BOOTLEG FAMILY BAND

The Bootleg Family Band was formed in 1973 in Melbourne by Brian Cadd on lead vocals (ex the Groop, Axiom) with Geoff Cox on drums (ex-The Blackout, Cycle), Penny Dyer on backing vocals, Gus Fenwick on bass guitar (ex-Healing Force), Brian Fitzgerald on keyboards, Angela Jones on lead and backing vocals (ex-Tin Pan Alley), Louise Lincoln on backing vocals, Tony Naylor on lead guitar (ex-Ida May Mack, Band of Talabene) and Russell Smith on trumpet (ex-Ram Jam Big Band, Levi Smith's Clefs). Fable Records owner and producer, Ron Tudor, and Cadd had established a sub-label, Bootleg Records, in late 1971. Initially the label had used session musicians for recordings, "who would back Cadd and all the other artists on the label - singer songwriter Stephen Foster, jazz singer Kerrie Biddell, and the harmony group Mississippi."

Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described why Cadd formed the Bootleg Family Band: it was "drawn along similar lines to that employed by American singer/producer Leon Russell" for Shelter Records. Their debut single was a cover version of Loggins and Messina's "Your Mama Don't Dance" in February 1973. It peaked at #4 on the Go-Set Top 40 Singles Chart. The second single, "Wake Up Australia", released in June failed to reach the top 40. The band's third single, a cover version of "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)", was released in July 1974, which peaked at #10 on the Kent Music Report. Also in that year the band provided a cameo in a nightclub scene of the Australian feature film, Alvin Rides Again. The group toured the United States and performed on the TV shows, The Midnight Special and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert in 1974.

In February 1975 the group issued a self-titled extended play (a four-track compilation of their singles' A-sides) via the Bootleg label, which was produced by Cadd. A trimmed line-up in May 1975 with Cadd, Cox and Naylor joined by Clive Harrison on bass guitar (ex-Kush) and Ian Mason on keyboards (ex-Mason's Cure), was renamed, the Bootleg Band. After Cadd left the group to return to the US, in November 1975, they were renamed Avalanche, with Cox, Harrison and Naylor joined by Adrian Campbell on lead vocals (ex-Raw Glory). 

Cadd re-assembled the Bootleg Family Band in 2015, with Cox, Fenwick, Jones (as Angela Labrandi), Lincoln and Naylor joined by additional musicians. The group issued a studio album, 'Bulletproof' (November 2016). A brief tour supported its release.

Members

Brian Cadd (vocals), Geoff Cox (drums), Tony Naylor (guitar), Gus Fenwick (bass), Russell Smith (trumpet), Penny Dyer (vocals), Angela Jones (vocals), Louise Lincoln (vocals), Brian Fitzgerald (keyboards), Clive Harrison (bass), Ian Mason (keyboards)

SINGLES 
''Your Mama Don't Dance (#5) / Honky Tonk Women'' 1972 Bootleg 
''Wake Up Australia / Ballad Of Billy Clover'' 1973 Bootleg 
''The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) (#10) / Walkn' Home In The Morning'' 1974 Bootleg 

''School Days'' 1974 Bootleg
''Green Door (#98) / Kenny (Instrumental) 1975 Bootleg
''How Do I Try? (#60) / Rockin' Hollywood'' 1975 Bootleg 

EPs 

'The Bootleg Family Band' 1975 Bootleg

ALBUMS 
'Bulletproof' [with Brian Cadd] 2016 MGM Distribution

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootleg_Family_Band

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