SWINGSHIFT

Melbourne band that toured Perth in 1968. Having realized that the city would become a good money-spinner for them they decided to reside there permanently. The band was popular on the local scene appearing regularly at Perth's top venues: Troubadour, Pinocchio's, Top Hat and Top Of The Town. The added local singer Terry Wilson whose tenure was short lived when he moved to Sydney to become one of the cast members for the rock musical Hair. Swingshift would back big-name artists like Johnny O'Keefe when they came to town. Jazz vocalist Joy Mulligan joined the band in 1969, and they signed on to Martin Clarke's Clarion label where they released a single and EP. 

They eventually moved to Sydney via Melbourne and cut one last single in 1971. The B side ''Leaving Right Away'' sees the band at its most funky. Unfortunately, they ran out of gas and disbanded not long after. Guitarist John Neeme went on to teach arranging and improvisation at the jazz department of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Joy Mulligan also remained in Sydney, where she was contracted to do her own weekly series of radio shows on the ABC, as well as guesting on television programs, such as The Don Burrows Collection on the ABC, The Midday Show etc. Joy died in 2018.

Members

Joy Mulligan (vocals), John Sullivan (vocals), Terry Wilson (vocals), John Neeme (guitar), Gabor Zentai (guitar), Joe Palozzolo (bass), John Gray (bass), George Neidoff (drums), Brian Kinner (drums), Bruce Devenish (drums), Stewart Garrett (drums), Basil V'delli (keyboards), John Hellings (trumpet)

SINGLES
''Words / Here There And Everywhere'' 1969 Clarion 
''Make It, Break It, Take It / Leaving Right Away'' 1971 MCA 

EPs

'Words' 1969 Clarion 

References

Way Out West by George Matzkov