M4U(BILLY THORPE/AZTECS-With Poison Ivy/Johnny Noble-LP

	A$		57
	$		38

music4ewe store


DESCRIPTION ITEM: VINYL LP
ARTIST: BILLY THORPE & THE AZTECS
TITLE: With Poison Ivy & Introducing Johnny Noble
COUNTRY PRINTED: OZ
CAT No: LINDA LEE, HL-31391
COVER: (Grade at VG-) small spine split & sticker residue front cvr & very small biro back cvr;
LABELS: (Grade at NEAR MINT)
VINYL: (Grade at VG) many light marks; no deep or feelable scratches
TRACKS: See scans
REVIEW: Micko
You might even say Introducing Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs too as this was the first album to bear their name. However by this stage, after just 2 singles including a monster #1 hit (Blue Day & Poison Ivy), the band had left the small independent Linda Lee label for greener pastures at Parlophone. So what to do?

The Aztecs had released a single before Billy & Tony Barber had joined called "Smoke & Stack" b/w "Board Boogie". Combined with both sides of the above Billy fronted singles that took care of side one for Festival/Linda Lee.

But how about Side 2? Well with the Beatles hitting big & instrumental bands fading away, when the Aztecs were first looking for a singer to front the band, they chose Johnny Noble. He made several concert appearances with them & had even started recording with The Aztecs. However Noble soon decided he wanted to go it alone. So Festival simply used some Johnny Noble tracks for the 2nd side of the album.

Now it get's confusing tho. On one of his singles also included on this album, backing is credited to The Mods, as is one other track here. The others are with the ATN Orchestra & Choir. What I don't know is whether "The Mods" are in fact The Aztecs under a pseudonym.

Another interesting point is that despite Johnny isssuing 6 singles on Linda Lee, only one "That'll Be Alright/"This Little Girl" is included here. The other tracks are the rock standards Mean Woman Blues (also with "The Mods"), Ruby Baby, Be Bop A Lula & It's All In The Game. His only charting single "Lonely City" is not included.

COMMENT: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Beginning
Originally a four-piece instrumental group who had put out one surfing instrumental, "Smoke & Stack", they formed in Sydney in 1963. With the advent of the Merseybeat sound, they added a lead singer, Billy Thorpe. His powerful voice and showmanship (which made him one of the most popular and respected rock performers in Australian music), completed the original line-up, which consisted of drummer Col Baigent, bassist John "Bluey" Watson and guitarists Tony Barber and Vince Maloney (who later played with The Bee Gees).

Chart success
The group broke through in mid-1964 with a massive nationwide hit, their cover of the Leiber and Stoller classic "Poison Ivy", which famously ousted The Beatles from the #1 spot on the Sydney charts at the very moment that the group was making its first and only tour of Australia -- a feat which resulted in Thorpe being invited to meet the Fab Four at their hotel. Over the next twelve months the band reigned supreme as the most popular 'beat' group in Australia, scoring further hits with the songs "Mashed Potato", "Sick And Tired" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", until they were eclipsed by the emergence of The Easybeats in 1965.

During 1965 the original Aztecs quit after a financial dispute, so Thorpe put together a new five-piece version consisting of drummer Johnny Dick, pianist Jimmy Taylor, guitarists Col Risby and Mike Downes and NZ-born bassist Teddy Toi. This group performed until 1966, scoring further hits with "Twilight Time", "Hallelujah I Love Her So", "Love Letters" and "Word For Today".

Thorpe went solo in 1967 and for a brief time he hosted his own TV pop show, It's All Happening, but personal problems and a widely publicised bankruptcy brought this phase of his career to an end in 1968. but then as he went solo he became more of an outcast

New Style, New Lineup
In 1969 Thorpe decided to try England, after being offered a recording deal by the Australian-born, London-based impresario Robert Stigwood, who had risen to become manager of The Bee Gees and Cream. While rehearsing a backing band in Melbourne that would form the basis for a new Aztecs, the guitarist unexpectedly dropped out, leaving Thorpe to assume lead guitar role at short notice. It marked another turning point in his career and from this point on Thorpe played lead guitar in The Aztecs as well as continuing as lead vocalist. His planned six-week stay in Melbourne soon stretched into months and eventually Thorpe decided to remain in Australia and re-launch his career.

Thorpe himself openly acknowledges that this new 'heavy' version of the Aztecs owes much to 'guitar hero' Lobby Loyde. Lloyde already had a cult following due to his stints in two of the most original Australian bands of the Sixties, The Purple Hearts and The Wild Cherries. While his stint in the new Aztecs was short (only a few months), his musical influence proved crucial in steering Thorpe in a completely new direction, and he strongly encouraged Thorpe to keep playing guitar.

The new Aztecs' blues-based heavy-rock repertoire was dramatically different in style from the original group, and they quickly became famous (or notorious) for the ear-splitting volume at which they played. Thorpe had also drastically changed his appearance -- he grew a beard, often wore his now shoulder-length hair braided in a pigtail, and he had long since traded the tailored suits for jeans and t-shirts. Needless to say this did not endear to people who came to the shows expecting the 'old' Billy Thorpe of the "Poison Ivy" era, and this led to sometimes violent confrontations with disgruntled fans and promoters.

Their breakthrough recording was an ambitious album, The Hoax Is Over, recorded in September 1970 with new drummer Kevin Murphy. The album was an unequivocal signal of the Aztecs' new direction, containing only four tracks, three of which were Thorpe originals. The LP is dominated by two extended tracks: a version of Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "Gangster Of Love", which clocked in at 24:35 and ran the entire length of Side 1 (an unprecedented move in Australian pop music) and Thorpe's own "Mississippi" which ran 19'35". According to Thorpe, the band (which at this time comprising himself, Murphy, pianist Warren Morgan, guitar legend Lobby Loyde and bassist Paul Wheeler), were all high on LSD and jammed continuously while engineer Ernie Rose just let the tapes roll. The result heralded the fully-fledged arrival of the new Aztecs and live shows at Melbourne venues consolidated the band's reputation and drew enthusiastic responses.

VINYL GRADING SYSTEM

MINT:
RECORD: New condition with no surface marks or loss of sound quality.
COVER: New condition with no surface marks, creases or wear.
NEAR MINT:
RECORD: Barely noticeable surface mark with no loss of sound quality.
COVER: Barely noticeable surface mark/ wear.
EXCELLENT:
RECORD: Some signs of being played with extremely little if no loss of sound quality.
COVER: Slight wear or creasing.
VERY GOOD:
RECORD: Obviously been played with noticeable surface marks & the occasional light scratches but exhibits no major loss of sound quality.
COVER: Noticeable wear on cover, seam or spine.
GOOD:
RECORD: Very obviously been played with very noticeable surface marks & exhibits major loss of sound quality.
COVER: Noticeable folding, scuffing of spine or edges, splits in seams or spine or fading of colour.
FAIR:
RECORD: Still just playable & exhibits considerable surface noise.
COVER: Major tears, wearing, splits & stains.
POOR:
RECORD: Will not play properly due to scratches etc.
COVER: Very badly damaged.
+(PLUS)/-(MINUS):
Slightly up or down in condition as appears in the comments above.
NOTE:
Gradings are done visually unless there appears to be a questionable surface mark on the vinyl, it is then put on the turntable to check. A comment describing the outcome will appear if this is the case.

BULK POSTAGE SAVINGS

WITHIN AUSTRALIA

Registered post covers compensation up to $100.00 AUD.
A registered mail option will appear on your invoice.

1 LP:
ALL AUSTRALIAN STATES=$8.95

2-3LPs:
NSW=$9.95
VIC=$11.95
QLD/SA/TAS=$12.95
NT/WA=$13.95

4-7 LPs:
NSW=$10.95
VIC=12.95
QLD/SA/TAS=$14.95
NT/WA=$16.95

8-11 LPs:
NSW=$12.95
VIC=14.95
QLD/SA/TAS=$17.95
NT/WA=$20.95

NOTE:
Double albums count as 2 LPs; triple albums count as 3 LPs etc

OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA -REGISTERED POST

Overseas parcels need to be REGISTERED and this cost is included in the basic post cost on your invoice. This is available for parcels up to 2.0kg. (about 7 LPs).

BENEFITS…
Compensation of up to $100.00AUD.
Unique identification number.
Proof of posting.
A signed record of delivery to most countries.

NOTE: For parcels over 2.00kg (8 or more LPs) OR of value over $100.00AUD, there will be a need for INSURANCE, which is an extra $8.95 AUD added to the basic post cost. Email me for exact costs.

Prices below are for REGISTERED POST

1 LP:
NEW ZEALAND=$17.95
ASIA/PACIFIC=$20.95
AMERICAS/MIDDLE EAST=$22.95
REST OF WORLD=$25.95

2-3 LPs:
NEW ZEALAND=$25.95
ASIA/PACIFIC=$29.95
AMERICAS/MIDDLE EAST=$34.95
REST OF WORLD=$41.95

4-7 LPs:
NEW ZEALAND=$40.95
ASIA/PACIFIC=$49.95
AMERICAS/MIDDLE EAST=$58.95
REST OF WORLD=$72.95

NOTE:
Double albums count as 2 LPs; triple albums count as 3 LPs etc

PAYMENT METHOD

WITHIN AUSTRALIA
Preferred Payment methods…
Internet Bank Deposit
Money Order,
Personal Cheque (waiting period 5 days till cleared)
Paypal in $AUD

OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA
PayPal in $AUD.

M4U GUARANTEE

I strive to provide an accurate grading to ensure a quality product.
But sometimes an error is made.
If you consider this is the case, then please contact me for the refund of your purchase.


FEEDBACK

When you get your item, please examine or test it.
If you are satisfied, then leave some positive feedback for me.
This lets me know you have got it and all is OK.
I will then leave positive feedback for you.
If you consider that you are not satisfied, then please contact me for the refund of your purchase.
If there is a problem, it can be resolved.

MY OTHER ITEMS

To view my other items, go to the top of this page and in the top right hand corner
click “VISIT STORE” logo.
You will find many specific artist categories. This will make your search must faster!!! Of course, when you are in my store you can always type in the artist name you want and click "search".