TALL TALES AND TRUE

In 1983 Matthew de la Hunty travelled to Sydney and formed a group with Paul Miskin (bass) and Willie McCracken (drums). This unnamed outfit played only one gig at French's Tavern. Dave Rashleigh (drums) was asked by Miskin to join in 1984 to replace McCracken and they then became Tall Tales and True. The band became a regular attraction on the inner-city circuit. Engineer/producer Nick Mainsbridge worked with the band on its debut, mini album 'Tall Tales and True' (on the Survival label), which produced the single "Wasted Life / Good Heart Gone Bad" (August 1986). Tall Tales & True issued two four-track singles on Survival, "Up Our Street" (1987) and "You've Got Your Troubles" (1988), before coming to the attention of fledgling independent label rooArt.

Tall Tales and True contributed a remixed version of "You've Got Your Troubles" to rooArt's inaugural 'Youngblood' compilation (September 1988), alongside material from The Trilobites, Martha's Vineyard, Crash Politics, Hipslingers, The Hummingbirds, Violet Town and others. That led to a full recording contract which resulted in the 'Shiver' album (May 1989). Again, produced by Nick Mainsbridge, the album highlighted the dramatic sweep of the band's songwriting and de la Hunty's earnest vocal delivery. 'Shiver' produced the singles "Trust" (January 1989) and "Hold on" (June 1989). Both singles peaked within the ARIA top 100. "Trust" received significant airplay on national youth broadcaster Triple J reaching #93 on the Hottest 100 for 1990 and #51 in 1991.

In 1989 the band flew to Canada for a three-month tour, which they expanded to a nine-month world tour. The band initially based themselves in Toronto with violinist Simon Alcorn who'd been performing and recording with them. After Canada they went south to the United States, where Alcorn left and was replaced by Robert McComb (The Triffids). The band then moved to the United Kingdom and toured parts of England and Scotland. Tall Tales and True next released the EP 'Superstition Highway' (1991). Rob McComb contributed electric guitar to the blustering title track. The band later added Vanessa Lucas on violin and bass guitar when Rob McComb left. They embarked on the Trilogy tour with rooArt labelmates The Hummingbirds and Canadian band The Pursuit of Happiness. Dave Goesch played lead guitar during this period.

Tall Tales and True issued two new singles, "Lifeboat" and "Summer of Love", the second of which reached #51 on the national chart. Both tracks were subsequently included on the band's second album, 'Revenge' (June 1992). Their 'Lifeboat' single earned ARIA nominations for Engineer of the Year (for Nick Mainsbridge) and Best Video (for Brendan Young). 'Revenge' featured tracks uniquely and stylistically recorded, arranged and produced with their favourite producer Nick Mainsbridge in Sydney. The album gave rise to two more singles, "Watching the Wind Blow" (May 1992) and "Looking for a Place" (August 1992), after which the band slipped from view for another two years.

Recorded in a Sydney warehouse in mid-1994 with Mainsbridge, the album 'Tilt' featured the band revisiting its garage-band roots with a noisy, ragged edge to proceedings. Tilt produced two singles, "You Sleep I'll Drive" (June 1994) and "Moonshine" (January 1995). Tall Tales and True played their final show at The Annandale Hotel in 1995.

Members

Matthew de la Hunty (vocals, guitar), Paul Miskin (bass), Dave Rashleigh (drums), Simon Alcorn (violin, guitar), Robert McComb (violin, guitar), Vanessa Lucas (violin, bass),Dave Goesch (guitar),

SINGLES
''Wasted Life / Good Heart Gone Bad'' 1986 Survival 
''Trust (#59) / Heaven Knows'' 1988 rooArt 
''You Got Your Troubles'' 1988 rooArt 
''Hold On (#96) / Dark Messenger'' 1989 rooArt 
''Heart / Speedway'' 1990 rooArt
''Lifeboat / Live With Me / Tired Words (Live Acoustic)'' 1991 rooArt
''Summer Of Love (#51) / Peace Frog / Going Out Of My Head'' 1991 rooArt
''Watching The Wind Blow (#53) / Blue Lagoon / Slave Race'' 

EPs

'Up Our Street' 1986 Survival

'Superstition Highway' 1990 rooArt

'Looking For A Place' 1992 rooArt
'You Sleep I'll Drive / It's Not Right' 1994 Ra Records

'Moonshine/Happy Birthday' 1994 Ra Records

ALBUMS
'Tall Tales & True' 1986 Survival
'Shiver' 1989 rooArt 
'Revenge!' (#42) 1992 rooArt 
'Tilt' 1994 Ra Records

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tall_Tales_and_True

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