EIGHTEENTH CENTURY QUARTET

In 1964 Hans Poulsen formed the first version of Melbourne group, 18th Century Quartet, which played original material (mostly by Poulsen) and performed in a style that later came to be known as world music; the group also differed from most of its contemporaries with its use of diverse acoustic instruments including mandolin, autoharp and bouzouki. This all-acoustic four-piece group, which had no drummer, featured multi-instrumentalist Ted Baarda, violinist Ron Snellgrove and (for most of its short life) bassist Steve Dunstan.

During 1964 the group privately recorded more than two dozen original tracks, almost all composed by Hans and/or Ted, but sadly both of these precious master tapes have since been lost. Fortunately, most of this early material was recorded again at other times and places during the band's short life -- they cut two singles for Melbourne independent label East Records (although only one of which was released at the time) that being ''The World Goes On / I'm Gonna Treat You Good'', and they also recorded some of their material as soundtrack music for a short film by noted filmmaker Chris Lofven -- albeit with session player Barry Duggan subbing for an absent Ted Baarda.

The second and more pop-oriented version of the band (with which Hans was only briefly involved), was led by the equally renowned Keith Glass (ex-Rising Sons) and featured guitarist John Pugh both of whom went on to the better-known Cam-Pact, plus bassist Frank Lyons and series of drummers including Bob Lloyd, who is these days a noted composer of 'serious' music. This version recorded two singles on the Go!! label, '' Rachael'' and ''Am I A Lover'' in 1966. Both singles charted. Their live work "bore no relationship to the earlier folk-rock trappings" and they "began playing more uptempo soul/R&B/rock material". They disbanded in 1967. In 2002 Hans Poulsen and Ted Baarda were able to locate enough surviving material to compile a 22-track anthology CD of recordings by the original 18CQ titled 'Its New! It's 18CQ' on the Sparrow Music label. Hans Poulsen died in 2023.

Members

Hans Poulsen (vocals, guitar, mandolin, recorder, balalaika, bouzouki, piano), Ron Snellgrove (vocals, violin, guitar), Keith Glass (guitar, harp), Frank Lyons (bass), John Pugh (violin, guitar), Ted Baarda (guitar, vocals), Steve Dunstan (bass), Dennis Forster (drums), Bob Lloyd (drums), Randall Wilson (drums), Rick Van Dam (vocals, bass)

SINGLES

''The World Goes On / I'm Gonna Treat You Good'' 1964 East
''Rachael (#69) / Distant Relative'' 1966 Go!!
''Am I A Lover (#81) / Drawing Room'' 1966 Go!!

ALBUMS

'Its New! It's 18CQ' 2002 Sparrow Music

References

http://www.milesago.com/artists/18cq.htm

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