Laurie Allen Revue - 1968 - Laurie Allen Revue

Every Little Bit/Cool Jerk/As Long As I Got You/Not Born To Follow



Vocalist, guitarist and organist Laurie Allen's is best known for his chart-topping partnership with Bobby Bright in the mid-1960s, but Laurie was a veteran of the Australian rock and pop scene. His first outfit was The Roulettes (1958-59), followed by Malcom Arthur & The Knights (1959-61), The Blue Jays (1962) and then Bobby and Laurie (1965-66), whose story is included in our MILESAGO Bobby & Laurie article.

Laurie's first solo project after Bobby & Laurie's heyday was Dice formed in 1967 and soon renamed Laurie Allen and The Revue. It was modelled on the American soul revues of the early to mid-Sixties (e.g. the famous Stax Revues ca. that were backed by Booker T. & The M.G.s and the Memphis Horns) although Laurie's band evidently had no horn section.

The dates in Who's Who suggests that the group went through a couple of distinct rhythm-section changes. The earlier line up (ca. 1967) may have been Lawrie Byrnes (drums, ex-Little Gulliver & The Children, Ram Jam Big Band), Barry Rogers (ex-Rondells, bass) and Phil Manning (ex Blue Jays, Bay City Union, guitar). The later (1968?) backline may have been Gary Young (ex-Rondells, drums) and Wayne Duncan (ex-Rondells, bass); another notable player who passed through was guitarist John Adolphus (later of the Hot City Bump Band).

The band gigged mainly around Melbourne and recorded three Singles for Festival during 1967-68. The Revue included some notable members, not least the long-serving Young and Duncan (who had been in Bobby & Laurie's backing group, The Rondells) and it's also notable for being the first major professional outing for sister vocalists Glenys and Colleen Hewett.


Members Included

LAURIE ALLEN - vocal/guitar/organ
COLLEEN HEWETT - vocals
GLENYS HEWETT - vocals
HARRY HERNI - guitar/vocals
LAURIE BYRNES - drums
WAYNE DUNCAN - drums
JOHN ADOLPHUS - guitar
MICHELLE KENNEDY - vocal
GARY YOUNG - drums
BARRY ROGERS - bass
MANFRED SHANE - guitar
PHIL MANNING - guitar