If there’s one site that loves their Australian pop compilations, it’s the site you’re currently reading.
The man behind some of Australia’s best loved compilation series including ‘Living In The ’70s’, Brent James, returns with the fifth instalment of his ‘Australian Pop Series’ releases; three jam-packed double albums containing some of Australia’s brightest pop nuggets of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.
First up is the ’80s compile (above).
Entitled ‘Like, Wow – Wipeout!’, the double disc set takes its name from the set opener – Hoodoo Gurus’ top 20 hit from 1985. But there’s plenty more classic Aussie names in there… from GANGgajang to The Models, Chantoozies, Men At Work, Koo De Tah’s classic ‘Too Young For Promises’, Indecent Obsession’s ‘Say Goodbye’ and the Jenny Morris classic ‘She Has To Be Loved’, there’s seemingly something for everyone to get their pop chops around.
The Peter Brady of the bunch is ‘Keep On Rockin’, a double disc collection of 45 Aussie pop classics from the 1970s. There are some big names featured here, including Daryl Braithwaite, Johnny O’Keefe, Russell Morris, Ol’55, Sherbet, Doug Parkinson, Richard Clapton and even former ‘Australian Idol’ judge Mark Holden, with his 1976 single ‘I Wanna Make You My Lady’. Even Renee Geyer pops up with her gorgeous ‘Stares And Whispers’.
And even further back in history is the ’60s compilation, entitled ‘Age Of Consent’. There are 41 tracks to be found here; Ronnie Burns’ track providing the title for the release. But you’ll also discover tracks from Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs, The Bee Gees, Little Pattie, The Easybeats, Tony Barber (yes, Tony Barber) and Normie Rowe, as well as The Seekers’ classic ‘The Carnival Is Over’.
The series contains a selection of hard-to-find songs, some of which haven’t been re-issued in decades; some of which are being featured on CD for the very first time.
All three will be released this Friday.