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Aunty Jack Sings Wollongong

From Alfawiki
Aunty Jack Sings Wollongong
Company typeAlbum
IndustryMusic, Comedy
FoundedNovember 1974; 52 years ago (1974-11)
Headquarters
Australia
ProductsComedy and music album

Aunty Jack Sings Wollongong is an Australian album that debuted in November 1974, serving as a derivative work from the iconic ABC Television series Aunty Jack. This unique release blends musical tracks with comedic sketches and stands as the sole audio production from the Aunty Jack ensemble, aside from the single "Farewell Aunty Jack".

Track listing

Reflecting the structure of the Aunty Jack television program, the album integrates comedic sketches featuring principal characters such as Aunty Jack, Thin Arthur, Kid Eager, and Flange Desire—though Flange Desire appears sparingly in spoken segments—alongside various supporting roles. The liner notes describe it as "an aural/visual experience; a TV Show on record; sound with pictures," portraying a typical day within Aunty Jack’s universe.

The first side begins with humor characteristic of the vinyl era: Aunty Jack is "pronged" by the stylus, Kid Eager tumbles through the record’s center hole, and both Aunty Jack and Thin Arthur are pursued by the needle. Following this introduction, they arrive at Wollongong’s Gong A Go Go club, where Norman Gunston presents the Farrelly Brothers performing I've Been Everywhere, tailored exclusively to Wollongong and Dapto. Norman attempts to introduce Aunty Jack, but Kid Eager interrupts with a dance routine before she takes over. Mervyn Whipple delivers omni-directional sound effects, succeeded by Neil and Errol performing a rhyme-avoidance tune on a park bench. The scene then shifts to Kev Kavanagh and the Kavemen at the Abattoirs Discothèque ("dis-COTH-e-kew"). Returning to Gong A Go Go, Norman leads Wollongong’s anthem "Wollongong The Brave," which continues until only Norman remains, steadfastly refusing to cease until interrupted.

Side two picks up with Norman still singing until Aunty Jack cuts him off and her theme music plays. The narrative moves to Spider Farrelly's Bucks Party, where steelworker friends are entertained by the Ri Fol Tit Men performing three harpsichord-backed songs before being halted due to mild profanity. A striptease act reveals itself as Aunty Jack in disguise. Norman interrupts with his "What's On In Wollongong" radio feature introducing the Farrelly Brothers’ Hawaiian-inspired Bush Ballad. This segues into Tarzan Super Ape, a rock opera influenced by Jesus Christ Superstar. An advertisement for Fish Milk Shakes is broadcast in the steelworkers' canteen. The Farrelly Brothers return with Country and Western Suburbs tunes. Aunty Jack and her band The Gongs perform, including Flange Desire’s brief keyboard solo. The intoxicated steelworkers watch Nor-North West while viewing the show. As the closing track finishes, Aunty Jack and her companions are crushed by the following record; she climbs atop to jam alongside Japanese blues artist Blind Josh Orange Drop Mitsubishi and harpist Muddy Mahawat.

Side One

  1. "Rip Off" (Aunty Jack and Thin Arthur) – 2:57
  2. "I've Been Everywhere" (The Farrelly Brothers) – 2:39
  3. "The Kid Eager" (Kid Eager 'n' The Gong) – 1:40
  4. "Doin' The Aunty Jack" (Aunty Jack 'n' The Gong) – 1:50
  5. "Man Of 1000 Faces" (Mervyn Whipple & Sampson) – 0:46
  6. "The Last Refrain" (Neil and Errol) – 3:14
  7. "Veggie Queen" (Kev Kavanagh & the Kavemen) – 3:02
  8. "Wollongong The Brave" (Norman & The Gunstonnettes) – 6:30

Side Two

  1. "Wollongong The Brave (reprise)" (Norman Gunston) – 0:13
  2. "Head Of The Pack" (Thin Arthur) – 0:57
  3. "Spider's Bucks Lunch" (Len, Ron & Darryl) – 1:00
  4. "Ri Fol Tit Men" (Ri Fol Tit Men) – 2:41
  5. "Don't Take It Off" (Thin Arthur) – 0:26
  6. "What's On In Wollongong" (Norman Gunston) – 0:28
  7. "Snowy Aloha" (The 'Banjo' Farrelly Brothers) – 1:42
  8. "Tarzan Super Ape" (an Origami Rock Opera) – 5:52
  9. "Fish Milk Shakes" (Terry Dutton) – 0:52
  10. "The Western Lady" (The Farrelly Brothers) – 1:59
  11. "Aunty Jack 'N' The Box" (Aunty Jack 'n' The Gong) – 5:37
  12. "Farewell Aunty Jack" (Thin Arthur & Aunty Jack) – 1:54
  13. "Nagasaki Blues" (Blind Josh Orange Drop Mitsubishi & Muddy Mahawat, with Aunty Jack) – 3:21

The track "Head Of The Pack" was used as the opening theme for the Aunty Jack television series, while "Farewell, Aunty Jack" played during the closing credits. Both songs, "Farewell Aunty Jack" and "Doin' The Aunty Jack," are included here in versions that differ from their respective single releases.

Recorded during the first season of the program, "Tarzan Super Ape" marks a narrative transition following John Derum’s exit, with Garry McDonald stepping in as narrator.

Due to its limited availability, the original album issued in 1974 has become a sought-after collector’s piece.

2006 Re-Issue

The album was re-released in 2006 as a two-disc CD collection. The first disc reproduces both sides of the initial album, while the second disc features the Farewell Aunty Jack single along with selections from the Aunty Jack series, Flash Nick From Jindavik, The Off Show, and News Free Zone.

Disc two’s track listing includes:

  1. "Farewell Aunty Jack" (single version)
  2. "Doin' The Aunty Jack" (B-side of "Farewell Aunty Jack")
  3. "Wollongong On The Mind"
  4. "Pearl Pureheart"
  5. "Be-Bop-a-Lula"
  6. "A Football Opera"
  7. "Dear Scarlett"
  8. "Herman The Brave"
  9. "Teenage Butcher"
  10. "Do The Kev"
  11. "La Kookaracha"
  12. "Honalulu Lulu"
  13. "Norman Gunston's Second Dream"
  14. "You're Ugly"
  15. "Flash Nick From Jindavik"
  16. "Ride Riley Ride"
  17. "Off Show Theme"
  18. "Leave It To Jesus"
  19. "Away In A Major"
  20. "Budgie Pizza"
  21. "Queen Of The Gong"
  22. "Greenhouse Blues"
  23. "News Free Zone"
  24. "Please Respect Me"

Of particular note is the track “Leave It To Jesus,” which was intended as a theme for an early episode of The Off Show but was removed by an ABC-TV executive prior to airing—this action led Bond and O'Donoghue to temporarily dissociate from ABC-TV.

The “News Free Zone” segment aired during prime time on ABC-TV in 1985 and presented a novel half-hour program featuring a sitcom, game show, soap opera parody, and classic sketches. Each installment concluded with Bond performing “Please Respect Me,” a tradition that has been preserved on the second disc of this reissue.

Charts

Chart (1974/75) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) 39

Main Performers

  • Grahame Bond – roles including Aunty Jack, Farrelly Brother, Errol, Kev Kavanagh, Len, Ri Fol Tit man, Tarzan, Terry Dutton
  • Rory O'Donoghue – portraying Thin Arthur, Farrelly Brother, Neil, Ri Fol Tit man, Witch Doctor
  • Garry McDonald – Kid Eager and Norman Gunston characters
  • Maggie McKinney – Jane and Flange Desire roles
  • John Derum – Bomba The Jungle Boy

Credits

  • Music created by Graham Bond alongside Rory O'Donoghue
  • Dialogue overseen by Maurice Murphy
  • Sound engineer Wahanui 'Wyn' Wynyard
  • Recording facility United Sound
  • Synthesizers designed and provided by Kim Ryrie (who later co-founded Fairlight)
  • Union representative Spider Farrelly

The recording sessions took place in 1974.

See also

References

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