The Strangers (band)
Encyclopedia
The Strangers was a Melbourne
based Australian band that existed from 1961 to 1975. The band started out playing instrumental songs in a style similar to The Shadows
with influences from Cliff Richard
. The original lineup included Peter Robinson (bass), Graeme ('Garth') Thompson (drums), Laurie Arthur (lead guitar) and Fred Weiland (rhythm guitar). Robinson had previously played with The Thunderbirds, and went on to replace Athol Guy
in The Seekers
from the late 70s.
In 1966 The Strangers became the resident backing band on the Melbourne based teenage television pop show The Go!! Show
in which they appeared each week from 1964 to 1967. After The Go!! Show ended, they became the resident vocal group on HSV-7
's Sunnyside Up program. In all, the band appeared on television at least once a week for nine years straight.
At the end of 1962 they signed with Ron Tudor's W&G Records
after working as studio band for artists including The Seekers
, Frankie Davidson, and Johnny Chester
.
In 1964 they supported Colin Cook and released an LP
called Colin Cook and the Strangers. Charting songs in the Stranger's own name included their first single Cry of the Wild Goose (an instrumental by Terry Gilkyson) / Leavin' Town which was released in January 1963 and reached number 12 on the Melbourne charts. This was followed by three original instrumentals in Torlido / The Outcast and Undertow, which were released in 1963, and two of which reached the Top 40. Other singles included Happy Without You (Kenny Laguna, Shelley Pinz. 1968), Melanie Makes Me Smile (Tony Macaulay, Barry Mason. 1970), Looking Through The Eyes of a Beautiful Girl (1970), If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody (Rudy Clark, 1965) and Western Union (Mike Rabon, Norman Ezell, John Durrill. 1967).
During the mid-1960s, the band changed labels from W&G Records to Go Records
and then to Philips
and finally in 1970 onto Fable.
Arthur left the band in early 1964, and was replaced on lead guitar by John Farrar
who later married Pat Carroll
. Carroll and Olivia Newton-John
appeared on The Go!! Show as singers. Farrar later joined British post-Shadows group Marvin, Welch & Farrar
and then the re-formed Shadows
.
Also in 1964, the band supported Roy Orbison
and Paul and Paula on an Australian tour which featured The Surfaris
and The Beach Boys
. These support gigs influenced some early vocal recordings in Poppa Oom Mow Mow, Sunday Kind of Love, If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody and later In My Room, a Beach Boys ballad.
In February 1967 Terry Walker replaced Fred Weiland, who left to join The Mixtures
.
During 1969 Melanie makes me smile made #16 in Sydney, #9 in Melbourne and #7 in Brisbane.
Later singles included Mr President (Trevor 'Dozy' Davies, John 'Beaky' Dymond, Ian 'Tich' Amey. 1970).
Throughout the band's 14 years, The Strangers underwent numerous membership changes and provided backing for many local and overseas acts. These included: Johnny Farnham, Russell Morris
, Johnny Young
, Neil Sedaka
, Johnny O'Keefe
, The Seekers
, Merv Benton, Ted Mulry
, Lynne Randell
, Ross D. Wylie, Yvonne Barrett
, Grantley Dee, Pat Carroll
, Little Gulliver, Barry Crocker
, Buddy England
, Ronnie Burns, Town Criers, Masters Apprentices, Axiom
, Hans Poulson, Lionel Rose
The Strangers set an exceptional standard for live sound, using the best and 'cleanest' equipment they could procure: German Dynacord microphones and public address systems, multiple guitar effects units, an exponential horn for the bass guitar, and carefully selected and matching guitars (e.g. Rickenbacker
6 and 12 string, Maton
El Toro) and amplifiers.
The Strangers LP/EPs on vinyl
The Strangers cuts on vinyl (with John Farrar)
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
based Australian band that existed from 1961 to 1975. The band started out playing instrumental songs in a style similar to The Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
with influences from Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
. The original lineup included Peter Robinson (bass), Graeme ('Garth') Thompson (drums), Laurie Arthur (lead guitar) and Fred Weiland (rhythm guitar). Robinson had previously played with The Thunderbirds, and went on to replace Athol Guy
Athol Guy
Athol Guy , is a member of the Australian pop music-folk music group The Seekers. Guy played the double bass. He was characterised by his wearing of black horn-rimmed glasses...
in The Seekers
The Seekers
The Seekers are an Australian folk-influenced pop music group which were originally formed in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States...
from the late 70s.
In 1966 The Strangers became the resident backing band on the Melbourne based teenage television pop show The Go!! Show
The Go!! Show
The Go!! Show was a top rating Australian popular music television series which aired on ATV-0 Melbourne from 1964 to 1967, and was produced by DYT Productions at the Channel 0 studios in Nunawading, Victoria....
in which they appeared each week from 1964 to 1967. After The Go!! Show ended, they became the resident vocal group on HSV-7
HSV-7
HSV is a television station in Melbourne. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, and its first and oldest station, having been launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne....
's Sunnyside Up program. In all, the band appeared on television at least once a week for nine years straight.
At the end of 1962 they signed with Ron Tudor's W&G Records
W&G Records
W&G Records was an Australian recording company that operated from the early 1950s to the 1970s. It was a subsidiary of the Melbourne precision engineering company White & Gillespie....
after working as studio band for artists including The Seekers
The Seekers
The Seekers are an Australian folk-influenced pop music group which were originally formed in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States...
, Frankie Davidson, and Johnny Chester
Johnny Chester
Johnny Chester is an Australian singer-songwriter from Melbourne. He started his career singing rock'n'roll and later changed to country music...
.
In 1964 they supported Colin Cook and released an LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
called Colin Cook and the Strangers. Charting songs in the Stranger's own name included their first single Cry of the Wild Goose (an instrumental by Terry Gilkyson) / Leavin' Town which was released in January 1963 and reached number 12 on the Melbourne charts. This was followed by three original instrumentals in Torlido / The Outcast and Undertow, which were released in 1963, and two of which reached the Top 40. Other singles included Happy Without You (Kenny Laguna, Shelley Pinz. 1968), Melanie Makes Me Smile (Tony Macaulay, Barry Mason. 1970), Looking Through The Eyes of a Beautiful Girl (1970), If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody (Rudy Clark, 1965) and Western Union (Mike Rabon, Norman Ezell, John Durrill. 1967).
During the mid-1960s, the band changed labels from W&G Records to Go Records
Go Records
Go Records was a small independent Melbourne based recording label which ran from 1964 to 1968. Its releases were manufactured and distributed by the Melbourne-based recording and electronics company Astor....
and then to Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
and finally in 1970 onto Fable.
Arthur left the band in early 1964, and was replaced on lead guitar by John Farrar
John Farrar
John Farrar is a music producer, songwriter, music arranger, singer and guitarist who is best known for his work with Olivia Newton-John with whom he wrote and produced many hit songs....
who later married Pat Carroll
Pat Carroll (singer)
Pat Carroll is an Australian singer from the 1960s.Carroll began her entertainment career at age eight when she started taking singing and dancing lessons. Appearances on children's TV shows followed by the time she was eleven years old...
. Carroll and Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
appeared on The Go!! Show as singers. Farrar later joined British post-Shadows group Marvin, Welch & Farrar
Marvin, Welch & Farrar
Marvin, Welch & Farrar were a 1970s British and Australian popular music group formed by two members of The Shadows as a change of direction manoeuvre by The Shadows during 1970-73 . The distinction was that while The Shadows were famous for their instrumental work, Marvin Welch & Farrar were a ...
and then the re-formed Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
.
Also in 1964, the band supported Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
and Paul and Paula on an Australian tour which featured The Surfaris
The Surfaris
The Surfaris were an American surf rock band formed in Glendora, California in 1962. They are best known for two songs that hit the charts in the Los Angeles, California area, and nationally by May 1963: "Surfer Joe" on the A-side and "Wipe Out" on the B-side of a 45 RPM single.-Career:The original...
and The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
. These support gigs influenced some early vocal recordings in Poppa Oom Mow Mow, Sunday Kind of Love, If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody and later In My Room, a Beach Boys ballad.
In February 1967 Terry Walker replaced Fred Weiland, who left to join The Mixtures
The Mixtures
-Biography:Australian musicians Terry Dean and Rod De Clerk met in Tasmania in 1965. They then met Laurie Arthur, a member of The Strangers, and the three decided to form a band together after a jam session. They quickly signed to EMI that same year and released three singles. They went through...
.
During 1969 Melanie makes me smile made #16 in Sydney, #9 in Melbourne and #7 in Brisbane.
Later singles included Mr President (Trevor 'Dozy' Davies, John 'Beaky' Dymond, Ian 'Tich' Amey. 1970).
Throughout the band's 14 years, The Strangers underwent numerous membership changes and provided backing for many local and overseas acts. These included: Johnny Farnham, Russell Morris
Russell Morris
Russell Norman Morris is an Australian singer-songwriter who had five Australian Top 10 singles during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
, Johnny Young
Johnny Young
Johnny Young is an Australian singer, composer, record producer, disc jockey, television producer and host. Originally from Netherlands, his family settled in Perth, Western Australia in the early 1950s...
, Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...
, Johnny O'Keefe
Johnny O'Keefe
John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" , "Shout!" and "She's My Baby"...
, The Seekers
The Seekers
The Seekers are an Australian folk-influenced pop music group which were originally formed in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States...
, Merv Benton, Ted Mulry
Ted Mulry
Ted Mulry was a singer, songwriter, bass player and guitarist. He was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England but achieved his success in Australia, firstly as a solo performer, and then leading his own band Ted Mulry Gang, sometimes officially credited as just TMG.-Solo:Ted Mulry first came to the...
, Lynne Randell
Lynne Randell
Lynne Randell was an Australian pop singer. For three years in the mid-1960s she was Australia's most popular female performer and had hits with "Heart" and "Goin' Out of My Head" in 1966, and "Ciao Baby" in 1967. In 1967, Randell toured the United States with The Monkees and performed on-stage...
, Ross D. Wylie, Yvonne Barrett
Yvonne Barrett
Yvonne Frances Barrett was an Australian pop singer who made the Top 40 charts in Melbourne & Sydney and was nationally known for her TV appearances.-Career:...
, Grantley Dee, Pat Carroll
Pat Carroll (singer)
Pat Carroll is an Australian singer from the 1960s.Carroll began her entertainment career at age eight when she started taking singing and dancing lessons. Appearances on children's TV shows followed by the time she was eleven years old...
, Little Gulliver, Barry Crocker
Barry Crocker
Barry Hugh Crocker OAM is a popular Australian singer, with a crooning vocal style.-Biography:...
, Buddy England
Buddy England
Buddy England , was a former member of The Seekers, replacing Bruce Woodley and stayed with them from 1973–1977. He was also a member of the Mixtures from June 1969 – March 1970....
, Ronnie Burns, Town Criers, Masters Apprentices, Axiom
Axiom
In traditional logic, an axiom or postulate is a proposition that is not proven or demonstrated but considered either to be self-evident or to define and delimit the realm of analysis. In other words, an axiom is a logical statement that is assumed to be true...
, Hans Poulson, Lionel Rose
Lionel Rose
Lionel Edmund Rose MBE was an Australian bantamweight boxer, the first Indigenous Australian to win a world title.-Early life:...
The Strangers set an exceptional standard for live sound, using the best and 'cleanest' equipment they could procure: German Dynacord microphones and public address systems, multiple guitar effects units, an exponential horn for the bass guitar, and carefully selected and matching guitars (e.g. Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
6 and 12 string, Maton
Maton
Maton is an Australian manufacturer of guitars and other fretted musical instruments.Maton was founded in 1946 as the Maton Musical Instruments Company by Bill May and his brother Reg...
El Toro) and amplifiers.
Discography
The Strangers CDs- Best of The Strangers
- Bobby & Laurie
- Colin Cook & The Strangers
The Strangers LP/EPs on vinyl
- The Strangers
- Best of The (original) Strangers
- Let's go with The Strangers
- Colin Cook and The Strangers
The Strangers cuts on vinyl (with John Farrar)
- Poppa oom mow mow
- Sunday kind of love
- If you gotta make a fool of somebody
- Let's go Let's go Let's go
- In my room
- Never on a Sunday
- Put yourself in my place
- Fever
- Western union
- Cool jerk
- Happy without you
- Take the time
- Lady Scorpio
- California soul
- Sweet September
- Paper cup
- Melanie makes me smile
- If you think you’re groovy
- Walkin’
- Fun fun fun
- Stagecoach
- Matchbox
- I call your name
- Blues by five
- Bend me shape me
- Elenore
- I say a little prayer
- Will you still love me tomorrow
- I can hear music
- Paperback writer
- Little deuce coupe
- Little St Nick
- Standing in the shadows of love
- I’ve got you under my skin
- Proud Mary
- Sandy
- Do it again
- Good vibrations
- Windows in your eyes
External links
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DENCDEGSNYHappy Without You (1968) video at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
]. (the song reached #8 nationally)