Radio show highlighting Aussie "backroom" talent

[Manning]

Hypothetical question:

Imagine a (community) radio show highlighting "Australian backroom experts" (specifically engineers, producers, songwriters, sidemen/women). The format would be a one hour weekly show featuring samples from their catalog, interspersed with some biographical information and (if possible) an interview.

If this show were to exist, who would be good candidates? I've got a few in mind, but not enough to create a full production run of shows. So I'm canvassing for suggestions.

[HA_DA_JA]

Edited as the above comment has now been more defined.

I asked defining questions to the original 1st draft question above.
Cheers
Dale

[Manning]

It would be an entertainment program on community radio, so it's not targeted at any specific market beyond "the type of people who listen to community radio". (And thus by definition, non-profit)

The format boundaries are pretty wide, eg. other shows on the station range from Eastern European folk music to delta blues to 60's psychedelia to contemporary pop to 50s crooners... all on the same day.

As the idea was raised with me recently, I turned my thought to "what kind of show would I find interesting?", which led me to this.

All shows have to have a thread which holds them together, so rather than focusing on a genre, looking at the expertise behind the music is what fascinates me. Hence people like Mike Chapman and John Farrar seemed like worthwhile subjects.

[jkhuri44]

is that 2rrr? ur thinking of? I've got a mate that runs a show there...and i've had the pleasure of doing some playlists for him, radio is good fun.

[Gillian Lee]

Like Triple J's producer series (sadly discontinued) but more Aus-based?

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/music_specials/producer_series_09/

[GlennS]

Do you mean like Triple J's Producer Series?

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/music_spe ... series_09/

[Manning]

Not just producers, also song-writers, engineers and even sidemen. But yes, Aussie-centric.

Also hopefully a much broader musical palette than JJJ, (as they were largely focused on music relevant to their audience... although Harry Vanda and Scott Horscroft would still be obvious subjects for this show). I'll even put Rick's work on display if he lets me (...and assuming this idea even goes ahead).

And no, not 2RRR (although I'm not getting into a guessing game on this

[rick]

If you can get mike chapman and John farrar
To come and talk to you about making records
I will come and make the tea !

I will bring my blondie and Olivia records along
As well !

I think you will find it personally satisfying manning
But not very viable or sustainable

But go forth , most of the good interview type
Books were made just because !

[Manning]

Hmmm... people seem to be missing the "community" radio aspect - I've had a few questions along the lines of "am I trying to make money from this" and the answer is absolutely not. It's strictly "a bit of fun" - there is no money to be made (even if I had such delusions.)

Community radio is run by volunteers and operates as a non-profit. They are usually happy for any intelligently-put together content.

@Rick - Sadly, I'm not exactly expecting Mike or John to swing by the studio. I will make a genuine attempt to get them on the phone, but when that fails I'll read their Wikipedia articles on air.

As far as Mike Chapman, I was going to play Toni Basil's MIckie. Rick can lead the dancers.

[HA_DA_JA]

Well now that you have defined it more, we understand more where you are going.
Hence the questions at the start to try and define the scope of your idea.

[rick]

Not the first time Toni has come up in conversation
In the last few weeks

Better off if you played a baby animals track
And you could cover me as well

[ChrisW]

Terry Britten (songwriting) lives in London, requires phone in interview I presume.
Rob Hirst (songwriting)
Jim Moginie (songwriting, now producing)
Richard Lush (engineer, producer)
Rex Goh - legendary sideman, studio player, Air Supply.
Tony Mitchell (Sherbert). I toured with him a couple of years ago and he proved to be a goldmine of super interesting and often hilarious anecdotes of the 70's Aussie music scene.

[Chris H]

Spy Mathews would be great to include on the interview list.
Production manager extraordinaire for the mid 70's Supertramp tours which are still regarded by many as among the best sounding tours ever.
He also did some work with Melbourne's Nova Sound. I knew one of the crew on those Supertramp tours and met Spy in the early 80's when LRB did an outdoor gig at a pub in north Tas to test their new PA that Spy put together for them in the USA. I was playing in my brothers band for the support act.
Here is some info about him and the unique way the tours where done and the formation of one of the USA's better production company's Delicate Productions.
http://www.tpimagazine.com/Chronicle/73 ... _club.html

[vege-mity-mite]

I'd have a "stream of conscious type" show, with innovation the central theme. Go from some piece of equipment or technique that was used for the first time, go to who used it on what famous production and with what famous artist, go to the songwriting a drama that went into that production, go into collaboration with other songwriters and their innovative techniques for coming up with ideas... All sprinkled with who slept with who and how it drove everybody mad. Yeah, I'd listen to that!

[Manning]

...in the early 80's when LRB did an outdoor gig at a pub in north Tas...

Hmmm, was that the gig at City Limits in Devonport when Farnsie was the lead singer? I was also at that gig.

[rob]

what about techs? We can talk about whose wires we have joined together

[rick]

I think I washing my hair the week that one goes to air !

[Chris H]

...in the early 80's when LRB did an outdoor gig at a pub in north Tas...

Hmmm, was that the gig at City Limits in Devonport when Farnsie was the lead singer? I was also at that gig.

It was at the Rocky Cape Tavern and Glen Shorrock was still with them, David Briggs on guitar Graeham Gobel guit & BV's,Derek Pellecci, drums. The gig was January 81...i think...maybe 82.

[Manning]

Rocky Cape! Man that was a great venue - I saw quite a few bands there (even played there myself with a Tassie band called Skidrow). But sadly in 1981 I was still only 13, and so I never saw LRB with Shorrock.

It was in 83 that I saw LRB at City Limits in Devonport with Farnsie, and Stephen Housden on guitar. They were still fantastic, but seeing Shorrock would have been great.

[Chris H]

.....by then the band was no longer LRB, and Steve Housden, well that's another whole story that leaves me completely mystified. The original band where such nice guys, perhaps too nice....
Back to rocky cape. It was a great venue that really supported Australian music. There has been some amazing music / bands in Tass over the years but unlike NZ they don't seem to make the move to the mainland that well. Partly I think because many are refugees from the mainland.During that summer I was visiting Tas and my brother Ashley was the drummer in The Foggy Mountain Band. Think, or google Ozark Mountain Daredevils and you will get an idea of where we where coming from. Jerremy Fogarty was the guitarist, an amazing player. They very kindly let me join the band for the summer as I was missing playing music with my bro after he moved to Tass. That year we also played the Basin Concert in Launceston, Mondo Rock where the headline act and during our set my Strat pickup selector went dead and As I was trying to get the dam thing working again, Erick Mc Clusker jumped up on stage and gave me his Strat. Saved the day. The band that blew me away that day was a local outfit called Fourty Fingers led by Sydney legendary bass player Tim Partridge. They where mind blowingly good. Tim had moved to Hobart and had a regular gig at the Hobart Casino. A week or three later after gigging solidly, driving all over nth Tass in the transit van we where the headline act for the Longford Folk Festival Saturday night party. Whoever did the P A really knew their shit ...... Great mixes for every act. After the big night show they gave us a cassette recording from the desk mix and it's a pretty good recording.... I should dig it up.
That's enough reminiscing ........

[Paul Maybury]

The concept for the show is great, and would be a good fit for us here at 3PBSFM.
If we weren't a "Music Only, no talk back or news " station. Having said that, our announcers air interviews regularly.
Our Program Manger, Owen McKern is the person to talk to if you think it could work. We network shows and O.B's with FBI, ZZZ and others via the Community Radio Network.
Cheers,
Paul Maybury
Production Manager PBSFM.

[Manning]

By all means steal the concept!

The radio station I was talking to has gone a bit quiet, so I don't know if it will go ahead or not. I've jotted lots of research ideas down, and you're welcome to those if this discussion peters out.