AUSTRALIAN BANDS

AUSTRALIAN BANDS

Australian bands and the era of “Aussie Rock” are central to Australian Culture.  From the 1950s we began producing some outstanding Australian Bands, who have left an indelible imprint on our culture. Today, they still make up a huge element of the corporate entertainment market

Throughout the 1960s and 70’s momentum grew in the Australian Music scene. By the 1980s more Australian Bands were having success in the UK & USA markets.  Australian Bands toured and performed live to audiences across Australia and beyond.

Australian Bands – cultural impact

One only has t see the youth of today swelling up with pride and full voice, when Daryl Braithwaite sings”horses”at thew races.  The “clenched first of youth “ again visible every time Mark seymour (Hunters & Collectors) sing “Holy Grail”- now forever some how tied to the AFL grand final.

Australian Bands –  A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Australian “Rock n Roll history really got its feet with Johnny O’Keefe and Col Joy.  They were quickly followed by the likes of The Easybeats and The Seekers.  Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs. The Masters Apprentices and Normie Rowe.

Daddy Cool, Richard Clapton, The Little River Band, Renee Geyer, John Farnham, The Dingoes, Mondo Rock all need also to be mentioned as acts that shaped the Landscape of Australian Bands

Pub Rock became increasingly popular though out the late 1970s and early 1980s. Bands such as AC/DC, the Divinyls, Mental as anything, Midnight oil, The Choir Boys, The Angels, Noiseworks, INXS, Cold Chisel, The Skyhooks, Hoodoo Gurus and Ice House all coming to prominence.

INXS became on of the biggest bands in the world, lead by lead singer Michael Hutchence.  Increasing success with each successive album from “The Swing” , “Listen like thieves” through to Kick.

Men At Work also had notable international success during the 1980s, with their song “down Under” foreign the theme sign to Australia winning the Americas Cup. The song instantly became the unofficial Australian National anthem.

The 1990’s were synonymous with grunge rock in the USA, but Australian Bands playing indie rock, keep our air waves full. Bands such as Powder Finger, Silverchair, You Am I, Something for kate, regurgitate, Spider Bait  and Jebediah

Australian Bands -Soul and R&B

Australian Soul and R&B really took off with the success of Renee Geyer. American singer Marcia Hines then took up the mantel. Jimmy barns SOUL DEEP album in 1982 also provided mass exposure to soul music for many Australians.

After gaining prominence form Australian Idol , Guy Sebastian has had profound success, followed by the likes of Jessica Mauboy.

Australian Bands – The Albums

Intrinsic to the success of any of the great Australian Bands, are the songs and the albums they came from.   Albums were collections of songs to be listened together, in succession. A Record!! (the of course a CD, but still a recording none the less)  There era of sitting to listen to an entire album by be on wane.

However, before the modern era of downloads and ring tones, internet and streaming, people bought records and listened to them.

Music Industry Icon John O’Donnell (formerly Sony Music and EMI) along with the music journalists Toby Creswell, Craig Mathieson compiled the 100 Best Australian albums of all time.

Being such a subjective matter, the group knew the list would polarise people. Have a look through the list and see if it sparks any memories, If you haven’t heard of some of these coins Australian Bands, now is good time to check them out.

The list is as follows:

1. Midnight Oil – Diesel and Dust (1987)
2. AC/DC – Back in Black (1980)
3. Crowded House – Woodface (1991)
4. Cold Chisel – Circus Animals (1982)
5. The Triffids – Born Sandy Devotional (1986)
6. The Easybeats – The Best of the Easybeats (1967)
7. Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls – Gossip (1986)
8. You Am I – Hi Fi Way (1995)
9. Skyhooks – Living in the 70’s (1974)
10. The Avalanches – Since I Left You (2000)
11. INXS – Kick (1987)
12. The Go-Betweens – 16 Lovers Lane (1988)
13. Radio Birdman – Radios Appear (1977)
14. Daddy Cool – Daddy Who? Daddy Cool (1971)
15. Richard Clapton – Goodbye Tiger (1977)
16. Bee Gees – Best of Bee Gees (1969)
17. The Birthday Party – Junkyard (1982)
18. Hunters & Collectors – Human Frailty (1986)
19. Sarah Blasko – As Day Follows Night (2009)
20. The Saints – (I’m) Stranded (1976)
21. The Drones – Gala Mill (2006)
22. Split Enz – True Colours (1980)
23. Midnight Oil – 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (1982)
24. Slim Dusty – The Very Best of Slim Dusty (1998)
25. Silverchair – Neon Ballroom (1999)
26. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – The Boatman’s Call (1997)
27. Regurgitator – Unit (1997)
28. Hoodoo Gurus – Stoneage Romeos (1984)
29. Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream (2008)
30. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu – Gurrumul (2008)
31. Kasey Chambers – Barricades & Brickwalls (2001)
32. Johnny O’Keefe – The Wild One (1958)
33. The Church – Starfish (1988)
34. The Reels – Quasimodo’s Dream (1981)
35. The Masters Apprentices – Master’s Apprentices (1967)
36. Savage Garden – Savage Garden (1997)
37. Sunnyboys – Sunnyboys (1981)
38. Kev Carmody and Various Artists – Cannot Buy My Soul (2007)
39. Something For Kate – Echolalia (2001)
40. Stephen Cummings – Lovetown (1988)
41. The Saints – Prehistoric Sounds (1978)
42. Australian Crawl – The Boys Light Up (1980)
43. Powderfinger – Odyssey Number Five (2000)
44. Mental As Anything – Cats & Dogs (1981)
45. Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Rush to Relax (2010)
46. Models – The Pleasure of Your Company (1983)
47. Augie March – Moo, You Bloody Choir (2006)
48. The Missing Links – The Missing Links (1965)
49. Ed Kuepper – Honey Steel’s Gold (1991)
50. AC/DC – Highway to Hell (1979)
51. The Sports – Don’t Throw Stones (1979)
52. The Seekers – Greatest Hits (1968)
53. Cold Chisel – East (1980)
54. Underground Lovers – Leaves Me Blind (1992)
55. You Am I – Hourly, Daily (1996)
56. INXS – The Swing (1984)
57. The Living End – The Living End (1998)
58. Jimmy Barnes – For the Working Class Man (1985)
59. Russell Morris – Wings of an Eagle and Other Great Hits (1973)
60. Hoodoo Gurus – Mars Needs Guitars! (1985)
61. The Presets – Apocalypso (2008)
62. The Dingoes – The Dingoes (1974)
63. The Cruel Sea – The Honeymoon Is Over (1993)
64. The Angels – Face to Face (1978)
65. The Hummingbirds – LoveBUZZ (1989)
66. Paul Kelly & the Stormwater Boys – Foggy Highway (2005)
67. Chain – Toward the Blues (1971)
68. Dragon – O Zambezi (1978)
69. Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs – Aztecs Live at Sunbury (1972)
70. The Scientists – Blood Red River (1983)
71. Crowded House – Temple of Low Men (1988)
72. Died Pretty – Doughboy Hollow (1991)
73. Axiom – Fool’s Gold (1970)
74. Bob Evans – Suburban Songbook (2006)
75. Dirty Three – Ocean Songs (1998)
76. Renée Geyer – Ready to Deal (1975)
77. The Church – The Blurred Crusade (1982)
78. The Vines – Highly Evolved (2002)
79. John Farnham – Whispering Jack (1986)
80. The Loved Ones – Magic Box (1967)
81. The Sleepy Jackson – Lovers (2003)
82. Bliss N Eso – Flying Colours (2008)
83. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Tender Prey (1988)
84. Tex, Don and Charlie – Sad But True (1993)
85. Flowers – Icehouse (1980)
86. Missy Higgins – The Sound of White (2004)
87. The Go-Betweens – Before Hollywood (1983)
88. Normie Rowe – Ain’t Necessarily So (1965)
89. Jet – Get Born (2003)
90. The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band – Smoke Dreams (1973)
91. Ben Lee – Awake is the New Sleep (2005)
92. Rose Tattoo – Rose Tattoo (1978)
93. I’m Talking – Bear Witness (1986)
94. X – X-Aspirations (1979)
95. Beaches – Beaches (2008)
96. Baby Animals – Baby Animals (1991)
97. Bernard Fanning – Tea & Sympathy (2005)
98. Kylie Minogue – Fever (2001)
99. Men at Work – Business As Usual (1981)
100. G. Wayne Thomas, Terry Hannagan, Tamam Shud, Brian Cadd, John J. Francis, Peter Howe – Morning of the Earth (1971)

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