THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
932) Jon Blanchfield — “Town of Tuxley Toymaker Part 1”
Here is some lovely “fairytale psych” (PsychedelicGuy, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuA1gHcy5vs) written by Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb, and performed by Australia’s Jon Blanchfield (’67), the UK’s Billy J. Kramer (’67), New Zealand’s Shane (’68), and Belgium’s Vipers (’69).
Stephen Thomas Erlewine tells us that:
The Bee Gees released their first single in 1963, but they didn’t have a hit in their homeland of Australia until 1965. It took another two years for them to crack the Top 20 in the U.K. and U.S., after which the hits came steadily until the band temporarily split in late 1969. . . . [T]hey were seen as songwriters as much as performers [during this period and] walked the line separating ornate pop and baroque psychedelia . . . . [T]he Bee Gees’ catalog could sound equally comfortable in the hands of showbiz pros, trippy upstarts, bubblegum stars, and soul crooners. . . . [with] swinging British pop, fuzz-drenched candied psychedelia, spooky sunshine pop — even reggae . . .
https://www.allmusic.com/album/to-love-somebody-the-songs-of-the-bee-gees-1966-1970-mw0003021427
As to Jon Blanchfield:
[The Brisbane] singer and TV personality [had seven charting singles in his home city from 1967 to 1971] . . . .
[He] was a star of national TV pop show Uptight. In mid-1976 he founded the Rainbird label, which released records by Lobby Loyde . . , Saltbush, Normie Rowe and others, but folded soon after it started. As John Blanchfield he has had a long career in artist management. His agency Beatroot Services has Normie Rowe as a client.
See also the A-side Upstairs Downstairs (#32 Brisbane) [to “Tuxley”]. [“Tuxley” was r]ecorded in 1966 in Sydney, produced by Nat Kipner, with backing vocals by The Bee Gees, composers of both sides.
https://poparchives.com.au/shane/the-town-of-tuxley-toymaker-part-1/, https://poparchives.com.au/jon-blanchfield/lavender-girl/
As to Shane:
British-born NZ singer and songwriter Shane (b. Trevor Hales, known as Shane Hales) had been in bands including The Pleazers and Shane Group. He took over as host of TV’s C’mon . . . . His version of Terry Knight’s Saint Paul was a top-selling single, followed by a cover of Elton John’s Lady Samantha (1969, #3 NZ). Shane released a number of albums and singles through to the 80s, including a 1970 single with Zonk!, a studio band assembled for the purpose of recording one single, Heya, also released in the US. Shane had a stint in the UK in the 70s, including time with his heavy rock/punk bands Midnite Wolf and Killa-Hz.
https://poparchives.com.au/shane/the-town-of-tuxley-toymaker-part-1/
Billy J. Kramer’s (see #302) version was “produced by Robert Stigwood. . . . As [with Blanchfield], The Bee Gees are heard on backing vocals. This was their first time in a recording studio in the UK.” (https://poparchives.com.au/shane/the-town-of-tuxley-toymaker-part-1/)
Here is Shane:
Here is Billy J. Kramer:
Here are the Vipers (from Ghent, Belgium):
Pay to Play! The Off the Charts Spotify Playlist! + Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock Merchandise
Please consider helping to support my website/blog by contributing $6 a month for access to the Off the Charts Spotify Playlist. Using a term familiar to denizens of Capitol Hill, you pay to play! (“relating to or denoting an unethical or illicit arrangement in which payment is made by those who want certain privileges or advantages in such arenas as business, politics, sports, and entertainment” — dictionary.com).
The playlist includes all the “greatest songs of the 1960’s that no one has ever heard” that are available on Spotify. The playlist will expand each time I feature an available song.
All new subscribers will receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock magnet. New subscribers who sign up for a year will also receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock t-shirt or baseball cap. See pictures on the Pay to Play page.
When subscribing, please send me an e-mail (GMFtma1@gmail.com) or a comment on this site letting me know an e-mail address/phone number/Facebook address, etc. to which I can send instructions on accessing the playlist and a physical address to which I can sent a magnet/t-shirt/baseball cap. If choosing a t-shirt, please let me know the gender and size you prefer.
Just click on the first blue block for a month to month subscription or the second blue block for a yearly subscription.
Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! / Off the Charts: 60s Rock Revelations😊 