In 1975 Baker took on their management and recruited former chartered accountant, Peter Brian (Frankie J. Holden) on lead vocals. Fanis was renamed as OL' 55 for the Tom Waits song—as covered by The Eagles. The early 1975 line-up of Plummer, Drummond, Jones, Manzie, McCann and Holden played their first gig at the Grange Disco in Pitt Street Sydney on 4th July 1975 and then with a residency at French's Tavern, Oxford Street, Sydney.
In September they released their debut single as a double A-side with a Paul Anka cover "Diana" backed with The Spaniels' "Goodnight Sweetheart" on Mushroom Records. The single was a minor hit in Sydney and peaked into the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Top 100 Chart. Nick Aitken, as Wilbur Wilde, joined the line-up on saxophone in October 1975 at a Ryde Youth club. OL' 55's second single, "On the Prowl", launched them into the Kent Music Report Top 20 after its release in May 1976.
It was an original song written by bass guitarist, Manzie. Their debut album 'Take It Greasy', in June peaked at #3 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart, eventually achieving triple platinum status and staying in the Top 50 charts for 39 weeks. Two more Top 20 hit singles, "Looking for an Echo" and "(I Want A) Rockin' Christmas", followed in 1976. Plummer left in January 1977 and was replaced on drums by Geoff "Spud" Peterkin (ex-Springwater). One month later the band's fifth single "C'mon Let's Do It" reached the top 30. OL'55 made regular appearances on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)'s TV pop music series, Countdown and at music concerts and festivals.
They were often billed with fellow Mushroom Records groups Skyhooks and Ted Mulry Gang as well as other notable acts AC/DC and Sherbet. Their first international support was for Electric Light Orchestra at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion. Holden released his debut solo single, "My Right of Way" in April, co-written by Baker and Manzie, which was used as the theme for the Australian movie The FJ Holden for which Manzie also wrote all the original music. Holden left the band in May to pursue his solo career, he was followed one month later by Wilde who joined Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons.
Both Holden and Wilde furthered their musical careers and also took roles in television entertainment. OL' 55 unveiled its re-vamped line-up in August with new singer Mike Raffone (aka Paul Stevens, ex-Silver Studs). The band's second album, 'Fiveslivejive', was released in September and featured the earlier line-up but failed to chart despite containing some interesting treatments of old and new favourites; it was recorded pseudo-live—in a studio with invited friends and guests as the audience.
The new line-up released "Stay (While the Night Is Young)", which made it to #16 in November. Bruce "Tangles" Allen joined on saxophone 8 January 1978 but by February 1978, Raffone had left. Continuing as a five piece with Drummond, Jones and Manzie sharing lead vocals, they released "(Feels Like A) Summer's Night" which featured a more contemporary power pop sound and peaked in the Top 50 after its release in March.
The next single "Time to Rock 'n' Roll", released in October failed to chart and the third album 'Cruisin' for a Bruisin' (released on the Junction label through Seven Records) from December was not successful either—despite containing some quality original pop songs. "Ruby" returned OL' 55 to the national Top 40 in February 1979 followed by "Living for Your Smile" in April which did not chart. A split in the band had developed, Manzie wanted to steer them into a more power pop-oriented direction while Drummond and Jones wanted to continue with the retro Rock & Roll vein. Guitarists, Drummond and Jones retained the rights to the name OL' 55, and recruited original drummer Plummer, and added Terry Bellew (ex-Hotrox Band) on bass guitar and Robert "Bad Bob Tawney" Drummond on guitar; Geoff Plummer left in July 1980 and was replaced by Doug Martyn on drums and vocals.
They signed a deal with (Leo Recorders released through Polydor) RCA by year's end. Meanwhile, Manzie, Peterkin and Allen formed a contemporary power pop group, The Breakers (1979–1982), with Scott Douglas on guitar and vocals, Martin Fisher (ex-The Innocents) on keyboards and synthesiser, and Jarryl Wirth (ex-News) on guitar. OL' 55 released the unsuccessful "Comic Book World" in February 1980 and followed by a final Top 20 hit, their version of Lou Christie's "Two Faces Have I" released in October, which reached #15 nationally.
It was followed by "Anywhere the Girls Are" in December. Another album, 'The Vault', was released in March 1981 but the band folded in late 1983 and made a short revival in 1986. In December, (Powderworks label) RCA released a three-track 12-inch single which included "OL'55 on 45 Medley", "Summer of 55" and "Four Seasons Medley" Powderworks (POWT0052) 1981.
Subsequently various revivals titled OL' 55, The Fives, Frankie J. Holden & The Fives, Ol' Skydaddys, On The Prowl, Legends of OL'55, and Take It Greasy were formed which contained members of the 1976 line-up of the band and played their material. Later reformations recorded further albums such as,'Greasemarks1976–79' K-Tel (KM744),'Open Top Cars and Girls in Tight T Shirts' J&B 1986 (JB266), 'Let's Have A Party (live)'1983and 'Should'a Been Here Yesterday' 2001. Jones was lead singer on most new tracks on these albums. Geoff Plummer died in 2006
Members
Frankie J. Holden (vocals), Pat Drummond (guitar), Rockpile Jones (guitar, vocals),
Jimmie Manzie (keyboards, bass), Paul McCann (bass), Geoff Plummer (drums),
Wilbur Wilde (saxophone), Geoff "Spud" Peterkin (drums), Mike Raffone (vocals)
Bruce "Tangles" Allen (saxophone), Terry Bellew (bass), Bob Drummond (guitar)
SINGLES
Diana / Goodnight Sweetheart
| 13 OCT '75 | #95 |
On the Prowl
| 24 MAY '76 | #14 |
Looking for an Echo
| 16 AUG '76 | #9 |
(I Want A) Rockin' Christmas
| 15 NOV '76 | #7 |
C'mon Let's Do It / Teenager in Love
| 7 FEB '77 | #24 |
Stay (While the Night is Still Young)
| 21 NOV '77 | #16 |
(Feels Like A) Summer's Night
| 10 APR '78 | #50 |
Ruby
| 29 JAN '79 | #36 |
Living for Your Smile
| 18 JUN '79 | #98 |
Two Faces Have I
| 28 JUL '80 | #15 |
Anywhere the Girls Are
| 26 JAN '81 | #67 |
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ol%27_55_%28band%29
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
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