Browse by Label: AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)

Artist:	THORPE AND THE AZTECS, BILLY
Title:	Live At Sunbury
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 001CD

Aztec Music is a new Australian reissue label, established in 2005. Each release is officially licensed, often w/ bonus tracks included, packaged in deluxe digipaks withelaborate bookslets. Really state-of-the art presentation. "Originally recorded at the historic Sunbury Music Festival on Australia Day 1972, by the loudest, hairiest, blues-rock band our country has ever known, Live at Sunbury sold 80,000 copies when first released. This deluxe reissue (digitally remastered, digi-pak, liner notes by noted Australian Rock author Ian McFarlane and a 16 page booklet with many rare photos) is a classic slab of rock history that every Australian home should have."

Artist:	BUFFALO
Title:	Volcanic Rock
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 006CD

"One of the great lost classic Australian LP's from the 1970's is Buffalo's 2nd. LP: Volcanic Rock -- one of the band's greatest records and essentially the first stoner rock album ever issued in Australia. The importance of Volcanic Rock can never be underestimated. This is the album that established the band's reputation for dispensing uncompromising heavy psych rock of monumental proportions; this is the album that continues to enthral aficionados of the genre the world over. It was this LP that established the classic line-up of: vocalist Dave Tice (who later joined UK R&B band The Count Bishops), guitarist John Baxter, bass player Pete Wells (who later switched to slide guitar in another legendary Aussie band: Rose Tattoo), and drummer Jimmy Economou. Aztec Music will be reissuing all 5 Buffalo Dead Forever, Volcanic Rock, Only Want You For Your Body, Mother's Choice and Average Rock N' Roller. Each release will be a deluxe version: newly remastered from the original master tapes with rare bonus tracks. They will be packaged in a 6-panel digi-pak with 24 page booklets -- liner notes by Ian McFarlane, rare photos and recent interviews with key band members. Please note: there have been several unauthorised Buffalo CD's released over the past 10 years -- Aztec Music's reissues of will be the first ones that are both fully licensed, and done with the full co-operation of the band themselves -- look for the AVSCD catalogue number & Aztec Music logo. The bonus tracks on Volcanic Rock are the mono single version of 'Sunrise (come my way),' and a live version of 'Shylock' from 1973."

Artist:	BUFFALO
Title:	Only Want You For Your Body
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 007CD

"Buffalo's third album: Only Want You For Your Body, the last with the classic line-up of Dave Tice (Count Bishops), John Baxter, Pete Wells (Rose Tattoo) and Jimmy Economou, was released in 1974. The album sits comfortably next to Volcanic Rock as one of the most outrageously heavy and ground-breaking stoner rock albums ever released in Australia. With 6 further Tice/Baxter classics, including 'I'm A Skirt Lifter, Not A Shirt Raiser' and 'Kings Cross Ladies', the album cemented Buffalo's reputation as Australia's premier hard rock band."

Artist:	CYBOTRON
Title:	Implosion
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 008CD

2005 reissue. "Formed in 1975 by Australian synth pioneer Steve Maxwell Von Braund with fellow musician Geoff Green, Cybotron paved a new musical path for Oz electronic music. Combining prog, Krautrock, and grafting an avant-garde darkness, Cybotron opened up a new sonic world to Aussie audiences. Von Braund found inspiration while living in England in 1970, having witnessed live bands like Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, Can etc., and brought these influences back with him upon his return to Melbourne when forming the band. Implosion was Cybotron's third full-length release. Unleashed in 1980 to melt people's minds, it featured Von Braund, Mark Jones and Gil 'Rats' Matthews (of Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs fame), who produced the album both at his home studio and at legendary Armstrong's Studios. It is a symphony of sound, ultra-dramatic and presents a super mind-bending inter-galactic journey. Lovers of Can, Neu, Faust, Amon Düül II, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, etc., will find inspiration in Cybotron's Implosion. This deluxe version has been digitally remastered, with extensive liner notes containing new interviews and rare photos. It contains six bonus tracks -- five from Cybotron's uncompleted and unreleased 1981 album Abbey Moor (one being a curious version of Mancini's Peter Gunn theme). The album is also packaged in Aztec Music's trademark six-panel digi-pak."

Artist:	BUFFALO
Title:	Dead Forever...
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 010CD

"Dead Forever..., the legendary 1972 debut by Buffalo, was the first to be released outside the UK on the prestigious Vertigo label. It remains one of the first truly sinister albums from an Aussie band of the day. Highlights of this collection of heavy psychedelic blues included covers of Free's 'I'm a Mover' and the Blues Images' 'Pay My Dues', plus the band-penned tracks 'Leader', 'Suzie Sunshine', 'Bean Stew' and the melancholy, atmospheric ballad 'Forest Rain'. The album's centrepiece is the awe-inspiring title track; 'Dead Forever' -- its dense, heavy riffing, multi-tracked solos, throbbing basslines, rasping vocals and a weird echoed sound to the drums created the 'definitive' Buffalo sound that would be fully unleashed on their subsequent classics Volcanic Rock and Only Want You For Your Body. The line-up for this album was: Dave Tice (vocals - later vocalist for UK R&B band The Count Bishops), Alan Milano (vocals), Paul Babli (drums), Peter Wells (bass - later guitarist for Rose Tattoo) and John Baxter (guitar). The 3rd. release in Aztec Music's reissue of all 5 Buffalo titles, Dead Forever... features 5 bonus tracks (2 by pre Buffalo band Head), new digital remaster, 24 page booklet with rare photos and liner notes by Ian McFarlane -- packaged in a 6 panel digi-pak."

Artist:	LOYDE WITH SUDDEN ELECTRIC, LOBBY
Title:	Live With Dubs
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 013CD

"Lobby is an undisputed legend of Aussie rock and our first real guitar hero. His body of work, featuring The Purple Hearts, The Wild Cherries, The Aztecs and The Coloured Balls is unrivalled -- these are bands that helped to change the face of Aussie music in the Sixties and Seventies. Our first Lobby Loyde reissue is the mega rare 1980 title: Live With Dubs. By and large something of an unknown quantity, Live with Dubs is now considered by Aussie guitar rock aficionados to be one of the best albums of its type released at the time. The redoubtable Lobby Loyde has long been considered one of Australia 's master guitarists. A player of considerable confidence, proficiency and technique, by the time he came to record Live with Dubs, Loyde was a near 20-year veteran of the local scene (The Purple Hearts, The Wild Cherries, The Aztecs, and the legendary Coloured Balls). In 1979, after spending 2 years in UK , Loyde returned to Australia . On the way, he stopped off in LA in order to catch up with his old Aztec mates Billy Thorpe and drummer Gil Matthews, then preparing for the release of Thorpie's first American album Children of the Sun. Loyde had a few ideas up his sleeve for a new three-piece touring band, and he knew Matthews would fit the bill. Within weeks of his arrival back in Melbourne, and with Matthews available for a month, Loyde had embarked on a 28-date national tour. The bass player was Gavin Carroll who had previously worked with the Sinclair Brothers and Hush. Radio 2-JJ (the precursor to Radio National's youth oriented Triple J) recorded a gig at the Manly Flicks for a live-to-air broadcast. When it came to mixing the album it was found that the vocal mic's had malfunctioned, so Lobby got Mandu (from Lobby Loyde's Southern Electric) and Angry Anderson (Rose Tattoo) into the studio to record the vocal tracks. The resulting LP was released in 1980 (as a very limited pressing) and has always been difficult to find. Live With Dubs has been remastered from the original master tapes, has 7 bonus tracks and an extensive booklet with rare photos and liner notes by noted Aussie rock writer Ian McFarlane -- all packaged together in our deluxe 6 panel digi-pak."

Artist:	TWILIGHTS, THE
Title:	Once Upon a Twilight
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 014CD

"A clear case could be made for citing The Twilights' Once Upon a Twilight as Australia's greatest pop-psych album. Although almost totally ignored on its original release in June 1968, the album now takes its place among the best of the genre (MOJO magazine's 2004 Special Edition on Psychedelia listed Once Upon a Twilight as one of the great unheralded World Psych albums). Just what is it that makes The Twilights' Once Upon a Twilight such an important pop-psych artefact? First and foremost is the quality of the songs themselves, with nearly all having been written by the band's resident musical genius, guitarist Terry Britten. Secondly, under the guidance of producer David MacKay, the band recorded the album as a complete work, so that even today it displays a unity of purpose and holistic purity not generally achieved elsewhere. Thirdly, the sound of the album boasts all the trappings of period psychedelia, with all manner of studio trickery from echoed harmonies and gentle phasing to vocals fed through rotating Leslie cabinets. After the break-up of The Twilights, lead singer Glenn Shorrock went on to join Axiom and later, the internationally famous Little River Band. Britten became an in-demand session player and producer for the likes of Cliff Richard (for whom he co-wrote 'Devil Woman', 'Carrie' and 'Green Light'), as well as a highly successful songwriter (Christie Allen, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson)."

Artist:	KAHVAS JUTE
Title:	Wide Open
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 015CD

"Wide Open is a progressive rock milestone and a consummate example of underground psychedelic hard rock at its most inventive and powerful. As the title suggests, Wide Open is a free-flowing and expansive musical blending of rock, blues and jazz, and to leaven out the sound there's a touch of acid folk thrown in for good measure. It's a very English-influenced sound but far from being a slavish copy of the overseas role model, the album bears a uniquely Australia flavour. It continues to be held as one of Australia 's prime rock collectables, with original pressings of the album selling for as much as US$600.00 on eBay in recent years. The tightly structured songs and the superb guitar work of Dennis Wilson and Tim Gaze (Tamam Shud) combine to stamp the record as a tour de force, where style, content, technique and sonic bearing meet in perfect equilibrium. Furthermore, the whole shebang is held together by the restlessly exploratory bass lines of the great Bob Daisley (who later went on to a stellar international career with Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore, Uriah Heep, Chicken Shack -- the list is endless!) and the muscular, yet agile drum patterns of Dannie Davidson (Tamam Shud, Band Of Light). Is it any wonder then that all these elements add up to make Wide Open one of the most sought-after artefacts of the entire Aussie progressive rock era?"

Artist:	LOYDE, LOBBY
Title:	Obsecration
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 016CD

"After the unpleasant and, indeed, ill-fated break-up of the Coloured Balls at the end of 1974, Loyde cooled his heels, and by mid-year with a couple of allies in drummer Jimmy Thompson and sax player Paul Dixon was ready to hit the studio again. A solo single 'Do You Believe in Magic / Love Lost on Dream-Tides' was released on the the Bootleg label. Loyde, suitably revitalized and re-energized was ready to proceed. For his new band, dubbed Southern Electric, the guitarist eventually added two of his old Coloured Balls companions, rhythm guitarist Andrew Fordham and bass player Janis Miglans before rounding out the line-up with keyboardist John Dey and singer Mándu. Obsecration features an incredibly eclectic and diverse assortment of music, all up a magnificent album of guitar explorations and textures, a thematic collection of riffs, runs, rhythms and timing shifts taking the listener through a wide range of moods and styles. If anything, it lacked a commercial focus but as we've seen Loyde was well and truly beyond working within commercial considerations at the time. One thing is certain: his beautiful, at times heavy yet always unique psych-rock guitar work is the main feature throughout. The album was released in May 1976, on the Rainbird label. When Richard Branson heard Obsecration he wanted to release it on Virgin. Branson sent the company a few notes, saying he wanted the master tapes. What Lobby (who had moved to the UK ) didn't know at the time, was that Rainbird had gone into liquidation. Despite that set-back, Loyde was able to take Southern Electric into Surrey Sound Studios with producer Nigel Gray in order to record tracks for a proposed EP release (previously unreleased, they have been added as bonus tracks to this reissue)."

Artist:	COLOURED BALLS
Title:	Ball Power
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 017CD

"When we started the Aztec Music label, we made a list of the albums that we hoped to reissue and this absolute classic was certainly one our top choices! Ball Power was a defining moment in the history of Aussie music and one of the greatest guitar-driven hard rock albums of the 1970s. By the time Lobby Loyde formed the Coloured Balls in March 1972, he was already a 12-year veteran of the local music scene. Working his way through R&B legends The Purple Hearts, psychedelic heroes The Wild Cherries and onto the bluesy Aztecs, Loyde had well and truly established his reputation as Australia 's pre-eminent guitar master. By the beginning of 1973, the band's standing was such that they put in an astonishing performance at the second annual Sunbury Festival. Loyde's legendary 16-minute, freeform showpiece 'G.O.D.', a searing cosmic heavy metal epic that surely stands as one of the greatest performances ever recorded by an Australian band of the era is included here as one of the 7 bonus tracks. After releasing 2 singles on the Havoc label, the Coloured Balls Signed to EMI. With help from producer Ian D. Miller and highly experienced engineer John Sayers the band knocked out Ball Power in a couple of weeks. One of the great progressive hard rock LPs of the era, Ball Power really had a lot going for it: great songs, inspirational playing, attitude to burn and an experimental edge that would have frightened the hell out of any lesser band."

Artist:	COLOURED BALLS
Title:	Heavy Metal Kid
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 018CD

"With the dawning of 1974, the future looked bright for the Coloured Balls. Their album Ball Power sat in the Melbourne Top 10 (national #13) and their performance at Sunbury 1974 over the Australia Day weekend had been a triumph. They were at the peak of their powers, one of the country's top live draws Yet, by the end of the year, fate had intervened and the band was simply crumbling under the weight of outside pressures: EMI calling for hit singles; the national media branding them as anti-social misfits; a wave of violence unfolding at their gigs around the country. The image, perpetrated by the media, sat uneasily with the members of the Coloured Balls -- one of the most misunderstood bands of the early 1970s. Fortunately, they left behind another great album in Heavy Metal Kid. Like Ball Power, this album retains a power and strength of purpose to this day, displaying an adventurous spirit and further reaffirmation of the band's status as a pioneering progressive / hard rock outfit. Heavy Metal Kid is presented in a 6 panel digi-pak with a 24 page booklet filled with rare photos & liner notes by Ian McFarlane. It has been digitally remastered with 7 bonus tracks."

Artist:	RAINBOW THEATRE
Title:	The Armada
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 019CD

"Rainbow Theatre's groundbreaking debut album, The Armada, was originally released in 1975. Influences as diverse as classical composers Stravinsky and Wagner to King Crimson and the Mahavishnu Orchestra came into play. With composer, arranger, guitarist and mellotron player Julian Browning at the helm, the band was never going to be easily pigeon-holed. Browning set about creating the unique music he had formulated in his mind. His classical influences began to emerge and in the meantime, he'd also fallen in thrall of adventurous guitarists like King Crimson's Robert Fripp and John McLaughlin. The King Crimson influence was certainly a key factor in the band's development because, as well as the complex arrangements that Browning was forging, the other aspect that stood Rainbow Theatre apart from the pack was the extensive use of the mellotron. Very few other Australian bands of the day even possessed, let alone knew how to incorporate the mellotron into their sound. As displayed on The Armada the music oscillates between nimble jazz rock, classical and operatic themes, and several points beyond. It's one of the most idiosyncratic albums of the period, closer in spirit to King Crimson circa In the Court of the Crimson King/In the Wake of Poseidon/Lizard than anything else, and very accessible besides." Digitally remastered, including a bonus symphonic excerpt by Julian Browning.

Artist:	BUFFALO
Title:	Mother's Choice
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 020CD

"The final 2 Buffalo albums have long been unjustly underrated when compared to the 1,2,3 punch of Dead Forever..., Volcanic Rock and Only Want You For Your Body. Management's decision to sack 'uncontrollable' original guitarist John Baxter and pursue a more commercial direction was also borne of the frustration of the constant grind of the road, declining record sales and no support from radio or TV. It was probably a mistake; Buffalo never really recovered from the change in dynamic, and the next 2 years saw a revolving door of replacement guitarists. However, to write this period off is also a mistake. Both albums contain terrific tracks that can sit proudly amongst any of Buffalo's earlier classics. Mother's Choice: The band wanted to call the album Songs For The Frustrated Housewife or Thieves, Punks, Rip-Offs & Liars but were overruled by their record company. Norm Roue (Band Of Light) joined as a second guitarist, but before the twin guitars of Roue and John Baxter could gel, Baxter was ousted and replaced by Karl Taylor. The band's sound changed immediately, with a more predominant rock 'n' roll edge, songs like their cover of the Chuck Berry classic 'Little Queenie' and 'Lucky' were perfect vehicles for Roue's boisterous slide and the southern rock-like 'Taste It Don't Waste It' was positively funky! Unfortunately, before Buffalo could build on the momentum of their new direction, Roue left and was followed soon after by Taylor. New guitarist Chris Turner joins before the album is released. Both titles are presented in 6 panel digi-paks with 20-page booklets filled with rare photos & liner notes by Ian McFarlane. They have been digitally remastered, and each release has 2 bonus tracks."

Artist:	BUFFALO
Title:	Average Rock 'n' Roller
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 021CD

"'My brief from the management was to sort 'em out and make a commercial record,' Chris Turner declares. The first thing the band did was to record 'Rollin'' and 'Hotel Ladies' as a single. The A-side in particular was an enticing effort, a loping slice of country-soul replete with Tice's heavily echoed vocals, a sing-a-long chorus, hand-claps and female backing vocals: perfectly suited for radio airplay. There are no two ways about it, Buffalo was a commercial entity by then yet the radio networks still refused to give their singles a spin! 'Hotel Ladies' on the flip side, with its slow-burning build up and rousing, guitar-heavy climax, held promise for an interesting album to come. Colin Stead joins as second guitarist, but leaves midway through his first tour. Pete Wells, frustrated by the new direction, leaves to form Rose Tattoo and is replaced by Ross Sims. Soon after, Buffalo break up -- a sad end to one of Australia's greatest-ever bands, but one whose legend has grown over the years. Finally, with the release of these 2 titles, all 5 studio albums have now been reissued in deluxe versions by Aztec Music." Digitally remastered, includes 2 bonus tracks.

Artist:	LOYDE, LOBBY
Title:	Beyond Morgia: The Labyrinths of Klimster
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 022CD

"Beyond Morgia: The Labyrinths Of Klimster is the legendary, previously unreleased 1976 space rock album and the soundtrack to an imaginary film. In June 1976, Lobby Loyde was at a critical juncture in his career; he stood at the metaphorical musical crossroads where a number of pathways lay ahead of him yet nothing was certain. He had already established himself as one of Australia's legendary guitarists and rock personalities, having toured and recorded relentlessly with The Purple Hearts, The Wild Cherries, The Aztecs, Coloured Balls and Southern Electric. Yet where was he to go from here? With his faith in Australian music at low-ebb, he'd already decided to travel to London to check out the scene over there. One final order of business he had to complete before his departure in early July was to record a new album. Lobby had written the music for a space rock concept album which he wanted to record as the instrumental soundtrack for a proposed sci-fi film, all of which was based on his unpublished novel called Beyond Morgia: The Labyrinths Of Klimster. Beyond Morgia was recorded at Armstrong Studios one weekend in June 1976, with the guys from Southern Electric on hand. The tapes went missing for many years, presumed lost forever but they recently surfaced. The album itself is an incredibly eclectic and diverse assortment of music: vast swathes of glacial keyboard notes with Loyde's unique, soaring psych-rock guitar work to the fore. It is classic space rock, beginning with a brooding electronic pulse (think early Tangerine Dream circa Electronic Meditation and Alpha Centauri), before building to a climactic guitar crescendo that echoes Pink Floyd at their most spacious and futuristic (think Ummagumma and Meddle -- with just a hint of Hawkwind's wind-tunnelling space explorations from Space Ritual). On top of that are Loyde's classical music influences, in particular his great love of Wagner and Beethoven, which come out in much of the music. Finally seeing the light of day -- 31 years after it was recorded -- Beyond Morgia: The Labyrinths Of Klimster is a worthy addition to the diverse catalog of the great Lobby Loyde."

Artist:	THORPE AND THE AZTECS, BILLY
Title:	Live
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 023CD

"On Sunday June 13, 1971, the Aztecs, Chain, Daddy Cool, Wild Cherries, La De Da's, Healing Force and Lotus were the line-up for a concert at the Melbourne Town Hall. Taking advantage of such a big occasion, the Aztecs decided to record their set for a live LP and TV special -- complete with a 30 foot inflatable starfish type creature that deflated too early and had to be held up by various roadies and friends so the band could keep playing! The resultant LP Aztecs Live (also know as Live At Melbourne Town Hall) captures the band on the brink of becoming the biggest band in Australia, and a rare document of the Thorpe, Matthews, Morgan and Wheeler line-up. Our deluxe reissue of this album is augmented by the 6 A & B sides of the Aztecs' singles for the Havoc label -- including 'The Dawn Song' and the monster hit (and all-time Aussie classic ) 'Most People I Know Think That I'm Crazy.' Plus, as an additional bonus, a never before available track: 'Long Live Rock 'N Roll,' live from the Rosebud Outdoor Festival in 1972. The CD is packaged in a 6 panel digipak, digitally remastered by Gil Matthews, with liner notes by Ted Lethborg. The 24-page booklet is full of great quotes and many rare images from the Live Aztecs TV special."

Artist:	X
Title:	At Home With You
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$27.00
Catalog #:	AVS 025CD

"The legendary X (not to be confused with the US band of the same name) formed in Sydney, Australia in 1977. They recorded their seminal 1980 debut X-Aspirations in one 5 hour session with Lobby Loyde producing. People called X a punk band -- and they certainly acted like one -- but they were actually a great meld of Ian Rilen's gut busting bass and pioneering Oz rock stance (as you would expect from a veteran of both Band Of Light and Rose Tattoo) and newcomer Steve Lucas' incredible sandpaper scream. Five years later Rilen and Lucas recruited drummer Cathy Green (from experimental Canberra band **** **** [cough cough]) and recorded their classic 2nd. album At Home With You (also produced by Loyde). Green's style fit X like a glove and helped transform the band into a killer live act. The songs and production had more depth too -- the Hunter's & Collectors' horn section: The Horns Of Contempt contributing to 3 tracks. A limited edition version of the LP was also released in 1985 (A TV Dinner At Home With X) which contained a t-shirt and a flexi-disc of the song 'El Salvador' recorded live at The Prince Of Wales in Melbourne on March 13th, 1985 for a live 3PBS radio broadcast. Searching for this track, we happened upon the master tapes for the entire show and quickly decided to expand the release to a double disc! The live tracks are from the desk feed for the radio broadcast and are sufficiently raw and unadorned and are a terrific indicator of the awesome live power of X -- and a reminder of the great loss that Australian music suffered with the tragic death of Ian Rilen last year (the reissue is dedicated to Ian). The year 2007 marks the 30th anniversary of X and the prefect time to revisit this album."

Artist:	SPECTRUM
Title:	Part One
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 026CD

"To the Australian public at large, Spectrum will always be remembered for the 1971 #1 hit 'I'll Be Gone,' an enduring rock classic if ever there was one. As songwriter and Spectrum lynchpin Mike Rudd has put it: '''ll Be Gone' has had a marvelous life,' with indications that its potency will continue to rise. It still gets played on Australian 'Classic Hits' radio to this day. Spectrum still play the song at practically every gig with the enthusiastic, sing-a-long response of the audience inevitable; a perfect example of this was the band's appearance at the 2002 arena rock spectacular, 'Long Way To The Top.' The sound of an entire concert audience singing the song's rousing refrain at full voice, with little encouragement, was indeed magnificent. While the song's appeal is unquestionable, to the dedicated Australian rock music aficionado, Spectrum is more than just one gloriously brilliant song. Many fans will tell you that Spectrum music is some of the greatest progressive psych rock recorded in the day, and nominate the band as purveyors of a uniquely Australian sound and identity. Spectrum's debut, Part One was originally released on EMI's progressive label, Harvest and is rightfully regarded as not only a landmark progressive rock release, but the beginning of one of Australia's more remarkable bands. Aztec Music's deluxe reissue of Part One has 7 bonus tracks -- the non LP B-side 'Launching Place Part One' and the 3 versions of their classic hit, 'I'll Be Gone': the original Aussie mono single and B-side ('Launching Place Part Two'), the German stereo single and the 'Psycho-Psychedelic' version of 'Launching Place Part Two' and the ultra rare 1969 acetate version with the previously-unavailable B-side, 'You Never Can Win.' Digitally remastered by Gil Matthews, liner notes by Ian MacFarlane and a 24-page booklet with many rare photos."

Artist:	LA FEMME
Title:	La Femme
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 027CD

"Melbourne's La Femme were a fascinating meld of late '70s influences: punk, new wave, glam and hard rock. Their 1979 debut single, 'Chelsea Kids' is one of the all-time classic Australian singles and their only LP La Femme, is arguably one of the best to come out of Melbourne's late 1970s punk/new wave scene (which included Models and The Boys Next Door). It contains many fine example s of the band's confident, swaggering glam-infused punk-metal sound. Lead singer Chane Chane was a charismatic, hyperactive front man, a refreshing personality with a strong audience rapport. Guitarist Brett Walker was a real live flashy guitar hero for the times, coming on like a punk-metal Mick Ronson by pealing off large chunks of dense power riffing when other guitarists were still going plink-plonk. The thuggish rhythm section of Peter Kidd and Graham Schiavello played it mean and hard, providing the relentless, driving beat. La Femme could well have made it into the big league if they'd wanted, but swimming against the commercial tide seemed to be their raison d'être. In many ways, they were their own worst enemies. An unwillingness to play the pop star game and the serious drug addiction, among other things, perhaps ended up compromising the band's drive. For an inner-city band with so much potential, in the end they really did give it away. They toured constantly, built up a huge support base on the suburban pub circuit, scored several prestigious support gigs, made three appearances on Countdown (one of the first punk/new wave/alternative bands to do so), released one of the great Melbourne punk albums and yet they never rose above being a cult attraction. Aztec Music's deluxe reissue has been digitally remastered from the original tapes. It contains 8 bonus tracks."

Artist:	VA
Title:	Lethal Weapons
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 028CD

"The infamous late '70s punk/new wave/power pop (they kept changing their mind on what it was) compilation Lethal Weapons was a tentative major label funded foray into the emergent Australian punk movement. It was short lived and much maligned, (apparently, they didn't 'mean it man!') but was an important release in that it contains the earliest recordings of, amongst others: The Boys Next Door (Nick Cave/Birthday Party), Teenage Radio Stars (Sean Kelly & James Freud - Models), The Survivors (The New Christs), Jab (Models) and The Negatives (Sacred Cowboys). Most of the bands would not last out the 1970s, but, with so many of the individuals involved going on to significant careers, this album represents a fascinating glimpse into their beginnings. Our deluxe 6-panel digipak, has been remastered from the original tapes, has liner notes by Ian McFarlane and a revealing essay on the origins (and demise) of the Suicide label by Glenn Terry. There are 2 bonus tracks: the Teenage Radio Stars' non-LP B-side 'Sweet Boredom' and the Teenage Radio Stars' film clip for 'I Wanna Be Your Baby.'"

Artist:	MANDU
Title:	To The Shores Of His Heaven
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 031CD

"The elusive and mysterious Mándu is known mainly for his impressive vocals on two Lobby Loyde albums (Obsecration and Live With Dubs). However, there is more to his story. Mándu arrived in Melbourne (from Qld.) in the early '70s with hopes of securing a record contract. With a series of unsuccessful bands behind him, the singer had developed a new persona (Mándu) and written a peerless batch of songs that would form the basis of his extraordinary concept album To The Shores Of His Heaven. Ex-pop star-turned-label boss John Blanchfield was so blown away by Mándu's audition that he signed him on the spot and immediately put him into Armstrong's studios to rehearse and record. Inspired by the organic approach used by Van Morrison for his classic Astral Weeks album, Blanchfield, with producer-engineer Ern Rose, set about creating a purpose built ensemble utilizing some of Australia's most talented and creative musicians -- including guitar maestro Phil Manning (Chain), bassist Barry Sullivan (Wild Cherries, Chain), and drummer Gary Young (Daddy Cool). Keyboard player Peter Sullivan also works wonders with his absolutely beautiful string arrangements. The resultant album, To The Shores Of His Heaven, is one of the best and most original records ever made in this country -- and a must-hear for fans of Tim Buckley, Van Morrison and Terry Reid -- at turns gentle and ethereal, spacious and mystical. Sadly, despite the stellar musical backing, a striking image, and Mándu's incredible voice, the album was a disappointing flop. A follow-up single, a highly original take on The Rolling Stones' classic 'Gimme Shelter,' suffered a similar fate and after that, Mándu turned his back on a solo career. He joined as vocalist in Lobby Loyde's Southern Electric in late 1975 and recorded the classic Obsecration album before leaving on the eve of the band's move to the UK. Apart from teaming up with Loyde on the 1980 LP Live With Dubs, there have been only sporadic sightings of Mándu, a disappointing end to such a promising start -- luckily, we have this classic to remember him by. To The Shores Of His Heaven has been digitally remastered by Gil Matthews, packaged in a 6-panel digipak with a 24-page book with liner notes by Ted Lethborg, a review from Ian McFarlane and rare photos."

Artist:	HAREM SCAREM
Title:	Pilgrim's Progress
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 032CD

"Harem Scarem emerged from Melbourne's mid-'80s indie scene, but, it could be argued, were closer in sound to classic Australian blues rock from a decade before (Dingoes, Coloured Balls, Chain, Rose Tattoo etc.). Their sound was infused with a heady mix of punk spirit and Stax soul that also made them contemporaries of the likes of The Gun Club and the Beasts Of Bourbon. Harem Scarem first appeared on the Melbourne psychobilly compilation Asleep at the Wheel. They soon developed (via the Dogman EP and some key line-up changes) into a powerhouse live act, where Christopher Marshall's extraordinary, passionate vocals combined with Charlie Marshall's Stones-y guitar. With the classic line-up of the Marshall brothers, Barry Palmer (guitar), Glen Sheldon (bass), Peter Jones (drums) and Chris Wilson (harmonica & sax), the band went into the studio with John Archer (Hunters & Collectors) and emerged with this, their masterful 1986 album: Pilgrim's Progress. A shock decision to disband on the verge of a national breakthrough robbed Australia of a fine band -- and one that is ripe for reappraisal. Aztec Music's deluxe reissue of Pilgrim's Progress has been remixed and digitally remastered. The liner notes are written by Clinton Walker, David Nichols, (singer) Charlie Marshall and (manager) Michael Lynch. There are 6 bonus tracks (2 previously unreleased) and many rare photos in a 24-page booklet."

Artist:	SPECTRUM
Title:	Milesago
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$27.00
Catalog #:	AVS 033CD

"Spectrum's second album Milesago is one of the key Australian releases of the '70s and a progressive rock milestone. The double album was originally released on EMI's Harvest Records imprint (home to artists such as Pink Floyd, Kevin Ayers, The Move and Deep Purple) -- and you couldn't find a more appropriate label for such spaced-out progressive psych! With its striking Ian McCausland cover art restored, Milesago is presented here as a deluxe 8-panel digipak 2CD set. The album was remastered in 2008 by Gil Matthews and is augmented with 7 bonus tracks: 2 from the 1972 Sunbury festival a 20+ minute 'Some Good Advice; (!) and a live version of their classic single 'I'll Be Gone,' 2 single edits, a non-LP B-side, an excerpt from the Australian film Dalmas, rounded off with an advertisement for Camel cigarettes! The liner notes from noted Australian rock writer Ian McFarlane include a new interview with Mike Rudd and are packaged in a 24 page booklet filled with many rare photos."

Artist:	STAR SPANGLED BANGER
Title:	Star Spangled Banger
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 034CD

"Star Spangled Banger was a short-lived studio project that resulted in a sole, self-titled album and single on the Melbourne Havoc Records label in 1973. With Havoc closing soon after its release, the album was quickly deleted and, over the years, has grown in stature, becoming one of the rarest Australian records ever. We are happy to rectify this problem with our deluxe CD reissue of this hugely enjoyable mix of English-flavored progressive rock (Family, Cressida), reflective piano ballads, with a hint of Bonzo Dog DooDah Band like lunacy. Principal songwriter John Brownrigg (vocals, guitar), Ron Walters (vocals, piano, organ) and drummer Paul Doo formed Star Spangled Banger in 1972 from the ashes of their former band, The Sect. Brownrigg originally hailed from Liverpool and had played in several bands during the Merseybeat boom of the early '60s -- as his own brick on the Cavern Club wall of fame attests. Signed to Havoc in late 1972, the band were put into the studio with engineer/producer (and soon to be Aztec) Gil Matthews. Armed with a stack of sound effects records, the album was recorded at odd hours (in between Matthew's day job at Havoc and his night-time one as new drummer for the Aztecs) and resulted in an eclectic mix of progressive rock, protest songs and ballads -- with a healthy dose of humor (witness: 'Fancy Underpants!'). Added to this mix are: explosions, backwards tapes, crazy keyboards, nuclear explosions, crashing aeroplanes and fuzzed-out psych guitar. The title track, released as a single, is a long lost progressive classic and we have added a previously-unreleased edit of it as a bonus track. Digitally remastered by Gil Matthews, including a 24-page booklet with rare photos, liner notes by Ted Lethborg and a recent interview with John Brownrigg."

Artist:	VA
Title:	The Complete Havoc Singles 1971-1973
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$27.00
Catalog #:	AVS 035CD

"Melbourne's short-lived Havoc Records label ran from 1971 to 1973 and released landmark releases from some of Australia's greatest ever bands. The monster-selling Aztecs Live! At Sunbury, and the all-time Aztecs' classic Most People I Know Think That I'm Crazy were the biggest sellers, but the label also released notable platters from Lobby Loyde (with the Coloured Balls and The Wild Cherries), Carson, Thump'n Pig & Puff'n Billy, Michael Turner In Session, Ash, Chook (best Aussie band name ever?) and Star Spangled Banger. Aztecs' drummer Gil Matthews was the house engineer/producer for Havoc and produced all nineteen singles and five albums (including his own release 'Little Dove'/'Gil's Thing'). The label was a testament to Havoc boss Frank Smith's eclectic taste -- apart from the 'Oz Rock' stable listed above, there were Jasmine's Dory Previn covers, Robbie Snowden's ridiculous 'Hot Pants Sue' and the ultra-rare soundtrack A City's Child. The entire 1971-1973 singles are collected in this 2CD deluxe package with 2 bonus tracks from Carson and David Pickard. 8-panel digipak with a 24 page booklet with rare photos and liner notes by Ian McFarlane."

Artist:	TAMAM SHUD
Title:	Goolutionites and the Real People
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 036CD

"Tamam Shud were formed after the break up of beat/R&B band, The Sunsets. The band was ostensibly a vehicle for singer and songwriter Lindsay Bjerre (whose burgeoning interest in the acid rock experience had precipitated The Sunset's demise). Bjerre christened the new band Tamam Shud (means 'the very end') which was taken from the closing words of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. The band's first release was the 1968 soundtrack to Paul Witzig's groundbreaking surf film Evolution and brought them to the attention of Warner Brothers, who offered them a deal. The band, with a key line-up change in teenage guitar prodigy Tim Gaze (just 15 when he joined!), recorded their masterpiece, the concept album Goolutionites and the Real People in 1970. Ian McFarlane calls it 'one of the truly great Aussie progressive rock albums,' and it also distinguished them as one of the first local bands to tackle environmental issues in their songs. It is now extremely rare and one of the most collectible albums of the period. Following Goolutionites, Tamam Shud contributed three tracks to another surf classic: Alby Falzon's legendary surf film Morning of the Earth in 1972. These tracks are included in our deluxe reissue, along with their 1972 non-LP single I Got A Feeling/My Father Told Me and four previously-unreleased live tracks from Melbourne's Regent Theatre in 1971. Goolutionites, with the aforementioned nine bonus tracks, is packaged in our world famous 6-panel digipak. It has been digitally remastered by Gil Matthews, with liner notes by Ian McFarlane and a 24-page book with rare photos."

Artist:	MIGHTY KONG
Title:	All I Wanna Do Is Rock
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AVS 037CD

"Aussie rock icon Ross Wilson has been at the helm of two of Australia's biggest bands (Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock) plus one of our more obscure: Mighty Kong. Mighty Kong lasted less than a year, but they did leave us with one terrific and underrated album: All I Wanna Do Is Rock. When Daddy Cool broke up in August 1972, Wilson and Ross Hannaford set about forming a new band that would explore a heavier style that harked back to the pre-DC days of Sons Of The Vegetal Mother and The Party Machine. After some initial changes that at one stage included Tim Gaze (Tamam Shud/Kahvas Jute) and Gulliver Smith (Company Caine), the final line-up was settled with Wilson, Hannaford, Russell Smith (Company Caine), Tim Partridge (Company Caine) and Ray Arnott (Spectrum). Signing to the newly-formed Wizard Records, the band recorded All I Wanna Do Is Rock with American producer John Fischbach. The album came out in December 1973 along with the single 'Callin' All Cats (The Cats Are Callin').' With a mixture of funky hard rockers like 'Hard Drugs (Are Bad For You)' and 'Homesick And Horny' and two terrific Gulliver Smith/Russell Smith penned ballads 'Some Other New Address' and 'With A Smile Like That (How Could We Refuse)' Mighty Kong seemed poised for success. But, despite some enthusiastic reviews and excellent live shows, Mighty Kong were still overshadowed by the spectre of Daddy Cool. Wizard's decision to release a Daddy Cool live album and a swag of DC singles just before the release of the Mighty Kong album did not help matters either. The success of the Daddy Cool material eventually led to a one-off Daddy Cool appearance at the 1974 Sunbury Festival. Their performance was so well-received that, two weeks later, Daddy Cool reformed and Mighty Kong were no more. Still -- it makes an excellent 'what if' story and this reissue is a reminder of the varied repertoire from one of Australia's all-time talents. Of course, after Daddy Cool broke up for a second time in 1975, Wilson formed Mondo Rock and had another successful run. Aztec Music will be reissuing Mondo Rock's debut Primal Park in the near(?) future. Our deluxe reissue of All I Want To Do Is Rock has been digitally remastered by Gil Matthews, liner notes by Ian M Farlane, housed in our usual 6-panel digipak with many rare photos. Two bonus tracks -- the single version of 'Callin' All Cats' and the previously-unreleased studio jam of 'All I Wanna Do Is Rock.'"

Artist:	SKULL SNAPS
Title:	Skull Snaps
Label:	AZTEC MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	AZT 1001CD

"Skull Snaps is a legendary funk album that has long been shrouded in obscurity. The band recorded their self-titled debut and a handful of singles in 1973, and then vanished without a trace. In recent years, their vinyl has become ubiquitously sampled and highly collectible. The monstrous break that opens up their classic cut, 'It's A New Day,' furnished the beat for countless hip-hop hits of the mid-'90s (along with James Brown's 'Funky Drummer' and Sly & the Family Stone's 'Sing A Simple Song,' 'It's A New Day' contains the most sampled break in music history). More than just a treasure trove for the Hip Hop community, though, Skull Snaps stands as a classic in pure funk and soul. The band's irresistible sound embraces the black vocal group sound of early '70s Temptations, Chi-Lites, and Dramatics, cut with an unmistakable originality. Every song is blessed with a gospel-soaked call and response dynamic that contrasts gritty lead vocals with the band's perfect harmonies. Heavily bootlegged, Aztec Music's reissue of Skull Snaps is the first release that has been officially sanctioned by the band. This deluxe version has been digitally remastered, with extensive liner notes containing new interviews and rare photos, and contains 2 bonus tracks -- packaged in a 6 panel digi-pak."

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