CHEAPSKATE - ROLLER DANCIN' (12" MIX)

Wham - Bad Boys [Maxi 12" Tom Mix With Fan Message]

Wham - Bad Boys [Maxi 12" Tom Mix With Fan Message]

Special version made in the studios of DJ Tom Mix - Newcastle Australia

ELO MEGAMIX

THE ELO MEGAMIX

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA

[ EXTENDED TOM MIX VERSION ]

Press Play:

Alternate video version:

THE ELO MEGAMIX

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA

[ EXTENDED TOM MIX VERSION ]

DON'T LET THE GOOD LIFE PASS YOU BY (TOM MIX 12") - DES O'CONNOR

DES O'CONNOR - DON'T LET THE GOOD LIFE PASS YOU BY 

(EXTENDED VERSION BY DJ TOM MIX)

WITHOUT YOU (TOM MIX 12" REMIX) - NILSSON

HARRY NILSSON'S 

"WITHOUT YOU" 

(TOM MIX 12" REMIX)

Press play for Harry Nilsson's classic hit "Without You" extended by combining different versions (Spanish/English), to make a 6 min version. Visuals are of Charlie Condou, his family and friends.

Remix by Tom Mix Music Newcastle Australia.

CLUB TROPICANA (12" TOM MIX) - WHAM

CLUB TROPICANA 12" - WHAM

Club Tropicana is a LA west-coast sounding hit from the 1980s designed to crack the American market. There was no official extended version of Club Tropicana by Wham so by combining a few different mixes I have created an extended version in the style of a 12" record of the day. The track was made for my blog for actor Charlie Condou and contains visuals from his personal and professional collection.

Tom Mix Music
Australia

HOW COULD THIS GO WRONG (12'' TOM MIX) - EXILE

HOW COULD THIS GO WRONG

(12'' REMIX)

American pop group Exile had a number of massive hits thanks to Aussie producer/songwriter Mike Chapman who co-wrote thousands of pop songs for mostly UK artists. "How Could This Go Wrong" was particularly successful in NSW Australia. It has not been released on CD in Australia so I made my own remix by taking a few bass and drum lines from a Kiss song and reworking some of the single's structure.

Enjoy!

TOM MIX MUSIC AUSTRALIA

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD - DAY COSTELLO

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

AN OLD SONG I'VE REMASTERED:

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD - BY ELVIS COSTELLO'S FATHER [ROSS MCMANUS] A.K.A. DAY COSTELLO.

This was a No.1 hit in November 1970 in Australia and Italy. This track was released in other parts of the world but the Beatles's version got more airplay. Day Costello's version in english has never appeared on CD but Ross (Day) had a version sung in Italian which has been released on CD.

MY COO CA CHOO (12'' TOM MIX) - ALVIN STARDUST

MY COO CA CHOO

(12'' TOM MIX REMIX) 

ALVIN STARDUST

My Coo Ca Choo by Alvin Stardust was a Top 40 hit which charted in Oz at #1 for 7 weeks from December 1973 to February 74. The song was anchored firmly in the Glam Rock genre. It was a catchy tune but criminally short if you wanted to dance to it. Here is an extended version that I made in the 1990s for a Dance Company in Newcastle Oz - for one of their concerts where they needed a longer version. Enjoy!

TOWER OF STRENGTH (12" TOM MIX) - THE ROOTY HILL RSL BAND

TOWER OF STRENGTH 

(12'' TOM MIX REMIX) 

THE ROOTY HILL RSL BAND

While going through my old vinyl collection of Top 40 7" records that have not been released on CD I came across Tower of Strength. It was a regional hit in Sydney and didn't chart in any other parts of Oz. It was performed by the in-house Rooty Hill Club Show Band. This restored and remixed version has a new bass line and has been extended from 2 to 3 minutes. The visuals in the last part of this clip are of Kevin Rudd battling it out with Tony Abbott in the 2013 election debate which was held in the Rooty Hill RSL Club auditorium.

COMING BACK - MAX MERRITT

Coming Back

Press play for visuals of Charlie Condou's family and friends set to a recently restored track performed by Max Merritt which has never been officially released on CD. 

'Coming Back' is ostensibly a break-up song set on a railway platform but it's more melancholy than most and very simply orchestrated. 

Max's biggest hit which preceded this track was another break-up song called 'Slipping Away.' 

Restoration and remastering by Tom Mix Studios Newcastle Oz. 

Coming back, coming back, that old familiar feeling

Once more I'm believing, in miracles & dreams.

Coming back, coming back,

Ah that sweet familiar love song.

That somehow now seems all wrong,

There's too much in between.

It's the melancholy mood I'm in

And the husky whispering summer wind

It's taking me back, keeps taking me back,

To where I've been, but it can never be that way again

Do do do, do do do do do do, do do do do do do do,

Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do.

It's the melancholy mood I'm in

And the husky whispering summer wind

It's taking me back, keeps taking me back,

To where I've been, but it can never be that way again

Do do do, do do do do do do,

With no need for explanation.

Just two people on a station,

You turn to go & I know,

You won't be coming back.

Do do do, do do do do do do, do do do do do do do,

Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do.

Do do do, do do do do do do, do do do do do do do,

Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do.

Do do do, do do do do do do, do do do do do do do,

Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do.

Do do do, do do do do do do, do do do do do do do,

Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do.

Do do do, do do do do do do, do do do do do do do,

Do do do do do do do.

SKIRT (TOM MIX REMIX) - KYLIE

KYLIE SINGS 
WHILE MARCUS AND MARIA HEAD TOWARDS TROUBLE

I run a couple of blogs on various topics, one being a blog for Coronation Street actor Charlie Condou. The vision is a compilation of Marcus and and his "bit of skirt" Maria. The soundtrack used is one of my own studio remixes of Kylie's single "Skirt."

Press play:

WAKE UP AUSTRALIA - BOOTLEG FAMILY BAND

WAKE UP AUSTRALIA 1973

A minor hit from late 1973 WAKE UP AUSTRALIA has not been released on CD but this version is close enough to CD quality as you'll get. Brian Cadd and the Bootleg Family Band released this single as a follow-up the their big #5 hit of early 1973 Your Mama Don't Dance. Their next big single was The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) in 1974 which reached #10. Green Door reached #98 in 1975 and their last hit was #60 How Do I Try in late 1975. By this stage Brian Cadd departed for the USA where he continued to write music for other artists. WAKE UP AUSTRALIA featured on the K-Tel album Super Bad. It is fondly remembered by those who lived through the political turmoil leading up to Gough Whitlam's election and sacking.

BONNIE, PLEASE DON'T GO - KEVIN JOHNSON (STEREO)

BONNIE, PLEASE DON'T GO

(STEREO REMASTER)

Kevin Johnson is an Oz music balladeer from the 1970s. His big international hit was "Rock and Roll I Gave You the Best Years of My Life" which charted in Europe, UK and North America. His second biggest hit was "Bonnie, Please Don't Go." Sadly for fans, every CD and vinyl album to date has carried the mono mix of "Bonnie." After recently working on the track and taking it apart digitally, using my home studio, I sent Kevin a stereo remaster. He repaid my kindness with CDs and DVDs. This is the first time a true stereo mix of the song has been allowed to be heard by the general public. The familiar opening and closing number incorporated into the track is "Auld Lang Syne."

Tom Mix Music - Newcastle Oz

SUPER SWEET MEGAMIX - THE SWEET

THE SWEET MEGAMIX
This is an alternate version of the Sweet Megamix which should play in most parts of the world unlike the previous YouTube clip which was blocked in Germany and other European countries due to copyright issues.
Play loud:


THE SWEET MEGAMIX

And what do you do in the middle of the night in Oz? You make and upload a pop of the 1970's megamix obviously!



15 MINUTE MEGAMIX CONTAINING:

FUNNY FUNNY

LITTLE WILLY

WIG-WAM BAM

BLOCKBUSTER

THE SIXTEENS

BALLROOM BLITZ

CO-CO

LOVE IS LIKE OXYGEN

FOX ON THE RUN

LIES IN YOUR EYES

ACTION

HELL RAISER

REBEL ROUSER

PEPPERMINT TWIST

LET'S GO DISCO (12" TOM MIX) - THE REAL THING

LET'S GO DISCO (12" TOM MIX)

THE REAL THING

Another of those songs that should have been an extended dance 12" mix but was not issuied in that format. "Let's Go Disco" by The Real Thing featured in the movie "The Stud" starring Joan Collins. This song has rarely been on CD and has almost disappeared from people's memories. Enjoy my new remix 12"

- DJ Tom Mix, Newcastle Oz

HEEBEEGEEBEES RIDE AGAIN

IF YOU LIKE WELL-CRAFTED PARODY SONGS, HAVE I GOT THE CD FOR YOU...

HERE'S A BIT OF TWITTER CHAT WITH MY BUDDY MICHAEL FENTON-STEVENS:

SirThomasWynne: @fentonstevens Just purchased HeeBeeGeeBees parody songs CD from an Oz company. CLICK LINK: http://www.possumrecords.com.au

fentonstevens: @SirThomasWynne happy days x

SirThomasWynne: @fentonstevens well it's got all your early hits Mike so you shud be pleased.... Tom

GIMME DAT DING (Maple Lace) NEANDERTHAL MAN (Love Story)

I've been restoring very old songs from 1970 using vinyl laser extraction
Gimme Dat Ding - The Maple Lace
Neanderthal Man - The Love Story 

TWO AUSTRALIAN HITS FROM 1970 THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN RELEASED ON C.D. 

BOTH SONG TRANSFERS USE LASER EXTRACTION FROM VINYL AND ARE ALMOST AS GOOD AS USING THE MASTER TAPES. 

BOTH SONGS WERE RESTORED BY DJ TOM MIX, NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA.

SOME OF MY 12" MIXES TO SHARE

GIMME SOME (12") - BRENDON

Brendon (born Brendon Dunning) was a UK glam rocker. He had a few releases on EMI Magnet in the mid 1970s. One of his singles, "Gimme Some", hit the UK singles charts in 1977, peaking at #14 in March of that year. "Gimme Some" also hit the Oz charts but it was too short in my opinion to make a big impact in the burgeoning club scene for which it was designed....So here is my own extended Tom Mix version that was mastered from a European CD mix of the original single. It has overdubs and a new rhythm track taken from a popular hit from the 1980s called "The Best Part Of Breakin' Up" by disco artist Roni Griffiths. Currently Brendon and Dave Levy (former band member) have released new material under the name of Simple Country Folk. The album is titled "Long Time Coming"- DJ Tom Mix in Oz.
Review by The Saucer People Mag: 

Wow! Gimmie Some is one of the perfect Glam stompers but I have always thought like many seventies songs that pre-date the rise of the 12 inch, it was criminally short...the extended version is stunning and it was not till I re-read your post that I realised it was a "Tom" re-edit! I thought you had unearthed some rare 12 inch glam promo of the track in the manner of The Glitter Bamd's 'Makes You Blind' rare extended mix. It is a shame they did not have you around in the studio back in '78, this would have been a dance floor 'smash' as they said back then! Huge thanks for all your hard work tweaking this, and more importantly, thanks for sharing!

TOTALLY COOL MEGAMIX (12") - DADDY COOL

MY MIXES ARE APPEARING ON YOUTUBE.

MY MIXES ARE APPEARING ON YOUTUBE.
SADLY, MOST OF THEM HAVE NO CREDIT MENTIONING WHO MADE THEM - THAT WOULD BE MOI!

OOH JA JA (12")- PUSSYFOOT

I've just discovered one of my earliest extended remixes has been put on YouTube by an admirer who made a film clip using stills of the artist, Pussyfoot. Donna Jones (Pussyfoot), first had a hit with 'The Way You Do It' back in 1976 which was banned by the BBC for its suggestive lyrics but was a massive seller in Oz. She had an equally big hit in Oz with the follow-up 'Ooh Ja Ja.' Her co-writing husband Mick Flinn, was part of the Oz group The Mixtures who had a hit in the UK with the charming 'Pushbike Song.' After Pussyfoot folded Donna became a member of The New Seekers.

Nice to know that rare and obscure Ozzie hits are getting a bit of a revival. 

The dance craze songs of the era included The Bump, The Hustle, The Bus-Stop and this one, Ooh Ja Ja.

GETTING SO EXCITING (7") - LEE KOSMIN

Also just found somebody has lifted this remixed single and made a clip for it as well! Lee Kosmin was from London's pub scene in the early 1980s. It was a hit in Oz.

JUST SO LONELY (12') - GET WET

Also just found somebody has lifted this extended remix I did ages ago and put a clip to it!

CRYING IN THE RAIN (7") - TREVOR

This is becoming embarrassing - I've found more songs I have remastered!

WAIT FOR SUMMER (7") - ALLONDEE

This is becoming very embarrassing - I've found even more songs I have remastered!

M'AM THIBAULT (7") - TRANQUILLE

This is becoming very embarrassing - I've found even more songs I have remastered!

IF YOU CAN PUT THAT IN A BOTTLE (12") - JOHN DAVIDSON

This is becoming very embarrassing - I've found even more songs I have remastered!

DON'T LET THE GOOD LIFE PASS YOU BY (7") - DES O'CONNOR

This is becoming very embarrassing - I've found even more songs I have remastered!

ROOFTOP SINGING (12") - NEW WORLD

This is becoming very embarrassing - I've found another one of my extended remixes!

MEGAMIX (12") - BOOM CRASH OPERA

Another of my specialities - making megamixes for Oz bands. I've found another one of my extended remixes!

ONGO BONGO MAN (12") - GERRY AND THE JOY BAND

This is becoming very embarrassing - I've found another one of my extended remixes!

MOST PEOPLE I KNOW / BELIEVE IT JUST LIKE ME (12") - BILLY THORPE AND THE AZTECS

This is becoming very embarrassing - I've found another one of my extended medley remixes!

IN YOUR CAR (12") - DUGITES

This is becoming very embarrassing - I've found another one of my extended medley remixes!

THE BEETLES AS BEETLES

The Beatles as beetles from

http://twitter.com/b3n_ifit

BABY MAKES HER BLUE JEANS TALK (ORIGINAL 12") - DR. HOOK

American band Dr Hook had a massive 1982 hit with "Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk".

Not many people know there was a 12" version on vinyl. It has never made it to CD as far as I am aware.

Here it is for the first time in the world "Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk" 12":

http://rapidshare.com/files/404236414/dr_hook_-_baby_makes_her_blue_jeans_talk__ext_vinyl_mix_.mp3.html

GIMME SOME (12') - BRENDON

Brendon (born Brendon Dunning) was a UK glam rocker. He had releases on EMI Magnet in the mid 1970s.

One of his singles, "Gimme Some", hit the UK singles charts in 1977, peaking at #14 in March of that year.

“Gimme Some” also hit the Oz charts but it was too short in my opinion to make a big impact in the burgeoning club scene for which it was designed….

So here for download is an extended Tom Mix version that was mastered from a European CD mix of the original single. It has overdubs and a new rhythm track taken from a popular hit from the 1980s called “The Best Part Of Breakin’ Up” by disco artist Roni Griffiths.

Currently Brendon and Dave Levy (former band member) have released new material under the name of Simple Country Folk. The album is titled "Long Time Coming".

http://rapidshare.com/files/377647722/brendon_-_gimme_some__ext_tom_mix_remix_2010_.mp3

LYIN' IN MY ARMS - REX ALLEN JR

Rex Allen junior is an American country singer whose fortunes have been good but have not surpassed that of his father Rex Allen senior.

In 1975 Rex released a non-album single "Lyin' In My Arms" which did well in country NSW and other places in Oz.

I have not been able to find the original single on CD anywhere in the world. The only version I've heard has been a re-make which sounds inferior and doesn't come close to the original's production values.

Here for download is "Lyin' In My Arms":

http://rapidshare.com/files/368601177/rex_allen_jr_-_lying_in_my_arms__vinyl_tom_mix_.mp3

MEGA-IDOL MIX - BILLY IDOL

In my old 12" vinyl collection I have a few original mega mixes that have not made it to CD.

Billy Idol's work is widely known but his "Mega-Idol Mix" only briefly made it to vinyl in a few parts of the world. It was the flip of the "White Wedding" 12".

A second attempt at a mega mix was made by DMC (Disco Mix Club) who commissioned Sanny X to release an alternate mega mix but it too has not been on CD.

For download is a Tom Mix CD version of the original "Mega-Idol Mix". It is an almost exact match of the vinyl 12" original.

http://rapidshare.com/files/368601181/billy_idol_-_mega_tom_mix.mp3

DON'T BLAME THE CHILDREN - SAMMY DAVIS JR

Before Sammy Davis Jr got "lumbered with / known for" the bubblegum song "The Candy Man" from the show "Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory", he had a number of interesting but low charting singles. "Don't Blame The Children" was one such track.

Here in Oz the single was better received than in his homeland and even today this track is hard to locate in any format.

Here for download is the 1967 mono single mix of "Don't Blame The Children":

http://rapidshare.com/files/346259771/sammy_davis_jr_-_don_t_blame_the_children__vinyl_tom_mix_.mp3

WHEN THE BOAT COMES IN (Dance Ti Thi Daddy) - ALEX GLASGOW

Alex Glasgow was born in England but moved to Australia in 1981. He became an Aussie but his famous single was originally recorded in England.

Alex Glasgow was born in 1935 in Gateshead Durham England. He cited one of his greatest influences as Gateshead Public Library. After graduating in Languages from Leeds University, he taught in Germany. On his return to Newcastle-On-Tyne, he joined the BBC. He also began to write topical songs. He composed the music for Alan Plater's play Close The Coalhouse Door. Alex is best known for his recording of "When The Boat Comes In", used in the TV series When The Boat Comes In. He also wrote the scripts for four episodes. Alex emigrated to Australia in 1981 where he died in 2001.

Copy of his obituary:

By Alan Plater - The Guardian, Thursday 17 May 2001.

…Alex moved to Australia because he suffered from arthritis and the climate in Perth was expected to give him some relief - and enable him to continue playing the guitar.

Alex started his career in WW2 forces broadcasting and once had a record in the German charts, an experience echoed when his recording of Dance To Thi Daddy - the theme music of the BBC series, When The Boat Comes In, for which he wrote some memorable episodes - made it to the charts.

This revealed Alex at his most characteristic. He refused resolutely to go on Top of the Pops, or do guest shots on any television variety shows. "I'm not a bloody commodity," he said. Once, prior to an ideologically-acceptable appearance on television with Henry Livings, he was appalled when a make-up girl tried to cut his hair "to match the picture in the Radio Times". "Leave my hair alone," he said. "I do not have a public image."

As a performer, maybe the most accurate description of him was chansonnier. He was multi-lingual and once spent an evening with Jake Thackray trying to work out the joke in a key verse of a Georges Brassens' song before making the triumphant discovery that the tag line was sung in French, but with a Belgian accent.

He figured if he was doing his job properly, he should always be in trouble.

But even his nearest and dearest were shocked when, in 1981, he left his native Gateshead and moved to Fremantle. The year before, he and Henry Livings had appeared at the Perth Festival in their legendary road show, The Northern Drift, and Alex fell in love with the place.

He and wife Paddy celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in mid-air on their way to a new life. He justified the move with his special brew of unchallengeable assertions. "They're wonderful people. They're all like Geordies. And do you realise, 70% of the world's wild flowers are in Western Australia?" His Letters from a Pom, and Henry Livings's replies, were a regular feature in the Guardian during the early period of his migration.

The last few years of his life were cursed with illness of a particularly cruel nature. He went bravely but not gently. Gentle wasn't his style, except within the family. He lived long enough to take photographs of his first grandchild. He is survived by Paddy, and by his children, Richard, Daniel and Ruth.

The copy here for download was supplied by Jimmy Barnes, many thanks Jim!

http://rapidshare.com/files/343352885/alex_glasgow_-_when_the_boat_come_in.mp3

GO CHASE YOUR RAINBOW - BOBBY RUSSELL

Why did I put this song on the blog? Here is a copy of some correspondence from a regular contributor...

...Have you ever thought about putting 'Go Chase Your Rainbow' by Bobby Russell on your blog. I think Australia was the only place it charted. Got to No. 11 in 1974 in N.S.W. Bobby, of course, was a very successful songwriter, having written 'Honey' for Bobby Goldsboro, 'The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia' and 'Ships In The Night' for Vicki Lawrence (his then wife) and 'Little Green Apples' (hits for both O.C. Smith and Roger Miller) to name a few. He had his own minor turntable hits in the early 70's with 'Saturday Morning Confusion' (although I think it was bigger overseas) and '1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero' and 'Our Love (Will Rise Up Again)'...'Go Chase Your Rainbow' is a very hard song to find - you very kindly got me a great CD copy to replace my vinyl. I've always loved the song. Anyway I'll leave the thought with you....Al.

Well, yes Al, the single of "Go Chase Your Rainbow" I've only found once on CD, over 2 decades ago and it has never been released by a commercial company since. Here from CD is a copy of "Go Chase Your Rainbow":

http://rapidshare.com/files/335858133/Bobby_Russell_-_Go_Chase_Your_Rainbow.mp3

HOWEVER DARK THE NIGHT - CAESARE

The single "However Dark The Night" has a raw edge to it as it was recorded for the soundtrack to the 1980 movie The Idolmaker. The lead singer is credited as Caesare which was the charcter played by actor Peter Gallagher. This was Peter's first role in film. Peter is always popping up in small movies and TV roles. He starred as Sandy Cohen in the TV drama The O.C.

The song was written by legendary muso Jeff Barry who's done everything from writing for Neil Diamond, The Crystals, The Monkees, Carole King to the Archies and more...he co-wrote "I Honestly Love You" with Oz muso Peter Allen...he co-wote "River Deep, Mountain High"....&c

"However Dark The Night" was not a massive hit in Oz but is worthy of being at least realeased on CD as I don't think the movie soundtrack has ever been digitised. The DVD of the movie comes out every so often, if you haven't seen it, you should.

Enjoy!

http://rapidshare.com/files/330529726/Caesare__Peter_Gallagher__-_However_Dark_The_Night.mp3

DOCTOR FRANKENSTEIN'S DISCO PARTY - JOHNNY WAKELIN

Johnny Wakelin came from Sussex England and had 2 major hits in the 1970s "Black Superman" and "In Zaire". Both songs were about boxing legend Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali).

What do you do when you run out of boxing ideas and want a third hit, hmmm? Cash in on the disco craze and go for the lamest lyrics ever!

Johnny decided to take a very catchy unknown instrumental disco riff and get some buddies to write new English lyrics hence "Doctor Frankenstein's Disco Party". The music was originally written by Harold Faltermeier of "Axel-F" fame - the theme for the movie "Beverly Hills Cop".

"Doctor Frankenstein's Disco Party" did get some airplay in Oz and charted in the lower reaches of the Top 100 in some states. It bombed in most parts of the world and I don't think it has ever made it to CD...

Here is an extended Tom Mix version of "Doctor Frankenstein's Disco Party":

http://rapidshare.com/files/329506581/johnny_wakelin_-_doctor_frankenstein_s_disco_party__ext_tom_mix_.mp3

MY BABY LOVES LOVIN' - JOE JEFFREY

The Joe Jeffrey Group consisted of Joe Jeffrey (lead vocals and guitar - born Joseph Stafford Jr. in Cleveland, Ohio), Al Russ (bass), Charles Perry (percussion) and Ron Browning (drums).

In 1970 Australia, Joe’s version of “My Baby Loves Lovin’” did big business in Sydney NSW while the original UK version by group White Plains beat it in most other states. The reason it did better in Sydney was because Joe’s first hit “My Pledge Of Love” sold well there previously in 1969.

As you can see from the Oz record label above it was released under Joe's name not under the name of the whole group…every Top 40 chart book issued since credits the song to the whole group, I don’t know why?

Singles:

My Pledge Of Love / Margie - 1969
Dreamin' Till Then / The Train – 1969
Hey Hey Woman / The Chance Of Loving You – 1969
My Baby Loves Lovin' / The Chance Of Loving You – 1970
A Hundred Pounds Of Clay / Power Of Love – 1970

Here for download is Joe Jeffrey with “My Baby Loves Lovin’”:

http://rapidshare.com/files/326415013/Joe_Jeffery_-_My_Baby_Loves_Lovin.mp3

BEACH BOY GOLD - GIDEA PARK

UK pop artist Adrian Baker has been a member of various groups starting from in the 1960s to present day. His work also includes a number of years when he played live with the Beach Boys as part of their touring band.

When the big megamix craze happened in the 1980s Adrian who was on hiatus from playing with the Beach Boys decided to cash in and record a medley of their songs, "Beach Boy Gold", which also included songs by Jan and Dean and other surf groups. He released the medley under the group name of Gidea Park.

The single 7" mix of "Beach Boy Gold" hit the airwaves in Oz and did really well. It was also issued as a longer 12" mix. The former has not been on CD where as the latter is often issued on surf compilation CDs.

Capitol records issued a megamix by the real Beach Boys to try and compete with Gidea Park. The 7" single was edited from the 12" vinyl mix. The 12" vinyl mix had 2 versions: the pop songs mixed on one side and the ballads on the flip side. These 12" mixes have been issued on CD.

Here for download is the single edit of "Beach Boy Gold":

http://rapidshare.com/files/324978228/gidea_park_-_beach_boy_gold.mp3

EL RANCHO ROCK - THE CHAMPS

The Champs are best known for their big selling song "Tequila" which still gets a spin when I do mobile disco work. It has made the boys very rich...considering it was actually the b-side of the original single...but that's another story...

After their initial hit, the group had a string of less successful instrumental hits. One of these was "El Rancho Rock" which was released in Oz on the Leedon label. It was the label's 6th release.

Here for download is the single mix of "El Rancho Rock":

http://rapidshare.com/files/324990119/the_champs_-_el_rancho_rock.mp3

ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN - JIMMIE RODGERS

Jimmie Rodgers has other songs on this blog. Please use search facility to locate them.

Jimmie was an American singer whose hits included many non-American traditional songs like "Waltzing Matilda" and "English Country Garden". I have a suspicion that Jimmie sang so many non-American standards to get a foothold in lucrative overseas markets and of course with old traditional songs you don't have to pay royalties.

He certainly had a big chart run in the 1960s right through until the early 1970s. One of his last singles was "Windmills Of Your Mind" which was released around 1971 on the A&M label.

Here for download is the original mono single mix of "An English Country Garden":

http://rapidshare.com/files/324990116/jimmie_rodger_-_english_country_garden.mp3

DON'T YOU JUST KNOW IT - HUEY SMITH AND THE CLOWNS

There are many artists which show up on the old Leedon label started by Lee Gordon in the late 1950s. He has other artists on this blog. Please use search facility to locate them.

The 3rd single to be unleashed on the new Leedon label was "Don't You Just Know It" in 1958 by popsters Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns.

By olden day standards it did well and was Top 20 in Sydney.

Here for download is a cleaned-up copy of the old single of "Don't You Just Know It" in glorious mono:

http://rapidshare.com/files/324990115/Huey_Smith___the_Clowns_-_Don_t_You_Just_Know_It.mp3

MY KNIGHT IN BLACK LEATHER (7") - BETTE MIDLER

In 1979 Bette Midler put out a very camp disco song called "My Knight In Black Leather". It was a great dance track. Bette must have had her tongue firmly planted in her cheek. The single did big business in Oz but only minor business in the USA.

The album version went for nearly 5 mins but the edited single ran 3:30 mins. The vinyl single is hard to locate nowadays and I don't think the edited version has ever been on CD.

Here for download is the single edit of "My Knight In Black Leather":

http://rapidshare.com/files/324990113/bette_midler_-_my_knight_in_black_leather__tom_mix_edit_.mp3

ANY DREAM WILL DO - MAX BYGRAVES

In 1973 veteran UK entertainer Max Bygraves had a hit with a song from the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. The song “Any Dream Will Do” was covered by many artists but his version made it into the Top 10 biggest hits of the year…

The 1973 Year End Charts:

01. Tie A Yellow Ribbon - Dawn
02. Monster Mash - Bobby "Boris" Picket
03. For The Good Times - Perry Como
04. And I Love You So - Perry Como
05. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
06. You're So Vain - Carly Simon
07. Never, Never, Never - Shirley Bassey
08. Any Dream Will Do - Max Bygraves
09. I Am Pegasus - Ross Ryan
10. Top Of The World - The Carpenters

It is one of those songs which is hard to find on CD. For download is an extended 12" Tom Mix version of “Any Dream Will Do”:

http://rapidshare.com/files/324490515/max_bygraves_-_any_dream_will_do__extended_tom_mix_.mp3

LOOKING AFTER NO.1 - BOOMTOWN RATS

The Boomtown Rats were an Irish rock band that scored a series of UK hits between 1977 and 1980 and were led by vocalist Bob Geldof, who organised the Ethiopian relief efforts, Band Aid and Live Aid. Bob was instrumental in organising songs like “Do They Know It’s Christmas”, raising millions of dollars for people in drought and war stricken areas.

All original six members were originally from Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. The name "Boomtown Rats" comes from Woody Guthrie's autobiography, Bound for Glory. They became a notable band, but one whose accomplishments were overshadowed by Geldof, a former journalist with the New Musical Express magazine. The group moved to London in October 1976, and became associated with the punk rock movement. Signing a recording contract with Ensign Records, they released their debut single, "Looking After No.1", in August 1977. It was the first of nine straight singles to make the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart.

Here for download is their first single "Looking After No.1", which as you can see was taken from a vinyl 7” that Bob signed for English friends Peter and Heidi…who moved to Newcastle Australia...

http://rapidshare.com/files/324480376/boomtown_rats_-_looking_after_no.1.mp3

I BELIEVE I'M GONNA LOVE YOU - FRANK SINATRA

Francis "Frank" Sinatra had a long career and when I was just a kid the first song I ever heard him do was his minor hit from 1975 called "I Believe I'm Gonna Love You" which as it turns out has been done by many other people.

Frank was mostly on EMI subsidiaries but went to the Reprise label in the 1970s. His change of label also brought a softer edge to his orchestrations and for some reason his Reprise work lacks the punch and clarity of his earlier work. Maybe he was just getting older?

Today is my 32nd wedding anniversary so to celebrate I have placed this old chestnut on the blog for lovers everywhere to enjoy!

Here for download is the single version of "I Believe I'm Gonna Love You":

http://rapidshare.com/files/315625797/Frank_Sinatra_-_I_Believe_I_m_Gonna_Love_You.mp3

PRETTY MAID - TONY MARSHALL

In 1973 in Australia one of the biggest hits of the year was "Pretty Maid" by Tony Marshall. Tony's song was first a hit in 1971 in Germany (his homeland) where it was called "Schöne Maid". The original German version had tweeting birds at the start but the musical arrangement was basically the same.

Pete Bellotte who wrote the English lyrics for "Pretty Maid" has been churning out hits for many years. Pete was a British lyricist and producer, most notable for his collaborations with Giorgio Moroder. His hits include "Hot Stuff", "I Feel Love", "Love To Love You Baby" and "Son Of My Father".

Tony Marshall was born February 3, 1938 in Baden-Baden as Herbert Anton Bloeth. He changed his name to Herbert Anton Hilger before changing for a third time to Tony Marshall. He settled on the name Tony Marshall in about 1965 when he started training as an opera singer at Karlsruher College of Music.

Before his opera career took off Tony made the German top 40 with his first single "Schöne Maid". Since then he has had many hits in Germany but is considered a one-hit-wonder in Oz.

In 1976 a disco version of "Pretty Maid" was issued by Pretty Maid Company (click label at right).

Here is the English version of "Pretty Maid" by Tony Marshall:

http://rapidshare.com/files/309782714/Tony_Marshall_-_Pretty_Maid.mp3