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Thursday 12 September 2013

THE KRAVATS


Hobart band The Kravats formed in 1958 and was known locally as 'Tasmania's answer to The Beatles' and 'The Mighty Kravats'. Like many Australian bands of the beat era The Kravats started out playing in the style of The Shadows. Signing to Melbourne label W&G they had their first big hit in Hobart with the instrumental, ''Puppet Strings / Bei Mir Bist Duschoen'' released in 1964. Another instrumental record, ''Jindivick / Fred'', went Top 5 in Hobart in 1965. Also in the same year, The Kravats took on the British Invasion and managed to keep The Beatles' ''Help'' from #1. The band were at the top of the 7HO radio chart with a cover of The Animals’ ''Baby Let Me Take You Home''. Lead singer Barry Woodruff remembers, “We went from three to #1 the week before ''Help!'' was released, then its pre-release sales got it to #1 in every other state except Tasmania,” he said. The Kravats stayed at #1 for three weeks then, before eventually being replaced by ''Help!''

The Kravats drew fans in their hundreds to their Saturday night residency at The Spook Club in Moonah and on Fridays at The Beachcomber, North Hobart’s San Carlo Hall. Ray Sawford, bass player with The Trolls back in the day, said "The Kravats were the most popular of the 25 or so bands at the time in Hobart, playing community halls across the city each week from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon". The Kravats released more singles on W&G Records and regularly toured the clubs there and in Sydney. In 1999 Canetoad released the compilation album 'The Kravats 5 Genuine Top 40 Tasmanian Hits!'. Guitarist Ray Woodruff died in 2004.

Members

John McCabe (drums), Barry Woodruff (vocals), Ray Woodruff (guitar) Lyn Thomas (bass), John McCabe (drums) Noel Best (guitar) Richard Millhouse (bass) Max Johns (drums)




SINGLES
''Puppet Strings (#96) / Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen'' 1964 W&G
''Jindivik / Fred'' 1964 W&G
''Baby Let Me Take You Home (#81) / Bali Ha'i'' 1965 W&G
''It Must Be Jelly ('Cos Jam Don't Shake Like That) / Stavark'' 1965 W&G
''Well All Right (#100) / Come On Back'' 1966 W&G
''The Pain Is Here (#93) / We're Gonna Howl Tonight'' 1966 W&G
''That's What I Want / It's Unlikely'' 1967 W&G

EPs
'We The Kravats' 1965 W&G





References

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


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3 comments:

  1. The Editor4 May 2018 at 21:42

    Looking at the lineup in the photograph, there seems to be some discrepancy between the member s listed above and the photo. In the photo we have from left to right Richard (Tich) Millhouse (Bass), Max Johns (Drums), Barry Woodruff (Vocals)l, Noel Best (Lead Guitar) and Ray Woodruff (Rhythm Guitar). In the next photo John McCabe features as replacement drummer for Max Johns, except he (John) did not play on "Baby Let Me Take You Home". Not that it's important but historians often don't check their facts first.

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    Replies
    1. kimbo5 May 2018 at 13:41

      Those members have been added. Cheers

      Delete
  2. Unknown25 February 2021 at 20:38

    Their best song according to me was an original, "Why Hide" but it was only released on an EP + the CD of course.

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