Thunder Downunder: 10 Australian Covers Of British 60's Tracks

Of course there's no need to explain the cultural connection between the U.K. and Australia so it's quite understandable that the 60's Australian music scene would be steeped in British trends, styles and sounds. Quite a few bands chose to cover British tracks in the 60's so I thought it would be fun to pick a few, so read on....

 

1. RAY BROWN-"Ivor The Engine Driver" Festival FK-1880 1967

The Who were quite huge in Australia with lots of artists covering their tracks (there's at least three versions of "La La La Lies" that I am aware of). This was a unique choice in trimming down the "Ivor the engine driver" segment of "A Quick One (While He's Away)" from the 1966 "A Quick One" LP. It's raw and adds a certain edge (the drummer does his best to replicate Moon's kit trashing) and there's an interesting "New Vaudeville Band" style to the "response" backing vocals that sets it apart (there's also this ad lib bed news report of a train wreck delivered in vintage style radio broadcasting)! It's available on the compilation of 60's who covers "Who Sings Who By 60's Garage Bands" and streaming as well. 

https://youtu.be/v9V1DgSPVvY?si=Bmgg34O_fW27UXEC

2. TONY WORSLEY-"Ready Steady, Let's Go" E.P. track Sunshine QX-11,197 1966

Aussie artist Tony Worsley took this obscure number by The Craig and included it on his "Raining In My Heart" E.P. He actually manages to inject a bit more vigor than the original with some gritty guitar work, a pulsating mod /go-go '66 groove and catchy call and response vocals. It's available on the compilation "No More Now: Mods N' Sharpies On The Rampage Volume 3". 

3. THE WILD COLONIALS-"Get The Picture" His Master's Voice EA-4784 1966

Way back in the 80's this Pretty Things cover graced the first volume of the essential "Ugly Things" Australian 60's series. Funny enough I knew this version before I'd heard the original! It sticks fairly close to the original but it's juiced up by some nifty fuzz guitar (something Australian 60's records were full of) and sped up just slightly!  Primitive, man. Unfortunately it hasn't been comped since the "Ugly Things" LP. 

https://youtu.be/sx9VjzTlAoo?si=7QvyYlrKMCivGobS

4. ROBBIE PETERS-"She Does Everything For Me" Festival FK-2156 1968

This absolutely balls up frantic cover of The Zombies 1967 B-side stormer is the stuff of legend. Sped up to an almost amphetamine level of intensity it's a non stop blast that clocks in at just two minutes long (the original is 2:18). It's available on Volume Four of the "Diggin' For Gold" 60's series.

https://youtu.be/CjhsA3NMCvY?si=-ZBskyaMF9UDYCZ0

5. THE TWILIGHTS-"What's Wrong With The Way I Live" Columbia DO-4764 1967

Adelaide's Twilights benefited from having two lead singers, Glen Shorrock (who found fame in The Little River Band) and Terry Britten (who penned "What's Love Got To Do With It" and "We Don't Need Another Hero" for Tina Turner). They took this Hollie's LP track from their "For Certain Because" album and recorded it during a trip to the U.K. It's literally a note for note cover of the original right down to the harmonies and banjo but still worth a listen.  It's available on the "Twilight's Time! The Complete 60's recordings" box set and streaming as well.

https://youtu.be/YmSgMbLMqis?si=gmfpxNbp9InT45fx

6. THE D-COYS-"Bad Times" Columbia DO-4712 1966

Duo The D-Coys took this 1964 Roulettes beat track "Bad Time" and turned it on it's head (it's re-titled it "Bad Times") with a serious dose of "ooomph!" : blistering guitars, cow bell and double tracked tandem lead vocals. The guitar solo is pure freakbeat and best of all the original was not released in Australia so props to them for deep digging! It graced the first volume of "Ugly Things" but sadly is not available on streaming.

https://youtu.be/9RDaMBv7884?si=wfffMQhuf5p9Kmwt

7. JEFF ST. JOHN & THE ID-"Big Time Operator"  Spin EK-1606 1966

Blue eyed soul belter Jeff St. John was confined to a wheelchair due to spina bifida but that didn't stop him from being an active performer on the Australian 60's scene and making this Zoot Money his strongest selling release. Though it's pretty much a note for note cover of the original Jeff's vocals are a lot stronger than Zoot Money's (coming off like an Australian Mitch Ryder). It's available on streaming. 

https://youtu.be/yKyp5xko1F8?si=7IGP9ST2nj3AMCtZ

8. TONY WORSLEY-"How Can It Be" LP track "My Time Of Day" Sunshine QL-32,046 1966

Tony Worsley again, this time digging deep with yet another obscure U.K. track that wasn't released in Australia. On this Birds 1965 B-side Worsley and company tear the guts out of it by making it even rawer than the original (hard to be more raw than The Birds but hey they did!), at times it sounds sloppy and chaotic but that's where it's charm lies. It's available on the "Diggin' For Gold Vol. 5 Downunder"comp. 

https://youtu.be/P7GUl9QhfTI?si=0JHEScJbY9I4tJmt

9. MIKE FURBER AND THE BOWERY BOYS-"You Stole My Love" Kommotion KK-1227 1966

British born Mike Furber's story is a sad one. He scored lots of local hits and this moody/moody cover of The Mockingbirds final single was among his many successes. It sticks fairly close to the original (which was not released in Australia) with the tempo just slightly sped up. Furber sadly suffered a nervous breakdown in 1967 before being drafted. An outspoken critic of the Vietnam war he was eventually discharged and unable to regain his musical momentum and eventually taking his own life in 1973.  

https://youtu.be/i-VU2Pgi1N4?si=qb8Ohe9E6bsoF1ho

10. THE VALENTINES-"I Can't Dance With You" Clarion MCK-1773 1967

Best known for being future AC/DC singer Bon Scott's first band, Perth's Valentines issued this Small Faces cover as the flip of their debut single, a version of Arthur Alexander's "Every Day I Have to Cry". Truthfully it's not anything to write home about but they somehow managed to give it a garage band type feel with their bashing.

https://youtu.be/HoXcphD4vQ0?si=iX-YY0q35FkkYTrE