The Valentines (rock band)

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The Valentines
TheValentines.jpg
The Valentines c. 1969: (L–R) Wyn Milsom, Bon Scott, Vince Lovegrove, Paddy Beach, Ted Ward
Background information
OriginPerth, Western Australia
Genres Pop, rock
Years active1966–1970
LabelsClarion
Past members Bon Scott
Vince Lovegrove
Wyn Milsom
Ted Ward
Bruce Abbott
Warwick Findlay
John Cooksey
Doug Lavery
Paddy Beach

The Valentines were an Australian pop band active from 1966 to 1970, chiefly noted for their lead singers, Bon Scott, who later went on to success as lead vocalist with AC/DC; and Vince Lovegrove, who subsequently became a successful music journalist and manager of Divinyls. The band released two extended plays during their run, The Valentiens (1968) and My Old Man's a Groovy Old Man (1969). They also released eight singles, including five-charting singles, their highest-charting being 1969's "Nick Nack Paddy Whack", which peaked at number 53 on the Australian Singles Chart.

Contents

Background

The band was formed in late 1966 with the amalgamation of Perth groups The Spektors and The Winstons. They capitalised on the success of both the former bands, plus the interest created by having two lead singers in Scott and Lovegrove. Inspired by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and local stars The Easybeats, they enjoyed considerable local success and released a few singles.

In late 1967, The Valentines moved to Melbourne in search of greater success, and soon toured other major cities. With a development towards the popular Bubblegum sound late in 1968, the band became more in demand, particularly among teenage girls. However, as the fashion for bubblegum music wore off, The Valentines struggled to retain their musical credibility despite a turn towards rock music. With differing opinions within the band concerning musical direction, and a much-publicised drugs bust in September 1969, group stability began to suffer. Although they still had a strong fanbase in certain areas of the country, especially back home in Perth, The Valentines decided to disband amicably in August 1970. [1]

Scott had built a strong reputation as a powerful vocalist and soon joined Fraternity, [2] and later AC/DC. Lovegrove found success as a music journalist, and guitarist Wyn Milsom became a sound engineer.

Personnel

Discography

Compilation albums

TitleAlbum details
The Early Years
(as Bon Scott with The Valentines & Fraternity)
  • Released: 1987
  • Format: CD, LP
  • Label: See for Miles (SEE CD 247)
Peculiar Hole in the Sky
  • Released: 2003
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Ascension Records (CDANSI 03)
The Sound of the Valentines
  • Released: 2016
  • Format: CD, LP
  • Label: RPM Records (RPM531)
1967-1970
  • Released: August 2020
  • Format: LP
  • Label: Demon Records (DEMREC665)

Extended plays

TitleEP details
The Valentines
  • Released: 1968
  • Format: LP
  • Label: Clarion Records (MCX-11,472)
My Old Man's a Groovy Old Man
  • Released: February 1969
  • Format: LP
  • Label: Philips (PE-81)

Singles

List of singles, with Australian chart positions
YearTitlePeak chart
positions
AUS
[ citation needed ]
1967"Every Day I Have to Cry" (Arthur Alexander) /
"I Can't Dance with You" (Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane)
76
"She Said" (George Young, Stevie Wright) /
"To Know You Is to Love You" (Phil Spector)
98
1968"I Can Hear the Raindrops" (Ted Ward, Vince Lovegrove) /
"Why Me?" (Ward, Lovegrove)
-
"Peculiar Hole in the Sky" (Harry Vanda, Young) /
"Love Makes Sweet Music" (Kevin Ayers)
-
1969"Ebeneezer" (Rick Price, Mike Tyler) /
"My Old Man's a Groovy Old Man" (Vanda, Young)
100
"My Old Man's a Groovy Old Man" (Vanda, Young) /
"Ebeneezer" (Rick Price, Mike Tyler)
22
"Nick Nack Paddy Whack" (Lovegrove, Bon Scott, Ted Junko (Ward), John Cooksey, Paddy Beach, Wyn Milsom) /
"Getting Better" (Scott, Milsom)
53
1970"Juliette [3] " (Milsom, Ward, Scott) /
"Hoochie Coochie Billy" (Lovegrove, Ward, Milsom)
28

Other songs

References

  1. "About". The Valentines Official Website. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  2. "Bon Scott". Fraternitybandofficial.com.au. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  3. "Media". The Valentines Official Website. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  4. "Build Me Up Buttercup (Live)". Open.spotify.com. 22 November 1969. Retrieved 17 July 2023.