JON BLANCHFIELD

A pop singer of some note, Jon Blanchfield scored a number of hits in his hometown of Brisbane. As a contemporary of the Bee Gees during their time in Queensland, Blanchfield recorded two of their tracks 'Town of Tuxley Toymaker / Upstairs Downstairs'' in 1966 on the Leedon label. This single was also released in NZ. Jon recalls the Bee Gees working on ''Spicks and Specks'' while he was at the St Clair studio. He adds that Barry wrote ''Coalman'' at the same time. However, Jon spent some time with the Gibb family this year, and while he may have been at St Clair in July, other factors such as the writing credit suggest a later date for his recordings. His Festival contract dated January 1967 was for the release of these two already existing recordings.

Jon thought that they wrote the fast-paced ''Upstairs, Downstairs'' specifically for him. It’s surprising that in 1966 no one asked them to change the lyric ''what the hell'' to something more acceptable on radio. Judging by the way Jon sings, Barry sang lead on the A side and Robin on the B side, in whatever now-lost demos he had to work from. ''Town of Tuxley Toymaker, part 1'' is the first in a series of songs featuring bizarre Robin lyrics, set for good measure to a melody inspired by ''Matchmaker'' from Fiddler on the Roof. 

By the time Jon’s single appeared the Bee Gees were in England recording another version of it with Billy J Kramer. Part 2 has never appeared. Moving to RCA he recorded a number of singles with ''Son Of A Simple Man'' (written by Brian Cadd and Don Mudie) being his best-known song. He also compered local TV music programs such as Uptight. In mid-1976 he founded the Rainbird label, which released albums by Lobby Loyde, Saltbush, Normie Rowe and others, but folded soon after it started. As John Blanchfield he has had a long career in artist management. His clients included Normie Rowe, Goanna, Vince Jones and Mondo Rock during the 'Chemistry' years, as well as Stockley See Mason, Rose Bygrave, Savannah Silver Band, Red Hot Peppers, Ross Wilson and Bushwackers. Jon died in 2025 aged 79.

SINGLES

''Town Of Tuxley Toymaker Part 1 / Upstairs, Downstairs'' (#93) 1967 Leedon
''You've Got A Lot Of Livin' / Time'' 1967 RCA
''Somebody To Love (#75) / Pray For Love'' 1968 RCA
''Lavender Girl (#77) / Look What I've Got'' 1968 RCA
''Baby Get In The Groove / Reach For The Sun'' (#100) 1969 RCA
''She's My Baby (#62) / I Get So Excited'' 1969 RCA
''Son Of A Simple Man (#63) / Waltzing Matilda'' 1969 RCA
''Lucy's Place (#69) / Is It True'' 1971 RCA
''Let The Good Times Roll / Shenandoha'' 1972 RCA

ALBUMS

'Jon Blanchfield' 1970 RCA

References

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