Band Members:-
Dave Yelland – vocals
Ian Nancarrow – vocals & guitar
Rick Harrison – guitar
Jeff Gurr – bass
Steve Hopgood – drums
Record Release:-
Dancing Girl / Sharade Blues (Leedon LK-1523) 10-66
Look Through My Window / Why Can She Be Mine (Unreleased tracks) c.67
Band Members:-
John McDonald – Rhythm Guitar (1963-late 1965)
Barry McInnes – Drums (1963-late 1966)
Errol Holland – Organ & Saxophone (1963-late 1966)
Derek Hale – Bass (1963-late 1966)
Bill Baxter – Lead Guitar (1963-late 1966)
Ferdy Van Der Riet – Vocals (1964-?June 1966)
Colin Vincent – Rhythm Guitar (late 1965-late 1966)
Record Releases:-
Sixteen Tons/Well, All Right (Leedon LK-1252) 02-66
The Record (Baby I Love You)/You Don’t Love Me (Leedon LK-1316) 04-66
This article appeared on pages 34 and 35 of the The Livin’ End #1, September 1983. Article was written & published by Dean Mittelhauser.
The Sonomatics were formed in 1963, as an instrumental group, in Horsham, Victoria. Their lineup at the time was John McDonal (r. gtr) Barry McInnes (drums) Errol Holland (organ, sax) Derek Hale (b. gtr) and Bill Baxter (l. gtr).
They were, as so many hundreds of bands worldwide were, influenced by the Shadows…! When the Fab Four hit, things changed. They conscripted Ferdy Van Der Riet, then a fairly successful (local) solo artist to handle their vocal chores. With the change of style they became one of the the region’s most popular bands.
Early in 1965 they entered and won a TV talent contest being conducted by the local TV station, BTV6. In the process they beat 80 other participants, and for thier troubles won a stereo. Not really the best sort of prize for six guys to share!
Ferdy, their vocalists says “It was around this time that we were approached by a local guy (I was later to find out he was an ex-insurance salesman!) who gaves us the old line “OK fellas, I’m gonna make you into stars”. Yeah, he was the man with the big cigar. I think he saw himself as another Brian Epstein.”
Their newly found manager, lurking under the unlikely name of K.Barrymore-Roberts, poked around in Melbourne and late in ’65, after scroing a contract with FESTIVAL records, they journeyed to Melbourne. McDonald left at this stage, not willing to make the move to “the big smoke”, and was replaced by Colin Vincent.
Once in Melbourne they picked up quite a bit of live work and even become semi-regulars on KOMMOTION. Through contacts with Dunn Lunn on 3UZ, their first single ‘Sixteen Tons’ released in February ’66, got reasonable airplay and dented the Melbourne charts.
Sixteen Tons
Go Set magazine, in reveiwing the 45 said “The group shows great potential and class but their choice of song is unfortunate”.
Ferdy: “Back then the trend was to do covers. Look at Normie Rowe! Every single he released was a cover. We had over thirty original songs that we could’ve done but we decided to go with ‘Sixteen Tons’.”
On stage the band were known for their versatility and diversity. From the obvious Beatles/Stones covers they also covered gear by the Kinks/Searchers and Animals, as well as obscure, the unknown artists (at least in Australia), such as Roy Head & The Traits. Live, they were very popular, particularly at the now legendary ODD MOD and THUMPIN’ TUM discotheques.
In April 1966 they released their second single, ‘The Record (Baby I Love You)’, a much tighter 45 than the first, with an overall “tougher” sound. Even so it promptly bombed and the next couple of months were a period of uncertainty for the band, not helped by K.Barrymore’s continual suggestions that Ferdy quit the band and go solo. Eventually he did leave, a venture which proved disastrous for both the band and him.
The rest of the band floundered on with both Bill and Colin alternating on vocals, but any direction they might’ve had was gone, and late in 1966 they folded.
Ferdy’s solo career followed pretty much the same path. He did do, a few gigs with a backing band but nothing came of them.
Contrary to popular (?) belief the band were always known as The Sonomatics, although the first single originally came out labelled as Ferdy & the Sonomatics, before subsequently being withdrawn and changed back to The Sonomatics.
This article appeared on page 27 of the The Livin’ End #6, July 1986. Article was written & published by Dean Mittelhauser.
Band Members:-
Nick Barlow – Guitar (1965)
Harry Brus – Bass Guitar
Chris Carroll – Guitar
Dally Carroll – Drums
Johnny Caves – Vocals (1966)
Les Tuite – Vocals (1965)
Record Release:-
Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby/You’d Better Mind (Leedon LK-1203) 01-66
Allegedly the Amazons idolised BillyThorpe & The Aztecs. So I s’pose it ain’t surprising that name is similiar, “You’s Better Mind” is written by Tony Barber, or that their vocalists sounds remarkably like a cross between Thorpie & Barber.
Ain't That Lovin' You Baby
Of course , “Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby” is on “So You Want To Be A Rock’n'Roll Star Vol:1″, and it’s pretty good, albeit typical cover. Being the Tony Barber fan that I am, “You’d Better Mind” is of particular interest to me. Personally, I think it’s more reminiscent of an early Easybeats rather than Billy Thorpe, but that’s probably just splitting hairs. Though it’s no great shakes the Amazons sheer exuberance seems to pull it outta the mire and Barber’s usual dumb lyrics are typically stoopid, but cute, as ever.
their lead singer, Johnny Caves, later emerged in the mid 70′s as William Shakespeare.
April Byron c.1965-66
Record Releases:-
He’s My Bobby/Make The World Go Away (Leedon LK-606) ?05-64
Listen Closely/What’s A Girl To Do (Leedon LK-905) ??-65
He’s A Thief/A Long Time Ago (Downunder UK-1513) 10-66
You Go Ahead Baby/See You Sam (CBS BA-221463) ??-67
The Ultimate Biography of the Bee Gees: Tales of the Brothers Gibb by Hector Cook, Melinda Bilyeu, Andrew Mon Hughes, Joseph Brennan, Mark Crohan was extensively referenced for the article. Published by Omnibus Press, 2004.
Born in Adelaide, April Elizabeth Potts was discovered by no other than Johnny O’Keefe who persuaded her to leave school early and take up her hobby as a full-time career in Melbourne. Her new manager, Horrie Dargie, patiently groomed her for stardom, and was rewarded when as April Byron, she had a big hit in May 1964 with Make The World Go Away, an Eddie Cochran cover. By the way the B side, He’s My Bobby was written by April herself. She became much in demand for television appearances, as well as live performances at discotheque dances and hotels. Her follow-up Leedon single, Listen Closely, was backed with What’s A Girl To Do which was co-written by April herself with Bill Shepherd. It was likely that it was Shepherd who introduced her to the Gibb brothers at the Hurtsville Studios.
He's A Thief
The next release was He’s A Thief backed with A Long Time Ago on the Downunder label. Produced by Ossie Byrne and Nat Kipner, side A’s He’s A Thief was co-written by Maurice Gibb & Nat Kipner, whilst side B’s A Long Time Ago was written by Barry Gibb. As with all Downunder records it sold poorly and the artists cut (which was small) probably went to Ossie Byrne to help him recover the costs in producing the record.
I don’t know much about April’s last 45 on CBS, if you know please email me. The address is on the about page.
Band Members:-
Baden Hutchins – Drums (late 1964 – July 1965; ?66)
Peter Ellison – Guitar (late 1964- July 1965)
Tony Hamilton – Guitar (late 1964 – July 1965)
Ian Thomas – Bass (late 1964 – July 1965; ?66-67)
Record Releases:-
Don’t Deceive / So Far Away (Leedon LK-957) 06-65
Naughty Girl / Too Much Monkey Business (Leedon LK-1008) 07-65
Don't Deceive
Naughty Girl