The following artists will be in alphabetical order. I think you’ll find that list favours the 70s and the 80s, and is incredibly diverse, so it should have something for everyone. Logic dictates that I have ACDC first, but I don’t really need to, when you consider how many other artists there are that meet my criteria; and they’re not for the fainthearted anyway. And so our first Australian music legend is…
1. AIR SUPPLY
Although they are really Americanised, Air Supply remain one of the true legends of soft rock/harmony music and will be especially loved by the oldies. Forming in Melbourne in 1975 as a vocal harmony group, Russell Hitchcock, Graeme Russell and Chrissie Hammond were its original members. Chrissie soon left to form Cheetah and Jeremy Paul was her replacement on bass guitar and vocals. Their first single “Love and Other Bruises” reached the top 6 in October 1976 and was their biggest hit here, but they didn’t really get off the ground until they brought out “Lost in Love”, which was huge in America! They reached the US Top 10 eight times in the early 1980’s, even topping the charts with “The One that You Love” in 1981!
They took a break in 1987 (with ten albums under their belt), but they didn’t completely stop recording as they’ve had another eight albums since! Best of all, they’re still performing today, having released an album, MUMBO JUMBO, just last year, and they still have most of their original fan base (although mostly in America now).
04-Oct-78*HP-06*WI-28 - Love and Other Bruises 07-Feb-77*HP-43*WI-15 - Empty Pages 27-Jun-77*HP-45*WI-13 - Do What You Do 21-May-79*HP-13*WI-18 - Lost in Love 21-July-80*HP-09*WI-23 - All Out of Love 15-Dec-80*HP-09*WI-21 - Every Woman in the World 22-Jun-81*HP-10*WI-19 - The One That You Love 02-Nov-81*HP-43*WI-20 - Here I Am 21-Jun-82*HP-35*WI-15 - Even the Nights are Better 24-Jan-83*HP-46*WI-13 - Two Less Lonely People in the World 05-Sep-83*HP-45*WI-16 - Making Love Out of Nothing at All 04-Nov-85*HP-79*WI-06 - Just As I Am
DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES: Lost in Love, All out of love, Here I am, Two Less Lonely people in the world, Making Love Out of Nothing at All
4KQ’s Brent James writes: “Recording for indie label Powderworks (whose most notable act included Midnight Oil), Sydney band The Allniters made a significant impression during 1983 with their up-vibey, ska take on Bobby Bloom’s “Montego Bay”, all on the back of their first single for the label just making the national Top 40. “Love And Affection” was a little more laid-back in style and was also lifted from their only chart album “D-D-D Dance”, which actually fared quite well - peaking at #18 nationally on the album charts.”
Entry Date HP WI Titles 18-Apr-83 40 13 Hold On 26-Sep-83 19 19 Montego Bay 19-Dec-83 45 13 Love and Affection 10-Sep-84 84 06 Screaming Dreaming 10-Aug-87 76 06 All That Easy
DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES: Hold On, Montego Bay, all That easy
In my opinion, the Angels are one of the most distinctively Australian bands ever (in musical terms – sound, etc) and with the chart success they’ve had, is it any wonder that they are still respected and admired? They’ve recorded some of the most iconic rock songs we’ve ever had, namely “Am I Ever Going to See Your Face Again?”, “Take a Long Line”, “No Secrets” and “We’ve Got to Get out of this Place”(to use proper English) and they still perform them when they get a chance.
The Angels were originally the Moonshine Jug & String band, a jug band playing in Adelaide in the early 1970’s. It wasn’t until Countdown (I think) and the pub rock craze started when they employed their current lead singer, Irish-born Doc Neeson and shortened their name. They nearly blew up the pubs with their loud, repetitive bass/electric guitar riffs and drum beats, and became so popular that they rivalled ACDC for a short time. But in personality terms, the Angels made ACDC look like…well, an early Metallica, really. Like murderers, maybe?
The pub scene was only the practice run for the Angels, however, as they sailed through the 80s playing in arenas! Many American rockers have become massive fans of them including Guns 'N Roses, Meat Loaf, Kurt Cobain, Cheap Trick and Pearl Jam, and they still do the occasional concert, not only here, but in Britain and America, where they are known as Angel City (and have a cult following). But the most startling thing about this band, as someone wrote on Amazon.com (quoted on the Angel’s official website), is that they “never clicked” in the world’s toughest music market.
I’m more worried myself about how well they have done as a band here, pitched up against our other great bands. In a recent list of the top 1000 artists of 1980 to 2009, the Angels made the top 200, but their 1979 data has pushed them up, somewhat. How would they do if their 1976-78 data was added? I’m tipping around the #120 mark.
No Secrets' chart run: 35*16*11*11*8*9*8*9*8*8*15*18*21*28*37*50*65
DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES: You're a Lady Now, No Secrets (their best song in my eyes), Marseilles, Living on the Outside, Stand Up, Look the Other Way, We Gotta Get Out of This Place, Let the Night Roll On, Dogs Are Talking (#11), Back Street Pickup, My Light Will Shine
Grew up in the 90's on the Angels back cataloug so they are a really cool group to me. Not fussed on the other two but Air Supply were huge in the states.
I've noticed some Angels singles have been reviewed recently. DOGS ARE TALKING = 2 reviews gave it 4 stars!!!
4. JOHNNY ASHCROFT
We’ve had some pub rock, now for a little country/folk to get you going. Hands up who thought (classic) Australian country music was all Slim Dusty and John Williamson? Wow that’s a lot of hands! I suppose you’ve never heard of Johnny Ashcroft then, have you?
A true legend of Australian country music, Johnny descends from a First Fleeter and later on from a convict. He grew up living in a bag shack with a dirt floor, which may have led him to be interested in indigenous cultures, particularly Aboriginal culture. Ashcroft released his first record (78rpm) at age 19 back in 1946, which only featured one song! He didn’t really get off the ground, however, until 1954, when he “…laid down his first commercial recordings – six sides (three 78rpms) for Rodeo Records. These were recorded live. His mid-1950s Phillips ‘microgroove’ vinyl album, Songs of the Western Trail, also recorded live with the Gaby Rogers orchestra, was Australia’s first vinyl country & western (C&W) ‘Long Play’ (LP) record. Four years later the next Australian C&W vinyl LP made its appearance. Songs of the Western Trail is ensconced in Australia’s recording history. And Australia’s very first trucking song, Highway 31, written by Ashcroft, enhanced its uniqueness. Eight sides (four 78rpms) were eventually released from this album.
“Ashcroft was the first C&W artist to appear on Australian TV. In 1956, when the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Commission) began transmitting from its tiny Arcon Studio at Gore Hill, Sydney, he wrote and sang the show’s (or the station?) opening theme and performed in the show.”
There is a really interesting (but really messy) article on Wikipedia which says he went on to be a big star in the 1960s and 70s. His best-known achievement is probably the famous hit Little Boy Lost, “…written by Ashcroft[. It] tells the story of Steven Walls who became lost from his parent’s property at Tubbamurra near Guyra, NSW. Five thousand people [and] seven aircraft, together with Aboriginal tracker William Stanley, searched the rugged bush country, which was rife with dingos and deadly snakes. He was found alive and well four days later. The search for the Little Boy Lost continues to be Australia's biggest.”
That song is in fact so popular that a 50th anniversary the search for Steven Wells was commemorated last year – which would fall “on the same days as those in 1960, i.e. Friday, 5 February (when Steven was lost) to Monday, 8 February (when he was found alive and well).”
Lastly, Ashcroft recently celebrated his 83rd birthday on 1 February 2011.
Entry Date HP WI Titles 10-Jan-59 62 06 They're a Weird Mob 26-Mar-60 03 28 Little Boy Lost 23-July-60 55 04 Big River / The Flying Red Horse 22-Dec-62 31 14 The Girl Behind the Bar 28-May-73 19 19 Playground in My Mind 07-July-75 53 07 Holy Joe the Salvo
DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES (if you can): Little Boy Lost, Big River, Playground in My Mind, Holy Joe the Salvo
As Johnny Ashcroft is best-known for Little Boy Lost, so Doug Ashdown is best-known for the reminiscent Winter in America, originally titled “Leave Love Enough Alone”. It would reach #14 in Melbourne and #30 in Sydney through late 1976 and early 1977.
But he achieved much more. His fourth album, released in 1969, “earned him a place in the history books as the first double album of original material ever released in Australia, almost two years before Spectrum's Milesago.”
Entry Date HP WI Titles 19-Apr-69 89 04 A Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On 21-Jun-69 34 09 The Day they Freed the Noise 10-Aug-70 46 12 The Saddest Song of All 11-Oct-76 37 28 Winter in America (Leave Love Enough Alone) 12-Oct-81 40 18 And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda 25-Nov-74 38 28 Leave Love Enough Alone LP 03-Oct-77 98 02 Trees LP
DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES: The Day they Freed the Noise, The Saddest Song of All, Winter in America (Leave Love Enough Alone)
Well, the next five will be on Saturday. See you then
MILESAGO writes: “Long hailed as Australia's first and greatest surf band, The Atlantics not only spearheaded this musical genre in Australia, but also gained international renown for their superb guitar-based instrumentals. Glenn A. Baker rightly calls them "one of the most extraordinarily talented rock groups Australia has ever produced" and their eclectic output -- most of it written by members of the group -- included powerhouse surf numbers, incendiary garage-punk and even psychedelia.
The Atlantics were (and are) accomplished musicians and composers, one of the most popular live acts of their day and a sought-after backing group for other singers. They were remarkably prolific as recording artists -- during the Sixties they released eighteen Singles under their own name (plus one under a pseudonym), as well as providing backing for vocalists -- including Johnny Rebb and Russ Kruger -- on some twenty other Singles released between 1964 and 1969. Some of these sides some are now almost as sought-after as the group's own recordings."
The Atlantics Entry Date HP WI Titles 16-Mar-63 66 04 Moon Man 27-July-63 01 26 Bombora 23-Nov-63 07 15 The Crusher 28-Mar-64 85 04 War of the Worlds 10-Sep-66 73 04 Why Do You Treat me Like You Do 03-Dec-66 55 08 I Put a Spell on You 21-Oct-67 60 05 Waiting Here for Someone
7. AUSTRALIAN CRAWL 1996 - ARIA Hall of Fame inductee
Why don't you hear this group anymore? They are one of the most distinctively Australian rock bands of all time (at least in sound) and they haven't been playing together since 1986!
Forming in St. Kilda, Victoria in 1978, Australian Crawl spent the early 1980s playing in the pubs of Melbourne's outer suburbs. One of their first hits, "The Boys Light Up" is considered by many an Australian classic, but their best known song - and I think their very best - has to be "Reckless" - the bass line! The guitar solo! The catchy chorus! "throw down your guns / don't be so reckless" That song was voted #19 in APRA's 2001 list of the best Australian songs of all time and is one of my favourite Aussie songs ever!
Ed Nimervoll writes: “In 1978 if you’d wanted to invent a truly Australian group, you’d have invented Australian Crawl, five sun bronzed Aussies from middle to upper class backgrounds: possibly the first high profile band to draw their influences almost solely from their Australian predecessors (in Australian Crawl’s case, groups like the Dingoes and Sports). Even the characteristic drawl in singer James Reyne’s vocals seemed to approximate an Australian accent.”
If you would like the full story of the band, then their Wikipedia article is excellent and Ed Nimervoll's Howlspace article is really good too.
And James Reyne, I don't care if only *you* can understand what you're saying. RESURRECT AUSTRALIAN CRAWL LIKE EVERY OTHER 80s BAND IS!!!
10-Sep-79*HP-22*WI-25 - Beautiful People 21-Apr-80*HP-22*WI-18 - The Boys Light Up 07-July-80*HP-12*WI-17 – Downhearted (#25 NZ) 08-Jun-81*HP-11*WI-17 - Things Don't Seem 14-Sep-81*HP-18*WI-18 - Errol / Easy On Your Own 21-Dec-81*HP-58*WI-13 - Oh No Not You Again / Lakeside 05-July-82*HP-17*WI-13 - Shut Down 20-Sep-82*HP-76*WI-06 - Daughters of the Northern Coast 27-Dec-82*HP-88*WI-03 - Runaway Girls 10-Oct-83*HP-01*WI-23 - Semantics (EP) (feat "Reckless") (#8 NZ) 16-Jan-84*HP-81*WI-06 - Louie Louie / Unpublished Critics 01-July-85*HP-44*WI-09 - Two Can Play 09-Sep-85*HP-87*WI-03 - If This is Love 25-Nov-85*HP-69*WI-04 - Trouble Spot Rock
DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES: Beautiful People (PLEASE!!!), Errol, Daughters of the Northern Coast, Reckless, Unpublished Critics, Trouble Spot Rock Last edited:
MILESAGO writes: “Formed in Melbourne in 1969, Axiom were arguably Australia's first true supergroup. Yet, in spite of a wealth of talent and promise, some notable chart successes and two superb [a]lbums of original material, they failed to achieve lasting popularity, due in part to waning public support in Australia as they vainly tried to crack the fickle English market, and the band fizzled out after less than two years. Nevertheless, Axiom deserve to be recognised as an important musical bridge between Sixties pop and Seventies rock in Australia, as one of the first serious attempts to make Australian rock with international appeal, and as one of the finest bands of their time.”
This Americanised band had two major stars: Brian Cadd (originally in the Groop) and Glenn Shorrock (originally in the Twilights, later part of the monumentally popular Little River band). One for the oldies.
Is Jimmy Barnes the biggest Australian act of all time? He has had more #1 albums than any other artist in Australian music history, with at least 10 solo albums and at least 3 more as leader of Cold Chisel. He’d easily make it onto any Legends/Icons CD.
In retrospect Scottish-born Barnes (and Shannon Noll to a degree) is a lot like Canadian singer Bryan Adams – he’s rough, he’s tough and he’s mastered nearly the whole spectrum of music from the softest of ballads to nearly the hardest of pub rock songs. I like him best as a pub rock singer back in the mid to late 80s – singing about the Australian way of life with such classics as Working Class Man. Oldies, however, may prefer his gospel/rhythm & blues covers like Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. Whatever, he has diverse catalogue of singles and albums, so he should have something for everyone to enjoy. Just let him SING!
Chart data
Entry date
HP
WI
Title
Chart
3-Sep-84
12
14
No Second Prize
AMR
3-Dec-84
86
3
Promise Me You'll Call
AMR
11-Feb-85
12
11
Daylight
AMR
9-Sep-85
7
25
I'd Die to Be With You Tonight
AMR
25-Nov-85
4
18
Working Class Man
AMR
3-Mar-86
39
10
Ride the Night Away
AMR
22-Dec-86
2
21
Good Times (w/ INXS)
AMR
2-Nov-87
1
20
Too Much Ain't Enough Love (1 wk)
AMR
24-Jan-88
12
16
Driving Wheels
AMR
4-Apr-88
29
10
I'm Still on Your Side
AMR
18-Jul-88
32
11
Waitin' for the Heartache
AMR
7-Nov-88
3
19
When a Man Loves a Woman (Live)
AMR
30-Jan-89
31
4
Last Frontier (Live)
ARIA
29-Jul-90
4 (4 wks)
25
Lay Down Your Guns
ARIA
14-Oct-90
12
17
Let's Make it Last All Night
ARIA
9-Dec-90
39
17
Little Darling
ARIA
24-Mar-91
7 (2 wks)
25
When Your Love is Gone
ARIA
28-Jul-91
48
10
Love is Enough
ARIA
6-Oct-91
6
19
I Gotcha
ARIA
10-Nov-91
3 (3 wks)
18
and JOHN FARNHAM - When Something is Wrong With My Baby
ARIA
26-Jan-92
28
13
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
ARIA
24-May-92
14
13
and TINA TURNER - (Simply) The Best / River Deep, Mountain High
ARIA
24-Jan-93
11
8
Sweat it Out
ARIA
14-Mar-93
41
9
Stand Up
ARIA
16-May-93
4 (4 wks)
20
Stone Cold
ARIA
15-Aug-93
43
9
Right By Your Side / Love Thing
ARIA
21-Nov-93
6 (4 wks)
16
with The BADLOVES - The Weight
ARIA
20-Feb-94
84
3a
You Can't Make Love Without a Soul
ARIA
22-May-94
57 (3 wks)
7
and DIESEL - Still Got a Long Way to Go
ARIA
14-May-95
17
11
Change of Heart
ARIA
6-Oct-96
6
16
Lover Lover
ARIA
23-Mar-97
33
10
Never Give You Up / Tear My Heart Out / (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher
ARIA
18-Oct-99
70
5a
Love and Hate
ARIA
13-Dec-99
63
8
Thankful for the Rain
ARIA
30-Oct-00
15 (2 wks)
9
Chain of Fools
ARIA
29-Apr-02
80
1
and GARY PINTO - Higher
ARIA
27-Jun-05
14
9
and DALLAS CRANE - Sit on My Knee
ARIA
28-Nov-05
31 (2 wks)
15
and Mahalia Barnes - Gonna Take Some Time
ARIA
23-Jan-06
59
7
& TROY CASSAR-DALEY - Bird on a Wire
ARIA
29-May-06
50
3
& Tim Rogers - Out of Time
ARIA
Currently in iTunes... 240 God Or Money 273, 532 Working Class Man 354 Flame Trees 389 Khe Sanh 640 I'd Die To Be With You Tonight 732 No Second Prize
DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES: Ain't No Mountain High Enough I'd Die to Be With You Tonight Working Class Man Driving Wheels Higher & Higher Let's Make it Last All Night Last edited:
10. THE BEE GEES 1997 - ARIA Hall of Fame inductee
If Chri8topher ever finishes a list of the top 1000 artists of all time, you can bet everything you have the bee gees will be top ten. If someone did a US equivalent, the Bee Gees would be top ten there too, do doubt. They are huge in America!!!
# = shown as Barry Gibb & The Bee Gees **= shown as The Bee Gees feat Barry Gibb
18-May-63*HP-98*WI-02 - The Battle of the Blue & The Grey 31-Aug-63*HP-75*WI-04 - Timber! 31-Oct-64*HP-94*WI-02 - Turn Around. Look at Me # 18-Sep-65*HP-47*WI-05 - Wine and Women # 25-Dec-65*HP-85*WI-08 - I Was a Lover, A Leader of Men # 24-Sep-66*HP-05*WI-24 - Spicks & Specks / I Am the World ** 04-Feb-67*HP-86*WI-04 - Born a Man 20-May-67*HP-11*WI-11 - New York Mining Disaster, 1941 15-July-67*HP-06*WI-19 - To Love Somebody 07-Oct-67*HP-02*WI-20 - Massachusetts (The Lights Went Out in) 09-Dec-67*HP-06*Wi-14 - World / Sir Geoffrey Save the World 24-Feb-68*HP-13*WI-08 - Words / Sinking Ships 20-Apr-68*HP-20*WI-10 - Jumbo / The Sing Sang His Song 24-Aug-68*HP-03*WI-19 - I've Gotta Get a Message to You 04-Jan-69*HP-01*WI-20 - I Started a Joke (2 weeks at No.1) 08-Mar-69*HP-15*Wi-16 - First of May / Lamplight 14-Jun-69*HP-28*WI-10 - Tomorrow, Tomorrow 06-Sep-69*HP-10*WI-16 - Don't Forget to Remember 06-Apr-70*HP-14*WI-11 - I.O.I.O. 11-Jan-71*HP-09*WI-22 - Lonely Days 12-July-71*HP-03*WI-16 - How Can You Mend a Broken Heart 24-Jan-72*HP-03*WI-18 - My World / On Time 24-July-72*HP-03*WI-19 - Run to Me / Road to Alaska 18-Dec-72*HP-45*WI-11 - Alive 14-May-73*HP-38*WI-15 - Saw a New Morning 26-Nov-73*HP-52*WI-17 - Wouldn't I Be Someone 08-July-74*HP-11*WI-35 - Mr. Natural 04-Aug-75*HP-14*WI-18 - Jive Talkin' 08-Dec-75*HP-67*WI-12 - Nights on Broadway 01-Mar-76*HP-61*WI-12 - Fanny (Be Tender With My Love) 06-Sep-76*HP-20*WI-18 - You Should Be Dancing 25-Apr-77*HP-28*WI-16 - Love So Right / Boogie Child 17-Oct-77*HP-84*WI-04 - Children of the World 05-Dec-77*HP-03*WI-31 - How Deep is Your Love 27-Feb-78*HP-01*WI-24 - Stayin' Alive (7 weeks at No.1) 01-May-78*HP-07*WI-18 - Night Fever 26-Jun-78*HP-31*WI-12 - More Than a Woman 11-Dec-78*HP-05*WI-22 - Too Much Heaven 26-Feb-79*HP-02*WI-16 - Tragedy 28-May-79*HP-77*WI-06 - Love You Inside Out 12-Oct-81*HP-38*WI-11 - He's a Liar 08-Aug-83*HP-73*WI-09- The Woman in You 12-Oct-87*HP-10*WI-20 - You Win Again 25-Jan-88*HP-89*WI-01 - E.S.P.
ARIA chart data: 29-Jun-97*HP-07*WI-26 - Alone 16-Nov-97*HP-99*WI-01 - Still Waters (Run Deep) 22-Jun-98*HP-38*WI-29a CELINE DION with - Immortality 2-Apr-01*HP-76*WI-05 - This is Where I Came in
Websites I found from Google: www.beegees.com www.beegees.dk www.brothersgibb.org
DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES: I've Gotta Get a Message to You, You Win Again, To Love Somebody
Well, that's the first ten Australian music legends for you. It's quite messy as you can see, but if you'll bear with me long enough, everything will be tidied up and this thread will be much cleaner.
Thanks for reading. see you next week bangalore Last edited:
Year Single Chart Peak 1967 Holiday The Billboard Hot 100 16 1967 Massachusetts The Billboard Hot 100 11 1967 New York Mining Disaster 1941 The Billboard Hot 100 14 1967 To Love Somebody The Billboard Hot 100 17 1968 I've Gotta Get a Message to You The Billboard Hot 100 8 1968 Jumbo The Billboard Hot 100 57 1968 Words The Billboard Hot 100 15 1969 Don't Forget to Remember The Billboard Hot 100 73 1969 First of May The Billboard Hot 100 37 1969 I Started a Joke The Billboard Hot 100 6 1969 Tomorrow, Tomorrow The Billboard Hot 100 54 1970 I.O.I.O. The Billboard Hot 100 94 1970 If I Only Had My Mind on Something Else The Billboard Hot 100 91 1971 Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself The Billboard Hot 100 53 1971 How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? The Billboard Hot 100 1 1971 How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? Adult Contemporary 4 1971 Lonely Days The Billboard Hot 100 3 1972 Alive The Billboard Hot 100 34 1972 My World The Billboard Hot 100 16 1972 Run to Me Adult Contemporary 6 1972 Run to Me The Billboard Hot 100 16 1973 Saw a New Morning The Billboard Hot 100 94 1974 Mr. Natural The Billboard Hot 100 93 1975 Jive Talkin' The Billboard Hot 100 1 1975 Jive Talkin' Disco Singles 9 1975 Nights on Broadway The Billboard Hot 100 7 1976 Fanny (Be Tender With My Love) The Billboard Hot 100 12 1976 Love So Right The Billboard Hot 100 3 1976 Love So Right R&B Singles 37 1976 You Should Be Dancing Dance Music/Club Play Singles 1 1976 You Should Be Dancing Disco Singles 1 1976 You Should Be Dancing The Billboard Hot 100 1 1976 You Should Be Dancing R&B Singles 4 1977 Boogie Child The Billboard Hot 100 12 1977 Boogie Child R&B Singles 31 1977 Edge of the Universe The Billboard Hot 100 26 1977 How Deep Is Your Love Adult Contemporary 1 1977 How Deep Is Your Love The Billboard Hot 100 1 1978 Night Fever The Billboard Hot 100 1 1978 Night Fever R&B Singles 8 1978 Stayin' Alive The Billboard Hot 100 1 1978 Stayin' Alive Dance Music/Club Play Singles 3 1978 Stayin' Alive R&B Singles 4 1978 Too Much Heaven Adult Contemporary 4 1979 Love You Inside Out The Billboard Hot 100 1 1979 Love You Inside Out R&B Singles 57 1979 Rest Your Love on Me Country Singles 39 1979 Too Much Heaven The Billboard Hot 100 1 1979 Too Much Heaven R&B Singles 10 1979 Tragedy The Billboard Hot 100 1 1979 Tragedy Dance Music/Club Play Singles 22 1979 Tragedy R&B Singles 44 1981 He's a Liar The Billboard Hot 100 30 1981 Living Eyes The Billboard Hot 100 45 1983 Someone Belonging to Someone Adult Contemporary 22 1983 Someone Belonging to Someone The Billboard Hot 100 49 1983 The Woman in You The Billboard Hot 100 24 1983 The Woman in You Adult Contemporary 31 1983 The Woman in You R&B Singles 77 1987 You Win Again The Billboard Hot 100 75 1989 One Adult Contemporary 1 1989 One The Billboard Hot 100 7 1990 Bodyguard Adult Contemporary 9 1993 Paying the Price of Love The Billboard Hot 100 74 1994 For Whom the Bell Tolls Adult Contemporary 29 1997 Alone Adult Contemporary 8 1997 Alone Canadian Singles Chart 9 1997 Alone The Billboard Hot 100 28 1997 Still Waters Run Deep Adult Contemporary 29 1997 Still Waters Run Deep The Billboard Hot 100 57 2001 This Is Where I Came In Adult Contemporary 23 2007 If I Can't Have You Dance Music/Club Play Singles 47
Out of that last lot i really liked Jimmy Barnes the most (even more his Cold Chisel days). Don't mind some of Australian Crawl's stuff but Reynes vocal at times does get irritating. And you can't go wrong with the Bee Gees
11. The Black Sorrows You’ll really like this group, but I don’t think you’ll like the name very much.
“After Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons folded in 1983 singer/leader Joe Camilleri decided to get back to basics, partly to recover from the trauma of keeping together Jo Jo Zep longer than he maybe should have, partly for sheer survival.
“Originally the Black Sorrows was formed simply as a semi-acoustic band that could play low-key at a friend's cafe on Sunday nights, playing the zydeco Joe was into at the time, as well as the r&b and soul which have always been Joe's staple diet.”
But in 1988, they got off the ground. Employing Tongan sisters Vika and Linda Bull, Joe Camileri was so convinced that this would be the last Black Sorrows album (it was in fact their fifth) that he decided to make it a double album, a rarity. The resulting album was Hold On To Me, which “stayed in the chart for a year and spawned three hit singles, 'Hold On To Me', 'Chained To The Wheel' and 'The Crack-Up'. A trimmed down version sold respectably throughout Europe and the US. In the space of eighteen months the band toured overseas seven times. The band that recorded the follow-up, a companion album to 'Hold On To Me' called 'Harley And Rose', was at the peak of its powers.” They were “the darlings of Aussie music” as Chri8topher said last year.
By the early 90’s, the Black Sorrows had gone from Joe Camilleri’s band to the Bull sisters’ band (and the Bulls would soon leave), but that hasn’t stopped Joe from playing. They released their most recent (twelth) album in 2006 and still perform occasionally although now it’s just Joe and a bunch of session musicians.
Complete list of singles: Jun 84 What A Difference A Day Makes Mar 85 Shape I'm In Nov 85 Sons Of The Sea Mar 86 Country Girls May 87 Daughters Of Glory Jul 87 Maybe Tomorrow Nov 87 The Last Frontier Sep 88 Hold On To Me Nov 88 The Chosen Ones Feb 89 Chained To The Wheel May 89 The Crack-Up Sep 89 Fire Down Below Jul 90 Harley And Rose Feb 91 Never Let Me Go Jun 91 Hold It Up To The Mirror Aug 92 Ain't Love The Strangest Thing Nov 92 Better Times Feb 93 Come On Come On Jul 93 Sweet Inspiration Sep 93 Stir it Up Jul 94 Snake Skin Shoes Nov 94 Last One Standing For Ya Feb 95 Lucky Charm Aug 97 New Craze
Entry Date
HP
WI
Titles
11-May-87
48
16
Daughters of Glory
27-July-87
91
01
Maybe Tomorrow
19-Sep-88
41
12
Hold on to Me
AMR #44
13-Mar-89
09
25
Chained to the Wheel
AMR #7
15-May-89
40
13
The Crack-Up
AMR #43
04-Sep-89
73
05
Fire Down Below
AMR only
05-Aug-90
24
16
Harley and Rose
11-Nov-90
97
04
Angel Street
17-Feb-91
30
20
Never Let me Go
30-Jun-91
97
01
Hold it Up to the Mirror
16-Aug-92
46
13
Ain't Love the Strangest Thing
08-Nov-92
74
6a
Better Times
14-Mar-93
70
13
Come On, Come On
07-Nov-93
58
12
Stir it Up
10-July-94
16
13
Snake Skin Shoes
06-Nov-94
46
11
Last One Standing for ya (with Jon Stevens)
DOWNLOAD: Hold on To Me, Come On Come On Last edited:
Milesago writes: "Dynamic vocal duo Bobby & Laurie was one of the leading acts in the first wave of Australian 'beat pop' 1964-67. They cut a series of fine recordings which rank alongside those of Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, Ray Brown & The Whispers, The Easybeats, Normie Rowe and MPD Ltd as milestones of Australian pop in the mid-60s.
"Although perhaps not as well remembered today as some of their contemporaries, they were one of the most popular and successful acts of their day, and deserve a lot more recognition for their contributions. Bobby, Laurie and the members of their regular backing band, The Rondells were all important figures in the development of the Melbourne rock scene, and their History is also a great illustration of the intricate (and sometimes confusing) interconnections between the many groups of the '60s and '70s."
First in a band called the Groop in mid-60s, then in aforementioned Axiom.
MILESAGO: "From 1966 until his departure for America in 1975, singer, songwriter, keyboard player and producer Brian Cadd was one of the most prominent musicians on the local scene. He remains a key figure in the history of Australian popular music; one glance at his extensive discography will demonstrate his prolific musical output as writer, performer and producer, and he has also been active behind the scenes in many areas of the industry throughout his long and successful career."
I should know this lady well, but I can’t really describe her, so I’ll let Chri8topher do it (he should know, he’s Victorian):
“Kate Ceberano had her name pretty well set up before she made her official solo debut in 1989. A regular visitor to the Australian Top Ten as the lead singer of I'm Talking, Kate also contributed backing vocals to Models’ #1 hit, “Out Of Mind Out Of Sight” with I'm Talking co-singer, Zan (both of which are clearly seen in the Models film clip). After I'm Talking split, Kate set out on her own, now managed by her mother, Cherie. The result was a couple of jazz styled albums which faired minor success. It seemed the public wanted Kate as a pop singer, rather than jazz, and were soon awarded for their wait with "Brave". It was a gamble for Kate, who mortgaged her house to fund the recording. It was money well spent as the lead single, "Bedroom Eyes", and album itself both peaked at #2 both finishing the year in the Top 20 biggest sellers of 1989. The success of "Brave" had cemented Kate as one of this country's premier female acts, but follow-up success was hard to come by with a string of moderately successful singles keeping Kate in the charts for a decade. Her biggest success, and quite possibly her third triumph after I'm Talking and "Brave", was as the winner of the 2007 series of the Seven network's popular Dancing With The Stars. Kate also helped out swimmer Daniel Kowalski and footballer Russell Robertson on It Takes Two, with Russell coming in runner-up for the 2008 series. Bringing back a tradition that ceased in 1999, Kate Ceberano was also named the 2010 Queen Of Moomba, along with Molly Meldrum, who took out the King Of Moomba.”
Single
Year
ARIA
It's Magic / "Only with You (Backing vocals for John Justin)
1984
-
Someday (with I'm Talking)
1984
-
Trust Me (with I'm Talking)
1985
10
Lead the Way(with I'm Talking)
1985
25
Love Don't Live Here Anymore(with I'm Talking)
1985
21
Do You Wanna Be? (with I'm Talking)
1986
8
Holy Word (with I'm Talking)
1986
9
You've Always Got the Blues (duet with Wendy Matthews)
1988
81
"Bedroom Eyes"
1989
2
Love Dimension
1989
14
Brave / Young Boys Are My Weakness
1989
15
That's What I Call Love" (featured on the Soundtrack "She Devil")
1990
30
Dindi
1990
105
Nature Boy
1990
-
"Every Little Thing"
1991
34
Satisfied
1991
71
See Right Through / Everything Will Be Alright
1991
33
Calling You (with Andrew Pendlebury on guitar)
1992
97
"Everything's Alright" (with John Farnham and Jon Stevens)
1992
6
I Don't Know How to Love Him
1992
38
You've Got a Friend (Bass Culture Featuring Kate Ceberano)
To the early 1970’s now and one of the most famous Aussie bands of the era – the blue stalwarts Chain.
HOWLSPACE: "One of the longest surviving names in Australian rock, nearly 50 musicians can lay claim to have been a member of Chain since the group’s formation in 1968. In the end, Chain remains Australia’s most famous exponents of 60s/70s era rock blues."
SINGLES LIST: Oct 69 Show Me Home Mar 71 Black And Blue Jul 71 Judgement Oct 72 Sunny Day Aug 73 You Weren't My Friend Nov 73 I'm Gonna Miss You Oct 85 I don't Want To Be Like Anybody Else Jun 86 Highway 31 Shuffle
Ask anyone in the streets what bands they would classify as “distinctively Australian”, and they would say “Oh, uh…Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, Australian Crawl, Skyhooks…what was that band Paul Kelly used to be in?” Do you notice they never mention the Choirboys? I mean they say Mental as anything, they mention INXS, they talk about Hunters & Collectors and they may even mention the Mojo Singers (if they’re old enough). But they never mention the Choirboys!
To quote Chri8topher, “Their biggest single continues to be a staple of a heavy night out's play list, while the band themselves continue to perform 30 years on after their initial formation.”
Their biggest single, of course, is “Run to Paradise”, which to me is one of the most iconic Australian (pub) rock songs of all time, although I wonder how it would go today. Would it chart?
One of the most underrated Australian bands of the 80s (and possibly all time) I’m delighted to say that the Chruch are one of our most popular internationally, with a strong fanbase in Britain and Europe keeping them going; and I’m even more delighted to say that they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame last year. But apparently, the highest position they could ever reach on the singles charts was #19. “Under the Milky Way” could only reach #22 here, but Melbourne's The Age had that hit as most popular Aussie song from the last 21 years (1988-2009). Boy, you’d love this band so much – just ask DaveNT or any indie fan!
Year
Title
Peak chart positions
Album
AUS
CAN
NZL
UK
US
1980
"She Never Said"
—
—
—
—
—
Of Skins and Heart
1981
"The Unguarded Moment"
22
—
19
—
—
"Too Fast for You"
43
—
—
—
—
Too Fast for You (EP)
"Tear It All Away"
81
—
—
—
—
1982
"Almost with You"
21
—
—
—
—
The Blurred Crusade
"When You Were Mine"
77
—
—
—
—
"I Am a Rock" / "A Different Man"
—
—
—
—
—
Singsongs
NZ / UK release
1983
"It's No Reason"
56
—
—
—
—
Seance
"Electric Lash"
60
—
—
—
—
1985
"Already Yesterday"
100
—
—
—
—
Heyday
1986
"Tantalized"
62
—
—
—
—
"Columbus"
—
—
—
—
—
"Disenchanted"
—
—
—
—
—
UK-only release
1988
"Under the Milky Way"
22
69
25
90
24
Starfish
"Reptile"
99
—
—
—
—
"Antenna"
—
—
—
—
—
Spain-only release
"Destination"
—
—
—
—
—
1990
"Metropolis"
19
–
41
—
—
Gold Afternoon Fix
"Russian Autumn Heart"
—
—
—
—
—
US-only release
"You're Still Beautiful"
—
—
—
—
—
1992
"Ripple"
—
—
—
—
—
Priest=Aura
"Feel"
—
—
—
—
—
1994
"Two Places At Once"
—
—
—
—
—
Sometime Anywhere
1996
"Comedown"
—
—
—
—
—
Magician Among the Spirits
1997
"White Star Line" / "Gypsy Stomp"
—
—
—
—
—
Non-album release
Limited edition release: 1000 copies
1998
"Louisiana"
—
—
—
—
—
Hologram of Baal
2001
"Numbers"
—
—
—
—
—
After Everything Now This
2003
"Song in Space"
—
—
—
—
—
Forget Yourself
Limited edition release: 1500 copies
2006
"Block"
—
—
—
—
—
Uninvited, Like the Clouds
"Easy"
—
—
—
—
—
2009
"The Coffee Song" / "Hounds of Love"
—
—
—
—
—
Coffee Hounds EP
"Pangaea"
—
—
—
—
—
Untitled #23
"Operetta"
—
—
—
—
—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. Last edited:
18. RICHARD CLAPTON 1999 - ARIA Hall of fame inductee
“Throughout the Seventies and into the Eighties Richard Clapton was Australia's most renowned singer songwriter. While his songs on record put him in that 'heart on the sleeve' category, on stage Richard always had a darker more menacing presence, able to rock with his backing band and hold his own against the best of the pub rock bands he shared stages with.” (http://www.howlspace.com.au/en2/claptonrichard/claptonrichard.htm)
Year
Title
Peak chart positions
Album
AUS
1972
"Last Train to Marseilles"
—
Prussian Blue
1973
"All the Prodigal Children"
—
1974
"I Wanna Be a Survivor"
—
1975
"Travelling Down the Castlereagh" / "Girls on the Avenue"[A]
4
Girls on the Avenue
"Down the Road"
—
1976
"Please Come Home"
—
Non-album single
"Suit Yourself"
—
Mainstreet Jive
1977
"Capricorn Dancer"
40
Highway One
"Deep Water"
43
Goodbye Tiger
1978
"(Down in the) Lucky Country"
70
"Steppin' Across the Line"
98
Past Hits and Previews
1979
"Hearts on the Nightline"
—
Hearts on the Nightline
"Ace of Hearts"
—
1980
"Get Back to the Shelter"
94
Dark Spaces
"High Society"
—
1982
"I Am an Island"
20
The Great Escape
"Spellbound"
89
"The Best Years of Our Lives"
—
1984
"Goodbye Barbara Ann"
90
Solidarity
"The Heart of It"
—
"Solidarity"
—
1985
"The Transpac Slide"
—
1986
"Spirit of Sydney" (duet with Kevin Borich)
—
Non-album single
1987
"Glory Road"
42
Glory Road
"Trust Somebody"
—
1989
"Deep Water" (live)
—
Best Years of Our Lives
"Ace of Hearts" (live)
—
1992
"Happy Valley"
—
Distant Thunder
1993
"Distant Thunder"
80
"All Fall Down"
—
1994
"Oceans of the Heart"
—
1999
"Calling for You"
—
The Definitive Anthology
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country. Last edited:
23. GRANTLEY DEE "Singer and radio personality Grantley Dee (real name Grantley De Zoete) was a well-known and popular presenter on Melbourne radio station 3AK and he is especially notable for being the first visually-impaired pop DJ on Australian radio. But Grantley's achievements didn't stop there -- he was also a popular singer who recorded a string of singles for EMI between 1966 and 1968 and regularly also performed live during the late Sixties and into the early Seventies. Several years ago, Grantley was interviewed by media writer Ash Long, who wrote a comprehensive history of 3AK; he explained that station manager-of-the-day Nigel Dick originally recruited him as a 16-year-old in 1963, partly as a means of scoring publicity for the station. It proved successful, with Grantley and his guide dog Penny becoming popular station personalities." http://www.milesago.com/Artists/grantleydee.htm
24. THE DELLTONES "While vocal groups have been a staple of American popular music since back to the days of vaudeville, until the 'boy bands' of the late nineties, this is a genre of music which escaped Australian pop music. The Delltones are the exception." (http://www.howlspace.com.au/en/delltones/delltones.htm)
25. THE DENVERMEN "Sydney band The Denvermen was one of the premier Australian surf-instrumental groups of the early 1960s and although they have been somewhat overshadowed by their better-known contemporaries The Atlantics, they certainly deserve more recognition. The original lineup was formed in late 1961, by members of two earlier Sydney groups, Digger Revell and the Lonely Ones and Paul Dever and the Denvermen. Denvermen guitarist Les Green brought the Denvermen name with him when that group split and he joined Digger Revell. The group began by organising its own dances but gained national prominence thanks to appearances on the ABC's pioneering rock'n'roll TV show Six O'Clock Rock hosted by Johnny O'Keefe.
The Denvermen soon gained renowned as one of the best live instrumental groups in the country, and they reportedly invested in some of the best sound equipment available at the time. Les Green was one of the first guitarists in Australia to use effects boxes on his guitar, notably the Klempf Echolette. This was one of the first portable tape-delay echo machines and the same device used by Hank Marvin to achieve the distinctive rippling echo and reverb effects on The Shadows' classic recordings. According to Ian McFarlane, Les was also greatly influenced by American singer-guitarist Duane Eddy." (http://www.milesago.com/Artists/denvermen.html)
Entry Date HP WI Titles 05-Jan-63 17 26 Surfside / Lisa Maree 18-May-63 37 12 Night Rider / Blue Mountains 03-Aug-63 25 13 Avalon Stomp / Harbour Cruise 12-Oct-63 39 08 Stomp Fever / The Sun-Seeker 28-Dec-63 74 04 Mystery Waves / Spanish Sands
as JOHNNY DIESEL & THE INJECTORS "Don't Need Love" (1988) (#10 in Australia (AMR #11)) "Soul Revival" (1989) (#9 in Australia (AMR #8)) "Cry In Shame" (1989) (#10 in Australia (AMR #8)) "Lookin' for Love" (1989) (#28 in Australia (AMR #29)) "Since I Fell for You" (1989) (#83 in Australia) "Please Send Me Someone to Love" (1990) (#11 in Australia)
as JOHNNY DIESEL "Love Junk" (1991) (#19 in Australia)
as DIESEL "Come to Me" (1991) (#8 in Australia) "Tip of My Tongue" (1992) (#4 in Australia) "Man Alive" (1992) (#20 in Australia) "One More Time" (1992) (#59 in Australia) "Never Miss Your Water" (1993) (#12 in Australia) "Masterplan" (1993) (#42 in Australia) "I've Been Loving You Too Long" (1994) (#41 in Australia) "Still Got a Long Way to Go" (1994) (with Jimmy Barnes) (#57 in Australia) "All Come Together" (1994) (#17 in Australia) "15 Feet of Snow" (1995) (#29 in Australia) "Get It On" (1995) (#75 in Australia)
as WILSON/DIESEL "I Can't Stand the Rain" (1996) - duet with Chris Wilson
as MARK LIZOTTE "Dig" (1999) (#18 in Australia)
as DIESEL "Crazytown" (2006) (#39 in Australia) "Saviour" (2006) "Steal My Sunshine" (2007 - promo CD single) "Days Like These" (2008 - promo CD single)
Might as well post albums too: Albums Johnny Diesel and The Injectors (1989) (#2 Australia) Live In London EP (1989) (#27 Australia) Hepfidelity (1992) (#1 Australia) The Lobbyist (1993) (#1 Australia) Solid State Rhyme (1994)(#10 Australia) Short Cool Ones (1996) (Chris Wilson & Johnny Diesel) (#18 Australia) Rewind - The Best Of (1996) Soul Lost Companion (1999) (released as Mark Lizotte) (#18 Australia) Hear (2002) Singled Out (2004) (#78 Australia) Coathanger Antennae (2006) (#23 Australia) Days Like These (2008) (#17 Australia) Saturday Suffering Fools (2009) (#50 Australia)
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