THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,968) Kate — “Don’t Make a Sound”
Kate is one strange girl (see #240) who gives us a disorienting, phantasmagorical “slice of [‘68 British] pop psych replete with organ, harpsichord and phasing” on the B-side. (Vernon Joynson, The Tapestry of Delights Revisited)
Leonard01* tells us that:
[T]he song Whose lyrics I wrote with Steve Sirkin way back in 1967. I remember Chris Gilbey getting in touch and asking whether his band Kate could record it. There we were, two young guys just out of school and dreaming of being the next Lennon and McCartney! Anyway didn’t quite work out like that. Just pleased that others can now sample the way it was in 1968. Bit dated now obviously, but at least I made it to vinyl while many others didn’t. Also very pleased that Chris made it in the industry. Well done you mate!
Made it in the industry? “Never realized that Kate’s Chris Gilbey is the same guy who worked, promoted, managed or signed bands like AC DC, The Saints and Church!!” (Gian_paolo, https://www.45cat.com/record/cbs3631) What?!
Wikipedia:
Christopher John Gilbey . . . is an English-born Australian entrepreneur and music industry identity. His more recent activities are in the field of materials science and signals processing from graphene-coated materials, a long way from the career he is best known for: shaping the careers of recording artists such as INXS, Tommy Emmanuel, Keith Urban, The Church, The Saints, AC/DC, Wa Wa Nee, Euphoria, Edith Bliss and [the Easybeats’] Stevie Wright. . . . He studied engineering at the University of Cape Town before returning to the UK to pursue a career in the music industry. Chris formed a pop group called Kate, which was signed to CBS Records in the UK. He co-wrote several singles by the band including its first single, “Strange Girl”. [see #240] . . . After Kate disbanded in 1969, Gilbey established a leather fashion business called Woof. He designed a number of Hobbit-inspired clothes, which were sold in Carnaby Street. His suede, hooded capes came to the attention of Twiggy [see #1,789], who modelled them. Despite this, the venture was unsuccessful and Gilbey closed it in 1972. . . . [and] migrated to Australia . . . . [He] joined the Australian music label Albert Productions in 1973, where he began as A&R manager and subsequently became vice-president of A&R. At Alberts, Gilbey was deeply involved in the promotion of AC/DC, including producing or designing the band’s controversial radio advertisements and album covers. . . . After leaving Alberts, Gilbey managed the seminal Australian punk band The Saints, moving with the band to the UK. In 1979, Gilbey returned to Australia to become managing director of ATV Northern Songs. He signed a number of artists in Australia and helped a number of songwriters who had moved overseas including Steve Kipner [see #355, 1,121, 1,496, 1,669]. He established a joint venture with EMI Records reactivating the Parlophone label as the imprint for the records that he produced. Among the artists that he signed during this period was The Church. He produced the band’s first hit single, “The Unguarded Moment”, and debut album . . . . Gibley left ATV Northern Songs . . . . [and] built one of the most successful independent publishing companies in Australia . . . . Subsequent to this, Gilbey became the Senior Executive VP of BMG Records in Australia, and led the development of one of the first transactional music web sites as well as the development of the enhanced CD. . . . He was founding chairman of Export Music Australia. Gilbey received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 1992 for his contribution to the music industry and charity.
* Leonard Harbour shares songwriting credits with Steve Sirkin and Chris Gilbey. (https://www.45cat.com/record/cbs3631)
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