Obscured By...

Saying goodbye to Levon Helm (The Band) and Greg Ham (Men At Work) was the downside of this week's Obscured By... but the definite upside was an in-depth, live phone interview with legendary English singer-songwriter Ralph McTell.  Ralph expounded on such matters as how he acquired his first Robert Johnson LP, his love for the guitar, why a farewell tour doesn't necessarily mean goodbye, why he wasn't very happy at the time with the French & Saunders "Trial Of Ralph McTell" skit, and much more.  Also featured were some MOR versions of once great songs, a bit of US power pop and early Adelaide rock, The Damned with Lemmy on a Sweet cover et al - with host Michael Hunter somehow making sense of it all!
 
The Penny Rockets  Lovin' Woman  (Penny Rockets EP  1961 Australia, Adelaide)

Marty Rhone  Tell Me Love  (single B-side 1967 Australia)

Fraternity  Raglan's Folly  (single B-side 1971 Australia, Adelaide)

Ralph McTell  1. Blind Arthur Goes To Adelaide  (single B-side 1987 UK)  2. Moon, June & A Cajun Tune  3.  Somewhere Down The Road  4. Ghost Of Robert Johnson  5. Rosalinda (all from 'Somewhere Down The Road' CD 2010 UK)


Autumn  Kill My World  ('Comes...Autumn'  LP 1971 Australia / Aztec Music reissue CD)

Men At Work  Down Under (original recording)  (single B-side 1979 Australia)

Levon & The Hawks  The Stones That I Throw  (single 1965 Canada/US)

The Band  Chest Fever  ('Music From Big Pink' LP 1968 Canada/US)


Sensitive New Age Cowpersons  The New Australian National Anthem  (live, Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, Adelaide March 2003, unreleased  Australia) 
 

The Brothers Four  Revolution  ('A Beatles' Songbook (The Brothers Four Sing Lennon/McCartney)'  LP 1966 US)

Mel Tormé  Sunshine Superman   ('Golden Throats 2' comp LP / orig. c 1966 US)

Manhattan Strings  (Theme From) The Monkees  ('The Manhattan Strings Play Instrumental Versions Of Hits Made Famous By The Monkees'  LP c 1967  US)

Mitch Miller & The Gang  Give Peace a Chance ('Peace Sing-Along' LP 1970 US)

The Nerves  Working Too Hard   ('The Nerves' EP 1976  US)

The Names  Why Can't It Be  (single 1977 US)

The Damned with Lemmy  Ballroom Blitz (single B-side 1979 / 'The Chiswick Singles... And Another Thing' comp CD 2011 UK)

Technicolour Dreaming

 Again this week, we foraged through the rather large 3D Radio Library ‘New Releases/Reissues’ section for some pleasurable sounds to bring to you... amongst them was a ‘weird-western’ themed 7” single b-side by Melbourne’s wonderful King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard, a song from the re-issue of Left Banke’s 1967 debut LP, a single from Australian psychedelicists the Laurels, plus a track each from Adelaide’s Little Two Eyes and the Molting Vultures. Apart from that, we indulged in our regular diet of 60’s gems from bands such Sagittarius and Deep Feeling, some early Roxy Music, Magazine and Fleshtones, plus some rare 80’s from the Church and Adelaide’s Dandelion Wine [not to be confused with the current great Aussie band of the same name!], before ending with the legendary Sonics, our “Band of the Month”, who will be playing here in Adelaide next Tuesday. Unfortunately, the Cat and the Brat won’t be at that show because we’ll be in Melbourne, eagerly awaiting their performance at the Dig It Up! mini-festival on the following day ... and yes, that means we will be leaving next week’s edition of “Technicolour Dreaming” in the capable hands of our 3D compadre, Paul D. and so expect the unexpected... as always!

..... so here is this week’s full playlist....

Roxy Music – Beauty Queen     (‘For Your Pleasure’ LP 1973 UK)

Magazine – Permafrost     (‘Secondhand Daylight’ LP 1979 UK)

the Laurels – Tidal Wave     (CDsingle 2012 Australia)

Placebo – 20^th Century Boy [Marc Bolan cover]     (‘Velvet Goldmine’ soundtrack 1998 UK/USA)

the Mondo Phase Band – Chase     (‘Major Input – Live!’ 2011 Adelaide, Australia)

Little Two Eyes – Silence     (‘All the things I never told you and why’ EP 2012 Adelaide, Aust.)

the Left Banke – I Haven’t Got the Nerve     (‘Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina’ LP 1967 New York, USA)

Sagittarius – My World Fell Down      (7”single 1967 USA)

Puppy – Elizabeth Bridge     (7”single b-side 1968 Aust.)

Deep Feeling – On the Circle of Life      (recorded 1967 UK – released on ‘Pretty Colours’ anthology 2010 )

the Twilights – What a Silly Thing to Do     (‘Once Upon a Twilight’ LP / 7”single 1968 Adelaide, Aust.)

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Sam Cherry’s Last Shot     (7”single b-side 2012 Melbourne, Aust.)

the Molting Vultures – Everyone Loves a Loser [Vic Conrad cover]     (‘Get On Board’ 2012 Adelaide, Aust.)

Outrageous Cherry – (I know) you’re both of me     (‘Supernatural Equinox’ 2003 USA)

the Church – Shadow Contact     (‘Persia’ LP 1984 Aust.)

Dandelion Wine – Raving     (recorded 1985 – released 2003 on ‘Reunion’ anthology , Adelaide, Aust.)

the Fleshtones – Girl from Baltimore     (7”single 1980 USA)

Serendipity – I’m Flying     (7” single b-side 1968 UK)

the Dandy Warhols – Alternative Power to the People     (‘This Machine’ 2012 USA)

Suzy Chunk – Tripwire     (pre-release CD of 7” single 2012 UK)

the Sonics – The Hustler     (‘Boom’ LP 1966 USA)    #   

     # “Band of the Week”   

Obscured By...

Another tri-dotted Obscured By... (Michael Hunter, Cat & Brat) that veered recklessly yet with consideration from genre to genre, country to country - all in the search for musical obscurities.  Sadly, another RIP was necessary - saying goodbye to keyboardist Jimmy Niven and playing a track each from two of his best known bands, Captain Matchbox and The Sports.   Also, while Robin Gibb lies in hospital, we played a version of his song Lord Bless All from the new Trembling Bells CD with Bonnie Prince Billy, while Maurice Gibb produced the track we played from the duo Tin Tin.   Some Japanese surf guitar and Irish punk was added to the mix, along with an unexpected recording of The Chiffons performing My Sweet Lord, recorded while George Harrison was being sued for the song sounding too much like He's So Fine, by... The Chiffons!  Rare singles from Australia and the world were included as usual, in the eclectic mix that is known as Obscured By...


The Avengers  Listen Listen [Merry-Go-Rounds cover]  (single 1969, Australia)
The Rebels  I Can See The World  (single 1970, NZ / Australia)
Nova Express  Piece Of My Heart [Big Brother and the Holding Co. cover]  (single 1970, Australia)
Tin Tin  Is That The Way  (single 1971, Australia)

Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band  Out In The Suburbs  ("Australia" LP 1975, Australia)
The Sports  The Creature [AKA Right Thru Her Heart]  (unreleased demo 1977, Australia)
Trembling Bells & Bonnie Prince Billy  Lord Bless All  ("The Marble Downs" CD 2012, Scot/US)
Paul Messis & Jessica Winter  All Nightmares Turn To Dreams  (pre-release CD for 7" single 2012, UK)
Cocteau Twins  Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops  ("The Spangle Maker" EP  1984, UK)

Greenwood, Curlee & Clyde  Little Willy  ("One Time One Place" LP 1972, US)
The Chiffons  My Sweet Lord  (single 1975, US)

The Bank  History Of Rock & Roll  (single B-side 1977, US)
Sparks  Hospitality On Parade   ("Indiscreet" 1975, US)
The Kitchen Cinq  You'll Be Sorry Someday  (single 1967, US)
The Megas  Running Mr So & So  (single 1968, Holland)
Bluebird  Goin' Down  (single B-side 1971, US)
Takeshi Terauchi & the Bunnys  Theme From Unfinished Symphony
("Let's Go Classics" LP 1967, Japan)
Black'N'Whites  Komandosi    (single 1967, Poland)
The Eliminators  The Saint  ("Guitars & Percussion" LP 1966, UK)
Little Gerhard  Into The Go-Go Groove   (single 1964, Sweden)

The Diplomats  See My Baby Walking
("World Beaters II" comp CD / prev unreleased track c.?  Aust)
The Undertones  Smarter Than U  ("The Undertones" LP 1979, Ireland)
X-Dreamysts  Dance Away Lover  (single B-side 1978, Ireland)
Protex  Don't Ring Me Up  (single 1978, Ireland)

Eric Gradman Man & Machine  All Is Machine  
(self-titled compilation CD 2012, unreleased track c early 80s, Australia)
Suzi Chunk  Look Back & Laugh  (pre-release CD for 7" single, 2012, UK)
The Lounge  Teddy's Sandpaper  (CD single, orig Adelaide 1981)

Technicolour Dreaming

 While starting with some 70’s New York rocking from Patti Smith and Harry Toledo, amongst others, and then dropping in some psychedelia, surf and garage, including America’s Dark Ocean Colors, New Zealand’s Tomorrow’s Love, a swirly classic from the Bee Gees 2^nd English LP, a scary surf story from the Barbarellatones and a pre-release taste of the new single from Paul Messis, the bulk of this week’s show featured a diverse bunch of local and Australian acts such as DieselWitch, the Skronks, the Molting Vultures, the Moodists and the Mynd Gardeners, and included a phone interview with Magic Bones who are headed our way as part of the launch tour for their new EP, before finishing with our current “Band of the Month”, the Sonics.

..... and here is the full playlist....

Patti Smith – Gloria      (‘Horses’ LP 1976 New York, USA)

Wayne County – Max’s Kansas City     (‘At the Trucks!’ 2006 USA/Spain)

Harry Toledo & the Rockets – Busted Chevrolet     (‘Harry Toledo & the Rockets’ EP 1976 USA)

Television – Foxhole     (‘Adventure’ LP 1978 USA)

DZ Deathrays – Debt Death     (‘Bloodstreams’ 2012 Brisbane, Australia)

the Skronks – Out of Yourself     (‘Into This’ 2012 Canberra, Aust.)

Space Party – Flight to Mars      (‘Invasion of the Surfer-Men’ 2009 Canberra, Aust.)

the Molting Vultures – The Trough     (‘Get On Board’ 2012 Adelaide, Aust.)

the Barbarellatones – Jaws!      (‘Invasion of the Surf Zombies’ 2006 USA)

Dieselwitch – Kicks     (‘Dieselwitch Will Kill You’ 2011 Adelaide, Aust.)

the Moodists – When the Trees Walk Downhill     (7”single 1981 Adelaide/Melbourne, Aust.)

the Green Circles – You Think I Don’t know?     (‘Say Oui’ EP 2003 Adelaide, Aust.)

Paul Messis & Jessica Winter – Sunflower     (7”single 2012 UK)

the Twilights – Time & Motion Study Man     (7”single b-side 1967 Aust.)

the Mynd Gardeners – Where Tomorrow Lands     (‘The Acyd Raindrop Umbrella’ EP 2012 Aust.)

Tomorrow’s Love – 7 & 7 Is [Love cover]     (7”single 1969 New Zealand – taken from ‘A Day in my Mind’s Mind Vol. 2’ compilation 2008 NZ)

Mikal Cronin – Is It Alright     (‘Mikal Cronin’ 2012 USA)

the Bee Gees – Lemons Never Forget     (‘Horizontal’ LP 1967 Aust./UK)

Magic Bones – Gouge Out a Victim     (‘Magic Bones’ EP 2012 Melbourne, Aust.)

 [phone interview with Richard from Magic Bones]

Magic Bones – Devil’s Spawn     (‘Magic Bones’ EP 2012 Melbourne, Aust.)

Cato Salsa Experience – Milk for Revolution     (‘No. 3’ 2005 Norway)

Dark Ocean Colors – Own the Day     (‘Dark Ocean Colors’ 2012 USA)

the Lovetones – Shipbuilding [Elvis Costello cover]     (CDsingle b-side 2002 Aust.)

the Sonics – Strychnine     (‘Here are the Sonics’ LP 1965 USA)   # 

     # “Band of the Month”   

Obscured By...

 Just two ‘DOTS’ this week - the Cat and the Brat - but still the show explored place and time in the regular manner, ranging from 60’s Australian rarities by the Sect, Daisy Clover and the Others, through local examples of the worldwide impact of punk with Jab, the U-Bombs and Nuvo Bloc, right up to a slab of modern psychedelia from Munich band, Liquid Visions. Along the way we sampled the 80’s Spanish garage of Sex Museum, prog ‘supergroup’ Captain Beyond, some French psych weirdness from Docteur Legume et les Surfwerks and heard the Edgar Broughton Band attempt to exorcise American imperialism from the UK [which got them to #39 on the singles chart!) before witnessing die Sputniks’ surfbeat rising from under the boot of Soviet repression in 60’s East Germany, plus much more... Obscure? oh yeah!

.....and here is the full playlist....

Garry Stone & the Mystery Men – World Without Love [Beatles cover]     (unreleased acetate 1964, Australia)

the Grape Escape – Is Your Soul Drip Dry?     (7”single 1966 Australia)

the La De Da’s – Civic Pride     (‘The Happy Prince’ LP 1969 New Zealand)

the Iguana – Good News     (7”single 1969 Aust.)

the Sect – St John’s Wood     (7”single 1970 Aust.)

the Allusions – Fever (burns my brain)     (7”single b-side 1966 Aust.)

Daisy Clover – Butterflies     (7”single 1969 Aust.)

the Unknowns – On My Mind     (prev. unreleased, 196? Aust.  – taken from “WorldBeaters Vol. 10” compilation)

the Others – Dancing Girl     (7”single 1966 Adelaide, Aust.)

Audience – House on the Hill     (‘House on the Hill’ LP 1971 UK)

Liquid Visions – Morning Rain     (‘Hypnotized’ 2002 Berlin, Germany)

the Edgar Broughton Band – Out Demons Out     (7”single 1970 UK)

Jacques Dutronc – Fais Pas Ci, Fais Pas Ca     (‘Jacques Dutronc’ LP 1968 France)

Captain Beyond – Raging River of Fear     (‘Captain Beyond’ LP 1972 USA/UK)

Jody Grind – One Step On : Paint It Black [Rolling Stones cover]     (‘One Step On’ LP 1969 UK)

Embryo – You don’t know what’s happening     (‘Opal’ LP 1970 Munich, Germany)

the Music Convention – Bellyboard Beat     (7”single 1968 New Zealand – taken from “A Day in my Mind’s Mind : Vol. 2” compilation 2008 NZ)

die Sputniks – Sputniks’ Theme     (7”single 1964 DDR – taken from “Surfbeat Behind the Iron Curtain!” compilation 1997 USA)

Docteur Legume et les Surfwerks – Phibes & Vulnavia : Just Married!     (‘La Planete Sauvage : 10 songs about sex and psychopathy’ 2011 Italy)

the Magic Mushrooms – Let the Rain Be Me     (7”single b-side 1968 Philadelphia, USA)

JAB – You Got Soul     (7”single b-side 1977 Adelaide, Australia)

the Surfadelics – Bad Little Girl     (7”single 1981 UK – taken from “Battle of the Garages Part 2” 1993 USA)

Sex Museum – Drug Personality     (7”single 1986 Spain)

Bad Karma Beckons – Listen     (7”single 1985 UK)

the U-Bombs – Give Me a Medal     (‘Give me a Medal’ EP 1978 Adelaide, Australia)

Nuvo Bloc – Fun Times     (demo 1980 Adelaide, Aust.)

Black Chrome – We are Tomorrow     (7”single 1978 Adelaide, Aust.)

Timberjack Donaghue – Dahli Mohammed     (7”single 1970 New Zealand)

Technicolour Dreaming

 While casting about in the 3D Library for the Black Angels album we needed for our opening track, we were struck by the number of CDs by bands using ‘Black’ in their name... there were almost three full shelves of them! So we couldn’t resist playing a few of our favourites from amongst them, and even managing to end the run with a song of [almost] the same name as the opening band... as we said, there were a LOT to choose from! From there however, we reverted to Technicolour and a mixture of some older tracks by bands such as the Boys Next Door, Procession, Elton Motello and Oakapple Day with some brand new ones by Russian Roulette and the Molting Vultures before finishing with our latest “Band of the Month” the Sonics, who just happen to be touring Australia this month, including playing in Adelaide on the 24th!

.....and here is the full playlist.....

the Black Angels – Never/Ever     (‘Directions to See a Ghost’ 2008 Texas, USA)

the Black Lips – Trapped in a Basement     (‘200MillionThousand’ 2009 USA)

Black Mountain – Evil Ways      (‘In the Future’ 2008 Vancouver, Canada)

Black Heart Procession – A Heart Like Mine     (‘III’ 2000 San Diego, USA)

the Black Ryder – Grass     (demo 2008 Sydney, Australia)

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Weapon of Choice     (‘Baby 81’ 2007 USA)

the Black Hollies – Paisley Pattern Ground     (‘Casting Shadows’ 2008 New Jersey, USA)

Black Cab – Black Angel      (‘Call Sign’ 2009 Melbourne, Australia)

the Bee Gees – Spicks and Specks     (7”single 1966 Australia)

the Alohas – Hot Doggers     ( ‘Adelaide Kustom Kulture Weekend : 2003-2012’ compilation 2012 Australia – orig. released on ‘Get Leid with the Alohas’ 2000)

the B52’s – Strobelight     (‘Wild Planet’ LP 1980 USA)

the Boys Next Door – These Boots are Made for Walking [Lee Hazlewood cover]     (‘Lethal Weapons’ compilation LP 1978 Australia) 

Jab – You Got Soul     (demo 1976 Adelaide, Australia)

the Scoundrelles – Rocket USA [Suicide cover]     (‘Atomic Batteries To Power’ 2008 Australia/UK)

the Human League – Rock & Roll [Gary Glitter cover]     (‘Travelogue’ LP 1980 UK)

Elton Motello – Jet Boy, Jet Girl     (7”single 1977 UK/Belgium)

the Russian Roulettes – Every Time That You Need Me     (‘Physical Education’ 2012 Australia)

the Molting Vultures – Fire Engine [13^th Floor Elevators cover]     (‘Get On Board’ 2012 Adelaide, Australia)

the Vegetable Garden – Hypnotic Suggestion     (7”single 1969 Perth, Australia)

Procession – Mind Magician     (‘Procession’ LP 1968 Australia/UK)

Oakapple Day – Oceans of Fire     (7”single b-side 1969 Australia)

Ola & the Janglers – No-one Knows What Happens Round the Corner     (7”single b-side 1966 Sweden)

the Sonics – Have Love Will Travel [Richard Berry cover]     (‘Here are the Sonics’ LP 1965 USA)   # 

     #   “Band of the Month” 

Obscured By...

Sadly, it's almost a case of "another Obscured By..., another RIP", in this instance for Jimmy Little, who passed away the previous day.  To show that obscurities aren't restricted to any era, a collection of rarities from recent years was also featured, along with a few unexpected tracks such as Rick Wakeman attempting to sound like The Buggles!  Check out a pre-fame Boy George in that video, too.   Some UK punk and Australian post-punk was in the mix, along with the usual Australian rarities from the 1960s.  Starting the show with a song called 'The End' seemed an appropriately obscure concept as well.  That's the way it goes in the Obscured By... world, this week curated by Michael Hunter, later joined by both Cat and Brat.

The Union  The End  (single 1965 / 'Ultimate Garage Band?' EP 1978  Australia)

Wild Cherries  I Am The Sea (Stop Killing Me)  (single 1971 / 'Complete Havoc Singles' 2CD 2008  Australia)

Gil Matthews  Gil's Thing  (single B-side 1971 / 'Complete Havoc Singles'  Aust)

Autumn  Drifting Far Behind  (demo 1969 / 'Comes...Autumn' CD reissue (bonus track) 2010  Aust)

Jimmy Little  Bury Me Deep In Love  '(Resonate' CD  2001  Aust)

Bloody Death Skull  Holding Hands / I Miss My Homeland   ('I's Of March' CD 2011 US)

Buttress O'Kneel  Exhibit W  ('Compact Scipppp' CD 2009  Aust)

Cutthroat Convention  Warui Neko   ('Denizens Of The Bath House' CD 2009 UK)

Death To The Brutes  Death Set  (self titled CD 2010 Europe)

Docteur Legume Et Les Surfwerks  Phibes and Vulnavia, Just Married!   ('La Planete Sauvage :10 Songs About Sex And Psychopathy' CD 2011 Italy)

Flying Lizards  New Voice  ('Fourth Wall' LP 1981 / 2CD reissue of 1st 2 albums, 2010  UK)

The Move  Brontosaurus  (single 1970, 'Very Best Of The Move' comp 2009 UK)

The Special AKA  War Crimes  (single 1982 / 'Best Of The Specials' 2008  UK)

Rick Wakeman  I'm So Straight I'm A Weirdo (single / "Rock & Roll Prophet' LP 1980  UK)

Popol Vuh  Bruder Des Chattens - Sohne Des Lichts  ("The Best Soundtracks from Werner Herzog Films" comp 1992 Germaany)

Voigt/465  State  (single 1979 / 'Inner City Sound' comp 2005 Aust)

Tactics  Long Story  (single 1981 / 'Inner City Sound' comp 2005 Aust)

Whirlywirld   Red River  (self titled EP  1980 / 'Inner City Sound' comp 2005 Aust)

The Scoundrelles  Don't Know Why  ('Atomic Batteries To Power' CD 2008  Aust)

Shelley/Devoto  Till The Stars In His Eyes Are Dead ('Buzzkunst' CD 2001 UK)

Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias  Snuffin' In A Babylon  ('Snuff Rock' EP 1977 / 'Babylon's Burning' comp box set 2007  UK)

The Dodgems  Lord Lucan Is Missing  (single 1978 / 'Babylon's Burning' 2007  UK)

Devil's Dykes  Plastic Flowers (single 1978 / 'Babylon's Burning' 2007  UK)

Dave Goodman & Friends  Justifiable Homicide  (single 1978 / 'Babylon's Burning' 2007  UK)

The Undertones  True Confessions  ('Teenage Kicks' EP 1978 / 'Babylon's Burning' 2007  UK)