Ol' 55 (band)
Ol'55 | |
---|---|
Origin | doo wop |
Years active | 1974–1983, 1986–1989, 2018–present |
Members | Rockpile Jones, Jim Manzie, Patrick "Meatballs" Drummond, Frankie J Holden, Wilbur Wilde, Freddie Strauks. |
Past members | see Members list below |
Ol' 55 are an Australian band specialising in
The band enjoyed popularity with a style that bordered on parody but managed to combine novelty retro kitsch and clever theatrics with a keen sense of pop dynamics and an acute understanding of rock 'n' roll. The band scored five top 20 hits on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart and their debut album, Take It Greasy peaked at No. 3 on the Australian albums chart in 1976. After line-up changes, Ol' 55 disbanded in 1983.
History
Fanis, was a part-time
The early 1975 line-up of Plummer, Drummond, Jones, Manzie, McCann and Holden played their first gig at the Grange Disco in Pitt Street Sydney on 4 July 1975; with a residency at French's Tavern, Oxford Street, Sydney. In September they released their debut single as a double A-side with a Paul Anka cover "Diana" backed with The Spaniels' "Goodnight Sweetheart" on Mushroom Records. The single was a minor hit in Sydney, and peaked into the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Top 100 Chart.[3]
In October 1975, Nick Aitken, as
Ol'55 made regular appearances on
In April 1977, Holden released his debut solo single, "My Right of Way", co-written by Baker and Manzie,
In August 1977, Ol' 55 unveiled its re-vamped line-up with new singer Mike Raffone (aka Paul Stevens, ex-Silver Studs).[1][9] The band's second album, Fiveslivejive, was released in September and peaked at number 81.[1][2] "Stay (While the Night Is Still Young)", made it to No. 16 in November. Bruce "Tangles" Allen joined on saxophone in January 1978 but by February 1978, Raffone had left. Continuing as a five piece with Drummond, Jones and Manzie sharing lead vocals, they released "(Feels Like a) Summer's Night" which featured a more contemporary power pop sound and peaked in the Top 50 after its release in March 1978.[1]
In October 1978, "Time to Rock 'n' Roll" was released but failed to chart and the third album Cruisin' for a Bruisin' (released on the Junction label through Seven Records) peaked at number 40. "Ruby" returned Ol' 55 to the national Top 40 in February 1979 followed by "Living for Your Smile" in April which did not chart. A split in the band had developed, Manzie wanted to steer them into a more power pop oriented direction while Drummond and Jones wanted to continue with the retro Rock & Roll vein. Guitarists, Drummond and Jones retained the rights to the name Ol' 55, and recruited original drummer Plummer, and added Terry Bellew(ex-Hotrox Band)on bass guitar and Robert "Bad Bob Tawney" Drummond on guitar; Geoff Plummer left in July 1980 and was replaced by Doug Martyn on drums and vocals. They signed a deal with (Leo Recorders released through Polydor)RCA by year's end.[1][2] Meanwhile, Manzie, Peterkin and Allen formed a contemporary power pop group, The Breakers (1979–1982), with Scott Douglas on guitar and vocals, Martin Fisher (ex-The Innocents) on keyboards and synthesiser, and Jarryl Wirth (ex-News) on guitar.[10]
Ol' 55 released the unsuccessful "Comic Book World" in February 1980 and followed by a final Top 20 hit, their version of Lou Christie's "Two Faces Have I" released in October, which reached No. 15 nationally. It was followed by "Anywhere the Girls Are" in December. Their fourth studio album, The Vault, was released in December 1980. The band folded in late 1983 and made a short revival in 1986.
Subsequently, various revivals titled Ol' 55, The Fives, Frankie J. Holden & The Fives, Ol' Skydaddys, On The Prowl, Legends of Ol'55, and Take It Greasy were formed which contained members of the 1976 line-up of the band and played their material.[1][2]
Music and style
After 1975 when Fanis had become OL' 55, under Baker's guidance, they developed a style that bordered on parody, but managed to combine novelty retro kitsch and clever theatrics with a keen sense of pop dynamics and an acute understanding of rock 'n' roll. The band dressed in authentic 1950s rocker gear and mixed vintage material with originals—mostly written by bass guitarist, Manzie.[1]
Due to the retro nature of the band, some of their hits came from
One of the features of the band was that most members were talented at singing and at concerts the lead vocals were shared, between mainly Holden and Jones, although Jones sang the majority of the songs in 1977–1986. Jones with a falsetto and broad range was one of the under-rated vocalists in Australian rock music history. With Geoff's bass vocal talents, OL' 55 produced complex harmonies, sometimes managing four or five piece vocal arrangements.
Post Ol' 55
Manzie and Peterkin formed a contemporary power pop band called The Breakers in 1979. They were described by rock historian,
In 1982 (Australia Day weekend at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne), Holden, Jones, Manzie, Plummer, Wilde and "guitarist for hire" Gunther Gorman reconvened as The Fives to appear at the Mushroom Evolution Concert to celebrate the label's 10th anniversary. Three tracks from the band appeared on the live triple LP album of the event (subsequently released on VHS, DVD(LIBDVD1098), CD and now iTunes). The most successful line-up also reformed for the Mushroom 25th Anniversary concert in 1997 and tracks were included in the VHS, DVD and CD releases. Since then, there have been many re-formations under the monikers of OL' 55, Frankie J Holden and the Fives and in the mid-1990s, Ol' Skydaddys, On The Prowl, Legends of OL'55, Take It Greasy. They have reformed at special occasions such as Carols by Candlelight, and for a series of gigs in Sydney and Melbourne.
Patrick "Meatballs" Drummond lives in
Geoff "Drainpipe" Plummer died on 2 February 2006, leaving behind his wife Sandra and four children Sharne, Malory, Myles and Oliver.
Members
- Patrick "Meatballs" Drummond – guitar, vocals (1975–1986)
- Rockpile Jones – guitar, vocals (1975–1983, 1986, 2001)
- Jimmy Manzie – keyboards, bass guitar, vocals (1975–1979)
- Geoff Plummer – drums, vocals (1975–1977, 1979–1980, 1986, 2001)
- Paul McCann – bass guitar (1975)
- Frankie J. Holden – vocals (1975–1977)
- Wilbur Wilde – tenor saxophone, vocals (1975–1977)
- Geoff "Spud" Peterkin – drums, vocals (1977–1979)
- Paul "Mike Raffone" Stevens – vocals (1977–1978)
- Bruce "Tangles" Allen – saxophone, vocals (1978–1980)
- Rigel Best – upright double bass (1978)
- Robert "Bob Tawny" Drummond – guitar (1979–1983)
- Terry Bellew – bass guitar, vocals (1979–1983, 1986)
- Doug Martyn – drums, vocals (24/7/1980–24/7/1982)
- Jeff Cripps – drums, vocals (1983–85)
- Mark Simmons – sax (1975, 1986)
- Jimmy Hill – drums, vocals (1989)
- rowland moye - sax, keys, vocals ( 1986 - 1989 )
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
Certifications |
---|---|---|---|
AUS [13] | |||
Take It Greasy |
|
3 | AUS: 3× platinum |
Fiveslivejive |
|
81 | |
Cruisin' for a Bruisin' |
|
40 | |
The Vault |
|
41 | |
Let's have a party! - Live |
|
||
Open Top Cars & Girls in Tight T-Shirts
|
|
- | |
Should'a Been Here Yesterday |
|
- |
Compilation albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [14] | ||
Greasemarks: Greatest Hits 1976–79 |
|
- |
Time to Rock 'n' Roll: The Anthology |
|
21 |
Singles
Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
Album |
---|---|---|---|
AUS [13] | |||
1975 | "Diana" / "Goodnight, Sweetheart" | 95 | non-album single |
1976 | "On the Prowl" / "This Little Girl" | 14 | Take It Greasy |
"Looking for an Echo" | 9 | ||
"(I Want a) Rockin' Christmas" | 7 | single only | |
1977 | "C'mon Let's Do It" / "Teenager in Love" | 24 | single only |
"Stay (While the Night Is Young)" | 16 | Cruisin' for a Bruisin' | |
1978 | "(Feels Like a) Summer's Night" | 50 | |
"Time for Rock 'n' Roll" | - | ||
"Ruby" | 36 | ||
1979 | "Living for Your Smile" | 98 | |
1980 | "Comic Book World" | - | |
"Two Faces Have I" | 15 | The Vault | |
"Anywhere the Girls Are" | 67 | ||
1981 | "Ol' 55 on 45 Medley" | - | single only |
1983 | "My Little Sister, The Twister" | - | single only |
References
- General
- ISBN 1865080721. Archived from the originalon 5 April 2004. Retrieved 28 February 2010. Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
- Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara, Paul McHenry with notes by ISBN 1-86503-891-1.[15] Note: [on-line] version established at White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltdin 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.
- Specific
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m McFarlane 'Ol' 55' entry. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ a b c d Spencer et al, (2007) OL 55 Archived 18 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine entry. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until ARIA created their own chartsin mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
- ^ Spencer et al, (2007) Wilde, Wilbur entry. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- Australasian Performing Right Association(APRA). Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- Australasian Performing Right Association(APRA). Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ "The FJ Holden – Principal credits". Australian Screen. National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA). Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ The F.J. Holden (1977)
- ^ Spencer et al, (2007) SILVER STUDS entry. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ a b Spencer et al, (2007) BREAKERS, THE entry. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ Spencer et al, (2007) Manzie, Jim entry. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ a b Australian chart peaks:
- Top 100 (ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIAbetween mid-1983 and 19 June 1988.
- Top 100 (
- ^ "Ol' 55 ARIA Charts". Australian Charts. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- ^ "Who's who of Australian rock / compiled by Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara & Paul McHenry". catalogue. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 28 February 2010.