HEART 'N' SOUL

Heart 'n' Soul began as a dinner-suited club and cabaret band in Sydney in 1967, but soon transformed into Australia’s first jazz-rock “big band” and the first local act to explore what became known as jazz-rock fusion. Like other large groups of the era, they drew heavy inspiration from 60s soul acts on Motown, Stax, and Atlantic, as well as the jazz-rock experiments of American band Blood, Sweat & Tears and more adventurous UK outfits like The Graham Bond Organisation and Colosseum. They were early pioneers of large-scale, jazz-oriented, brass-driven arrangements—a style later continued by bands such as Nova Express, SCRA, Kush, and the Daly-Wilson Big Band. Still, they’re best remembered for their 1969 single ''Lazy Life'', which became a Top 20 hit in Sydney.

They were a fixture on the vibrant inner-city club and disco circuit ca. 1969, and according to Ian McFarlane, they also "enthralled festival audiences with rock versions of the 1812 Overture, Bach's Brandenburg Concerto, Also Sprach Zarathrustra and MacArthur Park." Glenn A. Baker notes that they were also renowned for the concert piece ''The Music Will Screw'', a free-form conga/flute sexual sound-effects suite, and they also began employing costumes and props -- this proved so startling for some that they were in fact thrown out of a dance at Hornsby by the police after making a dramatic entrance complete with chains and a coffin!

The band, much like others of the era such as Levi Smiths Clefs, served as a springboard for many musicians who went on to greater success. Around thirty players passed through its ranks during its short existence; starting as a seven-piece, it had grown to thirteen members by the time they recorded their only LP. Ultimately, the cost of keeping such a large group touring became unsustainable.

The original lineup featured the Willington brothers, Phil Prideaux, Percy Ohrling, Dale Creary, Graham Lewis, and Leith Corbett. Notable alumni included Keith Barr (ex-Nutwood Rug Band), session regular Bobby Gebert (piano), Eric Cairns and Les Gough (ex-Somebody’s Image), jazz greats John Pochee and Bernie McGann, the late Larry Taylor (aka Larry Duryea) who later joined Tamam Shud, and Arthur Eisenberg (ex-Dr Kandy’s Third Eye) who went on to play with Company Caine. Keyboardist Peter Sheehan joined in 1970 from the New Zealand band Freshwater, for whom he had co-written the controversial single ''Satan / Satan’s Woman'', inspired by the Charles Manson murders.

Heart 'n' Soul issued three jazzy pop singles on Festival; their second, "Lazy Life", initially broke in Brisbane and became a Top 20 hit in Sydney in May 1969. The first two singles were combined on the rare 'Lazy Life' EP and their third single "Let Me Sing in Your Band / Lights of Cincinatti" came out during 1970.

Heart 'n' Soul -- by then renamed The Heart 'n' Soul Hot Boogie Band -- was one of the first acts signed to Festival's new progressive label Infinity, which was launched in January 1971. When they recorded their ambitious 'Hot Boogie Band' album in late 1970, the group had expanded to 13 members, but sadly it had split by the time the album and its accompanying single "Hot Boogie Band / Earthrise" were released as part of Infinity's inaugural issue in January 1971. According to McFarlane, the album combined up-tempo R&B ("Hot Boogie Band"), classical elements ("Earthrise"), percussion-driven rock ("Yeah Go-1-2 Are You Ready?") and pure jazz-rock fusion ("Dance of the Pigs")". 

Drummer Graham Lewis was killed in a car accident in 1969. Keith Barr died in 1971 from a diabetic attack. Larry Duryea died in 2003 in California, after a long struggle with cancer. Bruce Dwyer died in 2000 of liver failure. Rory Thomas died from cancer in 2010. Graeme Willington died in his sleep in 2018. Les Gough died in 2021. John Pochee died in 2022.

Members

Graeme Willington (vocals/congas/bongos), Ian Willington (guitar/sitar), Leith Corbett (bass), Graham Lewis (drums), Dale Creary (keyboards), Phil Prideaux (trumpet/french horn), Percy Ohrling (sax), Tony Nelson (drums), Robert Lloyd (drums), Eric Cairns (drums), Bruce Dwyer (drums), John Pochee (drums), Arthur Eisenberg (bass), Les Gough (bass), Jim Stanley (bass), Phillip Rigg (bass), Dennis Garcia (keyboards), Vaughn Bros (keyboards), Peter Sheehan (keyboards), Craig Mannell (keyboards), Jamie Rigg (keyboards), Bobby Gebert (keyboards), Greg Foster (trombone/harmonica), Geoff Habgood (trumpet), Alan Blakers (sax), Geoff Naughton (sax), Lindsay Farr (sax/flute), Bernie Payne (sax/clarinet), Bernie McGann (sax), Geoff Oakes (sax), Keith Barr (sax/oboe), Richard Price (violin), Larry Duryea (congas)

SINGLES

''Who Could Be Loving You / She's Got The Time (She's Got The Changes)'' 1968 Festival
''Lazy Life (#32) / Good Things Come To Those Who Wait'' 1969 Festival
''Let Me Sing In Your Band / Lights Of Cincinnatti'' 1969 Festival
''Hot Boogie Band / Earthrise'' 1971 Infinity

EPs

'Lazy Life' 1969 Festival

ALBUMS

'Hot Boogie Band' 1971 Infinity

References

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