Music Samples - fragments recorded before the Great Fire of '95

A few tracks survived on cassette after the fire that destroyed my house and studio in 1995.

So I virtually don't exist before that date now, as far as recordings go, except for these humble gems.

These tracks have been compressed to medium quality mono mp3s.

Tapestry

Tapestry - a ballad (2,243 kb). I wrote this some time way, waaay back in the seventies, and finally got around to making a quicko recording one afternoon about 20 years later, after I finished producing a demonstration tape for the gifted Lisa Spence (vocalist with my band 'Giant Steps' during the 80s).

Dr. Fred Cole (piano on this track) dropped in just before Lisa dashed off to catch a plane, and they learnt and recorded the song in about 30 minutes.

This raw but emotive version of my trusty old song deserves to be heard by the world.

Daughter of Eve.

This track was recorded at Big Toe Studios in Mullumbimby. Vocals by Morika Elek, Tony Buchanan - sax, Dave Sanders - drums, Jack Thorncraft - bass, Dave Fenel - piano, engineer - John Sayers, producer - me.

This song was originally composed as part of the incidental music for a production of Grant Frazer's hit comedy play "Summertime Blues" at La Boite Theatre, Brisbane (directed by Mary Hickson). Rather than try to match the light comic wit of the author, I went for a dark, smokey blues style as a contrast. The play was set in a bar, but was a trifle short, and the director had the idea of using a bar singer to add a little piquancy.

Lisa Spence auditioned for the role as the singer, and as soon as I heard her I was won over by her amazing talent (that's her on the previous track "Tapestry).

This version was sung by the sultry Morika Elek. (2,521 kb).

Go Down Slow

A second track from "Summertime Blues" recorded with the same personelle, and again featuring the sexy jazz blues vocals of Morika Elek (Morika performed these songs when supporting James Morrison at the old Byron Bay Epicentre, about January 1997).

Owl's Song

(2,151kb) This track features the vocals of theatre legend Reg Livermore. A rare track indeed - should be in a museum. It was recorded at Albert's old King Street studios in Sydney, way back in the 70's, as part of the kids album I wrote called "Magical Frank". Me on guitar and flute. The frogs were recorded at my family's long-time home at Dee Why, so this is nostalgia plus.

The album was never released as Albert's put a lot of projects on hold when AC/DC's "Back in Black" took the world by storm, and then later Ted Albert sadly passed away...so it's still in their vaults somewhere....