M.P.D. Limited - Little Boy Sad

Little Boy Sad/You Might As Well Forget Him/ Lonely Boy/Lonesome Traveller



MPD Ltd were an Australian band formed in 1965, who were wildly popular in their day, but only lasted around 18 months. They consisted of Mike Brady (lead vocals, guitar) Pete Watson (bass) and Danny Finley (drums). The name came from taking the first letter of each of their first names.

This single released in 1965 was a cover of Johnny Burnette's 'Little Boy Sad'. It was their first single and their biggest hit. They continued to have varying success until they broke up in 1966. Their demise was not helped by a trip to England to seek fame and fortune and personal tensions in the band towards the end.

Mike Brady went on to be a successful songwriter and creator of advertising jingles. He wrote the Australian Football anthem, 'Up There Cazaly', one of the biggest Australian singles of all time. Sadly, Pete Watson's health deteriorated and he died in 1972. Danny Finley continued in the music business variously as a musician, manager and executive. (McPhert)

Johnny Young - Craise Finton Kirk

Craise Finton Kirk/I Am The World/You'd Better Run/Uptight

This is Johnny's hardest to find EP and I'd just about given up on ever being able to post it here I've only ever seen it twice on ebay and both times it went for way above what I can afford.

Sometimes I wonder how they decided what to put on an EP this one has "Craise Finton Kirk/I Am The World" from his 3rd album Surprises and "You'd Better Run/Uptight" from his first Young Johnny, albums  over 2 years apart.

The Crescents - Hit It For Six

Mr Blue/You Broke My Heart/How Important Can It Be/The Hand Of God/Everlovin'/When You Wish Upon A Star



The group had its origins in 1959 at the Marist Brothers College in Randwick,Sydney where Colin Loughnan and Mike Downes singing in the choir and decided to form with Kel Palace and Denis O’Keefe their own vocal group under the name of The Four Tops influenced by US vocal groups such as The Diamonds or Danny & The Juniors.

They got a lot of experience at school dances but Dennis left soon to join the air force and the rest decided to continue as trio now know as The Crescents, Johnny O’Keefe took the boys under his wing as vocal group on his Leichhardt Police Boys Club Dances and the boys debuted on Johnny’s TV show”Six O’Clock Rock” on 7th March 1959.

The success of these appearances prompted Johnny to sign the group with Lee Gordon of the Leedon label where they recorded their first single with the Ricky Nelson’s track "Everlovin" b/w "You Broke My Heart".

In Agust 1959 the group was added by Lee Gordon to the Johnny Ray Australian tour and in October to the Fabian Australian tour,with all these appearances the group soon was very popular in Sydney (with a rival vocal group The Delltones) in late 1959 Leedon released the single "Mr. Blue/How Important Can It Be". The A Side was a US hit by The Fleetwoods and The Crescents had a top 10 in Australia with their version. In early 1960 their third single "When You Wish Upon A Star/Hand Of God"  was released on the Lee Gordon Label.

The Crescents - Rock Time

Down By The Riverside/Why Do Fools Fall In Love/Sorry ( I Ran All The Way Home)/Dreaming




In September of the same year the group appear on the Ricky Nelson Australian tour and back to the recording studio to record an EP titled “Rock Time” with four songs The Impala’s "Sorry(All The Way Home),The Teenager’s "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" the standard "Down By The River" and the original 'Dreaming'.

In late 1960 a new single was released with the Laurel’s tune "Picture Of Love" b/w "One More Kiss". Followed in early 1961 by "Stars Will Remember/Love Love Love". The A Side has the beautiful voice of Nancy Eichhorn of The Graduates

Their 6th single has the sides "The Way Of The Cross/The Story Of The Cross". This is an unusual record with the group singing in the A Side and back up to Chris Christensen in the B Side.
The Crescents “Hit It For Six” was the new EP of the group released in 1961 with the six first 3 singles sides of the group.

In late 1961 Mike Downes left the group and was replaced by Alan Roberts,this formation released "Get A Job/Silhouettes". In July 1962 Noel Widerberg lead singer of The Delltones is killed in an car accident and Colin Loughnnan is signed as new member of the group and of course this leaves The Crescents  as a duo and they break up soon after..

In late 1962 Lee Gordon released  a new Crescent’s single on the Teen label  "Mr. Blue" as the A Side and the unreleased B Side "You Mean Everything To Me". Actually the B Side was recorded by Johnny Robson with the backing vocals of Pat Mclusky and The Graduates.

I'd like to thank Geoff G. for contributing both these Crescents EP's.

Johnny Rebb And His Rebels - Highway Of Love

Highway Of Love/It Might Have Been/Valley Of Tears/Lonesome Whistle



Johnny Rebb (born John Delbridge, 1939) was a mild mannered Sydney butcher's apprentice who got caught up in the swirling high tide of rock 'n' roll attention which followed his win of a Theatre Talent Quest.

Crafty Manager Syd McDonagh Kept Johnny busy with club, suburban dance and private functions work, while he pursued a recording deal with the aid of an acetate disc bearing a primitive version of Bobby Helm's "MY SPECIAL ANGEL", EMI took him on for one single (Johnny B Goode/Rebel Rock) but lost interest when it failed to leap into the charts.

Late in 1958, McDonagh approached the young Leedon Records; operated by flamboyant entrepreneur Lee Gordan to carry releases from indie American labels. They took Rebb on as their first local artist and a cover of dough & Rusty Kershaw's "HEY SHERIFF" was rushed out for the Christmas market. It hit #15 in Sydney and #28 in Melbourne, earning Johnny a spot on Six O'clock Rock and generating a strong female following.

From the outset, Johnny's image and recordings were at odds. Shy well mannered and conservatively dressed, he was dubbed the 'Gentleman of Rock' by Press and DJ's, and to cater to this, Leedon deliberately split the contents of his records between energetic rock and mellow ballads. However in a live situation he could get on with the best of them, ably abetted by his fiery young backing unit "The Rebels", Comprising Johnny Burns (drums), Johnny Charters (piano), Sonny Neville (guitar), Keith Williams (bass) and the highly regarded Jimmy Slogget (sax).

Johnny Rebb was the first Australian artist to be signed by Lee Gordon's Leedon label in 1958. (N.B. — Leedon released more hits by Australian artists than any
other label in the late fifties and early sixties.)

Johnny's immense Sydney popularity was reflected by the top Thirty charting of "COME ON LET'S GO" before the first hit even begun to dip. By the time "PATHWAY TO PARADISE" (an original) was issued in June (a national top ten) he was off on tour through the virtually uncharted regions of Victoria and Queensland. Lee Gordon cross-promoted the records by giving Rebb the support stint to TOMMY SANDS. Exceedingly well received, he also appeared alongside FABIAN, SAL MINEO, THE PLATTERS, LLOYD PRICE, and JOHNNIE RAY. His popularity grew to such a high point that he was chosen to compare episodes of "Six O'clock Rock' while Johnny O'Keefe was in America.

At the very end of 1959 Johnny scored his final national hit with "HIGHWAY OF LOVE" (on the Lee Gordon rather than Leedon label), which hit #8 in Sydney and #27 in Melbourne, By the time he moved over to CDB/Cornet, Gordon's two labels had issued 5 singles. 3 EPs (Come On Let's Go, Highway Of Love, Hit It For Six) and an album (Some Swing, Some Sweet). Among some truly nauseous doses of terminal wimp had lurked a few true rock gems of commendably obscure origin; such as ROCK ON (Trini Lopez, King), WALK THE BE BOP WALK (Ernie Felice , RCA), SAY YEAH (Wayne Handy, Renown; The Southerners, Cornet), THE LONE RANGER GOT MARRIED (Jimmy Johnson, Class) and HIGHWAY OF LOVE (Carl Perkins, Columbia).

His second Coronet (CBS) single, THINK ME A KISS in 1960 (backed with Carl Perkins' L-O-V-E-V-I-LL-E) made top ten in Sydney. Shortly after, he tried his hand in America and one single for Dot (BILLY BLUE SHOES) was issued here on London in 1962. Returning home in 1963 he continued recording for CBS under producer Sven Libaek, his first effort being a fine version of Ronnie Self's AINT I'M A DOG. By 1964 he had joined forces with surf instrumental kings (turned R & B powerhouse) The Atlantics and after the bright pop bouncer A GIRL NAMES SUE, moved over to EMI's HMV imprint for  CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY THE COVER, and (Bo Diddley's) PRETTY THING.

By 1966-67, Johnny was singing unaccredited on The Atlantics extraordinary 'punk' singles for Festival. He finished the decade off with some moderately interesting Ramrod label issues under his own name and spent most of the early seventies overseas. Apart from a one-off Astor single and some 1974 Rock 'n' Roll Revival Show club appearances, little has been heard of him in recent time.

Frank Ifield - Confessin'

Confessin' (That I Love You)/Waltzing Matilda/ Paradise/Lonesome Number One




Francis Edward Ifield (born 30 November 1937) is an Australian-English easy listening and country music singer. He achieved considerable success in the early 1960s, especially in the UK Singles Chart, where he had four Number 1 hits between 1962 and 1963.

Born in Coundon, Coventry, Warwickshire, England, Ifield moved with his Australian parents to Dural, 50 km (31 mi) from Sydney, about 1946. It was a rural district and he listened to hillbilly music (now called country) while milking the cows. He learned how to yodel in imitation of country stars like Hank Snow. At the age of thirteen he recorded "Did You See My Daddy Over There?", and by the age of 19 was the number one recording star in Australia and New Zealand. He returned to the UK in 1959.


His first record in the UK was "Lucky Devil" (1960) which got to number 22 in the UK charts. His next six records were less successful, but he finally broke through with "I Remember You" which topped the charts for seven weeks in 1962. Known for Ifield's falsetto and a slight yodel, it was the second highest-selling single of that year in the UK and became the seventh million-selling single.
His next single was a double A-side: "Lovesick Blues" and "She Taught Me How to Yodel". "Lovesick Blues" was originally sung by Hank Williams and was treated in an upbeat "Let's Twist Again" style. The other song is a virtuoso piece of yodelling with the final verse - entirely yodelling - sung at double-speed. It also reached number 44 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. His next hit, "Wayward Wind", made him the first UK-based person to reach number one three times in the UK in succession. The only other person to have done so at that point was Elvis Presley.
His other recordings include "Nobody's Darling but Mine", "Confessin'" (his fourth and final UK number one), "Mule Train" and "Don't Blame Me". In 1963 he sang at the Grand Ole Opry, introduced by one of his heroes, Hank Snow. Many of his records were produced by Norrie Paramor.

Pat Carroll - Many Faces Of

That's All You Do/The End Of The World/ Where Have You Been/Why Do Fools Fall In Love


Pat Carroll (born 1946 in Melbourne) is an Australian singer from the 1960s.

Carroll began her entertainment career at age eight when she started taking singing and dancing lessons. Appearances on children's TV shows followed by the time she was eleven years old. She continued by appearing in musical comedy shows such as Carnival and Bye Bye Birdie.

This led to appearing on national Australian pop TV shows such as Brian Henderson's Bandstand and The Go!! Show when in her mid-teens. Her first 45 single "He's My Guy" was released when she was 18.

In the mid 1960s Carroll and her friend Olivia Newton-John, formed a singing duo called Pat and Olivia (see YouTube). Having won a song contest in Melbourne, they travelled to the United Kingdom. They achieved some success there on TV and in the clubs. After a period of performing there, Carroll's visa expired, forcing her to return to Australia where she would eventually marry ex-Strangers member, John Farrar. Newton-John stayed on and launched her own international career.
Carroll released a number of singles with W&G Records and Interfusion during the 1960s and early 1970s most of which failed to chart. Her most successful single in Australia was her cover of Dana's 1970 Eurovision winner "All Kinds of Everything". However Carroll's best known single is "To the Sun" on account of its featuring Cliff Richard on backing vocals.

In about 1970, Farrar quit the Strangers and with Carroll, returned to London. During 70s and 80s, she often sang backing vocals on Olivia Newton-John's albums.

Pat Carroll - Requests

Chained To A Memory/Did He Call Today Mama/He Is My Guy/I Know


A Couple of days ago I was contacted by Geoff G. asking me if I was interested in these 2 EP's by Pat Carroll as you can see I was so I'd like to thank Geoff for making these EP's available to the followers of the "Little Aussie Albums" Blog.

Mike Furber - Just A Poor Boy

 Just A Poor Boy/Mailman Bring Me No More Blues/You're Back Again/Love Talk


Mike Furber (28 September 1948 – 10 May 1973) was an English-born entertainer popular in the mid-1960s as the lead singer of Mike Furber and the Bowery Boys. Furber's group had hits with "Just a Poor Boy" #42, "You Stole My Love" #36 and "That's When Happiness Began" #85 (all in 1966). In the Go Set Pop Poll, Furber was voted in the top 5 as most popular Male Vocalist in both 1966 and 1967. Furber's solo singing career was less successful and in the early 1970s he turned to stage musicals: Godspell and Nuclear. Furber committed suicide on 10 May 1973, he was found hanged in the garage of his Sydney home. According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, "Reputedly in the depths of depression, he hanged himself ... It has been suggested, however, that Furber was actually murdered because he had befriended a King's Cross prostitute".

BG'SIGTGAMTY

BG'SW

Matt Flinders - Matt Flinders

Picking Up Pebbles/You/Butterfly/ How Great Thou Art


Matt Flinders, born Sylvan Louis Bonett in Alexandria, Egypt, is a singer who rose to prominence in the late 1960s in Australia.
Of French, English and Italian background, Flinders migrated to Australia with his family in 1951. Following National Service training with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in the 1950s, he toured Australia, Japan and England as a double bass player and singer.

After singing on a few radio and TV commercials, Flinders was "discovered" by Ron Tudor of Astor Records who suggested the name change to Matt Flinders (after the explorer Matthew Flinders) which was deemed to be easier to pronounce and remember than his birth name.

Flinders had two top ten singles in Australia: "Picking up Pebbles" (1969) which reached No.1 in Melbourne and "Butterfly" (1971). He is the recipient of several recording awards and professional accolades for his talent, both as a performer and professional musician.

Flinders appeared on his own television show, Matt Flinders and Friends (1972-1973), as well as his own radio show, both for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Flinders is currently retired from the entertainment industry and now works as a civil celebrant with his wife, Coralie. (Thanks  To Ozzie Music Man with his help on this one)

Noeleen Batley - Noeleen Batley's Big Four

Barefoot Boy/Tammy/Rendezvous/Ice Cream Man


Born a twin on 25th December 1943 in Sydney, she began singing at the age of five. During her school years she often went to different local radio stations after school to sing on shows like 2UE's Youth Parade, 2UW's Amateur Hour and the ABC's Rockville Junction. It was commonplace in the late Fifties for up and coming singers to enter as many talent quests that were run around Sydney. Every Sunday night she’d enter the talent contest held at the Ling Nam Restaurant in the city, finishing runner-up on twelve occasions.

She was also a regular patron at Warren William’s dances and quite often got up on stage and sang with the group. She was fifteen years old when Ken Taylor from Festival Records saw her at one of the talent contests and offered her a recording contract with Festival's new subsidiary label Rex Records. Her first single was released in February 1960, but being new on the scene and a female to boot, the radio stations didn’t give the single much airplay. Subsequently, it failed to make any impression on the charts.

Unperturbed, she set about getting as much experience as she could. She became a regular performer at many of the dances around Sydney as well as making appearances on the television shows Youth Show in November and Six O'Clock Rock in January 1960. Her first big engagement came in April when she was selected to appear with a virtual who's who of Australian rock 'n' roll on the Tower of Talent - Help Sponsor an Olympian Show at the Sydney Stadium. In May, she became the first local female singer to have her own fan club. She kept herself busy with regular appearances at dances and on television shows, which by then included Bandstand.

Her next release for the Rex label in September 1960 was a song called Barefoot Boy, which was written by sixteen-year-old Helen Grover, who had won a talent contest a year earlier singing her version of the song. It became her breakthrough record and spent sixteen weeks in the charts, peaking in the Top 10 on most charts around the country. Se had become the first Australian female artist to make the charts. Her success revolutionized the local recording industry and opened the way for more female artists to record. Noeleen became the pin-up for thousands of local teenage girls and even appeared on the front page of the Women's Weekly magazine. She was constantly being promoted as 'The Darling of Radio and Television'.

This success led to a substantial increase in bookings and her first interstate tour. In a viewers' poll conducted for the Six O'Clock Rock show, she was voted one of the show's most popular stars for 1960. She had two moderately successful hits in the first half of 1961 before releasing her first album Rendezvous in June. The album was another first for Noeleen as it was the first album released by an Australian female artist. She then signed a new recording contract directly with Festival Records. Two more Sydney Top 40 hits were released that year. She capped off the year by being named 'Australia's Top Female Vocalist of the Year'.

 While 1962 and 1963 were fairly lean years for her on the charts, she continued to tour frequently throughout country New South Wales and Queensland. Her biggest highlight during this period was an appearance at radio station 2UW’’s Lane Cove National Spectacular concert in September 1963 in front of forty thousand fans. She scored her second biggest hit in October 1964 with a English language version of the a million-selling 1963 Japanese hit called My Little Treasure From Japan. The single peaked in the Top 40 in Brisbane and Sydney and reached number sixteen in Melbourne. It was also released in Japan during the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games where it sold more than sixty thousand copies. Another first for her as she was the first Australian artist, male or female, to achieve record success in that country.

Following a very successful tour of Japan in early 1965 she released a second single over there. Sung this time entirely in Japanese, the song Owakare No Namida (Tears Of Farewell) also did very well, again selling over sixty thousand copies. Noeleen next moved into performing in stage plays and at cabarets. She continued to release singles for Festival until 1969 when she embarked on a six-month trip to the UK. After recording one single in England, she toured and performed extensively throughout Europe and even represented Australia at Brazil's Popular Song Festival in Rio de Janeiro. In 1975, she married and settled in the Britain. After the birth of their first child in 1976 she continued to work in entertainment for some time before eventually retiring from regular performing.

Noeleen Batley was a charting pioneer for female Australian artists and was affectionately known as 'Australia's Little Miss Sweetheart'.

The Joy Boys - Southern 'Rora

Southern 'Rora/Night Coach To Rio/ Kurrawatha/Bye Bye Baby Goodbye



The Joy boys were a backing group to Col Joye. 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. Southern Rora reached #5 Sydney #5 Melbourne #5 Brisbane #2 Adelaide in 1962. It was a tune dedicated to the Melbourne / Sydney train ,the Southern Aurora .

Valentines - My Old Man's A Groovy Old Man

My Old Man's A Groovy Old Man/Ebeneezeer/Nick Nack Paddy Wack/Getting Better


  The Valentines were an Australian pop band active from 1966–70, chiefly noted for their lead singers, Bon Scott, who later went on to great success as lead vocalist with AC/DC; and Vince Lovegrove, who subsequently became a successful music journalist and manager of Divinyls.

The band was formed in late 1966 with the amalgamation of Perth groups The Spektors and The Winstons. They capitalised on the success of both the former bands, plus the interest created by having two lead singers in Scott and Lovegrove. Inspired by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and local stars The Easybeats, they enjoyed considerable local success and released a few singles.

In late 1967, The Valentines moved to Melbourne in search of greater success, and soon toured other major cities. With a development towards the popular Bubblegum sound late in 1968, the band became more in demand, particularly among teenage girls. However as the fashion for bubblegum music wore off, The Valentines struggled to retain their musical credibility despite a turn towards rock music. With differing opinions within the band concerning musical direction, and a much-publicised drugs bust in September 1969, group stability began to suffer. Although they still had a strong fanbase in certain areas of the country, especially back home in Perth, The Valentines decided to disband amicably in August 1970.

Scott had built a strong reputation as a powerful vocalist and soon joined Fraternity, and later AC/DC. Lovegrove found success as a music journalist, and guitarist Wyn Milson became a sound engineer.

Sandy Scott - I'm Glad I Lost My Heart In Sydney

 I'm Glad I Lost My Heart In Sydney/Spanish Eyes/ I Left My Heart In San Francisco/ Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa


 Sandy Scott is an Australian singer. A popular singer at the smooth and easy end of the pop market, Sandy Scott was a regular on the Australian Bandstand. He also appeared in stage musicals and as compere of Family Feud and Sound of Music. His album Great Scott - It's Sandy (1971) was a best-seller. Sandy Scott is married to Col Joye's sister Carol.

Sandy Scott established himself as an Australian singer with the likes of Col Joye and other members of the so-called "Bandstand Family" with Brian Henderson, The Joy Boys, Judy Stone, Little Patti and many others.

John Williamson - John Williamson

Old Man Emu/Big Country Round/Misery Farm/The Pitt Street Farmer


John Robert Williamson AM (born 1 November 1945 in Kerang, Victoria) is an Australian country music singer-songwriter. Williamson has released over forty albums, ten videos, five DVDs, and two lyric books. His top 10 albums on the ARIA Charts are Mallee Boy (1986), Boomerang Cafe (1988), Warrigal (No. 1, 1989), Pipe Dream (1997), The Way It Is (1999), True Blue Two (compilation, 2003) and Hillbilly Road (2008). On Australia Day (26 January) 1992 Williamson was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) with the citation: "for service to Australian country music and in stimulating awareness of conservation issues". He has received twenty-six Golden Guitar trophies at the Country Music Awards of Australia, he has won three ARIA Music Awards for Best Country Album and, in 2010, was inducted into the related Hall of Fame.

Williamson has also featured in a number of television series as well as This is Your Life. Many of his albums have gone gold and platinum and continue to do so. He has sold more than 4,000,000 albums in Australia alone. In 1970 Williamson's first song, "Old Man Emu", went to No. 3 and given a gold certification. Another popular single, "Mallee Boy", became triple-platinum. Music journalists, Toby Creswell and Samantha Chenoweth describe him as one of the most popular songwriters in Australia.

Adam Dion - Speak Softly Love

Y-Viva Espana/Speak Softly Love/Sunday Morning Lovers/Dzaghigner



Adam Dion Bahoudian has been involved in the entertainment industry since the age of 16. Having commenced his career in television production, with numerous credits that include ‘All the Rivers Run’ TV series, and several of the longest running and award winning series in Australian history, notably the ‘Flying Doctors’, and ‘The Sullivans.’ In addition, his portfolio encompasses both film and live entertainment.

When I saw this one had no idea about it, managed to get it for the princely sum of $3.99 on Ebay. If there had been any other bidders I would more than likely let it go but I obviously won the bid. Nothing spectacular about it but pleasent enough to listen to, as he is a Melbourne boy according the liner notes I'd say it would have been aimed the ethnic population down there. The EP is as probably as rare as hen's teeth  but I don't think that would make it valuable as there wouldn't have been a huge market for this, but maybe someone knows more about it.

Steve And The Board - I Call My Girlfriend Hinges

 I Call My Woman Hinges 'Cause She's Something To Adore/Farmer John/Little Miss Rhythm & Blues/Love Has Made A Fool Of You




In the short time they were around, Steve & The Board supplied listeners with a menu of sublime and snotty garage-punk songs and a wild stage presence. Formed in late '65, the group was unusually one of the very few young Australian beat units to be allowed the indulgence of an album without a string of chart hits behind them. This situation may be attributable to the fact that Steve's dad just happened to be the boss of Spin Records -- producer, songwriter and entrepreneur Nat Kipner, who had previously been one of the partners in Ivan Dayman's Sunshine label.

Nat had formed a close relationship with The Bee Gees. In 1966 he saved them from being dropped from the Leedon label by Festival Records, persuading the company to transfer them to the Spin label and co-produced most of their last Australian recordings with Ozzie Byrne at his St Clair studio in Hurstville. Through his father, Steve Kipner and the band became good mates with the Gibb brothers. Colin Petersen drummed on many of the Bee Gees Spin recording in 1966, and Carl Keats is also probably the only person to have ever written a song specifically for the Bee Gees -- "Lonely Winter" (1966). Steve & The Board returned the favour by covering Barry's "Little Miss Rhythm & Blues" on their Giggle Eyed Goo LP. The album was recorded at the end of 1966 with Colin Petersen, but he quit immediately after the sessions and head to the UK soon after.

A particularly interesting piece of Steve & The Board trivia is that Brisbane-born drummer Colin Peterson was a noted child actor. Colin will be known to generations of Australians for his portrayal of the irrepressible young larrikin Smiley in the classic 1950s Australian film of that name, and he also appeared in The Scamp and A Cry in the Streets.

Nat Kipner penned the band's first single, the rude and raucous "Giggle Eyed Goo", which cheekily copped a line in the bridge from a contemporaneous toilet-paper commercial jingle -- "It's pink and blue and primrose too". This remarkable piece of ratbag punk-rock became a sizable hit in Eastern states in '66, and was followed up by a great rocking track with possibly one of the corniest garage rock titles ever: "I Call My Woman Hinges ('Cos She's Something To Adore)".

Colin Petersen's replacement was Geoff Bridgford, a solid player who went on to join Melbourne soul stylists The Groove. Geoff played on Steve and The Board's final single, "Sally Was a Good Old Girl"/ "Good for Nothing Sue" (January 1967), but the group broke up soon afterwards, in May 1967.
(Milesago)

Campact - Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Zoom Zoom Zoom/Cry My Heart Out/Potion Of Love/Getting Myself Together


Seminal Melbourne band CamPact began as a soul group in the style of contemporary Tamla, Stax and Atlantic soul acts, and later explored teen-pop, heavy rock and finally into blues/psychedelia. The band formed in April 1967, and according to Ian McFarlane, their original name was The Camp Act, but this was deemed too "risque" for the time and altered to CamPact. The band was a nexus for some of the leading players on the Melbourne scene, and some very noteworthy personnel passed through during its short lifespan, creating connections with most of the major Melbourne bands of the late 60s and early 70s.

The original 1967 lineup was Mark Barnes (ex-Moppa Blues, Roadrunners, Delta Set), Keith Glass (ex-Rising Sons, 18th Century Quartet), John Pugh (ex-Roadrunners, Delta Set, James Taylor Move, 18th Century Quartet), Chris Stockley (The Road Runners, Delta Set) and drummer Bob Lloyd, who had been one of several drummers who played in the shortlived second lineup of 18th Century Quartet in 1966.

They approached David Flint, of Melbourne disco Thumpin' Tum for an audition and he was impressed enough to offer them a gig and take over their management. Their first gig was in March 1967, and the group was soon working solidly, including a regular gig at the Tum. Bob Lloyd and John Pugh left the band in late 1967 -- Lloyd was replaced by Trevor Courtney (formerly of NZ band Chants R&B, with Mike Rudd), and Pugh by Greg Cook (ex-Silk'n'Dreams). Lloyd went on to play with Carnival, Extradition, and Forest; Pugh went on to play in several well-known bands including James Taylor Move, The News, The Avengers, Healing Force, Ray Burton Nightflyers and the Renee Geyer Band.

The second version of CamPact -- Barnes, Cook, Courtney, Glass and Stockley -- was the best known and most successful lineup. In late 1967 Cam-Pact were spotted by entrepreneurial doctor and would-be pop svengali Geoffrey Edelsten (whose family owned the Edels record retail chain). Edelsten's Hit Productions outfit had a deal with Festival Records and among his other 'discoveries' was Pastoral Symphony, a concocted studio group featuring members of The Twilights and others. Edelsten signed Cam-Pact to record a single and their debut release "Something Easy" / "Michael" came out in February 1968 and rose to the middle of the Melbourne Top 40.

The A-side of their second single, "Drawing Room", was a Who-styled remake of the Keith Glass song, which had been already been recorded in a much different version and released as a single by 18th Century Quartet in 1966. The original version, excellent in its own right, is now a prized collectors item. Over the next year the band issued three more excellent psych-pop Singles on Festival: "Good, Good Feelin"' / "And It Won't Be Long", "Potion of Love" / "Cry My Heart Out" and "Zoom, Zoom, Zoom" / "Getting Myself Together", but unfortunately they never got to cut a full LP.

BG'SWAW

BG'SJ

BG'S TALAM

BG'S FOM

Ray Brown - Ivor The Engine Driver

Ivor The Engine Driver/That's It, I Quit, (I'm movin' on)/Respect/Left Hand Know


After leaving the Whispers  in 1966 Ray cut 2 singles for Festival "Same Old Song" / "New Kind Of Love" and "Ivor The Engine Driver"/ "That's It I Quit" both were released in 1967 with "Same Old Song" reaching #6 it was to be his last hit with "Ivor The Engine Driver" a Pete Townsend song not charting. (Thanks to Hank for help with this one)

Normie Rowe - Festival Hall Frenzy

Everything's All Right/Que Sera, Sera /Shakin' All Over/ I (Who Have Nothing)/ I Just Don't Understand


What a great slice of history this EP is Normie Rowe live at Festival Hall Melbourne in 1966. Normie is at his peak, hits are a plenty with 5 top ten hits including the #1 "Que Sera, Sera". Considering when this was recorded it is great sound quality the Playboys are in great form. "Shakin' All Over" is the outstanding track here what a performance but not a bad song here, a great pity there isn't more.

Normie Rowe - Que Sera Sera

Que Sera, Sera /Everything's Alright/Unchain My Heart/ Let Me Tell You


Norman John "Normie" Rowe AM (born 1 February 1947) was a major male solo performer of Australian pop music in the 1960s. Known for his bright and edgy tenor voice and dynamic stage presence, many of Rowe's most successful recordings were produced by Nat Kipner and later by Pat Aulton, house producers for the Sunshine Records label. Backed by his band, The Playboys, Rowe released a string of Australian pop hits on the Sunshine Records label that kept him at the top of the Australian charts and made him the most popular solo performer of the mid-1960s. Rowe's double-sided hit "Que Sera Sera" / "Shakin' All Over" was one of the most successful Australian singles of the 1960s.It made to in #1 Sydney #1 Melbourne #1 Brisbane #1 Adelaide #1 Perth.

Between 1965 and 1967 Rowe was Australia's most popular male star but his career was cut short when he was drafted for compulsory military service in late 1967. His subsequent tour of duty in Vietnam effectively ended his pop career and he was never able to recapture the success he enjoyed at his peak.

Little Pattie - Little Pattie

He's My Blonde Headed Stompie Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boy/Stompin' at Maroubra/We're Gonna Have a Party Tonight/Dear Judy


Little Pattie is the stage name of Australian singer, Patricia Thelma Amphlett OAM (born 17 March 1949, Paddington, Sydney) later Patricia Thompson, who performed as a 1960s surf pop singer and then in adult contemporary music. Her debut single from November 1963, "He's My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy", achieved #2 chart success in Sydney and peaked at #19 on the national Kent Music Report. She appeared regularly on television variety programs, including Bandstand and toured supporting Col Joye and the Joy Boys. Little Pattie was entertaining troops during the Vietnam War in Nui Dat, Vietnam, when the nearby Battle of Long Tần began on 18 August 1966. In 1994 she received the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal in recognition of her services in support of the Australian Armed Forces in operations in Vietnam.

Dave Miller - Mr. Guy Fawkes

Mr Guy Fawkes/Someone Is Sure To/A Bread & Butter Day/Let's Get Together


Line-Up:
    Dave Miller (Vocals)
    John Robinson (Lead Guitar)
    Harry Brus (Bass)
    Ray Mulholland (Drums)

When Brian Ringrose went back to Christchurch and Al Dunster also departed after a personal tragedy in 1967, the remaining members of Dave Miller and the Byrds renamed themselves the Dave Miller Set and moved to Australia. Not long after their arrival, the band fell apart and Dave put together a new line-up with John Robinson on lead guitar. John had previously been with the Lonely Ones and Monday's Children. Harry Brus, who had been with the Amazons, was added on bass, and Ray Mulholland, previously with Gene and the Dynamites, the Seakers and the Rayders, on drums.

A recording contract was negotiated with Spin Records and in November 1967 a single, "Why? Why? Why?"/"Hard Hard Year", was released. This was followed in May 1968 by "Hope"/"Having A Party" and "Let's Get Together"/"A Bread and Butter Day" in September 1968, along with a self-titled EP containing the first two singles.
Harry Brus left in 1968 and he was replaced for a short time by Bob Thompson. In 1969 Leith Corbett, from Heart 'n' Soul, took over from Bob, while Mike McCormac, from Sect, replaced Ray Mulholland. With this new combination, John Robinson emerged as a fluid and inventive guitarist and the Dave Miller Set attained prominence as one of the first heavy rock bands on the local scene in the Led Zeppelin mould.

Under the direction of Festival's in-house producer Pat Aulton, the band cut its fourth single, "Mr Guy Fawkes"/"Someone Is Sure To" in July 1969. "Mr Guy Fawkes" was a cover of the song by English band Eire Apparent and rates as one of the great Australian psychedelic classics of the sixties. A second EP called "Mr Guy Fawkes" was also released and contained the third and fourth singles.

By 1970 the group was near its end. In March 1970, Dave Miller issued a cover of Chicago's "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" with "No Need To Cry Mama" as a solo single. Meanwhile Robinson, Corbett and McCormac formed Blackfeather with vocalist Neale Johns. Corbett and McCormac soon abandoned Blackfeather to work with Miller on an album. Issued at the end of 1970, the "Reflections Of A Pioneer" album was credited to Dave Miller, Leith Corbett and Friends. The album's diverse sound was exemplified by the single, "Reflections Of A Pioneer"/"353527 Charles", released in November 1970, which mixed country-tinged psychedelic pop on the A-side with heavy rock on the B-side.   

(New Zealand Music)

Tony Barber - Someday

Someday/Is It Raining/What Now/I Want Her To


 Tony Barber wrote most of his own material, and released five singles and an LP in Australia in the mid-'60s. He found some success, particularly with the single "Someday," though not enough to sustain a long career. Barber had previously been a member of the Aztecs, the backing band of Australian singer Billy Thorpe and wrote some of there early material including "Blue Day", and favored a slightly spiky blues-rock-leaning British Invasion style, though his vocals were milder than the material.

The Chicks - The Chicks

The Birds And The Bees/I Want You To Be My Boy/The Hucklebuck/Looking For The Right Guy


The Chicks were sisters Judy and Sue Donaldson. Both girls were born in Wellington in 1950 and 1952 respectively. They moved to Auckland at an early age and were brought up on a farm in the Huapai district.  They got their first taste of success at a talent quest in Napier one Christmas when they were still children singing as the Dots. A neighbour on the farm was Kevin Borich (later with the La De Da's) and with him they made a couple of acetates at Ascot Studios.

Their lucky break came after the family moved to Henderson, when another neighbour was entertaining, and one of his guests was Peter Posa and his manager Ron Dalton. After hearing them sing, Ron thought the girls had some potential and a few weeks later he invited them into the Viking Studio to make their first real recording, "Heart Of Stone"/"I Want You To Be My Boy". The session players on that gig were among the best in Auckland, the Mike Perjanik Band. It was Mike who gave them their name, the Chicks, and the record was released on Viking in 1965.

Because they hadn't performed in public, Dalton organised a spot for them at a teenage dance in Dargaville, to test public reaction. They also had a spot on the TV show "On The Beat Side", where they sang their second single "Hucklebuck", which was released with "Looking For The Right Guy" on the reverse in 1965. In August 1965, the were support act on a tour featuring Sandi Shaw, the Pretty Things and Eden Kane. Following that there was another tour with Tommy Adderley and Dinah Lee. Two more singles were released in 1965, "Do You Want To Dance" with Peter Posa, coupled with "Terry" and "Java Jones"/"He's My Guy". It was time to release their first album and this was called "The Sound Of The Chicks".   

1966 saw the Chicks appearing on TV in "A Swinging Safari" and more tours with the likes of P J Proby. Another single for Viking "Cumala Be Stay"/"Be Bop A Lula" and then one single on Impact "Tweedle Dee"/"Rebel Kind". In 1967 a visit to Australia gave them guest spots on TV shows over there. Two singles were recorded on Festival "You Won't Forget Me"/"Gotta See My Baby Every Day" and "What Am I Doing Here With You"/"River Deep Mountain High" in 1967 and 1968 before the girls joined the team on TV's "C'Mon". This show ran for 26 weeks, thereby cutting out much of their live work because of its heavy schedule. 

Three singles for Polydor were released during 1969, "Say A Prayer For Michael"/"Society's Child", "Miss You Baby"/"Are You Sure" and "Stoney End"/"Get Ready-Uptight". They also signed to a new manager that year and he tried to steer them into the more sophisticated adult-orientated cabaret scene. This was not successful and in 1970 they split up while under the management of Ray Columbus, with their last single being "I Will See You There"/"Long Time Comin'".

During their time 1965 to 1970, they also had 3 EP's and 6 albums released. After the breakup Judy married Ross Hindman from the Rumour and settled down to raise a family, not before recording one solo single on Philips called "Heaven Is The Place"/"I Can Hear The Picture" in 1970 and Sue went solo under the name Suzanne.  (Many thanks to Max for this one)

Bobby and Laurie - Hitch Hiker

Sweet And Tender Romance/ Down In The Valley/You'll Come 'Round/Hitch Hiker



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.
Bobby and Laurie had a number of charting singles and in 1966 Hitch Hiker hit #1 for them.

Midnight Oil - Blue Sky Mine

Blue Sky Mine/Wedding Cake Island/Beds Are Burning/The Dead Heart



Midnight Oil (also known informally as "The Oils" to fans), were an Australian alternative rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie. While vocalist Peter Garrett was studying at Australian National University in Canberra, he answered an advertisement for a spot in Farm, and by 1975 the band was touring the east coast. By late 1976, Garrett moved to Sydney to complete his law degree, and Farm changed its name to Midnight Oil by drawing the name out of a hat.

"Blue Sky Mine" made it to #66 UK, #47 US, and #8 Australia, "Wedding Cake Island" appeared on the Bird Noises EP which charted in 1980 making it to #28 in Australia, while "The Dead Heart" #4 (1986) and  "Beds Are Burning" #6 (1987) were lifted of the Diesel and Dust album.

Ram Jam Big Band

Sunshine And I Feel Fine/Rainy Sunday/My Girl/I Didn't Know



Originally formed by Russell Smith and Terry Villis as a jazz band in Melbourne in October 1966. They developed an exciting jazz-pop sound, influenced by the likes of Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chicago and Sly and The Family Stone. This made them a popular live attraction and they got lots of T.V. work too. The band was very popular on the local dance scene in Melbourne in the latter part of the 60's and featured Terry Villis, Bernie Payne, Peter Knapp, Russell Smith, Ian Clyne and Gary Young.

Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs - Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs

Poison Ivy/Blue Day/You Don't Love Me/Broken Things


Here we have an EP put out by Zenith Records one of the few record pressing plants in Australia in 2008. On the EP we have the 2nd and 3rd singles by Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs "Blue Day/You Don't Love Me" - April 1964 and "Poison Ivy/Broken Things" - June 1964.

Originally a four-piece instrumental group who had put out one surfing instrumental, "Smoke & Stack", they formed in Sydney in 1963. With the advent of the Merseybeat sound, they added a lead singer, Billy Thorpe. His powerful voice and showmanship (which made him one of the most popular and respected rock performers in Australian music), completed the original line-up, which consisted of drummer Col Baigent, bassist John "Bluey" Watson and guitarists Valentine Jones and Vince Maloney (who later played with The Bee Gees).Valentine Jones left the band shortly after Billy Thorpe had joined and was later replaced by Tony Barber.

The group broke through in mid-1964 with a massive nationwide hit, their cover of the Leiber and Stoller classic "Poison Ivy", which famously kept The Beatles from the #1 spot on the Sydney charts at the very moment that the group was making its first and only tour of Australia a feat which resulted in Thorpe being invited to meet the Fab Four at their hotel.

Twilights - Twilights' Time

Needle In A Hay Stack/9.50/What's Wrong With The Way I Live/Young Girl


Alongside The Easybeats and The Masters Apprentices, The Twilights are widely considered to be one of the most significant Australian rock groups of the 1960s. Highly popular bands with teenage audiences, they were renowned for their musical excellence and live prowess, as well as their on-stage humour, and they were held in high respect by fellow musicians. The group is also notable as one of the few major Australian rock bands of the period to retain the same personnel for virtually all of its career. Like most of their contemporaries, they began as a cover band, playing accomplished renditions of hits by popular overseas bands of the era such as The Beatles, The Who and The Small Faces, and their early hits in Australia were all cover versions. The Twilights were noted for being on top of current musical trends, and their early repertoire was regularly updated with the latest British and American rock hits, which were regularly sent to them on record and tape by family and friends in the UK. Later in their career guitarist Terry Britten began to write original material but the group did not last long enough for this to have a significant impact on their career. Thanks to RAM for sending this one along.

Twilights - Always

 Cathy Come Home/You've Got Soul/The Way They Play/Always


Reposting this one as RAM has been kind enought to send me the labels which were missing from the original post so anyone who has the first post and would like th ammended art you'll find it in the comments.

The Twilights were an Australian rock music group of the mid to late 1960s. Alongside their own career successes, The Twilights are also notable for the inclusion of vocalist Glenn Shorrock, who later fronted Axiom, Esperanto and Little River Band, and guitarist Terry Britten who went on to become an internationally successful songwriter and producer and pen major hits for artists such as Cliff Richard and Tina Turner.
Band members were Frank Barnard (drums) 1964-65 Peter Brideoake (rhythm guitar, vocals) Terry Britten (lead guitar, vocals) John Bywaters (bass, vocals) Clem "Paddy" McCartney (lead vocals) Laurie Pryor (drums) 1965-69) Glenn Shorrock (lead vocals)
Read more about the twilights here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twilights

Easybeats - Mean Old Lovin'

Mean Old Lovin'/I'm Happy/Hey Babe/ I Don't Agree/Keep Your Hands Off My Babe/No One Knows


The six tracks on this EP represent the cream of the 40 or so unreleased tracks from the Easybeats first recording sessions early in 1965.

When producer Ted Albert took the totally inexperienced group into the 2UW radio theatre in Sydney, he was determined to capture absolutely everything in their repertoire lest he miss a possible hit.
Although their first single "For My Woman" came from those early sessions vitually all the material was left in the can. Steve and George were such prolific developing writers that new, fresher material was always on hand to fill release requirements.

Rob E G - 55 Days At Peking

 55 Days At Peking/Polynesian Bossa Nova/ In The Middle Of An Island/Aloha Oe

 Robert George Parker was born on 4th June 1942 and grew up in the Sydney suburb of Ashfield. He was eight years old when his mother bought him a lap steel guitar and a course on how to use it from a door-to-door salesman. He became quite proficient at it although he had no serious musical ambition. He was more interested in playing football. After graduating from high school he enrolled in a combined arts/law course at university. He got his start in show business in 1959 when the single Sleep Walk, an instrumental played on a lap steel guitar, by American duo Santo and Johnny was the current number one hit.

The Channel Nine television station was looking for someone who could play the song on an actual lap steel guitar for its Bandstand program. Porter got the job and was so impressive that they asked him to come back. This led to him being signed by Festival's subsidiary label Rex Records. He released one unsuccessful single for Rex before moving to Pye Records. He had two minor hits in 1960-1961 with his own compositions Whiplash and Railroadin' before suffering serious spinal injuries in a car accident.

At one stage during his recovery he even thought of retiring as an entertainer. Nevertheless, it gave him the breathing space from which he re-emerged in 1962 as host of the Sydney version of Channel Nine's television show Opportunity Knocks. He also signed a new recording contract with Festival Records. Because of his spinal injuries he had to develop his own way of performing so his lap steel guitar was placed on a stand, which he played standing up.

Over the next three years he recorded a number of mainly instrumental singles as Rob E.G., scoring two number one hits with Si Senor, which spent five weeks at the top of the chart, in June 1962 and a cover of the movie theme song 55 Days in Peking, which also spent five weeks at the top in August 1963. He also had two Top 10 hits during the period with 5-4-3-2-1 Zero at number three and Jezabel at number eight. During this period, he became a regular on Bandstand as well as hosting a new television show called Surf Sound. The British Invasion in 1964 ended the first phase of his career.

Rob met the Beatles manager Brian Epstein during their tour in June - July 1964 and he encouraged Rob to go to England, which he did in October. Unfortunately, he had little success over there and returned to Australia in 1966 via Germany and France where he entertained US troops. He re-signed with Festival Records and over the next few years he recorded a number of unsuccessful singles as Robbie Porter. He then moved to the US to write and record.

Robbie returned home in September 1970 to promote his new single Gemini on his newly formed independent Sparmac label. Over the next two years he gradually made the transition to management, production and promotion. In 1973 he went into partnership and formed Wizard Records. For the rest of the Seventies and Eighties he turned his attention to producing hits for many other Australian artists.

Rob E G - Adventures In Paradise

Adventures In Paradise/Bali Ha'i/Beyond The Reef/Hawaiian Wedding Song ( Ke Kali Nei Au)



Robie Porter (born 4 June 1942) is an Australian country, pop/rock musician, producer and record label owner.
Beginning in 1959 he performed under the stage name Rob E.G. and recorded lap steel guitar instrumentals or covers of country-style vocals. He provided four top ten hits including two #1 hits in Sydney with "Si Senor" and "55 Days at Peking". From 1970, Porter ran an independent record label called Sparmac and produced three LPs for Daddy Cool.

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



Just reposting this one as I've recentley acquired some slightly better scans which have the labels that were missing from the original post. Anyone who needs the new artwork can find it in the comments so as to not have to download the whole file again.

Dinah Lee is the stage name of New Zealand-born singer, Diane Marie Jacobs (born 19 August 1946), 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, across the Tasman Sea,in Australia. It was followed in September by her version of Jackie Wilson's, "Reet Petite", which also reached No. 1 in New Zealand and peaked at No 1 in Australia. 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 television 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".

Bee Gees - Don't Forget To Remember

Don't Forget To Remember/Really and Sincerely/Lemons Never Forget/The Lord



"Don't Forget to Remember" (also called "Don't Forget to Remember Me") is a country ballad by the Bee Gees, from the album Cucumber Castle "Don't Forget to Remember" backed with "The Lord" was another worlwide hit going top 10 in many countries it made the #1 spot in South Africa, Netherlands, New Zealand and Ireland in the UK it almost made #1 just stopping short at #2 Germany #9 Australia #10 and a disspointing #73 in the USA. The other 2 tracks "Really And Sincerely" and " Lemons Never Forget" appeared on the Horizontal album.

Johnny O'Keefe - Yours

Roll Over Beethoven/Have I Told You Lately/Comfort In My Heart/By The Light Of The Sivery Moon

This is EP #3 for JO'K released in October 1958.

Johnny O'Keefe produced more Top 40 hits than any other Australian recording artist. He had a total of 29 hits spanning 1958 - 1974, five Number One's and another eight in the Top 10. He also released more records than any other Australian rock artist - 53 singles, 52 EPs and 65 albums (he appeared on 111 LPs in total).
O'Keefe made his stage debut at the age of four when he played the role of Dopey in the Waverley College production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. John was unable to read or memorise the script and so improvised his way through the entire play.
In January 1957, Johnny O'Keefe formed his backing group The Deejays and together they became Australia's first genuine professional rock act. Never short of confidence, Johnny bluffed his way to his first recording contract with Festival Records. Out of frustration at not being signed, Johnny began telling people he had signed with the label and 'leaked' the story to Valda Marshall, a columnist at the Sydney Sun Herald.
Ken Taylor of Festival Records read the story and tauntingly telephoned Johnny 'congratulating' him on supposedly being signed to the label. The conversation did lead to an audition and Johnny was eventually signed to Festival, and became the first Australian to make the local charts in March 1958, with Wild One.
O'Keefe's second single, Love Letters In The Sand, was so bad that he had Festival delete it from their catalogue, and for many years denied its existence. The disc became a collector's item selling for hundreds of dollars.
During his 1960 tour of the USA his record company promoted him as 'The Boomerang Kid' and arranged a boomerang throwing competition in New York's Central Park as a publicity stunt. The idea was that anyone who could beat 'The Boomerang Kid' was given $5. Unfortunately Johnny arrived drunk and as a result, he beat only two of the hundreds of people who had turned up. The stunt cost Liberty Records thousands of dollars.
On 27 June 1960, Johnny's red Plymouth Belvedere collided head on with a truck on the highway near Kempsey. His car was virtually demolished and at first it was feared Johnny's injuries (pictured at right) would be fatal. He eventually made it out of hospital in just over two weeks.
In January 1960, O'Keefe hit Number One with She's My Baby, and the following year I'm Counting On You became the biggest selling single of 1961.
Also in 1961, John wound up in a Tooting Bec (London) mental asylum after an abortive American tour.
In June 1975 O'Keefe lodged a thirty page submission to the Australian Industries Assistance Commission requesting a grant of $153,000 to take a packaged Australian tour to Russia. His request was denied.
Johnny O'Keefe died on 5 October 1978. His last public appearance was on the Seven Network's Sounds program taped on 30 September.
In 1987 Iggy Pop recorded a version of Johnny's The Wild One retitled Real Wild Child, for inclusion on his album Blah Blah Blah, The song was released as a single and became a huge hit in the US and Australia.