Pastoral Symphony (Australian band)
| Company type | Studio supergroup |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1968 |
Key people | Jimmy Stewart (producer), Geoffrey Edelsten (producer) |
| Products | Music singles |
| Parent | Festival Records |
Pastoral Symphony was a studio-assembled Australian pop rock supergroup established in 1968. Their only single, "Love Machine" (released in May 1968), was a rendition of a song originally performed by the American band the Roosters earlier that year. The ensemble consisted primarily of members from the Twilights, complemented by other musicians.
The track "Love Machine" achieved a peak position of No. 10 on the Go-Set National Top 40. The group’s lineup included guitarists Peter Brideoake and Terry Britten, bassist John Bywaters, drummer Laurie Pryor, and backing vocalists Clem "Paddy" McCartney and Glenn Shorrock—all affiliated with the Twilights. Additional vocal contributions came from Terry Walker (associated with the Hi Five, Ray Hoff & the Offbeats, the Strangers) and Ronnie Charles (from the Groop). The Johnny Hawker Orchestra provided orchestral accompaniment under Hawker’s arrangement, who also contributed harmony vocals. Production was handled by Jimmy Stewart, originally from England, alongside Australian businessman Geoffrey Edelsten, with the record released through Festival Records.
Stewart and Edelsten planned to create a touring incarnation of Pastoral Symphony; however, another unrelated band had already claimed the name and issued a single titled "Sunshine Is My Sorrow" in 1968. Legal conflicts between these two entities resulted in neither group continuing under that name. In 1977, Edelsten—then operating out of Los Angeles—produced updated versions named "Love Machine 1968" backed by "Love Machine 1977," again released via Festival Records.
Discography
- "Love Machine" (Jimmy Griffin, Michael Z. Gordon) / "Spread a Little Love Around" (Jimmy Stewart, Johnny Hawker) (May 1968) – Festival Records (MX27095/MX27096, FK-2343)