Town Criers (band)

Last updated

Town Criers
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresPop
Years active1964 (1964)–1972 (1972)
Labels
  • Trend
  • Astor
  • Festival
  • HMV
Past members
  • Andy Agtoft
  • Mark Demajo
  • Sam Dunnin
  • Chris Easterby
  • George Kurtiss
  • John Taylor
  • Barry Smith
  • Norman Roth

The Town Criers were an Australian pop band formed in 1964. [1] By 1967 their line-up was Andy Agtoft on lead vocals, Mark Demajo on bass guitar (ex-Gemini 5), Sam Dunnin on lead guitar (ex-Gemini 5), Chris Easterby on drums, and George Kurtiss on keyboards. [2] Their first single was a cover version of the Kinks' album track, "The World Keeps Going Round", which was issued in 1965 but did not chart. [3]

Contents

They released a cover version of American singer, Robert Knight's "Everlasting Love", as a single in February 1968, which reached No. 17 on the Go-Set National Top 40 alongside United Kingdom's Love Affair's rendition which peaked at No. 23 on the same chart at the same time. [4] Kurtiss left the group in May 1968 and was replaced on keyboards by John Taylor (ex-Strings Unlimited). [2] Their next single, "Unexpectedly", did not reach the top 40. [2]

Agtoft was replaced early in 1969 by Barry Smith from Adelaide and Taylor left without being replaced. [2] [3] Town Criers released further singles, "Any Old Time (You're Lonely and Sad)" (March 1969), "Love Me Again" (October 1969) and "Living in a World of Love" (May 1970), before disbanding in 1972. [2] [3] Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, opined, "[they] made a name for themselves with a melodious, commercial pop sound and squeaky-clean teen idol image... By the end of 1971, [their] sound had become outmoded, and the members went their separate ways." [2]

Discography

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected details
TitleDetails
Complete Recordings
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: The Town Criers
  • Format: CD

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
TitleDetails
Everlasting Love
  • Released: 1968
  • Label: Astor (AEP-4057) [3]
  • Format: LP
Love Me Again
  • Released: 1969
  • Label: Astor (FX-11655) [3]
  • Format: LP

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
TitleYearPeak chart positions
AUS
[4] [5]
"The World Keeps Going Round" [3] 1965
"Everlasting Love" [3] 196817
"Unexpectedly" [3]
"Any Old Time (Your Lonely and Sad)"196953
"Love Me Again"35
"Living in a World of Love"197042
"Laughing Man"1971
"Love, Love, Love"

Related Research Articles

Martin Albert Mulry professionally known as Ted Mulry, was an English-born Australian singer, songwriter, bass player and guitarist. As a solo artist, his second single, "Falling in Love Again", reached No. 11 on the Go-Set National Top 60. From September 1972 he led his own band, Ted Mulry Gang, which were also credited as TMG. They had a number-one hit single on the Kent Music Report with "Jump in My Car" and top ten appearances with a cover version of "Darktown Strutters' Ball", and with "Jamaica Rum" and "My Little Girl" (May). Their second album, Struttin, also reached the top ten. The group disbanded in 1986, although periodically reformed. Mulry announced in February 2001 that he had been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. In the next month numerous music artists responded with Gimme Ted, a series of benefit concerts, which were recorded for a 2×DVD video tribute album, Gimme Ted – The Ted Mulry Benefit Concerts. Mulry died of his tumour one day before his 54th birthday.

Spectrum are an Australian progressive rock band which formed in April 1969 and broke up in April 1973. The original line-up was Mark Kennedy on drums, Lee Neale on organ (ex-Nineteen87), Bill Putt on bass guitar, and Mike Rudd on guitar and lead vocals. In August 1970 Kennedy was replaced by Ray Arnott on drums. These members also performed under the alter ego, Indelible Murtceps, from 1971 to 1973. Spectrum had a number-one hit, "I'll Be Gone", on the Go-Set National Top 60 singles chart. After Spectrum and Indelible Murtceps disbanded, Putt and Rudd formed Ariel. In 1999 the pair formed Spectrum Plays the Blues, which later trimmed their name back to Spectrum. On 7 August 2013 Bill Putt died, after a heart attack.

Tin Tin was a pop rock band, which first formed in Australia as The Kinetics in 1966. They relocated to the United Kingdom in 1969 and were renamed as Tin Tin, which comprised Steve Kipner, Steve Groves, John Vallins and Geoff Bridgford (drums). In 1970 they issued a single, "Toast and Marmalade for Tea", which was a No. 10 hit on the Go-Set National Singles Chart in June the following year. It reached No. 20 in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100. Their next single, "Is That the Way?" (1971), peaked at No. 59 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Blackfeather are an Australian rock group which formed in April 1970. The band has had numerous line-ups, mostly fronted by founding lead singer, Neale Johns. An early heavy rock version recorded their debut album, At the Mountains of Madness, which peaked at number seven on the Go-Set Top 20 Albums chart. It provided the single, "Seasons of Change", which was co-written by Johns with lead guitarist, John Robinson. In July 1972 a piano-based line-up led by Johns issued an Australian number-one single, "Boppin' the Blues".

The Flying Circus were an Australian pop and country rock band with founding mainstays, Doug Rowe on lead guitar and vocals and Colin Walker on drums. They had three top 30 pop hits, "Hayride", "La La" and "Run Run Run", in Australia from 1968 to 1971. These were not typical of their live work nor later recordings. They re-located to Canada from 1971 to 1974 where they achieved chart success with "Old Enough " and "Maple Lady". Doug Rowe died in July 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Parkinson</span> Australian singer (1946–2021)

Douglas John Parkinson was an Australian pop and rock singer. He led the bands Strings and Things/A Sound (1965), the Questions (1966–1968), Doug Parkinson in Focus, Fanny Adams (1970–1971), the Life Organisation (1973), Southern Star Band (1978–1980) and Doug Parkinson Band (1981–1983). Doug Parkinson in Focus's cover version of the Beatles' track "Dear Prudence" peaked at No. 5 on the Go-Set National Top 40. The follow up single, "Without You" / "Hair" (October), also reached No. 5. Parkinson released solo material and performed in musical theatre productions.

The Vibrants were an Australian pop rock group that started as Bobby James and the Vibrants in Adelaide in 1962. James, their lead vocalist, left in 1965 to form the Bobby James Syndicate. As the Vibrants, two of their singles peaked in Go-Set Australian National Charts top 20: their cover versions of "Something About You Baby" and "My Prayer" (September). At the end of 1973the Vibrants disbanded.

Kerryn William Tolhurst is an Australian country rock musician, songwriter and producer. He was based in the United States from late 1970s to the late 1990s, although he periodically returned to Australia. He was a founder of the Australian group, the Dingoes and co-wrote their top 40 hit single, "Way Out West". It was covered by fellow Australians, James Blundell and James Reyne in 1991, which reached No. 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart. He also formed a short-lived group, Rattling Sabres, and wrote their single, "All Fired Up" (1987). The track was reworked by Pat Benatar and released as her single in June 1988, which peaked at No. 2 in Australia and reached the top 20 in the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand.

Mississippi were an Australian soft rock band (1972–1975), which included Graham Goble on lead vocals and guitar, Beeb Birtles on lead vocals and guitar, and Derek Pellicci on drums. The band had started as Allison Gros in Adelaide in 1970 and moved to Melbourne in 1971 where they recorded as Allison Gros, Drummond and, early in 1972, became Mississippi. As Drummond they issued a cover version of "Daddy Cool", which peaked at No. 1 on the Go-Set National Top 40 for eight weeks. As Mississippi they reached No. 10 with "Kings of the World". In early 1975, with Birtles, Goble and Pellici aboard and the addition of Glenn Shorrock, the group were renamed, Little River Band.

Ross D. Wyllie is an Australian pop music singer, television presenter and producer from the 1960s and 1970s. Wyllie had a top 20 hit with his cover of Ray Stevens' song "Funny Man" and an Australian No. 1 with "The Star", both in 1969. Originally from Brisbane, he hosted, Uptight, a weekly four-hour music series, on Channel 0 in Melbourne from 1967 to 1969. In 1970 he followed with a similar show, Happening '70, and from 1978 to 1980, he presented films on a late-night time slot.

The Groove was an Australian R&B, pop group which formed in early 1967 with the lineup of Geoff Bridgford on drums, Jamie Byrne on bass guitar, Tweed Harris on keyboards, Rod Stone on guitar and Peter Williams on lead vocals and guitar. In December 1967 their single, "Simon Says", peaked at No. 17 on the Go-Set National Top 40 Singles Chart. They followed with "Soothe Me", which peaked at No. 14 in April 1968. Also in April they released their self-titled debut album. In July that year they won the national final of the Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds competition with the prize including a trip to London. They relocated there in March 1969, and early the following year they changed their name to Eureka Stockade, they disbanded in 1971. On 13 October 2004 Tweed Harris died of throat cancer, aged 63.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Farnham discography</span>

John Farnham, billed under stage name Johnny Farnham from 1964 until 1979, is a British-born Australian pop singer who has released 21 studio albums, 6 live albums, 3 soundtracks, 19 compilation albums, 13 video albums, 3 extended plays and 74 singles.

James Keays was a Scottish-born Australian musician who fronted the rock band The Masters Apprentices as singer-songwriter, guitarist and harmonica-player from 1965 to 1972 and subsequently had a solo career. He also wrote for a music newspaper, Go-Set, as its Adelaide correspondent in 1970 and its London correspondent in 1973.

Liv Maessen is an Australian pop singer who had hits in the early 1970s with "The Love Moth", "Knock, Knock Who's There?" and "Snowbird". In 1969, Maessen had finished second in the New Faces talent show. Her prize included a recording contract with Ron Tudor's Fable Records which released her albums, Live for Life (1971) and Best of Liv Maessen (1974). She won the 1971 Logie Award for 'Best New Talent'. In the Go-Set Pop Poll, Maessen was voted in the top 5 as most popular female vocalist in both 1970 and 1971. For her single "Knock, Knock Who's There?", Maessen became the first Australian female artist to be awarded a gold record certificate. After her recording career, Maessen turned to cabaret and club work by the mid-1970s.

James Taylor Move was a short-lived Australian/British psychedelic pop, progressive rock group from Adelaide. It was formed by Kevin Peek on guitar, Trevor Spencer on drums, Alan Tarney on organ, and Robert John Taylor on lead vocals and bass guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Kennedy (musician)</span> Australian musician

Mark Kennedy is an Australian musician who has been the drummer for several artists including Spectrum (1969–70), Doug Parkinson in Focus (1971), Leo de Castro (1971–73), Ayers Rock (1973–76), Marcia Hines (1976–83), Men at Work (1985), Renée Geyer and Jimmy Barnes (2005).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flake (band)</span> Musical artist

Flake were an Australian pop and rock group which formed in 1968. They released an album, How's Your Mother!, in December 1971 on the Violet's Holiday label, distributed by Festival. The group appeared on the Go-Set National Top 60 singles chart with cover versions of Bob Dylan's "This Wheel's on Fire", Marmalade's "Reflections of My Life", Vanda and Young's "Life is Getting Better" and Honeybus' "Under the Silent Tree". The group disbanded in 1974 but reunited in 1989 to support a compilation album, Reflections: The Festival File Volume Thirteen, before breaking up again in 1991.

Jigsaw were an Australian country pop band, composed of Jon Calderwood on lead guitar, Eddie Chappell on drums, Ron Gilbee on rhythm guitar and Dennis Tucker on bass guitar. Over the course of their career, the band released Australian top ten singles, "Yellow River" (1970) and "How Do You Do" (1972). They also served as the backing band for Australian singer-songwriter Johnny Chester throughout the early 1970s.

Autumn were an Australian pop music band formed in 1969 with Glenn Beatson on drums, Rick Graham on bass guitar, Greg Jacques on organ, Steve McMurray on guitar and Tony Romeril on lead vocals. Their cover version of "Yellow River", released in August 1970, reached No. 1 on the Go-Set National Top 60 along with other versions of the same song recorded by United Kingdom band Christie, fellow Australian band Jigsaw, and English singer Leapy Lee. Autumn had top 40 hits with "Looking Through the Eyes of a Beautiful Girl", "She Works in a Woman's Way" (February) and "Falling" (May). They released two albums, Song to Raymondo and Comes Autumn, both in 1971 before disbanding in the UK early in the following year.

New Dream were an Australian pop music group formed in 1967 as The Dream when founding mainstays Jenny Johnston on organ and Alex Kadell on lead vocals joined with latter day members of the Final Four. The Dream's repertoire shifted to bubblegum pop and they changed their name in March 1969. Their most popular single, "Soft Delights", peaked at No. 21 on the Go-Set national top 40. They released a sole album, New Dream, in 1973 however they had disbanded late in the previous year. They briefly reformed in 1974 before breaking up again.

References

  1. Nuttall, Lyn; Walker, David. "'Everlasting Love' The Town Criers (1968)". Where Did They Get That Song?. PopArchives – Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Town Criers'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop . St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN   1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kimball, Duncan (2002). "Town Criers". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Archived from the original on 14 March 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  4. 1 2 Nimmervoll, Ed (24 April 1968). "National Top 40". Go-Set . Waverley Press. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  5. Nimmervoll, Ed (15 November 1969). "National Top 40". Go-Set. Waverley Press. Retrieved 2 March 2018.