The first year since I've been on this forum that I found nothing worth reporting from Indonesia, Malaysia or Singapore. The records are out there but the sellers seem to think that every record is worth $500 +. They can't sell them though and the same records are sitting there year after year. Meanwhile, postage costs are also absurd.
Fortunately, I did find some good things locally.
Australia
Tony Barber – Someday … Now!, LP. Spin, EL-31,882
I got the Calendar version last year. Glad to have the original Spin release as well.
Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees – Wine And Women/ Follow The Wind. Leedon, LK 1070
Released in 1965 with both songs written by Barry Gibb. The A-side is a strong offering by these still very young brothers. Not a garage stomper by any means but a well-crafted and enjoyable beat-pop song. The B-side is more of a folk-rock sort of thing.
Barry Davies – I Don’t Like To Be Alone/ Love And Money. His Master’s Voice, EA 4652
Cool double ‘A’ side from 1964 with both songs written by Barry Gibb. To my ears, ‘I Don’t Like To Be Alone’ has a Beatlesque ring to it, whereas ‘Love And Money’ has a tougher beat quality. Both top songs, nevertheless.
Jade Hurley – I’m Ashamed Of You/ Gold And Silver. His Master’s Voice, EA 4797
I was surprised to see that the revised Kommotion discography included a single by this old country rock singer, but it turns out that some of his earlier original material wasn’t too bad. The self-penned ‘I’m Ashamed Of You’ is the side you want to hear
Russ Kruger – Keep Me Satisfied/ Tell The Truth. Sunshine, QK 1495
Killer A-side. B-side is so-so. Excellent uncredited backing by The Atlantics.
MPD Limited – No Regrets/ I Won’t Be Back. Go!!, G 5027
MPD Limited – Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder/ I Am What I Am. Go!!, G 5031
MPD Limited – Self-titled, EP. Go!!, GEP 1007
Two great singles. All songs are good, but it’s a close thing between ‘I Am What I Am’ and ‘No Regrets’ as their toughest beat tune on the singles. The songs on the EP are also good, but the EP-only track ‘Her Favourite Song’ is the standout. This is the second of MPD Limited’s two EPS. This one has the cover photograph of the group mounted on camels in front of the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx. Don’t know what it means or how it came about, but it looks great
Johnny Rebb – The Girl Can’t Help It/ Pretty Thing. His Master’s Voice, EA 4691
I expected the Bo Diddley cover on the B-side would be pretty good, but it’s better than that, it’s great. Meanwhile, I didn’t have such high hopes for the A-side, originally made famous by Little Richard. However, the driving bass and the rave up in the middle of this song turn it into a different beast altogether. The Atlantics are superb once again.
The Spinning Wheels – Bo Diddley/ Creepy John. His Master’s Voice, EA 4682
More Bo Diddley and another cool bluesy R n B track. Good harmonica
Various Artists – The Bowl Show starring Normie Rowe, Tony Worsley, Peter Doyle, The Fabulous Blue Jays, The Playboys, Ricky and Tammy, Marcie Jones, Toni McCann. Calendar, R66-66
Fantastic collection originally released on Sunshine in 1965 and reissued the following year on the budget Calendar label, which is my copy. So many goods songs on this LP, but what swung it for me were the two tracks by Toni McCann, ‘My Baby’ and ‘No’. In my opinion, she was one of the toughest female singers of the era. I had more-or-less despaired of ever getting affordable original release copies of her singles, so this contemporaneous compilation is not a bad substitute. I have no idea where the name ‘Bowl Show’ comes from as there is no explanation on the cover. Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne perhaps?
New Zealand
La De Das – On Top Of The World/ Hey Girl. Phillips, PF 338090
Blasting version of the John Mayall original on the A-side and a Small Faces cover on the B-side. Both also found on the La De Das' first LP
US
Marilyn Mattson – You Cheated/ He Means So Much To Me. Allied A-101/A102
A-side can be ignored, but the B-side is top grade garage-pop. I first heard it on one of the Girls In The Garage comps and have been trying to get a copy for years. A certain US seller must have had a 20 count + box of this single, as they seemed to put it up for auction every month or so for a couple of years. Always sold for a price out of my reach. Ended up finding it locally
