Brian George Cadd (born 29 November 1946, Perth, Western Australia) was a child prodigy: winning a TV talent quest when 12 and offered his first professional job as a pianist for a children's TV program. His family relocated to Tasmania and then Melbourne, where Cadd became involved in jazz music of the early 1960s, playing with the Beale Street Jazz Band and The Castaways. He was also widely renowned for his zany hats. By 1965 The Castaways became The Jackson Kings playing R&B, and they recorded two singles "Watch Your Step" and "Watermelon Man" by April 1966 on the CBS label. Ronnie Charles would join the Jackson Kings after the release of both singles.
The Groop formed in Melbourne in 1964 and by 1966 had recorded a few singles, an EP and an LP. In August 1966, Peter McKeddie and Peter Bruce departed the band. The remaining members invited Don Mudie (ex-Sherwood Green) to join on guitar. At McKeddie's farewell party (he was travelling to the UK) The Groop were supported by The Jackson Kings. Max Ross invited Ronnie Charles to join the band as lead singer who then pushed for his old band mate Brian Cadd from The Jackson Kings to join as having a keyboard player made sense. On advice from pop magazine Go-Set writer Ian "Molly" Meldrum Cadd changed his surname to Caine, before changing it back after his family protested. The new line-up was Cadd, Charles, Mudie, Max Ross on bass and Richard Wright on drums.
The Groop formed in Melbourne in 1964 and by 1966 had recorded a few singles, an EP and an LP. In August 1966, Peter McKeddie and Peter Bruce departed the band. The remaining members invited Don Mudie (ex-Sherwood Green) to join on guitar. At McKeddie's farewell party (he was travelling to the UK) The Groop were supported by The Jackson Kings. Max Ross invited Ronnie Charles to join the band as lead singer who then pushed for his old band mate Brian Cadd from The Jackson Kings to join as having a keyboard player made sense. On advice from pop magazine Go-Set writer Ian "Molly" Meldrum Cadd changed his surname to Caine, before changing it back after his family protested. The new line-up was Cadd, Charles, Mudie, Max Ross on bass and Richard Wright on drums.
The first single for this line-up was "Woman You're Breaking Me" (written by Cadd and Wright) which reached #6 in Melbourne and #12 in Sydney in July 1967.It was also a hit in parts of the USA. Also, at the time Melbourne singer Ronnie Burns had a local hit with "When I Was Six Years Old" written by Cadd (who also produced) and Ross. Local publishers sent "When I Was Six Years Old" to England where it was recorded by Manfred Mann's lead vocalist Paul Jones.
The band won a trip to UK after winning the 1967 Hoadley's National Battle of the Sounds. The Groop arrived in UK as the single was released. They toured there and in Germany. Band members had written most of their hits in Australia, but CBS decided they would cover an Italian ballad, "What's the Good of Goodbye", which failed to chart. The Groop returned to Australia by October 1968 and Max Ross left, they released two more singles, including "Such A Lovely Way" before disbanding in May 1969. Their last recorded work was an uncredited appearance as instrumental support on Russell Morris' #1 single "The Real Thing".
Following the break-up of The Groop, Cadd and Mudie formed Axiom in May 1969 with Glenn Shorrock (ex-The Twilights) on vocals, Doug Lavery (ex-The Valentines) on drums and Chris Stockley (ex-Cam-Pact) on guitar. Cadd and Mudie were the primary songwriters for Axiom including their three hit singles. They signed with EMI and released their debut single "Arkansas Grass" which reached #7 in December 1969, followed by "A Little Ray of Sunshine" (although Cadd did not write 'A Little Ray of Sunshine' this song was written by The Groop following the birth of a members daughter, pre Axiom, however the deemed it to be "not rock and roll enough" and allowed Cadd to record) at #5 in April 1970.
Axiom travelled to England and attempted to enter the UK market but had no chart success. Then, relocating to the US, they released their single "My Baby's Gone" in January 1971, this was followed by their second album 'If Only...' in September. However, Axiom had already disbanded by March and Cadd returned to Australia. Shorrock later became the lead singer for Little River Band and Stockley joined The Dingoes.
Cadd and Mudie, as a duet, released "Show Me the Way" which reached #15 in early 1972. Cadd turned to producing other acts and recording solo material on his own Bootleg Records label which was set up under Ron Tudor's Fable Records. "Ginger Man" was the first single from Cadd's self-titled debut album, released in November 1972 on Bootleg Records. Bootleg was based along similar lines to US pianist Leon Russell's Shelter Records – signed artists recorded and toured together as a The Bootleg Family Band. Studio musicians used by Cadd became the Bootleg Family Band and had their own hit single by covering Loggins and Messina's "Your Mama Don't Dance", where Cadd provided lead vocals.
Cadd and Mudie, as a duet, released "Show Me the Way" which reached #15 in early 1972. Cadd turned to producing other acts and recording solo material on his own Bootleg Records label which was set up under Ron Tudor's Fable Records. "Ginger Man" was the first single from Cadd's self-titled debut album, released in November 1972 on Bootleg Records. Bootleg was based along similar lines to US pianist Leon Russell's Shelter Records – signed artists recorded and toured together as a The Bootleg Family Band. Studio musicians used by Cadd became the Bootleg Family Band and had their own hit single by covering Loggins and Messina's "Your Mama Don't Dance", where Cadd provided lead vocals.
Cadd also won the composer's section of Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds for 1972 with his song, "Don't You Know It's Magic", this became a top 20 hit for John Farnham (known then as "Johnny" Farnham). The song also won the 'Most Outstanding Composition' award at the Tokyo World Popular Song Festival, with Cadd performing there live. Cadd released a second album, 'Parabrahm', in 1973, and followed with the theme song and score for the 1973 movie Alvin Purple (Australia's first R-rated comedy) and its sequel Alvin Purple Rides Again in 1975. After releasing his third solo album, 'Moonshine' in 1974, Cadd left Australia for the US.
Cadd arrived in Los Angeles in 1975 and began working on a record with Chelsea Records. The recorded label was forced into bankruptcy and ultimately ceased, and Cadd signed with Capitol Records. He released his fourth studio album in 1976 titled, 'White On White'. The album was mixed and produced to have a 'pop sound' along the lines of Elton John and Billy Joel, but performed poorly in the US. In 1978, Cadd released 'Yesterdaydreams', but also performed poorly and the contract with Capitol Records ceased. The track "Yesterdaydreams" was covered by Bonnie Tyler.
Early in 1980, Cadd toured France with the "French Elvis", Johnny Hallyday. He recorded solo albums for Interfusion, his songs were also recorded by Gene Pitney, Glen Campbell, Dobie Gray, Cilla Black, Wayne Newton, Bonnie Tyler, Joe Cocker and Ringo Starr. His biggest success occurred when the Pointer Sisters covered "Love is Like a Rolling Stone" as a B-side for their version of "Fire" which reached #2 on the US pop singles charts. In the mid 1980s, Cadd ran a small label called Graffiti Records and worked with Daryl Sommers and was the first person to sign Tina Arena.
He released a 1985 album titled 'No Stone Unturned'. The Charlie Daniels Band covered his song "Still Hurting Me" from that album on their October 1985 album, 'Me and the Boys'.Cadd travelled to Nashville in 1989, joined the Flying Burrito Brothers in 1991 and toured with them for two years, returning to Australia in 1993.
In 1993, Cadd teamed up with fellow Axiom member, Glenn Shorrock and released an album under the title 'The Blazing Salads' and completed a two-year tour. On tour Cadd played his hit songs, along with those of Axiom accompanied by Shorrock. Veteran rocker Max Merritt had also toured Australia with Cadd. In 1997, he built a recording studio Ginger Man Sound. In March 1998 he took over as CEO of The Streetwise Music Group in Brisbane, eventually becoming a co-owner. The company, which is distributed through Warner Music, now has some 20 acts spread over three labels (Streetwise, Stallion and Belly Laugh).
Cadd is the chairman of the Music Industry Advisory Council (Australia), President of the Australian Music Foundation and on the board of the musicians' benevolent organisation, Support Act. Cadd lectures at universities as well as continuing to record and perform, he independently released an album of new material 'Quietly Rusting' in 2005 featuring musicians like Mark Meyer, Tony Naylor, Wilbur Wilde and Ross Hannaford together with some of Australia's hottest new players including Paul White, Damien Steele-Scott and James Meston.
In 2007 Cadd was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, his acceptance speech included: "I've had forty incredible years in this world of music. During that time I have had the honour to write and record with many fabulous creative people and to perform in front of many wonderful audiences. I can't really imagine how it could have been much better or any more fun. Now being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame absolutely puts the icing on the cake for me. I truly appreciate this honour so very much".
— Brian Cadd, 2007
2007 also saw Cadd inducted into the Australian Songwriters Association (ASA) Songwriters Hall of Fame in recognition of his lifetime of songwriting achievements. In November 2010 Cadd released his autobiography From This Side of Things. In the book Cadd tells the stories of his upbringing in Western Australia where he won an TV talent quest at the age of 12 and worked on a Children's TV program as a pianist, Tasmania and Melbourne where he played jazz with the Beale Street Jazz Band and the Castaways who would become the Jackson Kings. Having success with both The Groop and Axiom as well as his solo success in Australia, working in the USA & Europe for over 20 years and being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007 by Jimmy Barnes.
In 2011 Cadd released a country album with lifelong friend, Russell Morris, titled, 'Wild Bulls and Horses'.In November 2016 Cadd released a new studio album with The Bootleg Family Band, titled 'Bulletproof', which was credited to Cadd and The Bootleg Family Band. In January 2019, Cadd released a solo studio album titled 'Silver City'. In April 2024, Cadd will release his first country album, titled 'Dream Train'.
SINGLES
''Show Me The Way (#15) / Rolling And Tumbling Down'' [with Don Mudie] 1971 Fable
''Ginger Man (#17) / Fairweather Friend'' 1972 Bootleg
''Every Mother's Son / Pappy's Got The Blues'' 1973 Bootleg
''Handyman (Edited Version) (#77) / Keep On Rockin' 1973 Bootleg
''Alvin Purple (#49) / Sometime Man'' 1973 Bootleg
''Class Of ´74 (#54) / School Days'' 1974 Bootleg
''Let Go (#10) / Think It Over'' 1974 Bootleg
''Boogie Queen (#87) / All In The Way (They Use My Face)'' 1974 Bootleg
''Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' (#93) / Fire At Shepards Flat'' 1975 Bootleg
''White On White El Dorado (#84) / Longest Night'' 1976 Interfusion
''Yesterdaydreams / Thousand Different Ways'' 1978 Interfusion
''Skating On Thin Ice / Ol' 55'' 1979 Interfusion
''Very, Very, Very Long Time / Move Me'' 1980 Interfusion
''My Baby Loves To Hurt Me (#54) / For The Love Of A Woman'' 1982 Mushroom
''Land Of The Video / Real To Me'' 1985 Graffiti
''Still Hurting Me / Writing's On The Wall'' 1985 Graffiti
"Orchestra of Grunt" [with Glenn Shorrock] 2000 Streetwise
"To Love Somebody" (#96) [with Marcia Hines, Max Merritt and Doug Parkinson] 2003 Universal
"Simple Ben" [with Lior, Mike Rudd and Old Man River] 2008 Bombora Creative
"You Know What to Say" 2024 Ambition
Cadd arrived in Los Angeles in 1975 and began working on a record with Chelsea Records. The recorded label was forced into bankruptcy and ultimately ceased, and Cadd signed with Capitol Records. He released his fourth studio album in 1976 titled, 'White On White'. The album was mixed and produced to have a 'pop sound' along the lines of Elton John and Billy Joel, but performed poorly in the US. In 1978, Cadd released 'Yesterdaydreams', but also performed poorly and the contract with Capitol Records ceased. The track "Yesterdaydreams" was covered by Bonnie Tyler.
Early in 1980, Cadd toured France with the "French Elvis", Johnny Hallyday. He recorded solo albums for Interfusion, his songs were also recorded by Gene Pitney, Glen Campbell, Dobie Gray, Cilla Black, Wayne Newton, Bonnie Tyler, Joe Cocker and Ringo Starr. His biggest success occurred when the Pointer Sisters covered "Love is Like a Rolling Stone" as a B-side for their version of "Fire" which reached #2 on the US pop singles charts. In the mid 1980s, Cadd ran a small label called Graffiti Records and worked with Daryl Sommers and was the first person to sign Tina Arena.
He released a 1985 album titled 'No Stone Unturned'. The Charlie Daniels Band covered his song "Still Hurting Me" from that album on their October 1985 album, 'Me and the Boys'.Cadd travelled to Nashville in 1989, joined the Flying Burrito Brothers in 1991 and toured with them for two years, returning to Australia in 1993.
In 1993, Cadd teamed up with fellow Axiom member, Glenn Shorrock and released an album under the title 'The Blazing Salads' and completed a two-year tour. On tour Cadd played his hit songs, along with those of Axiom accompanied by Shorrock. Veteran rocker Max Merritt had also toured Australia with Cadd. In 1997, he built a recording studio Ginger Man Sound. In March 1998 he took over as CEO of The Streetwise Music Group in Brisbane, eventually becoming a co-owner. The company, which is distributed through Warner Music, now has some 20 acts spread over three labels (Streetwise, Stallion and Belly Laugh).
Cadd is the chairman of the Music Industry Advisory Council (Australia), President of the Australian Music Foundation and on the board of the musicians' benevolent organisation, Support Act. Cadd lectures at universities as well as continuing to record and perform, he independently released an album of new material 'Quietly Rusting' in 2005 featuring musicians like Mark Meyer, Tony Naylor, Wilbur Wilde and Ross Hannaford together with some of Australia's hottest new players including Paul White, Damien Steele-Scott and James Meston.
In 2007 Cadd was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, his acceptance speech included: "I've had forty incredible years in this world of music. During that time I have had the honour to write and record with many fabulous creative people and to perform in front of many wonderful audiences. I can't really imagine how it could have been much better or any more fun. Now being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame absolutely puts the icing on the cake for me. I truly appreciate this honour so very much".
— Brian Cadd, 2007
2007 also saw Cadd inducted into the Australian Songwriters Association (ASA) Songwriters Hall of Fame in recognition of his lifetime of songwriting achievements. In November 2010 Cadd released his autobiography From This Side of Things. In the book Cadd tells the stories of his upbringing in Western Australia where he won an TV talent quest at the age of 12 and worked on a Children's TV program as a pianist, Tasmania and Melbourne where he played jazz with the Beale Street Jazz Band and the Castaways who would become the Jackson Kings. Having success with both The Groop and Axiom as well as his solo success in Australia, working in the USA & Europe for over 20 years and being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007 by Jimmy Barnes.
In 2011 Cadd released a country album with lifelong friend, Russell Morris, titled, 'Wild Bulls and Horses'.In November 2016 Cadd released a new studio album with The Bootleg Family Band, titled 'Bulletproof', which was credited to Cadd and The Bootleg Family Band. In January 2019, Cadd released a solo studio album titled 'Silver City'. In April 2024, Cadd will release his first country album, titled 'Dream Train'.
''Show Me The Way (#15) / Rolling And Tumbling Down'' [with Don Mudie] 1971 Fable
''Ginger Man (#17) / Fairweather Friend'' 1972 Bootleg
''Every Mother's Son / Pappy's Got The Blues'' 1973 Bootleg
''Handyman (Edited Version) (#77) / Keep On Rockin' 1973 Bootleg
''Alvin Purple (#49) / Sometime Man'' 1973 Bootleg
''Class Of ´74 (#54) / School Days'' 1974 Bootleg
''Let Go (#10) / Think It Over'' 1974 Bootleg
''Boogie Queen (#87) / All In The Way (They Use My Face)'' 1974 Bootleg
''Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' (#93) / Fire At Shepards Flat'' 1975 Bootleg
''White On White El Dorado (#84) / Longest Night'' 1976 Interfusion
''Yesterdaydreams / Thousand Different Ways'' 1978 Interfusion
''Skating On Thin Ice / Ol' 55'' 1979 Interfusion
''Very, Very, Very Long Time / Move Me'' 1980 Interfusion
''My Baby Loves To Hurt Me (#54) / For The Love Of A Woman'' 1982 Mushroom
''Land Of The Video / Real To Me'' 1985 Graffiti
''Still Hurting Me / Writing's On The Wall'' 1985 Graffiti
"Orchestra of Grunt" [with Glenn Shorrock] 2000 Streetwise
"To Love Somebody" (#96) [with Marcia Hines, Max Merritt and Doug Parkinson] 2003 Universal
"Simple Ben" [with Lior, Mike Rudd and Old Man River] 2008 Bombora Creative
"You Know What to Say" 2024 Ambition
EPs
'Brian Cadd' 1973 Bootleg
'Brian Cadd' (#3) 1972 Bootleg
'Parabrahm' (#5) 1973 Bootleg
'Moonshine' (#11) 1974 Bootleg
'Moonshine' (#11) 1974 Bootleg
'White on White' (#93) 1976 Interfusion
'Yesterdaydreams' 1978 Interfusion
'No Stone Unturned' 1985 Graffiti
'Live at Crown' 1998 Warner Music
'Cleanskin' 2003 MGM Distribution
'Quietly Rusting' 2005 MGM Distribution
'Live at the Con' [with Russell Morris] 2007 Caddman Enterprise
'Wild Bulls and Horses' [with Russell Morris] 2011 Caddman Enterprise
'The Story of Sharky and the Caddman' [with Glenn Shorrock] 2013 Fanfare
'Bulletproof' [with The Bootleg Family Band] 2016 Caddman Enterprise
'Silver City' 2019 FanFare
'Dream Train' (#40) 2024 Ambition
References
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Cadd
'Yesterdaydreams' 1978 Interfusion
'No Stone Unturned' 1985 Graffiti
'Live at Crown' 1998 Warner Music
'Cleanskin' 2003 MGM Distribution
'Quietly Rusting' 2005 MGM Distribution
'Live at the Con' [with Russell Morris] 2007 Caddman Enterprise
'Wild Bulls and Horses' [with Russell Morris] 2011 Caddman Enterprise
'The Story of Sharky and the Caddman' [with Glenn Shorrock] 2013 Fanfare
'Bulletproof' [with The Bootleg Family Band] 2016 Caddman Enterprise
'Silver City' 2019 FanFare
'Dream Train' (#40) 2024 Ambition
References
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Cadd
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