DREAM / THE NEW DREAM

The Dream formed in 1967 when singer Alex Kadell (AKA Alex Opitz) and keyboard player Jenny Johnston, both from The Changing Times, joined forces with vocalist Jack McGrath, guitarist Peter Nicholl, bassist Terry Stirzaker and Mick Archer of another Melbourne discotheque band, The Final Four. In January 1968 they appeared as a support on the infamous Who-Small Faces "Big Show" tour. In June Peter Nicoll left the group, to be replaced by Brian Holloway. Holloway left later in the year to join the remaining members of Somebody's Image, which became The Image after the departure of lead singer Russell Morris, and he subsequently played in Ronnie Charles' short-lived supergroup Captain Australia & The Honky Tonk.

Signed to the Festival label they released their first single ''Who Could Be Lovin' You (Other Than Me)'' in 1968 and ''Yours Until Tomorrow'' the following year. In April 1969 the group was relaunched as The New Dream with new members Peter Reed on drums and John Du Bois on bass, and their style changed to exploit the current "bubblegum pop" trend. Glenn A Baker has written that their agency was grooming the band to take over from Zoot. Their first Top 40 success came with their fourth single, "Groupie", one of a string of successful formula 'bubblegum songs written by Buzz Cason, the American who also penned "Hayride" (the hit debut for The Flying Circus) and "Everlasting Love", which was also a big hit for The Town Criers.

"Groupie" became a national hit, reaching #25, with the lineup addition of Roger Treble on guitar (ex The Rondells). Regular dance circuit bookings and TV appearances on Happenning '70 helped the band to build up popularity with teen audiences. During this time Treble and McGrath moved on and John Du Bois left to join Country Radio and was replaced by Graham Jones (ex-Iguana, Captain Australia & The Honky Tonk). Now a four-piece band, their next three singles all made the charts. "Soft Delights" only just missed out on a Top 20 placing, and although "Candy Love" only scraped into the lower reaches of the Top 100, "Turned 21" fared much better, reaching #31.

This lineup recorded their only LP and their last two singles, a cover of T-Rex's "Ride A White Swan" and "Girl I'm Gonna Get You" failed to chart. Their self-titled LP, produced by Brian Cadd, featured what Ian McFarlane describes as "...a gloriously campy mix of the band's bubblegum hits, easy listening pop fluff replete with sweet harmonies and schmaltz strings, plus a cover of Joni Mitchell's 'Chelsea Morning' ". The group broke up at the end of 1972; with Kadell embarking on a solo career, and Peter Reed joining Gary Young's Hot Dog (he later played with Pantha and Bandicoot, the group that featured Mick Fettes (Madder Lake) and Shane Bourne). Kadell and Johnston revived the New Dream name with Gavan Anderson on guitar and Nigel Thompson on bass for two singles released during 1974. The first, "I Can't Stop Dancing (In The Dark)" (July) was written by Andy Fairweather-Low and produced by Steve Groves (ex-Tin Tin); the second the oddly-titled "Schlick Schlak Boom Boom" was produced by Buddy England. Neither single made any impression, and the group faded from view.

Members

Mick Archer (drums), Brian Holloway (guitar), Alex Kadell (vocals/guitar), Jenny Johnston (organ), Jack McGrath (vocals), Peter Nicoll (guitar), Mick Archer (drums), John Du Bois (bass), Graham Jones (bass), Peter Reed (drums), Terry Stirzker (bass), Roger Treble (guitar), Gavan Anderson (guitar), Nigel Thompson (bass)

SINGLES

''Who Could Be Lovin' You (Other Than Me) (#53) / Mercy, Mercy, Mercy'' 1968 Festival
''Yours Until Tomorrow (#73) / Turn Around'' 1969 Festival

''Catchin' Up On Fun (#50) / You've Got That Certain Style'' 1969 Festival

''Groupie (#25) / It's So Good To Be With You'' 1969 Festival

''Candy Love (#73) / Do You Think You Can Make Me Happy'' 1971 Festival

''Soft Delights (#24) / You've Got Me Singing'' 1971 Festival
''Ride A White Swan / The Weekend'' 1972 Festival

''Turned 21 (#31) / Someone Like You'' 1972 Festival
''Girl I'm Gonna Get You / Gene's Song'' 1973 Festival
''Schlick Schlack Boom Boom / Country Life'' 1975 Astor
''I Can't Stop Dancing (Dancing In The Dark) / Musical Lovin' Man'' 1975 Astor

EPs

'Catchin' Up On Fun' 1969 Festival
'Groupie' 1970 Festival
'Soft Delights' 1972 Festival

ALBUMS

'New Dream' 1973 Festival

References

http://www.milesago.com/artists/dream.htm

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/