Following a tradition set by Aussie bands like The Affair, The Executives and Zoot, Sydney-based Autumn was unashamedly a pop band. Autumn was formed in 1969 with Glenn Beatson on drums, Rick Graham on bass guitar, Greg Jacques on organ, Steve McMurray on guitar and Tony Romeril on lead vocals. Their debut single ''Mr Henry’s Lollipop Shop'' at the start of 1970 set the tone for subsequent releases. The group’s second single, ''Yellow River'', was a cover of the recent hit by English band Christie. The song was also covered by Melbourne band Jigsaw, and the two Aussie groups shared a joint national #1 hit in August 1970. ''Looking Thru the Eyes of a Beautiful Girl'' / Song To Raymondo'' provided a double-sided hit in January 1971, reaching #3 in Sydney and #22 in Brisbane. In the same year they released their debut album 'Song To Raymondo'. The band supported The Hollies on their Australian tour in 1971.
Guitarist Allan Marshall replaced Greg Jacques in April 1971 and Autumn were signed by Warner Music (WEA), the newly established Australian subsidiary of the famous American record company. Their first Warner single, ''Falling'' (May 1971) reached #10 in Sydney. Subsequent singles ''Goblin’s Gamble'' (July) and ''Just Couldn’t Believe It'' (September) both failed to chart. During the second half of 1971 Autumn released their hugely underrated second album 'Comes Autumn'. The group broke up during an ill-fated trip to the UK in early 1972, splitting up within just six weeks of their arrival. Tony Romeril and Rick Graham re-formed Autumn briefly in Sydney during 1976, with a new line-up filled out by Dave Hallard (guitar), James Caulfield (keyboards) and Con Westaberg (drums), but this new version, which played only new material and none of the Autumn songs, quickly fizzled out. Neil Bamford was killed in a go-kart accident in 1981. Steve McMurray died in 2014
Members
Steve McMurray (guitar), Rick Graham (bass), Glen Beatson (drums), Tony Romeril (vocals), Greg Jacques (keyboards), Allan Marshall (guitar), Dave Hallard (guitar), James Caulfield (keyboards), Con Westaberg (drums), Bob Heron (guitar), Neil Bamford (drums)
SINGLES
Yellow River
| 24 AUG '70 | #1 |
Looking Thru the Eyes of a Beautiful Girl
| 23 NOV '70 | #15 |
Falling / Miracles
| 24 MAY '71 | #32 |
References
http://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-a-to-k/artists-a/autumn/
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
I've still got my copy of Chartstoppers Vol 2 from 1971.
ReplyDeleteOne of the outstanding tracks is "Goblin's Gamble" by Autumn.
I thought that songs that made it onto these compilation albums would've made the Top 40 Charts.
"Goblin's Gamble" really impressed me when I was ten years old.
I thought that Autumn were a very good Band.
They were a fleeting pleasure of my childhood.