Judy Stone - Born A Woman

Born A Woman/I Need You/So Softly/Lost Without You


Judy Stone popular Australian singer, a regular on the long-running TV pop show Bandstand, often on the charts in Australia from the early 60s to to the mid-70s.
Born A Woman was released in Australia 1966 and charted #3 Sydney #2 Melbourne #1 Brisbane #4 Adelaide #1 Perth

 

Joy Boys - Big Four

Hindustan/Henpecked/Smokey Mokes/Walk Don't Run


The Joy Boys released several of their own singles, many of which charted, especially in Sydney where nine made the Top 40 from 1960 to 1963. They had several Top 40 entries in most of the major capital cities.

Instrumental by Col Joye's band The Joy Boys Smoky Mokes was their biggest hit #1 Sydney #10 Melbourne #2 Brisbane #1 Adelaide #26 Perth

 

New Link Added 30.11.2021

Judy Stone - I Cried

I Cried/It Takes A Lot (To Make Me Cry)/It's The Talk Of The Town/I Only Have Eyes For You



Judy Stone (born 1 January 1942) is an Australian pop and country singer from Sydney, who came to national prominence in the late 1950s through her regular TV appearances on the Australian pop music show Brian Henderson's Bandstand and her many hit records. Major national hits were '4,003,221 Tears From Now' (1964), 'Born a Woman' (1966), '(Would you Lay With Me) in a Field of Stone' (1974), 'Mare Mare Mare' (1974), 'Hasta Manana' (1976) and 'Silver Wings & Golden Rings' (1976).

As a young performer she was "by lined" as The Cowgirl from Granville but on her first appearance on "Bandstand" it was mis-announced as The Callgirl from Granville. In 1963, she recorded "It Takes a Lot (To Make Me Cry)" on which the Bee Gees (Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb) sing backup vocals, and the song was released as a single in July.

Playboys - Desperado

Desperado/The Mean One/Swan Lake/Camptown Races



Melbourne's Playboys started life as an Instrumental rock group back in 1964. Sunday nights at the Circle Ballroom in Preston came alive with the Playboys in residence. They became Normie Rowe's backing band from 64' to 67'. The original members were, Graham 'Trotta' Trottman on Drums, John Cartwright Rhythm Guitar, Phil Blackmore (RIP) on Keyboards, Neil McArthur Bass and Billy Billings lead Guitarist.

Johnny O'keefe - Buzz Buzz Buzz

Buzz Buzz Buzz/Where The Action Is/Billygoat/ I'm Still Alive



John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe (19 January 1935 – 6 October 1978), was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" (1958), "Shout!" and "She's My Baby". In his twenty-year career, O'Keefe released over fifty singles, 50 EPs and 100 albums.

Often referred to by his initials "J.O.K." or by his nickname "The Wild One", O'Keefe was the first Australian rock 'n' roll performer to tour the United States, and the first Australian artist to make the local Top 40 charts. and He had twenty-nine Top 40 hits in Australia between 1959 and 1974.  New Link Added 16.08.2020

Judy Stone - Italian Style

   Quelli Erano Giorni/Gli Occhi Miei/Dio Come, Ti Amo/Non H'leta


  
 Judy Stone grew up in Sydney and during her teens taught herself to play the guitar. She was heavily influenced by country and western music. In 1960, she met Col Joye and with his help she soon became a regular on Channel Nine's Bandstand. She was also touring around the country with Col and the Joy Boys. In June 1961, she signed a recording contract with Festival Records. Her first two releases were minor hits in Sydney. Her third single, I'll Step Down b/w Mommy and Daddy We're Twisting, was released in February 1962 and became her first Sydney Top 10 when it peaked at number five in March.
 Festival then released her debut album also called I'll Step Down to take advantage of her success. Stone and Joye by this stage had begun singing duets on Bandstand so it was no surprise that they teamed up to record a number of EP's and an album. Between June 1962 and July 1963 she released three more moderately successful singles before she finally broke through nationally in April 1964 with her single 4,003,221 Tears From Now, which reached the Top 10 on most charts around the country. Two more singles were issued before year-end but neither made any impact on the charts.
 In early 1965, she embarked on a two-month overseas trip to Asia and Japan with Col Joye and the Joy Boys. Her final single for the Festival label was released in September and in February 1966 she married Leo De Kroo of the De Kroo Brothers duo. She then signed up with Col Joye Enterprises' ATA Records, scoring her third Sydney Top 10 hit single in September with Born A Woman. For the rest of the Sixties she continued to consolidate her success with regular appearances on the club circuit as well as touring interstate and overseas. During this period Judy issued five unsuccessful singles for the ATA label before switching to M7 Records in 1971.
 Her first M7 single, Day by Day, made the Sydney Top 10 in November. The mid-Seventies was her most successful period in more than a decade with two Top 20 hit singles in 1974 on the M7 label and one Top 40 and one Top 20 hit single in 1976 on the Polydor Records label. Judy Stone also represented Australia at Expo '74 in the US and in the mid-1977 she travelled to the UK where she signed with recording and management company Power Exchange. She continued to perform and record into the early Eighties.

Dinah Lee - Do The Blue Beat

Do The Bluebeat/Pushing A God Thing Too Far/That's It I Quit I'll Forgive You Then Forget You



  Dinah Lee is the stage name of New Zealand-born singer, Diane Marie Jacobs , who performed 1960s pop and then adult contemporary music. Her debut single from early 1964, "Don't You Know Yockomo?", achieved No. 1 chart success in New Zealand and in the Australian cities, Brisbane and Melbourne. It was followed in September by her cover version of Jackie Wilson's, "Reet Petite", which also reached No. 1 in New Zealand and peaked at No. 6 in Melbourne.

The Australian release was a double A-sided single with "Do the Blue Beat". On her early singles she was backed by fellow New Zealanders, Max Merrit & His Meteors. Lee appeared regularly on both New Zealand and Australian TV variety programs, including Sing, Sing, Sing and Bandstand. She toured supporting Johnny O'Keefe, Ray Columbus & the Invaders and P.J. Proby. According to Australian rock music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll, in the 1960s, "Lee was the most successful female singer of in both her New Zealand homeland and Australia ... on stage and on record Dinah had all the adventure and exuberance for the time the boys had".


Do The Blue Beat single on HMV Australia, originally on Viking NZ. Also released in USA on Interphon label and in South Africa on the Troubadour label. Double-sided hit with Reet Petite. The two songs were originally released in New Zealand as A-sides of separate singles on the Viking label. The single made it to #6 Melbourne #21 Brisbane #3 Adelaide and #12 in Sydney.

Ronnie Burns - Coalman

Coalman/Tophat/All The King's Horses/Butterfly


Ronnie Burns' third single, "Coalman", which was released in January 1967, peaked at No. 6 on the Go Set charts. It's B-side "All The King's Horses" charted as a flipside in Sydney.

Hush - Hushpower

Get The Feelin'/Take Us Home/Maneater/White Christmas


Keith Lamb migrated to Australia in 1970 with friend Robin Jackson. In 1971 Keith formed Hush and the original line-up consisted of Keith Lamb (vocals), Chris Nolan (keyboards), Robin Jackson (guitar), Rick Lum (bass) and John Koutts (drums) Les Gock joined Hush in 1972, as did Chris Pailthorpe, replacing Robin Jackson, John Koutts and Chris Nolan. The new line-up which continued to 1976 was Keith Lamb (vocals) Les Gock (guitar) Rick Lum (bass) and Chris Pailthorpe (drums). Rick left towards the end of 1976 and was replaced by Jacque De Jong. The band split up altogether not long after.

Hush, finalist in the 1972 Hoadley’s National Battle of the Sounds was well on its way to being one of the top bands in Australia. 1973 was the beginning of Hush’s intensive national touring- playing more than 200 towns and cities, driving approximately 4,000 kilometres each week. Hush were often on tour for 9 months of the year.

The single, Get the Feeling, and album Aloud N Live were released in late 1973. Get the Feeling was a hit in NSW. In March 1974 the band signed with RCA/Wizard Records and their single “Walking became the first national hit for Hush. Robbie Porter took over production of the band’s recording and the first product of this association was the hit single “Boney Maroney an updated version of the Larry Williams rocker. Boney Maroney was number 1 in 1975. Later that year, the cover “Glad All Over was another hit for the band. #17 Sydney #6 Melbourne #5 Brisbane #7 Adelaide. Hush were regular performers on Countdown, Australia’s much-loved music show, including an unforgettable performance for first colour episode to go to air. The band with the most colourful outfits got the gig! Keith Lamb and Les Gock co-compered Countdown on several occasions.

2006 and Hush have reformed for the Countdown Spectactular Concerts performing live in Arenas all around Australia.

Ronnie Burns - Smiley

Smiley/My Little Red Book/I'll Know What To Do/Jodie



Ronnie Burns is an Australian pop singer that first became famous in the mid-60s as the leader of popular group the Flies, who were the first long haired band in Australia and drew heavily on the Beatles. After leaving the group, Ronnie went on to become one of Australia's most popular pop singers from the mid 1960's to the mid 1970's. His song "Smiley" (#3 on the Australian charts in the winter of 1969-70), a song about a young man sent to the Vietnam war, has since become synonymous in Australia with that era and is a pop classic, while three of his other big hits - "Coalman", "Exit, Stage Right" and "All the King's Horses" - were written by the Bee Gees. His daughter, Lauren Burns, won a gold metal in Taekwondo in the 2000 Olympics. Burns currently lives with his wife in Tasmania. In 1998, they founded Appin Hall Children’s Foundation, a refuge for children with chronic illness and orphans of war.

Johnny Young - Let It Be Me

 Let It Be Me/Cara-Lyn/Step Back/Baby (You've Got What It Takes)


After performing as supporting act to The Easybeats in early 1966, Young recorded "Step Back", which was co-written by The Easybeats' members Stevie Wright and George Young (no relation). The single was released in May 1966 as a double-A-side with his cover version of "Cara-Lyn", originally by The Strangeloves. The release peaked at number one on the Go-Set National Top 40 in November. It was one of the biggest-selling Australian singles of the 1960s, behind Normie Rowe's "Que Sera Sera"/"Shakin' All Over". In October, his EP Let It Be Me went to number four on Go-Set National Top 40.

Rob E G - Sings Country And Western

Please Help Me I'm Falling/He'll Have To Go/Candy Man/Your Cheatin' Heart


Robert George Porter was born in 1942 and raised in Ashfield, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney. He reluctantly took steel guitar lessons from the age of eight - he wanted to play football instead. Sydney TV show Bandstand featured hits from the UK and US played by Australian artists. As Rob E.G., Porter made his TV debut in 1959 performing the lap steel guitar instrumental "Sleep Walk" (originally by Santo & Johnny); he was soon signed to Rex Records and became a Bandstand regular. His first single, "Your Cheatin' Heart", a cover of the Hank Williams hit, appeared in February 1960. In 1961, Porter received severe spinal injuries in a car accident, he adapted his playing style and continued to record. Top ten hits in Sydney include, instrumentals "Si Senor (I Theenk)" which peaked at #1 in May 1962, "Jezabel" at #2 in May 1963, and "55 Days at Peking" at #1 in July; and the vocal single "When You're Not Near" at #7 in August 1964. Although not as popular in Melbourne, these four singles also peaked into the top ten.
On the advice of The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, Porter moved to the UK in 1964 where he wrote and recorded singles for Festival Records but had no chart success. During 1967 he moved to the USA and appeared in several television shows: Malibu U, Popendity, Daniel Boone, Mannix and The Immortal. In 1969 Porter co-starred in the movie Three.
In 1970, Porter was back in Australia where he purchased a controlling share of independent record label, Sparmac. He recorded three of his own singles for Sparmac before focusing on managing and promoting bands and producing records. Porter produced three of doo wop rock band Daddy Cool's LPs including their debut 1971 album, Daddy Who? Daddy Cool, which peaked at #1 and became the highest selling Australian album at the time. Other Sparmac artists included Rick Springfield and Healing Force. In 1973 Porter started a new label, Wizard in partnership with Steve Binder, with Daddy Cool and Springfield the new label also signed Hush, Mighty Kong and Marcia Hines. Porter and Binder also managed Springfield and introduced him to the US market.
He co-wrote the song "Shining" with Jill Wagner-Porter, which was recorded by Marcia Hines on her 1976 LP album Shining, and also wrote "Empty" and "A Love Story" on the that album.
In the 1980s, Porter produced albums for Air Supply, Tommy Emmanuel and The Nauts. He returned to the US to live and worked in television production and as a horse breeder. During 2006 Porter formed another record label named, Musique, with flautist Jane Rutter.

John Laws - A Lover's Question

A Lovers Question/Made To Be Loved By You/Susie Darling/Someone New



Richard John Sinclair "John" Laws, CBE (born 8 August 1935), an Australian radio presenter, sometimes known as Lawsie, was from the 1970s until his retirement in 2007, the host of a hugely successful morning radio program, which mixed music with interviews, opinion, live advertising readings and listener talkback. His distinctive voice earned him the nickname the Golden Tonsils.

Despite retiring in 2007, Laws' management confirmed in November 2010 that he would be returning to radio in February 2011, as the host of a morning programme on 2SM and the Super Radio Network.

John Laws was active musically from the fifties through to the Eighties releasing many singles and albums and a number of EP's of which this is one released in 1960. During the 70's and 80's he was known primarily for his Truckin' Albums.

Bruce Woodley - Friday Street Fantasy

Friday Man/Little One/Captain Crumblepeg/Little Miss Sorrow


 This 4 track E.P was released with Bruce Woodley's children book entitled 'Friday Street Fantasy'.  The book was published by Paul Hamlyn,Sydney, 1969. Aside from the party-in-an-ornamental-photo-lettering-catalog cover shown above, it's full of wonderful illustrations and mysterious music .

Basically, the story goes something like 'there was this little town called Friday Street (yes, a town called Street - just ask Bruce Woodley). It was full of sad children until one day…the "Friday Man" came to town with a rainbow in his hand!  And now everyone in town sings and plays and has fun. aaahh! a pink and orange town!
 The next song "Little One" is a lullaby, followed by a song about "Captain Grumblepeg", and his lady Mary Morningstar, who presumably lived there also. Finally, a song of hope with "Little Miss Sorrow" with her beautiful  balloons, so I'm sure she’s not sad for long.
 On the back cover, we meet Bruce, singer, songwriter and member of the seekers (a famous Australia folk group from the 60s). Apparently he was 26 when he made this album!  The creators of the colorful illustrations in the book were Paul Corley and Jeannette Spencer. (Music and review Aussie Rock From 'Rock-On-Vinyl' Blog.)

Merv Benton - Dollars And Dimes

Dollars & Dimes/Honey Don't/Put The Blame On Me/It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day)



 Merv Benton is an Australian singer famous  during the sixties.

In the Melbourne dance circuit, Merv Benton gained national attention and quickly became one of the most popular male singers in the country appearing on all national television programes.

In early 1964 he signed with Melbourne's W&G Records and became one of their most prolific artists, releasing several singles and EPs, and three LPs between 1964 and 1967. In 1967, at the height of his popularity, Merv was struck down by throat problems that ended his singing career.

His career began, like many others taking to rock'n'roll listening to Melbourne radio and was captivated by the music of Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Merv saw his first Lee Gordon 'Big Show' in 1957, which featured Bill Haley & The Comets, The Platters and Freddie Bell and it was Bell especially who fired Merv's desire to become a singer.

These were very good times for one growing up and a teenager.

He toured around Australia with his backing group, The Tamlas.

The original lineup included.

Charlie Gauld - guitar
Ian B. Allen - bass
Eddie Chappell - drums

The line-up during most of Benton's career with "The Tamlas" included.

Eddie Chappell - drums
Les Stacpool - guitar
Noel Watson - guitar
Dennis Tucker - bass

The lineup that backed Merv on most of his recordings was Les Stacpool and Noel Watson (guitars), Murray Robertson (keyboards), Dennis Tucker (bass) and Eddie Chappell (drums), with backing vocals on most of the singles by the trio of Pat Carroll, Anne Hawker and Julie McKenna.

In the early 1980s Merv returned to the recording studio after he was approached by his old fried Ian B. Allen to perform again in Melbourne.

He found a backing band, The Allstars, which included Les Stacpool on guitar, the legendary Henri Bource on sax, Murray Robertson on keyboard, Ron Chapman on drums and Ian on bass.

The group recorded a 5-track EP with Merv at the helm.

In 1991, Merv migrated to the USA.

However he has made occasional live musical appearances and in the early 2000s he has returned to Melbourne from his new home near Phoenix, Arizona for Australian annual Sixties concerts.

All information may be obtained at the web address above for an in-depth look at the times of Merv Benton.

The Iguana - California My Way

California My Way/Mary Go Round/Imagine This/Dreaming Away To Myself


 "California My Way" was a cover of the original recording by the Committee (or it may have been The 5th Dimension version) it was released on Festival in 1968 by Melbourne band The Iguana that had formed from the Sands of Time and the Contours in 1967. The band menbers were Vocals Gary Sweetman Gary Littlewood (lead guitar) Cleve Littlewood (rhythm guitar), Graham Jones (bass) and Peter Saunders (drums). "California My Way" charted #10 Melbourne #5 Brisbane .

They had four singles, plus an EP that combined two of their 45's. Imagine This / Dreaming Away to Myself 1967, California My Way / Mary Go Round 1968, Ticket to Ride / Sunshine People 1968, Good News / Requiem 820 Latham 1969.

New Link Added 09.01.2019.

Warren Williams - The Shy Guy

What's A Happenin' Baby/Kath A Leen/Where My Baby Goes (She Goes With Me)/My Teenage Love


Warren Williams is a rock musician from Australia. In the 1950s, he was a pioneer of Australian rock music, forming the group Warren Williams and the Squares. Williams was a prolific songwriter. 

A former child soprano, Williams formed Warren Williams and the Squares in January 1958, after the tradition of Bill Haley and His Comets. The group released their debut single "My Teenage Love" in December 1959 and "Kath-a-Leen" in April 1960. By the end of 1960, Williams left the Squares. His first single of his solo career was "My Little Girl", released at the end of 1960.


Warren Williams and the Squares made their first television appearance on Six O'Clock Rock the Johnny O'Keefe-hosted television show in July 1959. He was voted the sixth most popular artist on Six O'Clock Rock. He starred on the popular music TV show Bandstand in the 1950s and 1960s.


Williams signed with the Leedon label in 1961 and released several singles. He went on to form his own publishing company, Williams-Conde Music Pty Ltd., with Franz Conde. Williams joined the Courtmen in March 1964. The Courtmen backed him on his song "It's Party Time".

In 1964, Beatlemania swept Australia. Williams' popularity began to lag with the rise of pop music. Williams took to performing in clubs and cabaret shows, and then the nostalgia circuit

Ronnie Burns - Exit Stage Right

Exit Stage Right/My Little Red Book/In The Morning/You Got To Hide You Love Away


"Exit Stage Right" became a national Top 20 hit, peaking at #19 at the end of July  "In The Morning" was the B-side. Both "My Little Red Book" and "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" were lifted from Ronnie's 1967 debut album "Ronnie"

Andy Sundstrom - The Unique Sound of Andy Sundstrom

Northern Territory/Theme From Black Orpheus/ Free Fall/Theme From An Unwritten Movie


The Unique Sound of Andy Sundstrom features the two songs from a previosly released single  Northern Territory (written by Sven Libaek) and Theme From Black Orpheus and two more Sven Libaek-penned tunes Free Fall and Theme From An Unwritten Movie.  Sundstrom plays these songs on a balalaika. This has added a whole new layer to the music and makes Andy a bit of a pop oddity. Whoever thought that balalaika surf-pop from the early sixties Australian music scene even existed? Two of the tracks, Northern Territory and Theme From An Unwritten Movie would be recorded by Sven with his usual jazz ensemble of the time and included on The Music Of Sven Libaek released four years later. The third track, Free Fall, was written by Libaek and performed by Australian surf group The Atlantics on their Bombora LP from 1963. 

Back cover liner notes: Three years ago Andy Sundstrom came to Australia as a crew member on the 38 foot ketch “Sarong”. He had a guitar under one arm and a balalaika under the other. He wasn’t planning to stay too long, as all his family live in Denmark, his country of birth. However, he fell in love, with Australia, as do so many other visitors and migrants - and he’s still here! He hasn’t wasted his three years here either, on the contrary, he has established himself as one of Australia’s leading entertainers.


 Andy's speciality is the balalaika and in playing it he has been referred to as the “fastest man on strings”. However, his first CBS disc was far from a fast one. It was a haunting melody simply entitled “Theme From An Unwritten Movie” and although it was not a hit for Andy it certainly made a stir among the public as well as disc jockeys and show business personalities. It was Northern Territory  that really established Andy as a top pop artist with his balalaika. His beautiful rendition of Theme From Black Orpheus also became extremely popular with the public. All these tracks you will find on this E.P. and in addition, his latest entitled Free Fall, a virtuoso surfin’ number.

 This collection could easily have been entitled - “The Best of Andy Sundstrom”, but The Unique Sound of Andy Sundstrom seemed more appropriate. It is indeed a unique sound - this strange haunting and brilliant way of playing that rather unusual instrument the balalaika, with a pop flavor. Andy has created a new branch of Australian entertainment business. A branch that is growing in popularity every day. (Partially edited from Urban Bowerbird)

Peter Doyle - The Great Pretender

The Great Pretender/Everybody Loves A Lover/Something About You/s This The Dream


The Great Pretender one of a number of covers of this classic Platters song, Peter’s version was deservedly one of his best selling hits of the 60s reaching # 22 in Jan. 1966, an inspired rendition from a 16 year old.
 New Link Added 07.08.2020

Miss Linda George - Linda George

Neither One Of Us /If It's Alright With You/Our Day Will Come/Yesterday And You



Linda George (born 1951) is an English-born Australian pop, jazz fusion and soul singer from the 1970s. In 1973, George performed the role of Acid Queen for the Australian stage performance of The Who's rock opera, Tommy. She won the TV Week King of Pop award for "Best New Female Artist". Her cover version of "Neither One of Us", peaked at No.;12 on the Australian Singles Chart and her 1974 single "Mama's Little Girl" reached the Top Ten. From 1972 to 1998, George also worked as a session singer and later became a music teacher. Her last C.D. recorded in the late 90's will be available in 2012.

Tony Worsley - It I

If I/Just A Little Bit/I'm So Glad/If You See My Baby



A British-born artist who made his name in Australia. Tony was born Anthony Asheen Worsley in England in 1944 and emigrated with his family from his hometown of Hastings to the sunnier climes of Brisbane when he was 15. Tough cookie Worsley was the first beat era artist in Australia to sport outrageously long hair. In 1964, he joined forces with a backing band called The Blue Jays who had various members during their two year existence Worsley's gruff and surly demeanour ensured that many of their live appearances ended in riots. He toured rural Australia extensively with The Easybeats.

Barry Stanton - Teenage Idol

I Don't Want To Be A Teenage Idol/Indeed I Do/
Beggin' On My Knees/Solitary Confinement


Born on 23rd January 1941 in England, Barry's parents immigrated to Australia when he was five years old. He grew up in the Sydney suburb of Cremorne and while at school he was given a guitar as a birthday present. After graduating from high school in 1957, he got a job as an apprentice motor mechanic. Inspired by Elvis Presley, he began singing occasionally with a group called Deke Drew and the Rebels at their weekly dance at Warringah Hall in Neutral Bay. He then formed his own group called Barry Stanton and the Boppers but by the end of 1958 the group had folded. Barry then formed a new backing group called the Bel Aires.
A serious car accident in 1959 resulted in Stanton suffering a fractured skull and being hospitalised for several months. After recovering from his injuries Barry and the Bel Aires first engagement was playing during the interval at the Embassy Picture Theatre in Manly. A few weeks later they were invited back to the Embassy by the manager to play at a rock 'n' roll concert. This led to Barry being invited by Johnny O'Keefe to appear on Six O'Clock Rock. Barry, with his Elvis Presley looks and singing style, was so popular with the live audience and viewers that he became a regular on the show. He also became a regular on the radio program Rockville Junction, which Johnny also hosted.
As his popularity continued to soar he began appearing regularly on Bandstand as well. He was also making short, mainly overnight, tours around New South Wales. After parting company with the Bel Aires Barry regularly performed as a guest artist at dances run by a group called the Ark Royales. Barry eventually replaced their lead singer when he left the group. Barry's first big break came in 1960 when Johnny O'Keefe signed him to a recording contract with Leedon Records. His debut single in April failed to chart. In May, he headed off on his first interstate tour with Johnny, Lonnie Lee and Booka Hyland, Ray Hoff and Laurel Lee.
The tour became infamous as it nearly claimed the lives of Johnny and his two passengers, Dee Jays' saxophonist John Greenan and his wife Jan, in a car accident. But by the time of the accident Barry had already left the tour due to exhaustion. His second single Don't You Worry 'Bout That, which was written by Johnny O'Keefe, was released in September and made the charts in most states. When his follow-up flopped he turned to his younger brother Rod, who dabbled in songwriting, for his fourth single. The song, Beggin' On My Knees, was to be his biggest hit, spending twelve weeks in the charts and reaching the Top 20 nationally in November 1961.
Barry continued recording with Leedon until 1964 and then switched to RCA Records in 1965. While he didn't have much success on the recording side he was still appearing regularly on television. Eventually, his lack of record success forced him to give up his rock 'n' roll career for that of an electrician. Between 1974 and 1977 he toured around Australia with Johnny O'Keefe's packaged show The Good Old Boys of Rock 'n' Roll. Stanton continued to perform well into the Eighties, which included a stint overseas in Las Vegas at the famous Sahara Casino Nightclub. He continues to appear regularly at Melbourne's Annual Concert and also at the Wintersun Festival.

Johnny Noble - Lonely City

Lonely City/Tough Enough/That'll Be All Right/This Little Girl



Johnny Noble was born in Muswellbrook in 1945 and later moved to Newcastle.At the age of sixteen he entered a talent quest in the Newcastle area which led to an appearance with Johnny Okeefe at the Century Theatre his popularity around Newcastle gained him an appearance on Alan Lappan's Tempo on NBN Channel 3 Newcastle. This led to his becoming a vocalist with a number of Newcastles top groups.
Because of his popularity disc jockey John Maloney invited him to meet whith his nephew Vince Maloney, guitarist with Sydney Instrumental group The Vibratones as they were lookin for a vocalist. Johnny joined and they changed their name to the Aztecs his debut with the Aztecs was in Kings Cross at Surf City a popular Sydney venue. They obtained a recording contract with Linda Lee Records and Johnny may have started recording with them. After eight months with the band Johnny quit he was not happy with all the travelling and hated living in Sydney so he returned to Newcastle. The split led the Aztecs with finding another vocalist and who did they find Billy Thorpe.
Back in Newcastle Johnny joined the Starlites who then became Johnny Noble and the Mods. An LP was issued with the Aztecs on one side and Johnny on the other called Poison Ivy Three of Johnny's songs were credited to Johnny Noble and the Mods but two of these "That'll ge All Right" and "Mean Women Blues" may have been recorded with the Aztecs and not the Mods. Johnny only ever had one charting single with another Newcastle group the Incas "Lonely City" whch Charted in Sydney for 9 weeks and reached #21. After his brief stint in the limelight Johnny continued to perform in the clubs around Newcasle including stints with big bands. As late as 2008 Johnny still had two regular gigs at the Toronto RSL and the Carrington Country Retreat.

Peter Doyle - Speechless

Heigh Ho/Stupidity/Like I Love You/Speechless


Peter Doyle (28 July 1949 - 13 October 2001) was a naturally gifted performer who started out in music when he was a child. By the age of nine he was already appearing on the Melbourne television talent show Swallow's Juniors. At fourteen, he was performing in Sunday afternoon pop shows at Melbourne's Festival Hall and by sixteen he'd scored a solo record deal with Ivan Dayman's Sunshine label (which included Normie Rowe) and  became a regular on Melbourne's The Go!! Show. 
Between 1965 and 1967 Peter (backed by veteran Melbourne band The Phantoms) Peter released eight solo singles, six for the Sunshine label and two more for Astor. His first two singles were Top 20 hits: his debut single, a cover of Conway Twitty's "Speechless (The Pick Up)" peaked at #14 (May '65) and the follow-up, "Stupidity", peaked at #11 (July). His cover of the Small Faces' "What'cha Gonna Do About It" only got to #35 (Nov. ’65), but a version of The Platters' classic "The Great Pretender " fared better, reaching # 22 in Jan. 1966, although this proved to be his last charting solo single in Australia. His last two Sunshine singles were "Something You Got Baby" in May, and "Mr Good Time" in November 1966.
In 1967, following the collapse of the Sunshine label, Peter switched to the Astor label and issued two singles "You Can't Put That in a Bottle" (April) and Neil Sedaka's "Plastic Dreams and Toy Balloons" (June). His backing band during this time was Grandma's Tonic, a group formed by ex-members of Tony Worsley's backing band The Fabulous Blue Jays) and who also later backed Normie Rowe, Jahnny Farnham and others.
In May 1968, with his solo career waning, Peter peroxided his hair and joined the Walker Brothers-styled vocal trio The Virgil Brothers, taking over from original recruit Mick Hadley (ex Purple Hearts) who was uncomfortable with the commercial orientation of the new group and left after only a few rehearsals. The other members were both formerly part of the original incarnation of The Wild Cherries singer/guitarists Rob Lovett (The Loved Ones) and Malcolm McGee (Python Lee Jackson). The Virgil Brothers released two singles in Australia in 1968, "Temptation's 'Bout to Get Me", which was a Top 5 hit), "Here I Am" and "When You Walk Away". McGee left in 1969, just after the trio had relocated to the UK, and he was replaced by Danny Robinson, vocalist extraordinaire and ex-frontman of the highly regarded “Mark II” version of The Wild Cherries with Lobby Loyde. They cut their third single with David McKay before Peter also quit and the trio dissolved.
Shortly after the Virgil Bros split in 1970 Peter joined Lyn Paul and Paul Layton in the second lineup of The New Seekers, replacing founding members Sally Graham, Chris Barrington and Laurie Heath. The clean-cut pop harmony group had been put together by former Seeker Keith Potger who had retreated into the less public role of manager after initially performing with them.
At first ignored in the UK, the group broke through thanks to a string of American hits, beginning with Top 10 cover of Melanie Safka's "What Have They Done To My Song, Ma". More hits followed, including "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (originally written as a soft-drink jingle), "Beg, Steal or Borrow" (the UK's 1972 Eurovision entry, on which Peter shared the lead vocal with Lyn Paul) and the New Seekers' valiant cover of Pete Townshend's "Pinball Wizard" / "See Me, Feel Me" which featured Peter and Marty Kristian on lead vocals.  New Link Added 07.08.2020