Australian Music Archives

Apologies for the gap between Podcasts; chemotherapy is a strange beast! The combined effects of fatigue and dry-mouth present some challenges. Anyway, today we have Part A for September of ‘66. In two parts because of the number of Australian artist releases, with a couple of real gems that only reached the lower echelons of the Top 100. The Twilights achieved the highest chart position, with other chart entries from artists as diverse as; Sandy Scott, The Atlantics, Bill and Boyd, Lynne Randell and Grantley Dee. Enjoy revisiting the Australian Music for the first half of September ‘66.

An eclectic mix of 45s awaits us as we explore the Australian artist chart hits that entered the National Chart in August of 1966. From the down-and-dirty Blues of The Throb and The Purple Hearts, the frantic energy of The Loved Ones, to the style and grace of Judy Stone. In addition, we hear from The Last Straws, and a certain medical student who started a record label, before opening a chain of medical centres adorned with grand pianos! And much much more!

I was about to start the Top Ten for 1966 when I realised that I had not completed the Chart Series for 1966. So, here's the Australian artist chart entries for July of '66. The Easybeats score the highest-placed chart entry with a song from an EP! We hear from Buddy England, Donna Gaye, Max Merritt & The Meteors, The Twilights and several others; only one #1 but a series of well-remembered songs, including The Skye Boat Song.

MEDICAL UPDATE: By way of explaining my erratic publishing schedule: So far this year I've; been diagnosed with Parkinson's, had a brain biopsy, been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's B Cell Lymphoma in the brain (not related to the Parkinson's), had a relatively mild Flu (which delayed the following) and, started Chemotherapy (two days a month for six months). The prognosis for the Lymphoma is positive but Stevie Wright's "Hard Road" does come to mind!

1965 was a seminal year for Australian Music! To make this Top 11 (tie), the lowest chart position achieved had to be a #3. There are #4 releases that reach #1, and two of those were recorded overseas. Only one group from the 1964 chart appears in the 1965 Top 11. In total there are only four groups in this Top 11. All but one of those has multiple entries! There is only one individual in the Top 11. You can probably guess some of that but "do yourself a favour" (sorry Molly!) and take a listen to this episode.

1964 brings the winds of change to the Australian Music scene! There are no instrumentals in the Top 10. One group appears four times in the Top 10! Two groups that came from NZ score Top Ten hits. And four survivors from previous Top Tens score hits. Of course all of this Australian Music was created in the shadow of The Beatles’ full emergence, driven to unheard of heights by their Australian tour. I've also included a couple of challenges within the podcast. See how you go! And, who is that group with four Top 10 hits?

The Top Australian Artist Chart Hits of 1963.

Yet again, we have four instrumentals in the Top Ten but, as you will gather from the intro music, two of those four have a particular theme. Two artists, one a group, each score two Top 10 hits. Three songs reached #1 and a couple of biggest hits for two Australian vocalists. Quite a year for Australian Music!

Moving to the Top 10 Australian Artist hits of 1962 and a year where Australian Artists surged to the top of the charts!

Again, three instrumentals appear in the Top 10, two artists appear twice, a breakthrough hit for a Melbourne artist, a group of hits for regular Top 10 artists and, a song that was to become an iconic Australian classic at #1.

Enjoy the Top Ten of 1962!

Back to the Top 10 Series, this time for the dreamy days of 1961. Most interestingly, in this Top 10 is the prevalence of instrumentals, four in the Top 10 and another three just outside. In there, is even a version of an instrumental tune that was first published in 1899! We'll also hear big chart successes from Bryan Davies, Patsy Ann Noble, Col Joye and The Joy Boys, and at No.1, Johnny O'Keefe. Enjoy the journey through the time tunnel!

Finally got another one of these elusive podcasts completed! In this episode we return to the TV series and listen to an episode of Bandstand aired on 18 May 1968. I've worked on improving the sound quality with mixed results. This episode features some outstanding Australian talent including Col Joye, Johnny Farnham and Janice Slater. There's also a performance by the elusive Johnny Marco and the only surviving footage of the very talented Cathy Wayne who was to lose her life in Vietnam, 1969. I relate a summary of that tragic event. We'll also hear Brian Henderson's presentation of a Gold Record to Johnny Farnham for, you guessed it, Sadie! Enjoy!

Apologies for the delay in getting this episode published. The throat is still not clear and then, I had to update my audio editor; and we know what can happen with updates! Cheryl Gray's career has been a remarkable one. In this first episode we sort out the 'name' issue (Cheryl Gray/Samantha Sang), trace Cheryl's remarkable musical grounding and listen to some of the six 45s that Cheryl released from late-1966 to early-1968; quite an achievement! And quite a voice!