THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,663) The Avengers — “Twiddle-E-Dee”
Warning: If you are from Brisbane, read no further! This “unpromisingly titled [song] turns out to be a bouncy mod pop gem [verging on bubblegum], penned by the very talented Terry Britten who wrote some amazing psych stuff with The Twilights [see #563]” (happening45, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24Wy8KN_hIw), that reached #13 there (#27 in Melbourne, and #46 in the Australian (Kent) Music Report)). (Badger45, https://www.45cat.com/record/do8756)
The definitive Milesago tells us of the Avengers (a pretty popular band name in the ‘60’s):
Formed in 1967, The Avengers built up a strong following on the Brisbane club and discotheque scene . . . and rose to become one of the top Queensland bands of the period. . . . [with a “repertoire [of] mainly Top 40 covers. They were signed to EMI’s Columbia label in 1968 and released their first single, “What Price Love”, in June 1968. Late in 1968 the original version of the group fell apart and a new lineup — singer Julian Jones, guitarist Keith Kirwin (ex Capital Showband), drummer Don Lebler and bassist Andy Tait — was recruited. This lasted for approximately a year and recorded a second single “Listen, Listen” [originally by the Merry-Go-Round, see #50] . . . (Jan. 1969). Neither single made any impression on the charts, although the group was very popular by this time and entered and won the Queensland final of the Hoadley’s Battle of the Sounds. In early 1969, following the shock demise of The Twilights, lead singer Glenn Shorrock briefly took over as the Avengers’ manager. Ex Twilights guitarist Terry Britten wrote the A-side of The Avengers’ third single, “Tweedelee Dee”/”Caroline Court” (May 1969) which was a minor hit in Brisbane and their only charting single. By this time the band had relocated to Melbourne and the lineup had changed again — Kirwin quit, unhappy with the group’s pop direction, and he was replaced by former Zoot guitarist Roger Hicks and drummer Don Lebler. Hicks — who had recently quit Zoot, unhappy with the group’s corny “Think Pink” publicity campaign — was reportedly The Avengers’ second choice. They had were hoping to snare Rick Springfield . . . who, was being pursued by several Brisbane bands at the time but, in an ironic twist, Springfield turned down the Avengers’ offer and wound up taking Hicks’ place in Zoot. The ’68-’69 lineup of The Avengers broke up in September, with Don Lebler soon joining Shorrock in the new supergroup Axiom. By the end of the year bassist Andy Tait had put together The New Avengers, which included guitarist David Briggs. He played with the New Avengers for about six months before leaving to join highly regarded Melbourne band Cycle — who backed Russell Morris for some time. Briggs was replaced by John Bush, but this last incarnation The Avengers last only a short time and broke up in late 1970. David Briggs of course went on to great success in the 1970s, replacing Rick Formosa as lead guitarist in Little River Band in 1976. In late 1979 former Avengers guitarist Keith Kirwan joined Doug Parkinson’s acclaimed Southern Star Band.
Here is a clip from “the first national edition of Hit Scene (ABC-TV Australia) May 17 1969, hosted by Dick Williams.” (Folk rock/Australian rock/MORE!, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlUmD78dD94&t=1s):
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 — now over 1,100 songs. 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😊 