The Groop
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1964 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
The Groop was an Australian band blending folk, R&B, and rock genres, established in 1964 in Melbourne, Victoria. The most recognized formation featured Max Ross on bass, Richard Wright handling drums and vocals, Don Mudie on lead guitar, Brian Cadd on keyboards and vocals, alongside vocalist Ronnie Charles. Originally named The Wesley Trio with members Ross, Wright, and Peter McKeddie, they adopted the name The Groop by late 1964.
Their signature track, "Woman You're Breaking Me," came out in 1967. Although the band earned a trip to the United Kingdom through competition success, their impact there was modest; Cadd later reflected that their musical style aligned more closely with the American market. Other significant singles included "Ol' Hound Dog," "Best in Africa," "I'm Satisfied," "Sorry," "Seems More Important to Me," and "Such a Lovely Way."
Following their split in 1969, Cadd and Mudie went on to create Axiom alongside Glenn Shorrock (who later joined Little River Band). In recognition of his work with The Groop, Axiom, and as a solo artist, Brian Cadd was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 2007.
1964–1966: The Groop mark I
Formed in 1964 by Wesley College students Peter McKeddie (vocals), Max Ross (bass), and Richard Wright (drums), The Wesley Trio secured a contract with CBS Records Melbourne and released a single, an EP, plus an album. Transitioning toward R&B influences, they expanded by adding guitarist Peter Bruce and rebranded as The Groop by the end of 1964. Bruce, originally from England, falsely claimed prior involvement with the Dave Clark Five. The Groop achieved chart success in Melbourne with singles such as "Ol' Hound Dog" (peaking at No. 13), "Best in Africa" (No. 10), and "I'm Satisfied" (No. 21) during 1966. Their work received favorable critiques from Ian "Molly" Meldrum of Go-Set. They released two albums under CBS Records: The Groop (1965) and I'm Satisfied (1966). In August 1966, McKeddie and Bruce exited; Ross and Wright brought in Don Mudie on guitar. At McKeddie's farewell event, keyboardist Brian Cadd joined the group along with vocalist Ronnie Charles.
1966–1969: The Groop mark II
Adopting a blues/rock orientation, the reformed lineup—Cadd, Charles, Mudie, Ross, and Wright—issued "Sorry," which reached No. 12 on Melbourne charts in January 1967. Their May 1967 release "Woman You're Breaking Me," co-written by Cadd and Wright, became their sole national top ten hit, climbing to No. 4 in Melbourne and No. 12 in Sydney.
By winning the 1967 Hoadley's National Battle of the Sounds competition with their song "When I Was Six Years Old" (written by Cadd and Ross), they earned a trip to the UK. Ian Meldrum commended their performance as effective representatives abroad. This track was covered by Paul Jones of Manfred Mann and also saw local success through Ronnie Burns' version. After releasing "Seems More Important to Me" (which reached No. 30 in Melbourne), The Groop sailed to the UK aboard the Sitmar cruise liner Castel Felice, performing during the journey.
In Britain, they signed with CBS England and toured both there and in Germany. Although they composed most of their successful songs while in Australia, CBS urged them to record an Italian-style ballad titled "What's The Good of Goodbye," which did not chart. Returning to Australia by October 1968 saw Ross depart from the band. Two additional singles followed; only "Such A Lovely Way" entered the national top 20 before the group dissolved in May 1969. Their last recording contribution was as uncredited instrumentalists on Russell Morris' chart-topping single "The Real Thing." Subsequently, Cadd and Mudie formed Axiom to explore a rock-oriented direction. The second incarnation of The Groop produced the album Woman You're Breaking Me (1967), while their compilation Great Hits from The Groop (1968) was released during their UK tenure.
Post-Groop Endeavors
After The Groop dissolved, Brian Cadd and Don Mudie initiated the formation of Axiom in May 1969, enlisting Glenn Shorrock (formerly of The Twilights), Doug Lavery (ex-The Valentines), and Chris Stockley (ex-Cam-Pact). Cadd and Mudie served as the chief songwriters, crafting notable tracks such as "Arkansas Grass," "A Little Ray of Sunshine," and "My Baby's Gone." Following Axiom's split in 1971, Cadd and Mudie achieved a top 20 hit with "Show Me the Way," reaching No. 15 in early 1972. Subsequently, Brian Cadd embarked on a solo path encompassing roles as a performer, songwriter, producer, record label proprietor, and composer for film and television. His significant impact on the Australian music scene was honored in 2007 with his induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame, acknowledging his influential work including contributions made during his time with The Groop.
1988–1989: Short-lived Reunion
The Groop came together once again for a nationwide tour spanning late 1988 through early 1989. This lineup combined members from various periods of the band's history: Bruce, Charles, McKeddie, Mudie, Wright, along with Rob Glover (previously of Sports) on bass guitar and Tweed Harris (formerly with Groove) handling keyboards. To coincide with this reunion, CBS issued a compilation CD in 1989 entitled The Best and The Rest.
Albums
- The Groop – CBS (1965)
- I'm Satisfied – CBS (1966)
- Woman You're Breaking Me – CBS (1967)
- Great Hits from the Groop – Music for Pleasure (1977)
- Best of the Rest – CBS (1989)
Extended plays
- Woman You're Breaking Me – CBS (1966)
- Such a Lovely Way – CBS (1968)
- Raven – RV07 (1974)
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU | |||
| 1965 | "Mojo" | - | W&G |
| "Ol' Hound Dog" | 30 | CBS | |
| 1966 | "The Best in Africa" | 32 | CBS |
| "I'm Satisfied" | 53 | CBS | |
| "Empty Words" | 99 | CBS | |
| 1967 | "Sorry" / "Who Do You Love" | 34 | CBS |
| "Woman You're Breaking Me" / "Mad Over You" | 6 | CBS | |
| "Annabelle Lee" / "Seems More Important To Me" | 40 | CBS | |
| 1968 | "Lovin' Tree" / "Nite Life" | 65 | CBS |
| 1969 | "Such a Lovely Way" / "We Can Talk" | 13 | CBS |
| "You Gotta Live Love" / "Sally's Mine" | 92 | CBS |
Go-Set Pop Poll
From 1966 until 1972, the teen music magazine Go-Set conducted an annual poll where readers voted for their favorite Australian music acts.
|-
| 1967
| The Groop
| Top Australian Group
| style="background:tan;" | 3rd