Autumn (Australian band)
Autumn | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sydney, Australia |
| Genres | Pop |
| Years active | 1969–1972 |
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Autumn were an Australian pop music band formed in 1969. By August 1970 their line-up of Glen Beatson on drums, Rick Graham on bass guitar, Greg Jacques on organ, Steve McMurray on guitar and Tony Romeril on lead vocals had released their cover version of "Yellow River" as a single. It had originally been recorded by United Kingdom band, Christie (April 1970). Fellow Australian band, Jigsaw also released a cover version at about the same time as Autumn, as did English singer, Leapy Lee. In late October 1970, "Yellow River", co-credited to Autumn, Jigsaw, Christie, and Lee, reached No. 1 on the Go-Set National Top 60. Neither the original Christie version or Lee's version were played on Australian commercial radio or TV due to the 1970 radio ban (which was in place from May to October). Autumn had top 40 hits with "Looking Through the Eyes of a Beautiful Girl" (January 1971), "She Works in a Woman's Way" (February) and "Falling" (May). They released two albums, Song to Raymondo and Comes Autumn, both in 1971 before disbanding early in the following year.
History
Autumn were a pop music band, which formed in Sydney in 1969.[1][2] Their debut single, "Mr Henry's Lollipop Shoppe", was released early in the following year via EMI/Columbia.[1][2] They were signed to Chart Records during the 1970 radio ban, which had started in May as a "pay for play" dispute between major record labels and commercial radio stations.[1][3]
Autumn's second single, "Yellow River" (August 1970), was a cover version of United Kingdom band, Christie's single from April,[4] which was not played on commercial radio due to the ban.[1][3] An English singer, Leapy Lee, also issued a cover version, as did Melbourne-based group, Jigsaw.[4][5] For Autumn's recording the line-up was Glen Beatson on drums, Rick Graham on bass guitar, Greg Jacques on organ, Steve McMurray on guitar and Tony Romeril on lead vocals.[1] After ten weeks on the Go-Set National Top 60, it peaked at No. 1 and was co-credited to all four artists: Autumn, Jigsaw, Christie and Lee.[5] The radio ban had ended the week before.[3]
"Looking Through the Eyes of a Beautiful Girl" (January 1971) was their next charting hit, which reached No. 24.[1][6] They were also the backing band for Dave Allenby, a cabaret singer, who issued a cover version of UK group Edison Lighthouse's "She Works in a Woman's Way".[1][7] It reached the top 40 in February and was co-credited to Allenby and Edison Lighthouse – at the same time "Yellow River" and "Looking Through the Eyes of a Beautiful Girl" were still in the top 40.[6] Autumn issued their debut album, Song to Raymondo, in that year.[1][2]
By April 1971 Jacques was replaced on guitar by Alan Marshall (ex-Hot Cottage) and the new line-up released another charting single, "Falling", which also peaked in the top 40.[1][8] Their second album, Comes Autumn, appeared later that year via Warner.[1] At the end of 1971 Charlie Wright joined on piano and organ. The group travelled to the UK but disbanded there early in 1972.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Autumn'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004.
- ^ a b c Kimball, Duncan (2002). "Autumn". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ a b c Kent, David Martin (September 2002). "Appendix 6: The Record Ban". The place of Go-Set in rock and pop music culture in Australia, 1966 to 1974 (PDF) (MA). Canberra, ACT: University of Canberra. pp. 265–269. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ a b Nuttall, Lyn. "'Yellow River' - Autumn". Where Did They Get That Song?. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ a b Nimmervoll, Ed (31 October 1970). "National Top 60". Go-Set. Waverley Press. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ a b Nimmervoll, Ed (6 February 1971). "National Top 60". Go-Set. Waverley Press. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ Nuttall, Lyn. "'She Works in a Woman's Way' - Dave Allenby with Autumn". Where Did They Get That Song?. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ Nimmervoll, Ed (21 August 1971). "National Top 60". Go-Set. Waverley Press. Retrieved 8 December 2020.