Band Members:-
Steve Kipner – Guitar, vocals (?1964-May 67)
Carl Keats aka Carl Groszman – guitar, Vocals (?1964-May 67)
Denis Neville – Bass (?1964-May 67)
Colin Petersen – Drums (?1964-Dec 66)
Alex Hill – Guitar (?1965-May 67)
Geoff Bridgeford – Drums (?late 1966/Early 1967 – May 67)
Record Releases:-
Giggle-Eyed Goo! / Rosalyn (Everybody’s EK-1156) 11-65
*re-released on Spin EK-1156 03-66
Margot / I Just Realised (Spin EK-1271) 03-66
I Call My Woman Hinges Cause She’s Something To Adore/I Want (Spin EK-1381) 06-66
…and The Giggle Eyed Goo LP -1.The Giggle-Eyed Goo! / I’m To Blame / Rosalyn / I’ve Just Realised / Margot / Rosemarie -2.I Want / I Call My Woman Hinges Cause She’s Something To Adore / Little Miss Rhythm & Blues / Farmer John / Love’s Made A Fool Of You / Lonely Winter (Spin EL-31997) ?08-66
Now I’m Older / So Why Pretend (Spin EK-1463) 09-66
Good For Nothing Sue / Sally Was A Good Girl (Spin EK-1570) 11-66
Steve & The Board EP -1.The Giggle Eyed Goo! / Rosalyn -2.Margot / Rosemarie (Spin EX-11134) ??-66
i Call My Woman ‘Hinges’ …Cause She’s Something To Adore EP -1.I Call My Woman Hinges Cause She’s Something To Adore / Farmer John -2.Little Miss Rhythm And Blues / Love’s Made A Fool Of You (Spin EX-11198) ??-66
These conglomerate of articles were first written and published by Bill Casey in his discography book entitled Spin Dried from pages 13, 19 & 24 November 2007 and is copyright © 2007 Bill Casey.
Alex Hill plus his guitar came up to Sydney from Melbourne looking for a band of like-minded rock’n'rollers. A mate of his from Melbourne, a blues purist, suggested he audition with a Queensland quartet, The Board of City Blues. Alex had already met Steve Kipner’s dad, Nat, at The Bowl Nightclub in Castlereagh Street.
‘I went, auditioned, they were good guys and they like me. We were away. Next thing I know we’re in recording studios at nine in the morning, trying to cut a hit record.’ – Alex Hill
Up until October 1965, Steve & The Board had been billed as either The Board of City Blues, or The City Board Blues. The fashion of highlighting the lead singer – in the manner of Ray Brown & The Whispers and Tony Worsley & The Blue Jays – caught up with The Board just before they recorded their first single. Steve Kipner would have preferred it otherwise, just the group’s name, but being featured vocalist conferred no extra privileges.
‘Still had to carry the same amount of gear! Those amps didn’t get lighter just because I was the singer.’ – Steve Kipner
The band was often used as a session band both for recording sessions [editor - mostly at the St Clair's studio] and for pre-recorded television shows. They provided backing for artists who appeared on Bandstand, Saturday Date and other teen music shows of the time.
The Giggle-Eyed Goo!
Although The Board recorded in Sydney, their stomping ground was the club scene in Melbourne. They would stay in freezing hotels, lowlife boarding houses and dubious R&Bs, attracting attention wherever they appeared because of their long hair. Steve Kipner recently recalled:
‘Melbourne was tough. Always somebody wanting to thump you. Adelaide too…we’d only go out in groups of three or more in case a gang jumped us. One time, down in Hobart, we were late for a gig, and the whole dancehall rioted. Two, three hundred people, everywhere they were fighting. It was pretty scary!’
It was around this time Colin Petersen, The Board’s drummer, indicated that he wanted to leave the group and follow his acting career. Colin, who’d starred in the popular film Smiley, had faced some opposition from his parents about being a musician. Everybody’s Magazine eventually reported that his ‘family were not eager for him to appear without his name being featured.’ Colin evaded National Service since an old mate was the examining medical intern – Colin failed the medical and seized the moment. He packed his bags and headed for London.
i Call My Woman 'Hinges' ...Cause She's Something To Adore EP
Steve Kipner recalls that Petersen left the Board after a gig at the 10th Avenue disco in Melbourne – Bridgeford stepped up out of the crowd, played – and was in.
