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Friday, 20 December 2024

PETER McLEAN


Born in Melbourne, Peter McLean started out as a rock n roll singer in the late 50s fronting Henri Bource's All Stars. In 1958 they cut the first rock n roll album 'Rock n Roll Party' ever recorded in Australia. He also recorded a couple of singles with the band ''Hard Headed Woman / Don't Ask Me Why'' and ''Reet Petite / Your Book Of Life''. McLean was known for his numerous TV, radio, stage and nightclub appearances and he toured the USA in the early 60s. In 1964 his old band mate Henri Bource was attacked by what is believed to have been a 2.4 metre long great white shark off Lady Julia Percy Island in Australia in November 1964. He lost his left leg but survived the attack and went on to retell the story in his 1969 documentary film, Savage Shadows. Peter contributed to the soundtrack with a couple of songs backed by an orchestra led by Frank Smith. 

In 1973 McLean released a children's album 'Snips N' Snails, Sugar & Spice' on Don Burrows Cherry Pie label. The single ''Tom'' was lifted from the album and charted. The following year he signed with Polydor and moved into more folk country orientated music releasing a couple of albums. The first album was McLean singing traditional Australian country folk ballads. The next album 'Gently' was self-written that had a stellar lineup of musicians on it including drummer Russell Dunlop (Levi Smiths Clefs, Ayers Rock), guitarists Jim Kelly (SCRA, Crossfire) and Terry Walker (The Strangers) plus session musician maestro Tony Ansell.  Not much is known about Peter McLean after this time. Any additional info would be most helpful.




SINGLES
''Hard Headed Woman / Don't Ask Me Why'' [with the Henri Bource All Stars] 1957 Planet 
''Jealous Heart'' 1960 Planet 
''Clementine / Starbright'' 1960 Planet 
''Rollin' Old River (Swan River Song) / Wonder Welcome To The West'' 1962 Talent City 
''Savage Shadows / And The Rain Came Down'' 1969 RCA
''Tom (#48) / Fantasy Child'' 1973 Cherry Pie 
''Freedom / Thunder Boy'' 1974 Polydor 
''Ben Boyd / It's You I Gotta Be Near'' 1975 Polydor
''Morganna / City Folk'' 1975 Polydor 

EPs
'Sincerely Peter McLean' 1960 Planet

ALBUMS
'Rock N' Roll Party' [with The Henri Bource All Stars] 1958 Planet 
'Snips n' Snails, Sugar & Spice' [as Peter McLean's World Of Children] 1973Cherry Pie 
'Fair Dinkum Folk (A Collection of Australian Colonial Ballads)' 1974 Polydor
'Gently' 1974 Polydor





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