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The series began with the release of The Pink Panther (1963). The role of Clouseau was originated by, and is most closely associated with, Peter Sellers. Most of the films were directed and co-written by Blake Edwards, with theme music composed by Henry Mancini. 

"The Pink Panther Theme" is an instrumental composition by Henry Mancini written as the theme for the 1963 film The Pink Panther and subsequently nominated for the 1964 Academy Award for Best Original Score. The eponymous cartoon character created for the film's opening credits by David DePatie and Friz Freleng was animated in time to the tune. The tenor saxophone solo was played by Plas Johnson.

"The Pink Panther Theme", composed in the key of E minor, is unusual for Mancini's extensive use of chromaticism.




In his autobiography Did They Mention the Music? Mancini recalled that he told the animators that he would give them a tempo they could animate to, so that any time there were striking motions or someone was getting hit, he could score to it.


In the films, the Pink Panther is a large and valuable pink diamond which is first shown in the opening film in the series. The diamond is called the "Pink Panther" because the flaw at its centre, when viewed closely, is said to resemble a leaping pink panther. 

This month's WOCK on vinyl post is a wonderful candidate for all of those Wonderful and Wacky antics that Inspector Jacques Clouseau provided us in the Pink Panther series of movies. This collection of tracks by Galway & Mancini are popular favourites but are far removed from my usual play lists. Having said this, how can one resist tracks like "Baby Elephant Walk" and "Pie In The Face Polka" (from the movie The Great Race), and of course the catchy classic "Pink Panther" Theme.
So, while you are listening to the opening track, I would like you to practice the following phrase in readiness for your next visit to MacDonalds:
  "I would like to buy a harm-bur-ger"   LOL

Track Listing

01 - The Pink Panther
02 - Meggie's Theme
03 - Breakfast At Tiffany's
04 - Pennywhistle Jig
05 - Crazy World
06 - The Thorn Birds Theme
07 - Pie In The Face Polka
08 - Baby Elephant Walk
09 - Two For The Road
10 - Speedy Gonzales
11 - Theme From The Molly Maguires
12 - Medley-Days Of Wine And Roses_Charade_Moon River
13 - Cameo For Flute
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In The Pink Link (96Mb)  New Link 23/12/2023
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Monday, September 25, 2017

The Doors - Unauthorised Touch Me (1994) Bootleg

(U.S 1965–1973)
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The Doors are somewhat or an anomaly in the rock pantheon. They weren't part or the peace 'n' love Airplane-Dead-Quicksilver acid-rock sound, or San Francisco. They had nothing to do with the English invasion, or even pop music in general. While New York City was good to the Doors — almost to the point or adopting them as their own — they still weren't in league with the Velvet Underground, despite a mutual affinity for dark and somber themes. They weren't even part or Los Angeles's predominantly folk-rock scene, consisting or the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and the like. Even among the hierarchy that includes Elvis, Dylan, Joplin, or Hendrix, they were a world unto themselves. But what a wonderful and darkly exotic world it was.

The Doors were a band and each individual part formed a side or the diamond that was the whole. One night, on the road, just before the concert was to begin, a disc jockey climbed on the stage to introduce the act: "Ladies and gentlemen" he announced to the audience, "please welcome Jim Morrison and the Doors." There was the customary applause. As the DJ walked down the stairs leading from the stage, Jim pulled him aside and said, "Uh-uh, man, you go back up there and introduce us right."
The DJ panicked. "What did I say? What did I do?"
"It's THE DOORS, " Jim said, "the name of the band is THE DOORS."

When the Doors' first managers tried to lure Jim away from the rest or the group with promises of wealth and independence that a solo venture could provide, Jim immediately went over to Ray and informed him, "These two guys are trying to break up the band, let's get rid or them." The managers were bought out of their contract; from that time on, their roadie became the Doors' representative, and the four Doors essentially managed themselves. Nobody would ever again try to drive a wedge between Jim and the band, and no one would ever tell these guys what to do.


Anybody who spent any time within the charmed inner circle loosely referred to as "the Doors' Family" knew that the Doors were more than just Jim. There was no question the Doors needed Jim, and everyone knew it. They needed his dark, brilliant, raw and powerful, impulsive and explosive, elegant and refined Dionysian energy. But everyone knew that Jim needed their pristine talents, their disciplined Apollonian abilities to wrest his lyrics to music, to create the soundtrack for his profane madness and sacred inspiration. It's no mystery why Jim Morrison never went solo: He knew he needed Robby Krieger, John Densmore, and Ray Manzarek as much as they needed him.


So sympathetic were the musicians to Jim's mission that Robby Krieger was even capable of writing lyrics and songs that sounded sometimes more like Morrison than Morrison, among them "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," and "Touch Me." Without Messrs. Krieger, Manzarek, and Densmore, there's a good chance Jim's songs would never have made it off the page, to say nothing of into rehearsal, onto the stage, into the recording studio and, in defiance of all odds, across the decades. [extract from The Doors: The complete illustrated lyrics, by Danny Sugerman. Macdonald Books, 1991. p1-2]
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This post consists of MP3's (320kps) ripped from my Grapefruit CD Bootleg and includes the usual trademark artwork for their Unauthorised series of boots.  The cover states that the recordings come from three different sources (San Francisco March, 1967, Sweden Sept 1968 and Seattle June 1970) however an alternative release on the Banana label with the title 'The Lizard King Vol 2' (see below)  also cites some of the recordings coming from a concert in Vancouver and several T.V shows (a real mixed bag).  Irrespective, these recordings are amazing for the period and are hands down, way better than any of their official live material (ie. Live at the Hollywood Bowl).
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Track Listing
01 - Moonlight Drive    5:50
02 - Break On Through    4:01

03 - Crystal Ship    2:53
04 - 20th. Century Fox    2:46
05 - Unhappy Girl    3:59
06 - Love Street    3:02
07 - Love Me Two Times    3:17
08 - Unknown Soldier    3:52
09 - You're Lost Little Girl    3:15
10 - Wild Child    2:34
11 - Wake Up    1:53
12 - Five To One    6:03
13 - The End    16:24
14 - Touch Me    3:03
15 - Moonlight Drive    2:53
16 - Light My Fire    2:55


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The Doors were:
Jim Morrison (Vocals and Obsenities)
Ray Manzarek (Keyboards)
Robby Krieger (Guitar)
John Densmore (drums)



The Doors Touch Me Link (139Mb)
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Monday, September 18, 2017

The Easybeats - The Best Of Of The Easybeats + Pretty Girl (1967)

(Australian 1964–1969, 1986)
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The Best of The Easybeats + Pretty Girl was released in May 1967 in Australia and New Zealand) this album was first digitally remastered for CD in 1987 and then in 1997 with a different artwork (as per this post). It was then remastered again by Don Bartley and reissued in 2013 for the  iTunes Store and released in 2014 on 180 gram vinyl for Record Store Day Australia. This version features slightly different font to the original 1967 version and has the Parlophone logo removed.

It was the first compilation album released exclusively in Australia and New Zealand to coincide with the 1967 Australian Homecoming Tour. The album peaked on the Kent Report Charts at number 3 and became the 20th best selling album in Australia in 1967. Another interesting feature about this LP was the “Recording History of The Easybeats” chart featured on the covers rear.

The Follow Up Single To 'Friday On My Mind'
Within the Easybeats camp there were heated arguments, prolonged discussions and gridlocked disagreements over what should be the follow-up single to 'Friday on My Mind'. It was an important decision. The right follow-up to a breakthrough hit could ensure a long and successful career. The wrong choice could doom them to one-hit-wonder status. Finally, Shel Talmy and United Artists decided on 'Who'll Be the One'. ('Do You Have a Soul?' would be the B-side.)

Their reasoning was that it had similar vocal harmonies and production values to 'Friday'. George explains, 'Shel Talmy produced it (a hell of a good producer) in the American tradition of a follow-up record sounding like the first hit ... American bands have been known to use the same backing track for a follow-up single. The strategy may have been sound but the song was not single quality. It had a slightly catchy chorus, but no hooks, no fiendishly clever guitar-work, no infectious harmonies and nothing lyrically unique. Every member of the band opposed the choice.


Maggie Makeig reviewed the new single in Everybody's magazine at the time and was accurate in her assessment: ' "Do You Have a Soul?" sounds a better side to me with much more going for it. I can imagine the soul searching that went on before the 'Beats decided on 'Who'll Be the One' but I think it was a mistake.' George says, 'The next single became 'Who'll Be the One' which was crap, but it seemed to be the thing to satisfy most people. It wasn't in the same league as 'Friday on My Mind', it wasn't even on the same planet!'

Arguably, any other song on Good Friday would have been a better option (except 'See Line Woman' which was a bit experimental). Wiser heads would have consulted the Top 40 charts from Down Under. 'Sorry' was a proven winner. It had shot straight to No. 1 in Australia and No. 2 in New Zealand just before 'Friday' broke through. Stevie Wright explains, 'Some of our big hits ['Sorry' and Til Make You Happy'] weren't considered big hits by the English when we got there. We were just treated with the contempt they usually reserve for those from a European country. They just didn't want to know ... Time had moved on and the English just didn't consider [re-releasing those songs]. They thought the stuff that went to number one in Australia was second-rate.'

Australian rock musician and writer lain Mclntyre argues that the top contender for follow-up single should have been 'Pretty Girl': 'Although there was an obvious, gold-plated contender in the superb "Pretty Girl" the song was inexplicably passed over and relegated to the B-side of a later single.' What counted against this ballad was that it had a different feel to 'Friday' and that Harry Vanda took lead vocals. But one listen today confirms that it would have been perfect for the English market and that it is one of the best examples of the Easybeats' exquisite and creative harmonies. [extract from Vanda & Young - Inside Australia's Hit Factory, John Tait, 2010. p82-83]
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This post consists of FLACs ripped from my 1997 CD release of the album and includes full album artwork for both vinyl and CD releases.  Featuring such classics as "She's So Fine", "Wedding Ring", "Sorry" and the mega hit "Friday On My Mind", this timeless compilation album is chock a block full of 'Easy Fever'.
For more information on John Tait's comprehensive and authoritative biography of The Easybeats' power house musicians Vanda & Young, see his bookstore website
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Track Listing
01 - For My Woman (Young, Wright)
02 - She’s So Fine (Young, Wright)
03 - Wedding Ring (Young, Wright)
04 - Sad Lonely And Blue (Young, Wright)
05 - Easy As Can Be (Young, Wright)
06 - In My Book (Young, Wright)
07 - Women (Young, Wright)
08 - Pretty Girl (Vanda, Young)
09 - Come And See Her  (Young, Wright)
10 - I’ll Make You Happy  (Young, Wright)
11 - Too Much (Vanda, Young, Wright)
12 - Sorry (Young, Wright)
13 - Made My Bed ; Gonna Lie In It (Young)
14 - Friday On My Mind (Vanda, Young)

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The Easybeats:
Stevie Wright - Vocals
Snowy Fleet - Drums
Dick Diamonde - Bass
Harry Vanda - Guitar, Backing vocals
George Young - Guitar, Backing Vocals

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The Best Of The Easybeats + Pretty Girl (249Mb)
New Link 11/04/2022
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Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Mother Goose - Live in Dunedin, NZ (2007) Bootleg

(New Zealand 1975 - 1984)
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Mother Goose were a theatrical rock group that formed in Dunedin in 1975. They were renowned for their whacky costumes and stage routines. In 1976, they relocated to Auckland and then Australia. In 1982 Steve Young received the APRA Silver Scroll award for the song "I Can't Sing Very Well".

Now, sing along if you remember this one: "Baked beans, oh baked beans, baked beans, oh baked beans".

In 1977 Mother Goose were slurping them up by the bucketful as the strangely dressed Dunedin band hit a stellar patch in their career with their joyous ode to Heinz' saucy super food.

Mother Goose might have looked kinda funny and not taken themselves terribly seriously, but the six southern men were hot musos and their live show ruled.

Based in Australia when they released the jolly piss-taking single Baked Beans, fledgling Aussie bands like Cold Chisel, the Angels, Men At Work and Midnight Oil clamoured to support them. A year later, Mother Goose were living the rock 'n' roll dream in Hollywood, wowing crowds with their high-octane live show and funny theatrics.

They were loved by audiences and critics alike, but their frenetic live show didn't translate into album sales. Global superstardom eluded them, as it does so many deserving acts, and Mother Goose split in 1984.

For a full biography of the band you can see my earlier post for their Stuffed Album or you can jump across to the Dunedinmusic website.



Mother Goose 30th Reunion
(Mother Goose live at the Regent Theatre, Dunedin, New Zealand March 23, 2007)

Marcel Rodeka writes on his website:
And this our one-off reunion show in Dunedin in 2007, after 25 years of not playing together. This is the original Dunedin lineup to celebrate Dunedin's Festival of the Arts. Of course we were also fortunate to have had Justin McCarthy on guitar for three years and Neil Shilkin on keys for over two years, both outstanding musicians and writers and every much part of Mother Goose and its history as the rest of us. This concert featured our long time live sound engineer, the legendary Pixie Michael who was also part of our long history and who changed and influenced our live sound immeasurably the day he came on board. It was great to have Pixie again out front for the Oxo Cubans Mayfair Theatre show in September.
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This post consists of a single MP3 (256kps) ripped from a video DVD that I recently acquired at my local flee market (what a find folks).  I am also including a MP4 rip of the concert as a separate link and is well worth watching.  The concert goes for just under 1 hour and is brilliant.  Thanks to Marcel Rodeka for the concert photos.  Having seen these guys perform on numerous occasions back in 1977, this concert brought back a flood of wonderful memories that I treasure immensely. Their stage act was nothing like I'd seen before, and to this day remains the best I've ever seen.
So, sit ya self down and crack open a can of baked beans and once again revisit the wacky world of Mother GOOSE!
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Track Listing 
01 - Lawnmower Symphony
02 - Silent Movie
03 - Spuds Are Up
04 - Land Ho!
05 - Somebody Broke My Heart
06 - 8 Miles High (with Drum Solo)
07 - Paint It Black
08 - This Is The Life
09 - Once Upon A Time
10 - Baked Beans 07
11 - Sound of Music (encore)
12 - I Can't Sing Very Well

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The Band
Craig Johnston (Vocals) 
Marcel Rodeka (Drums) 
Pete Dickson (Lead Guitar) 
Kevin Collings (Rhythm Guitar) 
Steve Young (Keyboards) 
Denis Gibbins (Bass Guitar) 
and later 
Justin McCarthy (Lead Guitar) 
Neil Shilkin (Rhythm Guitar)

Mother Goose MP3 Link (109Mb) New Link 9/07/2020
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Mother Goose MP4 Video Link (678Mb) New Link 04/04/2020
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Thursday, September 7, 2017

Various Artists - History Of The 70's Vol.1 (1979)

(Various Artists  1970-74)
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Every generation has a soft spot for the decade in which it came of age. For rock and roll fans, however, it’s hard to argue that any decade surpassed the ‘70s, on a number of fronts. Post-Beatles and pre-MTV, the ‘70s occupied a sweet spot where rock and roll was played out on wide-open terrain, and on a field where “genre” had yet to become a catch-word. And so, this post gives you a sample of those well known classics (ROCK, GLAM, POP) that we Baby Boomers grew up with, as teenagers.

Take note that even though this compilation is entitled Vol.1, I can find no trace of a Vol.2 every being released. One must wonder whether EMI had intended to release a Vol.2 which covered the second half of the Seventies (Vol.1 only covers the first half), but changed their mind later, perhaps due to poor sales with Vol.1.


SUZI QUATRO - CAN THE CAN

Born in the U.S.A., where at the age of 14 she left school and formed a band with her three sisters, Suzi Quatro was discovered by Mickie Most in Detroit, while recording a new album with Jeff Beck. Mickie signed Suzi Quatro to the RAK label in 1972, and a year later she took the world by storm.



Hits like 48 CRASH, DAYTONA DEMON, DEVIL GATE DRIVE and THE WILD ONE all made the charts here in Australia. Of course, it started with CAN THE CAN, which reached No. 1 and stayed on the charts for 29 Weeks.

Although she did not have many hit records during the mid-seventies, in 1978 she returned to the charts with THE RACE IS ON, IF YOU CAN'T GIVE ME LOVE and a duet with Chris Norman (from Smokie) called STUMBLIN 'IN.

BLUE SWEDE - HOOKED ON A FEELING
Before the onslaught by Swedish supergroup Abba in the mid 70s, an unknown Swedish band by the name of BLUE SWEDE took the pop charts by storm, all over the world. The record HOOKED ON A FEELING, made Top 10 in most European countries and here in Australia had a similar impact The single reached No. 4 and remained m the charts for 24 weeks. An already well established band in Sweden, this single was their first recording in the English language. They recorded an album which sold very well in Australia Unfortunately, they were not to repeat the success of their smash-hit. The band broke up a couple of years later and at this stage, only the lead-singer, BJORN SKIFS, is still in the music industry. Bjorn is, at the moment, a very successful solo artist in Europe and destined to come up with a hit record here in Australia.

DAVE EDMUNDS - PROMISED LAND

Dave Edmunds is one of those artists who is always on the verge of becoming a big name in the pop industry. It started back in 1967, when, as the lead guitarist with the UK band LOVE SCULPTURE, he reached the No 1 spot in the U.K. with SABRE DANCE. In 1970 he decided to go solo and his first single, I HEAR YOU KNOCKING, hit the No. 1 spot in England, selling over 3,000,000 copies. The record made Top 20 in Australia as well, but his big hit here was PROMISED LAND, which reached No. 7 and stayed on the charts for 17 weeks Strangely enough, this record proved only to be a hit in Australia. Although Dave has been quiet for the last few years, it will only be a matter of time before he will be back on the charts.

JOE SOUTH - CHILDREN
Joe South started his career as a session musician, working with such artists as BOB DYLAN, ARETHA FRANKLIN, as well as playing on Simon and Garfunkel SOUNDS OF SILENCE album.



His compositions created a lot of interest , and several of these songs became hits, like DOWN IN THE BOONDOCKS by Billy Joe Royal and HUSH by Deep Purple. In 1968, Joe signed with Capitol Records and recorded his first album INTROSPECT.

However, it was not until 1969 that the album started to chart in the U.S.A. The big hit single off the album was GAMES PEOPLE PLAY. CHILDREN reached No. 51 and stayed 9 weeks on the charts
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ROSS RYAN - I AM PEGASUS
Discovered in 1972 when he was the support act for Roy Orbison, Ross was signed to EMI in 1973. His first album for EMI was A POEM YOU CAN KEEP. This album featured his hit single I DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

This was followed by his biggest hit to date, I AM PEGASUS which reached No.2 and stayed on the charts for an unbelievable 38 weeks. In early 1974, both the album MY NAME MEANS HORSE and the single taken from this album were certified Gold. The then Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Gough Whitlam, presented Ross with the Gold Record Awards.


LA DE DAS - TOO POOPED TO POP
The LA DE DAS were originally from New Zealand, where they had a No.1 hit with a song called HEY BABY They came over to Australia in 1966, but if wasn't until 1971 that their first Australian hit, GONNA SEE MY BABY TONIGHT follow-up, MORNING GOOD MORNING, charted in 1972 and their last hit, as featured on this album, was TOO POOPED TO POP in 1974.  It reached No. 24 and stayed on the charts for 19 weeks.

Although the LA DE DAS went through quite a few personnel changes, their lead guitarist Kevin Borich stayed with the band till the end. He wrote most of their songs and was also lead vocalist.


When the LA DE DAS disbanded, he formed his own band, which is now known as one of Australia's premier bands, namely The Kevin Borich Express.




STEVIE WRIGHT - EVIE PARTS 1,2 AND 3
It is not often that a single which lasts longer than the customary 3 to 4 minutes becomes a hit, due to the fact that commercial radio stations around the world feel anything longer than 4 minutes becomes boring to their listening audience.
However, every now and then a record comes along that will break this rule.  

One such record was EVIE written and produced by Vanda &
Young and performed by STEVIE WRIGHT. When it was decided to release EVIE as the single from the HARD ROAD album, it was decided to put Part ONE on Side A and and PARTS 2 & 3 on the B Side of the single.

Radio stations around Australia preferred the longer version, and for about 4 months in 1974, all major radio stations programmed the album version. EVIE reached No.1 on the Australian Charts and stayed in the charts for 26 weeks. The album version of EVIE is featured on this album. It is a classic!

GEORGE BAKER SELECTION - LITTLE GREEN BAG
The Seventies will be remembered for the influx of bands on the international charts. The George Baker Selection is one of those bands. They hail from Holland, where, together with THE T-SET, they have been the top band for many years.

They were to have two big international hits: the first, LITTLE GREEN BAG, made it to the top of all European charts and to No. 16 here in Australia and stayed on the charts for 26 weeks. Their second hit came a few years later and made it to the No.1 spot just about everywhere the record was released. That song was, of course, UNA PALOMA BLANCA.

T REX - HOT LOVE

MARC BOLAN, born in London. 1948, is still regarded as one of the most important artists to emerge from the seventies. Although Marc had been recording for many years on quite a number of different labels, it was not until late 1970 that he achieved chart success in the U.K  The record, issued through Fly Records, was RIDE A WHITE SWAN, and reached No 2 in England.

The follow up to that was HOT LOVE, which stayed at the top of the English charts for a mammoth 6 weeks. It reached No.2 here in Australia and stayed in the charts for 16 weeks. In September 1977, while driving with his girlfriend Gloria Jones, Marc was involved in a car accident and was killed instantly

JOE COCKER - THE LETTER
Probably best known for his double 'live' album and the movie MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN, Joe started his musical career in 1964 with the Decca Record Company. His first single I'LL CRY INSTEAD, only managed to earn him 10 pence and with that sort of encouragement, he decided to go back to his job as a gas-fitter. After a few years playing in different groups, he decided to record once again. This time he was luckier, MARJORINE created a lot of interest by the media and the follow-up WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS reached No.1 in the U.K and No.27 in Australia, staying on the charts for 13 weeks.

ALVIN STARDUST - MY COO CA CHOO
Alvin, whose real name is Bernard Jewry, was born in London and started as the lead singer of the successful British band SHANE FENTON AND THE FENTONES at the age of 15. Then they played London's Royal Albert Hall, they had The Beatles as a support act. In 1973, Alvin signed with a newly-formed UK label, Magnet Records, and released his first single, MY COO CA CHOO, which became a smash hit, stormed the Australian charts and went as high as No.1 and stayed in the charts for 26 weeks.

In 1974, he was acclaimed as Britain's Top Selling Male Singles Artist and was awarded the London Weekend Television Trophy as Britain's Most Outstanding Live Performer. MY COO CA CHOO proved to be Alvin's one and only big hit here in Australia.

HANK B. MARVIN - SACHA
HANK B. MARVIN is best known as the lead guitarist of the Shadows. This instrumental group was formed back in 1958 under the name of the DRIFTERS, but due to objections from the American DRIFTERS, they changed their name to THE SHADOWS.

Their first No. 1 single in the U.K., was APACHE in - July 1960. The SHADOWS were also part of the success-story with CLIFF RICHARD. CLIFF & THE SHADOWS were responsible for a string of hits like MOVE IT, SU MMER HOLIDAY, as well as the hit movies THE YOUNG ONES and SUMMER HOLIDAY SACHA reached No. 15 and stayed an incredible 41 weeks on the Australian charts.

PETER SKELLERN - YOU'RE A LADY
Peter's musical career started at the age of 16, when he became organist and choirmaster of St. Paul's Church, Bury, U.K., In 1968 he graduated from The London Guildhall School of Music and joined a rock band called THE MARCH HARE. After recording one album, he decided to give the recording-side of the business away and joined a publishing company. However, after a few years in publishing, the urge to record again became too much and after signing with Decca Records, he released YOU'RE A LADY. It reached No. 3 in the U.K. and No. 2 in Australia, staying a total of 17 weeks on the charts. Peter had one more hit in the seventies, namely HOLD ON TO LOVE, which, although a big hit in the U.K., could not surpass the performance of YOU'RE A LADY here in Australia.

RASPBERRIES - GO ALL THE WAY
The RASPBERRIES were formed early 1970 in Cleveland, U.S.A., and although their music sounded very much British, all four members of the band were American. The four members were Wallace Bryson, James Bonfanti, David Smalley and Eric Carmen. Of the four members, Eric Carmen has been by far the most successful solo artist since the band broke up. When their first album was released by Capitol Records in early 1972, the RASPBERRIES were accused of just copying the early Beatles sound. However, the media might have over-reacted a bit, as the RASPBERRIES proved to be a very successful band on their own merits. Their biggest single, GO ALL THE WAY, made the Top 10 in America and became one of the bestsellers of 1972 in that Country. In Australia, the single charted at No. 12 and stayed in the charts for 16 weeks.

RUSSELL MORRIS - RACHEL
Russell started his musical career with a Melbourne-based band SOMEBODY'S IMAGE. After two years with that band, Russell decided to go solo. He recorded two-singles, THE REAL THING and PART 3 INTO PAPER WALLS, both of these reaching the No. 1 spot and both of them produced by his then manager- lan "Molly" Meldrum.

His third single, RACHEL, was originally recorded in the U.K., but Russell wasn't too happy with the end result and decided to re-record here in Australia. That was in early 1970 and RACHEL became Russell's third hit in a row, reaching No. 25 on the Australian charts and remaining there for 21 weeks.
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This post consists of FLACs  ripped from my EMI Vinyl and includes the usual cover artwork and label scans.  Hope you enjoy this trip back down Seventies memory lane, especially with the full length version of 'Evie' running for 12 minutes and the hard hitting 'Can The Can' by a leather clad Suzi Quatro.
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Tracklisting
01 –Suzi Quatro    (Can The Can)
02 –Blue Swede    (Hooked On A Feeling)
03 –Dave Edmunds  (Promised Land)
04 –Joe South    (Children)
05 –The La De Das  (Too Pooped To Pop)
06 –Ross Ryan    (I Am Pegasus)
07 –Stevie Wright  (Evie - Parts 1, 2 And 3)
08 –George Baker Selection  (Little Green Bag)
09 –T. Rex  (Hot Love)

10 –Joe Cocker    (The Letter)
11 –Alvin Stardust  (My Coo Ca Choo)
12 –Hank B. Marvin  (Sacha)
13 –Peter Skellern  (You're A Lady)
14 –Raspberries    (Go All The Way)
15 –Russell Morris  (Rachel)

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History Of The Seventies FLAC Link (334Mb)
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