Australian Music Archives

In Episode 2 of "Australia Plays America", we have a wider timespan: 1940-2001. We'll hear two sets of three tracks, one focussing on Kentucky, and the other, California. There'll be a Surf tune set in a far-flung place of the USA and a cover of "The Banks of the Ohio", several years before it was a hit for Olivia Newton-John. There's also the final high-charting hit for a legendary Australian Rock band. Take the listening journey ...

Under the banner of Australian Music Archives, the first episode of Theme Time; Australia Plays America. This episode takes the form of a DJ set in deference to my ailing voice; maximum music and minimal talk. In this episode, we explore the Americanisation of Australian Music, post WWII. We'll hear artists as diverse as The Purple Hearts and Bruce Woodley. We'll hear music that references American cities, states and even the Civil...

The Story of 1976 - my final podcast! The Story of 1976 includes the themes of immersion, naivety, deception, vocation, religion and coincidence; quite a list for one podcast! In some ways, this podcast has been almost 50 years in the making. I started seriously thinking about it ten years ago, started building the playlist about five years ago and finally, writing the script about three weeks ago. I do ‘give away’ a fair bit about...

Episode #101 tells the story of “Australian Artists in Japan”. From the Milesago website, I’ve discovered that the idea of Australian Artists recording in Japan emerged from a cultural exchange that began in conjunction with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. As far as I can ascertain, three Australian artists recorded in Japan; Col Joye and The Joy Boys, Noeleen Batley and Little Pattie. I have a picture of Judy Stone in Japan but no record...

The Annette Steele Story:

Episode 100 is a ‘fill-in’ episode of sorts while I find all that I need for the “Australians in Japan” episode. Episode 100 focusses on Australian singer Annette Steele who recorded three 45s on the IN label, 1966-67. Annette had a unique and powerful voice but, sadly, none of the 45s dented the national charts. Annette came from Melbourne, made appearances on the GO!! Show and was a regular at the Q Club...

With the recent sad passing of the great Col Joye, I have returned to The Col Joye Story for Part 4, covering the years 1964-65. I think it quite possible that many listeners may not be familiar with some of the 45 tracks that will be played in this episode. Only two of the seven 45s released in the period made the national Top 100. The British Beat boom, led by The Beatles, with The Rolling Stones not far behind, changed the Music...

In Episode Three of The Judy Stone Story, we cover the period 1965-69. Within this timeframe, Judy released her biggest hit, “Born A Woman”, recorded after her shift from Festival to the ATA label. We’ll hear a couple of tracks that found their way onto EPs and LPs but were never on a 45 single. Also, we’ll hear the A side of a 45 release on which a then up-and-coming Australian songwriter named Kevin Johnson wrote both sides. And,...

Episode Two of THE JUDY STONE STORY covers the years 1963-64. In a strange quirk of fate, Judy only released three 45 singles in these two years, including the big hit, “4 003 221 Tears From Now”. In the same period, five EPs were released and three LPs, including “The Best of Col and Judy”. There’s a number of lesser-known recordings, including a couple that should have found their way onto 45 singles. One of those five EPs was ti...

After a “voice rest” break, we are back with the promised Judy Stone Podcast Part One. This first episode of Judy’s story covers her recordings for the period 1961-62. There is also a bit of background, delving into her very early career, including her ‘discovery’ by Reg Lindsay. As always, this podcast is mainly about the Music and, wow, did Judy record some songs that go way back. The oldest was first recorded in 1924! That parti...

JUDY STONE & COL JOYE

Straight off, I need to tell everyone that this will be the last Podcast for about three months. The combined effect of Long Covid and Chemotherapy has left my voice in a bad way, so I will give it three months of rest and treatment.

As promised, this Podcast focusses on the collaborations between Col Joye and Judy Stone. I’ve divided the Podcast into three parts;

1. The Bandstand duets
2. The Col and Judy ...

Another Podcast for the instrumental fans; The Joy Boys Story Part 2. Interestingly, we will hear The Joy Boys “voices” towards the end of this episode but perhaps not in the way that you might be expecting?! This episode picks up the story in September of 1962, through to December of 1964. With the late Norm Day now established in the group, we will hear a number of his compositions. We will also hear a track written by Tony Barbe...

Apologies for the gap since the last episode. The “Studio” has now moved from Pyrmont to Port Macquarie. Also, and alas, those wonderfully-titled “Side-Effects of Chemo” have continued. Anyway, this episode is Part 3 of The Col Joye Story, covering the period from late-1961 to December 1963. The biggest hit in this period was “Today’s Teardrops” and perhaps, the low-point was the nursery rhyme turned pop song, “Ring Around My Rosie...

Part One of The Joy Boys’ Story takes us from November of 1960 through to mid-1961. This was an incredibly fertile period for the group, as a standalone group, backing Col Joye and backing other artists on studio recordings. This episode will focus on The Joy Boys releases as a standalone group. As well as the 45 hit singles, we’ll dig out some great LP and EP tracks that never appeared on a 45 single. That theme of “Everything Old...

I enjoyed putting together Part 2 of the Col Joye Story, covering the years mid-1960 to 1961. It was a time when I first started to understand that there was such a ‘thing’ as Rock/Pop Music. Part 2 only covers 18 months but it’s a time in which Col Joye (and The Joy Boys) were at the ‘top of their game’. It was a time when the “Golden Boy” persona really came to the fore. It was also a time of ‘Dreamy Pop’ but we do unearth a coup...

A return to the Australian Singers Series and Part One of the Col Joye story: Col, together with The Joy Boys left an indelible mark on the Australian Music Industry. In Part One we cover a lot of territory: Col Joye and The Joy Boys first two “Little Albums” (EPs) which, in a unique way, were the band’s first two releases! We’ll also hear the A side of the band’s first six 45 singles and a track from each of their first two LPs; o...

In this podcast; the Top Ten Australian artist releases for 1966, we reflect on how the popularity of Australian Music has grown, tracking from the first Top Ten - 1959. The 1966 Top Ten is dominated by The Easybeats with four entries, Normie Rowe chimes in with two entries, while the other four places are taken by Judy Stone, The Twilights, Johnny Young & Kompany, and Bobby and Laurie. This Top Ten feature five tracks that rea...

December of 1966 saw some great Australian Music released, including big hits for Normie Rowe and Ronnie Burns. We’ll hear chart entries from The Loved Ones, The Twilights, The Cherokees and several more. The Loved Ones have two entries; one for their self-titled EP and another for Sad Dark Eyes. Bev Harrell debuts with “What Am I Doing Here with You”, which turned out to be her highest-charting 45. We’ll hear again from Perth sing...

November of 1966 was a great month for Australian Music with the release of two 45s both of which would go on and reach #1: Normie Rowe’s epic Ooh La La, and The Easybeats’ anthem, Friday on My Mind are the two songs in question, both recorded in the UK. We’ll also hear the 2nd 45 release from an artist then known as JA-AR who, as John Rowles, would go on to international stardom. Amongst others, we’ll also hear chart entries from ...

Australian artist releases for October of 1966 brings us a future #1 with The Easybeats, “Sorry” and a future Top 10 with Johnny Young and Kompany’s, “Let It Be Me”. Quite a few hidden gems along the way, with four from artists recording on the Perth-based Clarion label; Ray Hoff and The Offbeats, Maggie Fitzgibbon, Robbie Snowden and the Johnny Young and Kompany Top 10 entry.

We’ll hear the final 45 from Ray Brown and The Whispers...