MAGGIE HAMMOND

The mid 60s Perth scene produced one outstanding woman singer who, sadly, never reached her full potential. Margaret Hammond combined work with Peter Harries on a Channel 9 kids’ TV show and a regular singing job (sometimes with Harries) at the Shiralee and attracted a strong following very early on, with her Baez-style interpretations of children’s songs and traditional ballads. (“She had a purity that seemed impossible to define”). In time, Hammond’s repertoire became more varied - even slightly eccentric - anything from ‘East Virginia’ through material from Dylan’s 'Blonde on Blonde', to ''You’ve Got Your Troubles, I’ve Got Mine'', ''Go Laddie Go'' or ''Backwater Blues''. 

For her first single, on the Action label, she elected to record Malvina Reynolds’ hard-hitting civil rights anthem, ''It Isn’t Nice'' backed by the ballad ''Edelweiss'' from The Sound of Music. Her following releases, ''Go Laddie / This Little Bird'' and ''High Flying Bird/You Won't Be Leaving'' were recorded on the Clarion label. She also fronted a couple local bands - Tagg and Inner Circle. Inner Circle recorded one single also on Clarion, ''Alladin / Moments Of Soft Persuasion'' in 1970. She also fronted the Westport Jazz band whilst she was in Melbourne. “You can catch her work and you’ll never see wild dance scenes. They stop for her”, observed an admiring Murray Jennings. Maggie died in 1992.

SINGLES

''It Isn't Nice (#77) / Edelweiss'' 1966 Action
''This Little Bird (#77) / Go Laddie'' 1966 Clarion
''High Flying Bird (#84) / You Won't Be Leaving'' 1967 Clarion

References

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