MONKEY SPANNER (VERSION) - DAVE AND ANSELL COLLINS

Dave and Ansell Collins were a Jamaican vocal/instrumental duo (Ansell's name has been spelt many ways over the years: Ansil or Ansel).

Dave Barker (born David John Crooks, 10 October 1947 in Kingston, Jamaica) was a session vocalist, and Ansell Collins (born 1949, also in Kingston) was a keyboard player. They were working for producer Lee "Scratch" Perry in Kingston in the late 1960s, and joined forces in 1971, for the reggae single "Double Barrel". Released by Festival music on the Interfusion label in Oz, it topped the charts in that year. It was the first record that drummer Sly Dunbar (then 14) ever played on.

The follow-up release, the similarly styled "Monkey Spanner" enjoyed the same international success. There were 2 versions issued on the 7" vinyl the A-side and the AA-side.

Here in Oz the instrumental version AA-side was the one that made the charts in most states but has not been on CD yet. The vocal version is the one most commonly released. Here for download is the rare Oz hit mix:

http://rapidshare.com/files/307295048/dave_and_ansel_collins_-_monkey_spanner__instrumental_version___vinyl_tom_mix_.mp3

S S SINGLE BED (TOM MIX 12") - FOX

Aussie born artist Susan Traynor went off to American for an adventure holiday and got tangled up with Kenny Young (writer of "Under The Boardwalk"). After 1970 she went to the UK with him while he worked writing songs for Brit groups and artists.

The group Fox were a UK band formed by Kenny Young. Susan started out doing backing vocals, then lead vocals and eventually she changed her name to Noosha Fox and became the focus of the first album. The second album had Kenny doing most of the vocals. Noosha took over lead vocals again after the second album sank and this is when the single of "S S Single Bed" was released and it made her an instant #1 in Oz and in other places. After its success the Oz music companies released a couple of her first singles "Only You Can" and "Imagine Me, Imagine You".

Noosha went solo by the end of the 1970s but the hits dried up. She has never returned to her homeland.

Here for download is a Tom Mix 12" extended remix of "S S Single Bed":

http://rapidshare.com/files/303595692/Fox_-_SSSingle_Bed__Ext_Tom_Mix_2009_.mp3

ONLY YOU - WAYNE NEWTON

Wayne Newton was a star of the 1960s but still performs in Las Vegas. His hits are known around the world. In 1964 he had a remake of an older song that seems to have done big business in Oz but not so overseas. The song "Only You" has had numerous interpretations over the years. Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson even had a top 40 hit in 1974 with pretty much the same arrangement.

Wayne Newton's version charted well in Sydney and did big business in NSW. This track is one I found and fixed up for Alan Katzmann and his audiophile friends who are collecting all the chart hits heard on Sydney radio 2UE from 1956 to 1974.

http://rapidshare.com/files/301732541/Wayne_Newton_-_Only_You.mp3

KING OF THE COPS - BILLY HOWARD

UK comedian Billy Howard did a great job of impersonating half a dozen TV cops and had a hit in 1976 with a ditty called "King Of The Cops" which used the Roger Miller song "King Of The Road" as its backing song. I think that Roger Miller got most of the royalties for the A-side.

The B-side is "Bond Is A Four Letter Word" which nowadays sounds funnier than the A-side as most of the young folks of today would have no idea who the impersonated cops were on the A-side. The B-side is a Sean Connery spoof which still works well and will give you a few chuckles...

This record was sent by Neale Judd from WA who has asked for help cleaning up the old vinyl versions as the songs have not appeared on CD anywhere in the world.

They are in a zip file with a password: http://tommixmusic2.blogspot.com/

http://rapidshare.com/files/292747068/bill_howard_hits.zip

JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE - JIMMIE RODGERS

Alan Katzmann, friend and regular contributor to this blog and my Tom Mix Oz Music blog, asked me to put this song on here for download because, as he says, most people in Oz heard this version on the top 40 back in 1960 but it has not been on CD.

"Just A Closer Walk With Thee" by Jimmie Rodgers got to #1 for a few weeks in 1960 and was a big hit Oz-wide...sadly the modern day younger CD compilers keep on issuing the wrong version...in fact the only version available is completely different to the hit single version.

Many thanks Al for your continued support and suggestions...

http://rapidshare.com/files/292706734/Jimmie_Rodgers_-_Just_A_Closer_Walk_With_Thee.mp3

MOVIE MEDLEY (MONO TOM MIX) - THE FAB 4

The only official megamix by The Fab 4 was called "Movie Medley" it was put out by Capital records in the USA and it charted well here in Oz. It was made with a matching film clip with parts taken from various movies in which The Fab 4 had appeared.

The songs in the megamix are:

Magical Mystery Tour
All You Need Is Love
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
I Should Have Known Better
A Hard Day's Night
Ticket To Ride
Get Back

When faced with tracking this down on CD I was not able to find it for ages so I made my own mono version which is similar to the official stereo version but has a few surprises - the tambourine which Ringo shakes in "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" has been dubbed over other parts and the end has the dialogue from the bootleg "Get Back" rooftop sessions.

I have found and purchased the stereo version on CD from a secret source in England (thank you George M.) but it is not on any of The Fab 4's official CDs as of yet.

The zip file has the password: http://tommixmusic2.blogspot.com/

For download is the Tom Mix mono version of "Movie Medley":

http://rapidshare.com/files/290136734/movie_medley.zip

MEGAREX (SINGLE EDIT) - T REX

English rockers Marc Bolan and T Rex had numerous 1970s glam rock singles so when the 1980s came along and making mega-mixes of artist's greatest hits was in vogue then it wasn't long until Sanny-X of Disco Mix Club created a set of T Rex mixes called the "MegaRex" set.

There were four different versions that all came out in May 1985 they were:

"MegaRex 1" 12" (5:30 mins)
"MegaRex 2" 12" (8:23 mins)
"MegaRex 3" 12" (5:32 mins)
"MegaRex 4" 7" (3 mins).

"MegaRex 1" contains songs: Tame My Tiger, Chrome Sitar, Solid Baby.

"MegaRex 2" contains songs: Truck On (Tyke), The Groover, Get It On (Bang A Gong), Telegram Sam, Shock Rock, Metal Guru, 20th Century Boy, Children Of The Revolution, Hot Love.

"MegaRex 3" contains songs: Truck On (Tyke), The Groover, Get It On (Bang A Gong), Telegram Sam, Shock Rock, Metal Guru, 20th Century Boy, Children Of The Revolution.

MegaRex 2 and 3 have been released on CD but the edited 3 min single mix has not to my knowledge surfaced anywhere in the world. Originally this version was released in Oz on black vinyl but overseas it was on a picture disk (click picture above).

Tracks included in the "MegaRex 4" single edit are:

Metal Guru

20th Century Boy

Children Of The Revolution

Here for download is the single edit of "MegaRex 4":

http://rapidshare.com/files/290027206/t_rex_-_megarex__single_version_tom_mix_edit_.mp3

LIVING DOLL (12") - CLIFF RICHARD AND THE YOUNG ONES WITH HANK MARVIN

Cliff Richard had a major hit in Oz in 1986 with his remake of his old 1960s pop hit "Living Doll" done for the UK charity group called Comic Relief. It was the first record to be issued by the charity which is also responsible for Red Nose Day.

Cliff did the fund raising song with the team from The Young Ones TV show not realising his fan base in Oz would also latch onto this song and send it to #1 in the top 40.

Here for download is a Tom Mix exclusive version using the rare CD version of the single mixed with dialogue from the 12" vinyl mix.

http://rapidshare.com/files/289638452/cliff_richard_and_the_young_ones_-_living_doll__cd_tom_mix_.mp3

HOLE IN MY SHOE (12") - NEIL PYE

In 1984 English actor Nigel Planer in character as Neil Pye from the TV show The Young Ones reached #2 in the UK charts with a version of Traffic’s “Hole In My Shoe”.

The TV show cast members had another hit in 1986 with their comedy version of "Living Doll" which was a Cliff Richard hit from yesteryear. Cliff generously allowed them to use the track as well as appear in the clip. Both songs were for charity and both sold well in Oz. In fact the "Living Doll" track was so popular it was released as an extended 12" mix and made it to #1 for many weeks.

Neil's hit song “Hole In My Shoe” was backed with a remix called "The Paranoid Remix". For this download I have joined both versions to make a "complete" new version of this track.

Wow man, like totally enjoy!

http://rapidshare.com/files/283730596/neil_-_hole_in_my_shoe__tom_mix_paranoid_edit_.mp3

TAKE ME BACK TO HOLLYWOOD (12") - TED GARDESTAD

Ted Gardestad (b: 1956 d: 1997) was a Swedish singer, songwriter and musician. He had been helped along the way by the members of Abba and their production team at Polar Music. It was Ted’s 1978 album Blue Virgin Isles which got him first recognised in Oz. It contained the hit “Take Me Back To Hollywood”. Although there was no Abba involvement on the album Ted does thank Stig Anderson, ABBA and the Polar family in the credits.

Molly Meldrum flogged “Take Me Back To Hollywood” relentlessly on Countdown and eventually it became a hit. The track contains an interesting Oz connection. The backing choir contains Oz singer Vanetta Fields who is widely known as a singer in the backing group of John Farnham. Vanetta cut her musical teeth in the 1960s being a member of Ike and Tina Turner’s backing singers The Ikettes.

The album Blue Virgin Isles was recorded in Hollywood and Stockholm and many international artists were used as backing vocalists. David Cassidy, John Mayall and Dr. John were just some...

Here for download is an extended 5:20 min Tom Mix 12" of Ted's big hit “Take Me Back To Hollywood” taken from the 8 CD box set pictured above which went on sale in 2009.

It is in a zip file with a password: http://tommixmusic2.blogspot.com/

http://rapidshare.com/files/283370383/TED_12_INCH.zip

THE LONE RANGER (12") - QUANTUM JUMP

Another song that was a hit in Oz was a piece favoured by Kenny Everett on his TV show which was on at 6 pm on the ABC. "The Lone Ranger" had an intriguing introduction that was used in many episodes when they needed a 15 second link between segments. The opening line which sounded like some kind of Indian tribal chant was in reality a cleverly disguised reading of the name of the highest peak in New Zealand: Taumata-whaka-tangi-hanga-kuayuwo-tamate-aturi-pukaku-piki-maunga-horonuku-pokaiawhen-uaka-tana-tahu-mataku-atanganu-akawa-miki-tora.

Quantum Jump was a quirky studio group put together by Rupert Hine in 1973 - Rupert is in the centre of the group picture above. After the release of 2 albums the band called it quits when they didn't have much commercial success. Then when "The Lone Ranger" single took off they went back and put together some more tracks on a third "Best of" album.

"The Lone Ranger" single released in 1976 was a bit of a sleeper in the UK but for us here in Oz we got in early on the action. The song was banned too in some places around the world because it implied Tonto and the Texas Ranger were more than just good friends...but in Oz they had an edited "safe" version which was distributed to various radio stations.

There were 2 original mixes of the song. Their length was roughly the same (about 3 mins) but the 12" mix on blue vinyl had a few dubbed sections and backwards parts on the end.

Here for download is a Tom Mix remix 12" using both original versions with some clever editing and sampling. Enjoy the new 5:20 min version!

http://rapidshare.com/files/282080219/Quantum_Jump_-_The_Lone_Ranger__Ext_Hi_Ho_Tom_Mix_2009_.mp3

IKO IKO (12") - THE BELLE STARS

The Bell Stars were a UK group of ladies who hit the big time in the 1980s. Originally the group was called The Bodysnatchers. One of their early hits was "Iko Iko" and another was "The Clapping Song" which was a traditional rhyme turned into pop. It made it to #4 in Oz. This track was also a minor hit for Garry Glitter in the early 1970s and a major hit for Shirley Ellis in 1965.

Singles

"Hiawatha" (Stiff Records) 1981 - UK
"Slick Trick" (Stiff Records) 1981 - UK
"Another Latin Love Song EP" (Stiff Records) 1982 - UK
"Iko Iko" (Stiff Records) 1982 - UK # 35
"The Clapping Song" (Stiff Records) 1982 - UK # 11, AUS # 4
"Mockingbird" (Stiff Records) 1982 - UK # 51
"Sign of The Times" (Stiff Records) 1983 - UK # 3, AUS # 45
"Sweet Memory" (Stiff Records) 1983 - UK # 22
"Indian Summer" (Stiff Records) 1983 - UK # 52
"The Entertainer" (Stiff Records) 1983
"80's Romance" (Stiff Records) 1984 - UK # 71
"World Domination" (Stiff Records) 1986 - UK, US Dance # 5
"Iko Iko" (Stiff Records) 1989 - US # 14, AUS # 7

"Iko Iko" was released again in 1989 and included in the soundtrack of the movie "Rain Man". There was also an extended vinyl version which was remixed with a new "bonus beats" drum and bass line. It is this version I have used for this download.

http://rapidshare.com/files/279450082/belle_stars_-_iko_iko__tom_mix_123_bonus_beats_.mp3

GETTING SO EXCITING - LEE KOSMIN

Lee Kosmin was a North Londoner who in the 1970s was touring the UK pub circuit with his band The Lee Kosmin Band and having the occasional single released. He is still available for bookings in London as I write. These days I think he sings as a duo with a female singing partner.

Lee Kosmin as a solo artist had a cool number in the Oz charts in 1981-2. It was a track that took the mickey out of all those house parties where young singles met to booze, hook up and etc....the best line in the lyrics involves the word "cliché". Oh, and also listen for the kettle boiling in the kitchen!

The song "Getting So Exciting" is reminiscent of Joe Jackson's style, where the singer seems to merely observe and report.

Here for download is the original single of "Getting So Exciting":

http://rapidshare.com/files/267484067/lee_kosmin_-_getting_so_exciting__vinyl_tom_mix_.mp3

HOLD MY HAND (ARIA) - CARLO SANTANNA

Carlo Paul Santanna (born 29 June 1949, near Rome, Italy) is a noted guitar player/singer whose credits include being in the UK pop group "Paper Lace" that won the UK talent show Opportunity Knocks in 1974 and had 4 sizeable hits in Oz and around the world. Their 4 hits were: "Billy, Don't Be A Hero", "The Night Chicago Died", "The Black-Eyed Boys" and a remake of "Hitchin' A Ride". Nottingham's pop group Paper Lace started out being called Music Box in 1969.

Carlo Santanna's one and only Oz hit "Hold My Hand (Aria)" came out in 1976 on the Philips label. It was written by 3 people: Sergio Bardotti, Dario Baldan-Bembo and Thumpston. Sergio and Dario were well known Italian writers/singers whose original song called "Aria" was translated into English by Thumpston.

According to a visiting contributor John McKenzie, all vocals were done by Carlo. Carlo is nowadays John's manager and still in the music business. Thanks for the information John.

Not long after Carlo's version came out, jazz muso Acker Bilk (born: Bernard Stanley Bilk) produced an instrumental version just called "Aria" and it was credited to Acker Bilk his Clarinet and Strings, it was released on the Astor label. It reached #5 in the UK.

Not long after the Bilk version was out another was released by Roger Whittaker called "Here We Stand (Aria)" - same song, different name and less orchestration. It was on his RCA album Reflections Of Love.

Norman Newell then penned new English lyrics to the song for Shirley Bassey and the title became “Born To Lose”. She started using the song in 1977 on tour in Japan.

The Italian singer Ornella Vanoni has later also sung “Aria” in English, but with different English lyrics penned by Ben Raleigh.

Since it was released to the English speaking world the song just keeps on evolving. Here for download is the Carlo Santanna version of "Hold My Hand (Aria)" that kicked it off:

http://rapidshare.com/files/267766679/carlo_santanna_-_hold_my_hand__vinyl_tom_mix_.mp3

JUST SO LONELY (12") - GET WET

"Just So Lonely" by USA group Get Wet is a well remembered top 40 hit from 1981.

The song briefly charted in the USA top 40 and then sank into oblivion but in Oz "Just So Lonely" spent over 5 months (23 weeks) on the singles charts, peaking at #15. The song was produced by the legendary Phil Ramone.

This retro-flavoured gem draws comparisons to the sound of '60s girl groups such as The Crystals or The Dixie Cups but with a new-wave twist. The Get Wet self-titled album went largely unnoticed outside Australia and the follow-up single a cover of Connie Francis' million-selling smash, "Where The Boys Are" briefly charted in Oz and flopped in most foreign markets.

The original single of “Just So Lonely” was 3 minutes long and the album version had a different ending that made it slightly longer. By using both versions from CD copies and adding a completely new drum track I have made a new 5:30 min version that still packs a wallop!

By the way if the drumming on the original single sounds familiar that's because it was done by Liberty Devitto, the drummer from Billy Joel's backing band.

Band members:

Sherri Beachfront (surname is really Lewis) - lead vocals.

Zecca Esquibel - piano, electric keyboards.

Louie LePore - guitar.

Doug Stegmeyer - bass.

Liberty Devitto - drums.

Arno Hecht - sax.

Here for download is the Tom Mix 12" version of "Just So Lonely":

http://rapidshare.com/files/275928395/get_wet_-_just_so_lonely__ultimate_tom_mix_2008_.mp3

JUST WANT TO TASTE YOUR WINE (EXTENDED TOM MIX 12") - BILLY SWAN

Billy Swan (born Billy Lance Swan May 12th 1942 Cape Girardeau Missouri) is an American pop and country singer whose big 1974 hit “I Can Help” is still played on radio across the world today. The organ used on this track was a wedding present from Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge. Billy did the song in just one take with no overdubs….pretty good, eh!

One of his following tracks “Just Want To Taste Your Wine” was a hit in early 1976 here in Oz but it hardly gets a run on radio these days. I don’t think anyone in Oz has ever put it on a compilation CD although it has appeared on Billy’s Greatest Hits CD in America. “Just Want To Taste Your Wine” features backing by The Jordanaires, the same crew that once backed Elvis.

After his time in the spotlight Billy became a backing singer and session muso.

Here for download is an extended 4 minute Tom Mix version of “Just Want To Taste Your Wine” from a CD copy:

http://rapidshare.com/files/275757160/Billy_Swan_-_Just_Want_to_Taste_Your_Wine__Ext_Tom_Mix_.mp3

DISCO DUCK (2009 TECHNO TOM MIX REMIX) - RICK DEES

Rick Dees was an American radio DJ who struck the big time by creating a dance novelty song in the middle of the disco boom of the late 1970s. "Disco Duck" was originally marketed on a 7" vinyl single with Part-1 (vocal mix) on side A, and Part-2 (instrumental mix) on side B. There was a also a promotional 6 minute 12" disco remix of the record issued to some of the big clubs and discos in America to help fast track this song to the top of the charts. The 12" mix was not issued in Oz and not readily available outside the metropolitan areas, as most of the 12" records sold were import copies.

The song "Disco Duck" is still fondly remembered by us oldies but in today's modern era the weak disco beat of this track means it hardly gets played because today's kids, more or less, enjoy a more techno sound...

Here for the first time is a DJ Tom Mix remake which takes some of the old "Disco Duck" charm and mixes it with the new techno beats...

If you like this kind of "old meets new" concept then on my other blog is a remix of Marty Rhone's hit "A Mean Pair Of Jeans"...(click link)

http://tommixmusic.blogspot.com/2008/03/download-no2.html

Here for download is a 6 minute 2009 Techno Tom Mix of "Disco Duck":

http://rapidshare.com/files/273790329/rick_dees_-_disco_duck__ext_tom_mix_2009_.mp3

RADIO (12") - THE MEMBERS

Martin Rushent was a supremo UK record producer whose bands included ABC and The Human League. One of his more interesting collaborations got the UK pop group The Members their biggest hit in Oz. Martin Rushent is famous for layering and adding numerous types of echoes over the original work and his mix of this song goes to the fullest extreme. The single version of "Radio" hit the charts and clubs in 1982 and stayed around for most of the year. The extended 12" mix named "Radio - Dub Version" ran about 5 minutes...it contained very few vocal lines. The flipside of the 12" had the regular 3 minute single version which contained all the vocals.

Musos in the band included:

Nicky Tesco
Gary Baker
Jean Marie Carrol
Steve Morley
Clive Parker
Nigel Bennett
Chris Payne
Adrian Lillywhite
Rudi Thompson
Simon Lloyd

The Members had a couple of lesser known singles:
1 "The Sound Of The Suburbs"
2 "Offshore Banking Business"
3 "Romance"

4 "Killing Time"

5 "Flying Again"

6 "Going West"

By 1982 they had switched labels to Island Records and this is where their major hit was recorded. After leaving Virgin in 1981, they broadened their sound by introducing a full-time horn section, Steve 'Rudi' Thompson (ex-X Ray Spex) and Simon Lloyd (Bananarama and Icehouse) and embracing funk and rap as well as reggae. The one-off single, Radio, was released on Island and became a hit in Oz.

The band then enjoyed an American hit by reaching out to the burgeoning MTV generation with "Working Girl".

For download is the Dub Version of "Radio" mixed with the Vocal Version. It runs about 6 mins total. This is an exclusive remix made by Tom Mix Studios. Enjoy!

http://rapidshare.com/files/272658421/the_members_-_radio__dub_and_single_vinyl_tom_mix_.mp3