The second and final single lifted from the bands only album "No Sweat" released in 1979. Formed back in 1974, Loaded Dice started out as cover band primarily playing 60's beat but specializing in Beatles songs. They went through a few line-up changes and gathered quite a large fan base, to the point that some nights the doors had to be closed at certain venues. After so many years of playing covers, the band decided it was time for a change and present themselves as an original act. While they recorded many demos along the way and occasionally adding them to their set, it seemed that the locals certainly weren't interested.. but that's normal in this city. It was time to bite the bullet and become 100% original and the band ventured into a proper studio and recorded a classic album. Two singles were released, firstly "Mam'selle" and then this one "Telephone". It's a classic power pop tracks with all the hooks but I think the record company got it wrong with their choices. The album itself has many stronger tracks on it including a couple anthems that would have made people into the Angels sit up and take notice.
Take a listen and if you are interested in more tunes, you can buy the recently reissued CD of "No Sweat" at www.zerhourrecords.com.au It has the complete album plus 12 bonus tracks. It also has a cool booklet which has the complete story on the band.
LISTEN: Loaded Dice ~ Telephone
Take a look at a video of the band performing the song on Australian TV show Countdown
Here's a cool surf instrumental EP released on the Citadel Records label back in 1986. This was a one off collaboration when Dom Mariani of The Stems had a little time on his hands to gather some an old band mates and record this cool 4 track 12" EP. The line-up consisted of Dom, two ex members of his old band The Go-Starts, Greg Hitchcock (gtr) and Velo Zupanovich (bass) along with drummer Dave Shaw. Greg was playing with The Bamboos at the time and Velo was in a band called The Reaguns with Dave. Dave would later join The Stems when original drummer Gary Chambers was sacked. The 4 tracks on this EP are all surf inspired instrumentals that sit nicely along side say Dick Dale, Link Ray and the like, not a bad tune on this baby. The original pressing in 1996 was 1000 copies with another 500 pressed in 1999 with no changes to the art or label. It's pretty hard to find these days and they fetch good money. Here is the twangy guitar infested and awesomely named Boobalooba Beach... grab your board as this'll make you wanna ride. Cowabunga Dude.
I had a request to put this up so here it is. I won't go into much details about it as there is a Anthology CD coming out soon and the whole history of the band will be included in the booklet. I will however mention that the guys were originally from Manchester U.K. and migrated here back in 1973/74. They were quickly signed up to Clarion records and release a number of singles. Later they signed to Polydor and released an album that was produced by Jon English. A number of singles where lifted from the album with only one really charting. The single here was to be their last in 1977 and was not on the LP, A last hurrah I guess. Written by American songwriting duo Michael Price and Dan Walsh who wrote many hits for The Grass Roots, the best being "Temptation Eyes". Why the record company insisted on having Chalice release other peoples songs as singles when the band clearly had great songs themselves is a mystery. Take a listen and enjoy the great harmonies of Chalice.
LISTEN: Chalice ~ Deeper And Deeper
Here is a Video clip of Chalice from an Australian TV series called Chopper Squad.. bad acting and bad plots. That's Normie Rowe is the nice purple suite. classic stuff.
Don't know much about this release but what I can tell you is that it's Craig Hallsworth of the mid 1980's band The Bamboos. Not sure if this was a gig giveaway or sold in the stores here. The covers are all different, hand made and handwritten. Totally different sound to The Bamboos cowpunk efforts of the past. These songs are much more mature and mellow but still have that great vocal tone that Craig has and are still a little countryfied. He sure can write great songs and you can hear one from this six track cassette below. I don't know what year this is either buy I'm guessing somewhere in the 1990's. If you know, leave a comment below. Enjoy.
The Jackals formed out of the remnants of a band called China Doll around 1984, Phil Bradley, Leon Kotz and Dave Miles. After a year or so of gigging, the band fell apart and Bradley and Kotz went on to form The Mutants Of Desire. When eventually the Mutants imploded, Bradley and Kotz decided to reform the Jackals and enlisted singer/songwriter Paul McCarthy along with Dave Miles on bass. McCarthy was well known around town as a very good songwriter, having previously been hired by local band BOYS to write that bands entire debut album. He certainly is a quirky but very intelligent songsmith. I saw the Jackals on a number of occasions and was always impressed at the quality of the songs and their performance but they never got the praise they deserved in this City. Too heavy for the indy crowd and too pop for the rock crowd, well that's how I saw it. Here for your listening pleasure is their debut single and she's a beaut. Enjoy
LISTEN: The Jackals ~ The Faint Aroma Of Performing Seals
I remember when I was a kid growing up in Fremantle, the town hall would have the occasional rock show on Saturday night. One night I ventured down there on my bike to see what was on that particular evening. 2 groups on the bill said the poster outside, Moby Dick and Fatty Lumpkin. Fatty Lumpkin I knew of from radio airplay of their single "Don't Knock The Boogie" which was a cool rock track with a catchy flute intro. I've always liked that song and I think I actually got myself a copy of it. Moby Dick I didn't know but I paid my 50c and went in to have a look. I perched myself right in front of the stage and waited for the first act to start. The guitarist walks on stage, plugs in and hits an almighty chord.. yowza. He was running a tambourine up and down the neck making some great sounds as the other members get into place and they start their first song. I didn't know it at the time but in later years I would recognize it as T-Rex's "20th Century Boy". Wow! what an intro. I stood their mesmerized for the whole show, not just from the music but from what they were wearing as well. This was to be my first introduction to Glam Rock and in fact if Bowie had walked out to sing, he would have fit right in as they guys could have passed as the Spider From Mars very easily. I enjoyed the show and I enjoyed Fatty Lumpkin also and I left very happy that night.
I stuck the name Moby Dick into the memory bank and I hoped to see them again. I checked the papers for advertised gigs but they were always too far for me get there. After some months I noticed that they weren't advertising or they weren't playing around anymore.. I soon forgot about them.
About a year later, I was listening to my trusty little radio and this fantastic song came on. A nice heavy guitar riff and a very glam vocal with a great catchy (but strange to me) chorus.. "I Like It Both Ways".. what was that about? I had no idea that they were singing about being bi-sexual until I really listen to the words, the heavy riff and cool arrangement was all I was hearing. I laugh at it now but I knew nothing about that stuff at 16 years old. Anyway the radio presenter said the band was called Supernaut and I went out and got a copy of the single the next day. I didn't now they were from Western Australia but I remember seeing the name in the paper as I was searching for my illusive Moby Dick. A few months go by and I see that Supernaut are playing my local town hall so I make it my mission to go see them. Another 50c and in I go straight to the front again to see the band that played my fave song at that moment. As I look up, it's the same guitarist that was in Moby Dick, tambourine intro and all. Damn, It was the same band, they just had a name change. So there I was all this time looking for Moby Dick when Supernaut were in the paper all the time, I just didn't know it.
Anyway, Here for you that don't know the song or a trip down memory lane for those that do, the very glam Supernaut with their debut single "I Like It Both Ways".
Based in Perth circa 1985, Mutants Of Desire played that Detroit style of punk rock that was getting popular again. Bands like The Hitmen and The New Christs from the East coast were doing well but in the west their wasn't much of that going on. Great heavy guitar riffs and tight backing with a snarling vocal, very nice indeed. There was quite a buzz around when this band first formed and seeing a show was quite a drunkard experience. This their only release besides a couple tracks on a "Cooking With George" album compilation and a "United Rock" cassette only release, some of which I will put up here at some point. In the mean time, take a listen to this single and leave a comment if you like it.
