Song of the Week: The Twilights - 9.50

A bonus Aussie post before I go out tonight. The Twilights hailed from Elizabeth, Australia, near Adelaide. They pop group were Glenn Shorrock, Laurie Pryor, Clem Paddy McCartney, John Bywaters, Peter Brideoake and the song's composer, guitarist Terry Britten. 9.50 was released in February of 1967 as the Flip-Side of their 8th single for Columbia Records. 

Video Diary: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!

Song of the Week: The Creatures - Ugly Thing

We're winding down our Down Under focus this week and we feature, by request from Jack Hayden, The Creatures doing their RCA Records release from 1967, Ugly Thing. It's the song that inspired the Raven Records collection of Aussie bands and the now 30 year old fanzine on crazed and depraved records, Ugly Things, run by Mike Stax.

The Creatures hailed from Mildura, a rural town in Victoria. The band was centered around three brothers, Herman Marcic on bass, Eric Marcic on guitar and Rudolph Marcic on drums. Greg Lawrie was also on guitar and Keith Matcham on vocals. Matcham and Lawrie are the composers of Ugly Thing, a song about, well, I'm not too sure. Mostly because I have no idea what Keith Matcham is saying at the beginning of the song. Or for most of the song, for that matter. But it still sounds cool.

The Creatures, as you can see from the picture below, liked to dye their hair various different colors. Truly some Ugly Things. 

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!

Song of the Week: The Loved Ones - Ever Lovin' Man/More Than Love

Ever Lovin' Man

More Than Love

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! We're back (of course) with more Aussie love. Today we feature the eclectic Melbourne band, The Loved Ones. Today we feature both sides of the Loved Ones second single, Ever Lovin' Man/More Than Love. (As you can discern rather quickly, The Loves Ones liked word play). Discerning collectors will note that the above record scan is NOT an Australia label or pressing. This is mega-rare US pressing on the Michigan based label, Mainstream, perhaps best known for releasing the earliest records by The Amboy Dukes. Who knew! Back in their native Australia The Loved Ones were signed to In Records, the same label that unleashed The Elois' By My Side.

The Loves Ones started as a jazz band, and, like so many others around the world, saw the writing on the wall when The Beatles came about. Transforming into a rock band, the line up grew to be Gavin Anderson, Ian Clyne, Gerry Humphrys, Rob Lovett and Kim Lynch. All five members are credited with composition of both sides of the single.

The highlight of the band and their songs is not a manic approach (The Blubeats), blistering guitar work (The Purple Hearts) or speedy but agile compositions (The Masters Apprentices). The highlight is clearly the amazing, off-beat vocals of Gerry Humphrys who has a voice like few others. Sit back and listen to him belt it out for you. It's pretty unique. 

As a tip of the hat to my old Melbourne friends Nick Phillips and Cameron Peter of The Puritans (ones who loved the Loved Ones), here is an old film clip of the Loved Ones doing their first single, The Loved One.

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!

Song of the Week: The La De Das - Little Girl

More Down Under goodness takes us on our second trip to Auckland, New Zealand. Last week we visited the Bluebeats and spun their punk anthem, Social End Product. Today we travel to 125 Newton Road where the Mascot/Viking recording studio was once located back in June, 1965. Into that studio walked seventeen year old Kevin Borich, Brett Nielesen, Trevor Wilson and Phil Key. Collectively they were known as The La De Das and the teens were itching to record their first record for Talent City Records. Behind the board was Roger Handlin who let the boys rip through the Borich-Wilson composition, Little Girl. Despite the enthusiasm and hopes, like so many other garage band recordings from all over the Western world, the record went absolutely nowhere. Mom and Dad probably liked it. A few girls from Rutherford High School in Te Atatu, Auckland, where the boys were schooled, probably thought the record to be totally marvy. But not many other people ever heard it.

Many years later, 1988 to be exact, I was lucky enough to play in some combos around Australia. One of them was The Cracked Jaffers who recorded Little Girl for Kavern-7 Records as the Flip-Side of their debut single. Little Girl was always a highlight of the live performances with guitarists Matt Healey and David Gräbau jangling away, Justin Ward banging on the drums and Richard "Dick-O" Whelen belting out the Borich-Wilson teen lyrics written 22 years prior:

Don't you know
That I like your style
I get kicks
Every time you smile 

Little girl
When I'm dancing with you
Come closer,
I'll tell you what to do 

Could it be, that you don't dig the beat?
Come on, get it in your feet!

Ahh, good times were had with this song. 

For more on the La De Das, check out this blog post here. 

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!