I'm Talking
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 in Melbourne, Australia |
| Founder | Robert Goodge, Ian Cox, Barbara Hogarth |
| Defunct | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, singles, live performances |
I'm Talking was an Australian funk-infused pop rock band fronted by vocalists Kate Ceberano and Zan Abeyratne. Established in Melbourne in 1983, the group secured several top ten singles including "Trust Me", "Do You Wanna Be?", and "Holy Word". Their album Bear Witness reached the top fifteen before the band dissolved in 1987. They later reunited in October 2018, embarking on a tour in 2019 and playing intimate venues.
1983–1987: Bear Witness
Following the disbandment of Melbourne’s experimental funk ensemble Essendon Airport in 1983, Robert Goodge (guitar), Ian Cox (saxophone), and Barbara Hogarth (bass) formed I'm Talking with the goal of producing innovative yet accessible funk-pop music. The initial lineup featured vocalist Kate Ceberano (formerly of Expozay and Hoagy Cats), Stephen Charlesworth on keyboards, alongside Cox, Goodge, Hogarth, and drummer Cameron Newman. They brought refined dance rhythms into Australia’s pub rock circuit, performing for approximately a year before issuing their first EP, Someday, in May 1984 through the independent Randelli label. After securing management under Ken West, they signed with Regular Records and incorporated Zan Abeyratne (previously with Grand Wazoo and Bang) as an additional lead singer.
Their single "Trust Me" debuted in November 1984, reaching number 10 on the Australian singles chart. Subsequent releases "Lead the Way" (June 1985) and a rendition of Rose Royce’s "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" (August 1985) both attained positions within the top thirty. Although songwriting credits were initially shared across the band, Goodge and Cox were responsible for nearly all compositions. At the 1985 Countdown Awards, they received accolades for 'Best New Talent' and 'Best Debut Single' for "Trust Me". On 13 July 1985, I'm Talking performed "Lead the Way" during the Oz for Africa concert—Australia’s segment of Live Aid—which was broadcast nationally and on MTV in the United States.
Their first full-length album, Bear Witness, produced by Fred Maher and Martyn Webster, was released in August 1986 and peaked at number 14 on the albums chart. Singles from this album included "Do You Wanna Be?", which climbed to number 8; "Holy Word", reaching number 9 and featuring Abeyratne’s lead vocals; and "How Can It Be?", which did not enter the top 100 but achieved respectable sales figures. The band signed with London Records for UK distribution; however, only "Do You Wanna Be?" was released overseas due to contractual complications. Additionally, "Holy Word" appeared on the soundtrack for the 1987 film Howling III. Several tracks were also featured in the 1988 movie For Queen & Country.
Following their UK tour supporting Five Star, lineup modifications included Warren McLean replacing Newman on drums and Kevin Wiltshire joining as an additional keyboardist. This formation participated in the Australia Made tour in January 1987. By March of that year, Abeyratne, Charlesworth, and McLean had departed. New members John McAll (keyboards), Philip Jackson (drum machine/electronics), Susie Ahern (backing vocals), and rapper Tricky J were incorporated. Although new songs were showcased live, none were formally recorded. Ceberano earned 'Most Popular Female Performer' at the final 1987 Countdown Awards. The group disbanded in July 1987 after Ceberano chose to focus on her solo career. In 1988, Regular Records issued a compilation album titled Dancing.
1988–2017: Post I'm Talking Endeavors
After the disbandment of I'm Talking, Ceberano embarked on a solo journey while Abeyratne released three individual singles. In 1990, Goodge, Cox, and David Chesworth reunited under the name "Power Trip featuring Mr Larry Weems". During the 1990s, Goodge collaborated with Gavin Campbell and Paul Main to establish Filthy Lucre, a group focused on remixing tracks, including a notable dance adaptation of Yothu Yindi's folk-rock hit "Treaty". Additionally, Goodge worked alongside Stephen Cummings throughout that decade. Manager West briefly represented Ceberano before joining forces with Vivian Lees to initiate the nationwide rock event The Big Day Out. Meanwhile, John McAll continued his collaborations with Chesworth and other jazz and rock musicians.
In 2003, Goodge revived Essendon Airport with Chesworth and Graham Lee. Ceberano took part in the Countdown Spectacular 2 in 2007, performing tracks from I'm Talking's repertoire. By 2008, Cox had transitioned into a conservator role at the State Library of Victoria. Notably, in October 2010, Bear Witness (1986) earned a spot in the 100 Best Australian Albums listing.
Ceberano released her autobiography titled I'm Talking: My life, my words, my music in 2014, co-authored with Tom Gilling and published by Hachette Australia.
2018–present: Reunion and Dyin' to Be Dancin'
In March 2018, the album Bear Witness was reissued with added tracks and remastered for vinyl, CD, and digital platforms; concurrently, the band launched an official YouTube channel.
On 16 October 2018, five founding members—Goodge, Hogarth, Charlesworth, Ceberano, and Abeyratne—declared their reunion to support Bryan Ferry's 2019 Australian tour. Due to personal obligations, Ian Cox and Cameron Newman did not rejoin. Ceberano shared her excitement about returning to live performances and highlighted the lasting resonance of their music. The ensemble delivered an acoustic session on ABC Radio's Myf Warhurst show in November 2018 and staged a fan-favorite concert in Melbourne in February 2019. On 15 February 2019, they released Dyin' to Be Dancin, a live compilation recorded between 1984 and 1986. Encouraged by renewed fan interest, plans for additional gigs and possible new recordings were indicated. In July 2019, remixes of "It's Over" and "Cry Me a River" were issued.
February 2020 saw the release of a six-track remix single of "Holy Word". Since then, activity has halted, with the band's Instagram profile being removed in the early 2020s.
Members
Compiled from various references:[1][2][3]
- Kate Ceberano – lead vocals (1983–1987, 2019)
- Stephen Charlesworth – keyboards (1983–1987, 2019)
- Ian Cox – saxophone (1983–1987)
- Robert Goodge – guitar (1983–1987, 2019)
- Barbara Hogarth – bass guitar (1983–1987, 2019)
- Cameron Newman – drums (1983–1986)
- Zan Abeyratne – vocals (1984–1987, 2019)
- Warren McLean – drums (1986–1987)
- Kevin Wiltshire – keyboards (session musician, 1986–1987)
- John McAll – keyboards (1986–1987)
- Philip Jackson – drum machine and electronics (1987)
- Tricky J (Julien Lodge) – rapping (1987)
- Susie Ahern – backing vocals (1987)
- Miles Henry – drums (2019)
- Brodie Everist – saxophone (2019)
Discography
Albums
| Title | Information | Highest chart position | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| Bear Witness |
|
14 |
|
| Dancing |
|
— | |
| Dyin' to Be Dancin' (I'm Talking Live 1984–1986) |
|
— |
Extended play
| Year | Details |
|---|---|
| Someday |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | AUS[4] | NZ[5] | Album association |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "Trust Me" | 10 | — | Non-album single |
| 1985 | "Lead the Way" | 25 | — | |
| "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" | 21 | — | ||
| 1986 | "Do You Wanna Be?" | 8 | 30 | Bear Witness |
| "Holy Word" | 9 | 21 | ||
| "How Can It Be?" | — | — |
Awards and nominations
ARIA Music Awards
The annual ARIA Music Awards, initiated in 1987 by the Australian Recording Industry Association.
Template:Awards table |- | 1987 | Richard Alan for Bear Witness by I'm Talking | ARIA Award for Best Cover Art | Template:Nom
|}
Countdown Music Awards
The Australian pop music television program Countdown, aired on ABC-TV from 1974 to 1987, presented music awards between 1979 and 1987 based on both popular vote and industry panels.[6][7]
Template:Awards table |- | rowspan=3 |1984 | "Trust Me" | Best Debut Single | Template:Won |- | Kate Ceberano in "Trust Me" (I'm Talking) | Best Female Performance in a Video | Template:Nom |- | I'm Talking | Most Promising Talent | Template:Won |- |1986 | Bear Witness | Best Debut Album | Template:Nom
|}
Further reading
- Pay to Play by Wendy Milson, Helen Thomas and Ponch Hawkes, Penguin Books, 1986 (Includes interviews with Cox and Goodge)
- Baker, Glenn A.; Bob King (eds.) (1987). Glenn A. Baker. Australian made, gonna have a good time tonight : the authorised documentary of the event. Sydney: Fontana Collins.
- 100 Best Australian Albums, John O'Donnell et al., Hardie Grant Books, 2010.
- Dig: Australian Rock and Pop Music 1960-1985 by David Nichols, published in 2016
External links
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- Articles with short description
- Australian electronic dance music groups
- Musical groups formed in 1983
- Musical groups disbanded in 2020
- Musical groups originating from Melbourne
- 1983 establishments in Australia
- 2020 disestablishments in Australia
- Kate Ceberano
- Musical groups disestablished in 2020
- Pages with reference errors