Greedy Smith
Encyclopedia
Greedy Smith is the pseudonym of Andrew McArthur Smith or Andy Smith (born 16 January 1956, Sydney, New South Wales), who is a vocalist, keyboardist
, harmonicist
and songwriter
with Australian pop
/R&B band Mental As Anything
. Smith wrote many of their hit songs including "Live it Up" which peaked at #2 on the Australian singles chart
. Smith has a solo music career, he has worked with other bands and is also an artist
and television personality.
captain Allan Border
. Showing an interest in Art he moved on to the East Sydney Technical College (now known as the National Art School
) in Darlinghurst in the mid-1970s while also holding down a part time job as a bottle shop attendant. At college he met fellow students, Martin Murphy
, Chris O'Doherty
, David Twohill
and Steve Coburn, whose band, Mental As Anything
, had been playing art school parties and dances since May 1976. While playing harmonica
in another band at the time, Smith started appearing on stage with Mental As Anything from around December. He was eventually cajoled fellow Mental As Anything members to learn keyboards
on an old wedding reception organ to fill out their sound and he quit his other band.
and have exhibited their artworks since 1982. Although Smith is not as well known an artist as Reg Mombassa
, his best known artwork is from his Storm Clouds Over the Piazza series that was exhibited at the Mentals III travelling art exhibition in 1997. These portraits are based on his legendary unfinished novel of the same name, a rambling WWII saga that he used to mention in interviews but is actually fictional in itself.
prior to going on stage. He was however still billed as Andy Smith on a promotional photo from early 1979.
' Close to You
. Rock historian, Ian McFarlane, described Love Harmonica as an album of "easy-listening love songs that featured latin, pop and jazz rhythms with lush harmonica as the lead instrument."
and in the early 1990s he hosted Tonight Live With Steve Vizard
for a week in the absence of the regular host. He has more recently appeared regularly on the music quiz show Spicks and Specks.
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, harmonicist
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
with Australian pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
/R&B band Mental As Anything
Mental As Anything
Mental As Anything are an Australian New Wave–rock music band formed at an art school in Sydney in 1976. Their most popular line-up was Martin Plaza on vocals and guitar; Reg Mombassa on lead guitar and vocals; his brother Peter "Yoga Dog" O'Doherty on bass guitar and vocals; Wayne "Bird"...
. Smith wrote many of their hit songs including "Live it Up" which peaked at #2 on the Australian singles chart
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
. Smith has a solo music career, he has worked with other bands and is also an artist
Visual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
and television personality.
Early life
Born Andrew McArthur Smith in Sydney, Australia on 16 January 1956, he later attended North Sydney Boys High in the same year group as future Australian cricketAustralian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
captain Allan Border
Allan Border
Allan Robert Border AO is a former Australian cricketer. A batsman, Border was for many years the captain of the Australian team. His playing nickname was "A.B.". He played 156 Test matches in his career, a record until it was passed by fellow Australian Steve Waugh...
. Showing an interest in Art he moved on to the East Sydney Technical College (now known as the National Art School
National Art School
The National Art School is an art school in Sydney, Australia. It is a Public Company Limited by Guarantee with a board of directors. It has Institutional Registration and Course Accreditation supported by the DET Higher Education Directorate....
) in Darlinghurst in the mid-1970s while also holding down a part time job as a bottle shop attendant. At college he met fellow students, Martin Murphy
Martin Plaza
Martin Plaza is the pseudonym of Martin Edward Murphy , who is a vocalist/guitarist/songwriter with Australian pop/R&B band Mental As Anything. Plaza also has a solo music career and in 1986 had a #2 hit in Australia with his cover of the 1960s Unit 4+2 song "Concrete and Clay"...
, Chris O'Doherty
Reg Mombassa
Reg Mombassa is the pseudonym of Chris O'Doherty, a New Zealand born artist and musician. Resident in Australia, he is as well known there for his musical exploits — founder and former member of the popular Australian band Mental As Anything and member of Dog Trumpet - as he is for his art...
, David Twohill
David Twohill
David Twohill is a musician formerly with Australian band Mental As Anything who is also known by the pseudonym Wayne DeLisle or as Bird.-Early life:...
and Steve Coburn, whose band, Mental As Anything
Mental As Anything
Mental As Anything are an Australian New Wave–rock music band formed at an art school in Sydney in 1976. Their most popular line-up was Martin Plaza on vocals and guitar; Reg Mombassa on lead guitar and vocals; his brother Peter "Yoga Dog" O'Doherty on bass guitar and vocals; Wayne "Bird"...
, had been playing art school parties and dances since May 1976. While playing harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
in another band at the time, Smith started appearing on stage with Mental As Anything from around December. He was eventually cajoled fellow Mental As Anything members to learn keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
on an old wedding reception organ to fill out their sound and he quit his other band.
Art career
All early members of Mental As Anything are also artistsVisual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
and have exhibited their artworks since 1982. Although Smith is not as well known an artist as Reg Mombassa
Reg Mombassa
Reg Mombassa is the pseudonym of Chris O'Doherty, a New Zealand born artist and musician. Resident in Australia, he is as well known there for his musical exploits — founder and former member of the popular Australian band Mental As Anything and member of Dog Trumpet - as he is for his art...
, his best known artwork is from his Storm Clouds Over the Piazza series that was exhibited at the Mentals III travelling art exhibition in 1997. These portraits are based on his legendary unfinished novel of the same name, a rambling WWII saga that he used to mention in interviews but is actually fictional in itself.
Nickname
Smith acquired the nickname Greedy around 1978 or 1979 when before a Mental As Anything show he demolished the better part of a bucket of KFCKFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
prior to going on stage. He was however still billed as Andy Smith on a promotional photo from early 1979.
Solo & side projects
In 1982, Smith played with Twohill in a group called The Space Shuttle Ramblers that recorded an EP, however the tapes were destroyed in a studio flood prior to release. In 1992, during the Mental As Anything sabbatical he formed a side group called Greedy's On The Loose that played gigs and recorded however no product was released. In 1996 he recorded a solo album Love Harmonica for TWA in his home studio, this led to live work with a band dubbed Greedy's People and the re-recording in full band mode and subsequent re-release of the album. This new version of the album also on TWA, retitled Greedy's People, included a bonus recording of The CarpentersThe Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
' Close to You
(They Long to Be) Close to You
" Close to You" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was first recorded by Richard Chamberlain and released as a single in 1963 as "They Long to Be Close to You," without parentheses. However, it was the single's flip side, "Blue Guitar," that became a hit...
. Rock historian, Ian McFarlane, described Love Harmonica as an album of "easy-listening love songs that featured latin, pop and jazz rhythms with lush harmonica as the lead instrument."
Media work
As the most gregarious member of Mental As Anything, in the early days he was often relied upon to give interviews for TV, radio and press. This led to further media opportunities such as hosting episodes and segments of the music shows Countdown, including the associated Countdown Awards, and Sounds. In the late 1980s he was often a judge on the "Red Faces" segment of Hey Hey It's SaturdayHey Hey It's Saturday
Hey Hey It's Saturday was a long-running variety television program on Australian television. It initially ran for 27 years , debuting on the Nine Network on 9 October 1971 and broadcasting its last episode on 20 November 1999. Its host throughout its entire run was Daryl Somers, who would later...
and in the early 1990s he hosted Tonight Live With Steve Vizard
Tonight Live With Steve Vizard
Tonight Live with Steve Vizard was a nightly Australian comedy chat show broadcast on Seven Network in Australia. It was a one hour live studio based show broadcast nationally 5 nights a week from February 1990 to November 1993, usually commencing at 10.30 pm every week night...
for a week in the absence of the regular host. He has more recently appeared regularly on the music quiz show Spicks and Specks.
Singles
- "Time Heals All Wounds" - TWA (September, 1996)
- "Always Thinking of You" - TWA (February, 1997)