Awesome Aussie Songs

This episode is on one of the true pioneers of Australian music, Digby Richards and his 1972 hit song A Little Piece of Peace. When released as a single by RCA Records in June 1971, A Little Piece of Peace reached 14 on the Australian charts – a dozens years after his first hit record, Digby was back on the charts again. Sadly, Digby died in 1983 of pancreatic cancer, he was just 42-years-old. His musical legacy lives on and we hope this episode pays tribute to his contribution to Australian music. Our special guest is Digby's former drummer and friend Leon Isackson, as well as Digby's younger brother Doug Richards.    

In the early days of Rock 'n' Roll, Dig Richards & the R'Jays were one of the biggest bands in the land. With his movie-star good looks, Dig was Australia's very first teenage idol, and with his band the R'Jays, they were at the forefront of the Rock 'n' Roll revolution in in Australia. They were the first Aussie band to release a full-length album through Festival Records and as a live act, they were as popular as any local band. They also appeared on many of  Lee Gordon’s Big Shows and they played alongside the touring American superstars, more than holding their own.

This episode is on Skyhooks and their classic hit Horror Movie. The song was released in December 1974 and became the bands first No.1 single. Our specials guests are Skyhooks guitarist Bongo Starkie and the bands producer, the legendary Ross Wilson.

Skyhooks first hit the charts with their debut single Living in the 70’s. This episode takes a look at this song and the early years of the band. Our special guest is Skyhooks guitarist Bob “Bongo” Starkie.

In the Mid 1960’s Ray Brown and The Whispers were as big as any other band in Australia. Their popularity rivalled that of Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs and The Easybeats. Incredibly the bands first three singles went straight to the top, going all the way to number 1 on the Sydney charts. The bands fourth single reached number 2.  They may not hold the reverence as a band that they once did, however, for many fans of the day, Ray Brown and The Whispers are still regarded as one of our finest bands of the time. Thanks to The Whispers guitarist Lawrie Barclay for the use of his memoirs for this episode and thank you to Dean Mackin for providing the voice of Lawrie.

We take a look at Air Supply’s breakthrough international hit Lost in Love. This is our second episode on the band, one of the most successful acts to come out of Australia. Our special guest is Air Supply’s hugely talented lead singer Russell Hitchcock.

To coincide with the release of our latest episode, Lost in Love by Air Supply, we have reissued our first episode that focuses on the bands early days and their debut hit single Love and Other Bruises.

This is a reissue of our Bye Bye Baby episode, originally recorded in 2020. We have decided to re-release our first episode on the band, to coincide with the release of our episode on Col Joye and the Joy Boys next big hit, Rockin Rollin Clementine.   Our special guest is Col Joye 

Its mid-1959 and Col Joy and the Joye Boys had just created history, becoming the very first Australian rock band to make it to number 1 on the charts with the release of Bye Bye Baby. It was now time to follow up the No.1 and the pressure was on. The band came up with another early classic of Australian music Rockin Rollin Clementine. Our special guest is Col Joye.

This episode is on the band Chocolate Starfish and their reworking of the Carly Simon song ‘You’re So Vain”. Our Special Guest is the bands frontman, Adam Thompson.