Leon Berger, born in Moscow in 1946, studied at the Moscow Conservatory of Music before leaving Russia in 1973 after performing with the country’s top band. Settling in Australia, he signed with EMI and released his debut single, ''Show Me the Way to the Jungle'' in 1977, which charted in Perth. His self-titled debut album, produced by Russell Dunlop, was recorded at EMI Studios in Sydney. He followed up with ''Sarah'' in 1978 (also released in New Zealand) and ''Love Is Like a Rainbow'' in 1979, which reached #56 in Sydney.
His second album, 'Living in a Mirror', came out in 1980, but subsequent singles didn’t find success. In the late ’70s, he formed The Leon Berger Band, which became a hit live act with a residency at the Musicians Club in Surrey Hills, Sydney. In the mid-’80s, he teamed up with New Zealand singer Tina Cross to form Koo De Tah, scoring a national Top Ten hit in 1985 with ''Too Young for Promises'', followed by the Top 30 single ''Body Talk''. As a producer, he’s worked with many artists, including Melissa Tkautz, whose single ''Read My Lips'' hit #1 in Australia. Despite his achievements as a singer, songwriter, and producer, Berger remains an underrated figure in the Australian music scene.
SINGLES
''Show Me The Way To The Jungle (#88) / You Gonna' Rock 'N' Roll'' 1977 EMI
''Sarah / Lucky Am I'' 1978 OZ
''Love Is Like A Rainbow (#97) / Talkin' Life'' 1978 OZ
''Take Me Higher / Maybe It's The Way The Wind Blows'' 1980 EMI
''Long Trip To Paradise / Love's A Peculiar Thing'' 1981 EMI
ALBUMS
'Leon Berger' 1977 OZ
'Living In A Mirror' 1980 EMI
'Sports Themes' [with John Cooke / Phil Moore] 1985 Boosey & Hawkes
'The Power Connection' [with Colin Webber, Mars Lasar, Phil Moore] 1987 Cavendish Music
'To Every Action' 1988 Cavendish Music
'The Ghost of The Somme' [with Tina Cross] 2015
References
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
''Show Me The Way To The Jungle (#88) / You Gonna' Rock 'N' Roll'' 1977 EMI
''Sarah / Lucky Am I'' 1978 OZ
''Love Is Like A Rainbow (#97) / Talkin' Life'' 1978 OZ
''Take Me Higher / Maybe It's The Way The Wind Blows'' 1980 EMI
''Long Trip To Paradise / Love's A Peculiar Thing'' 1981 EMI
'Leon Berger' 1977 OZ
'Living In A Mirror' 1980 EMI
'Sports Themes' [with John Cooke / Phil Moore] 1985 Boosey & Hawkes
'The Power Connection' [with Colin Webber, Mars Lasar, Phil Moore] 1987 Cavendish Music
'To Every Action' 1988 Cavendish Music
'The Ghost of The Somme' [with Tina Cross] 2015
References
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
Hi, I too have done my best to promote Leon Berger's brilliant talents through a face book group page, just search for:
ReplyDeleteThe Leon Berger Band - Surrey Hills Musician's Club, Sydney
Thanks
DeleteLeon Berger is an outstanding musician and his bands were fabulous.
ReplyDeleteAt first listen, I fell in love with this track. That was 1977 and I was working at a radio station in Wollongong. 22 Years later and I love it still. Beautiful song.
ReplyDeleteMy bad typing! 42 years later is more like it.
DeleteSeems like yesterday.
ReplyDeleteYou're unforgettable.
Arrivaderci Miss Sam.
Happy75th Leon
ReplyDeleteStill with you
Think of me,Su
Where can we find his hit single “ Sarah?”
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/jR4mVwTaYYg
DeleteMaybe I was his most avid fan attending a few sessions a week at the Muso's Club. I admired the psychology in his songs, especially Perpetual Motion. When I Die was a uniquely soulful delve into our final days. Surely Spirit Will Survive must uniquely be the only song covering the whole history of the human race - and encased in a brilliant eternal music arrangement. And surely one of the greatest introductions to a rock song occurs in The Awakening of Sleeping Venus. Obviously I could go on forever but I consider him the greatest talent you tread foot on our shores. Peter Hanna. Peterthanna@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteIn 1985 Berger wrote, recorded, played all the instrument on and produced both sides of a single, "Jump Jump (All The Way)", backed with "Rock Kills Pain", he released under the name China Doll, for which he called in Irish-born singer Shaylee Wilde. Released on RCA in March, Shaylee pulled together a band – guitarist Terry Murray, keyboards player Ross Lombardo, bass player Peter Gietitis and drummer Jerry Slot – and started gigging, filling out the set with covers as well as a song she’d cowritten with her husband and manager Colin Greene, "Blue Atmosphere", which was released in September. Before its release however, the first China Doll had broken up and Shaylee put together a second lineup in order to promote the release of "Blue Atmosphere", recruiting guitarist Leigh Perry, keyboards player Harding Richards and myself on bass, with drummer Garry Lyons coming in towards the end of the year. Neither single charted and when the band, now also featuring second singer and harmonica player Shayne Barry, came off the road in 1986 to put together a more contemporary repertoire and develop their songwriting, Shaylee opted to return to her more lucrative solo work and the band became Cruise Control, with Andrew Dorrell joining on keyboards.
ReplyDeleteThanks mate. A wonderful piece of info.
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