McPhee went into Martin Erdman's World Of Sound studio in Sydney to record an album for Erdman's independent Violet's Holiday label. The sessions yielded seven tracks that were favourites from the bands live repertoire. The two originals were the lengthy jazz-rock instrumental Out to Lunch and five cover versions, including 'heavy' renditions of Spooky Tooth's "The Wrong Time", Neil Young's "Southern Man", Ritchie Haven's "Indian Rope Man" and The Beatles' "I am The Walrus".
The album's piece de resistance was the surging rendition of "Indian Rope Man" (a Richie Havens song done in the style of the cover by British soul/R&B act Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity) highlighted by a stunning Hammond organ solo by Jim Deverell.
Released with little promotion in early 1972, the album sank without trace. Perhaps only 500 copies were ever pressed, which places it with albums like Company Caine's fabled Dr Chop as one of the rarest of Aussie LPs of that era.
Not long after the album came out, McPhee broke up, Lewis returned to session work and sang in an outfit called The Bondi Bitch Band.
The album's piece de resistance was the surging rendition of "Indian Rope Man" (a Richie Havens song done in the style of the cover by British soul/R&B act Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity) highlighted by a stunning Hammond organ solo by Jim Deverell.
Released with little promotion in early 1972, the album sank without trace. Perhaps only 500 copies were ever pressed, which places it with albums like Company Caine's fabled Dr Chop as one of the rarest of Aussie LPs of that era.
Not long after the album came out, McPhee broke up, Lewis returned to session work and sang in an outfit called The Bondi Bitch Band.
Faye Lewis started singing at the Brontë Charles hotel with the whisperers. They worked at the Bondi Hotel for a long time. She then was resident singer at the Coogee Oceanic hotel where she met Jimmy Deverell, Tony Joyce, Benny Kaika and Terry Poppel. That group was called McPhee. They also worked at the Bondi Hotel. After recording the McPhee album, they left for overseas, working in Singapore and Bangkok. Faye, Jimmy and Terry then left for England and Tony and Benny returned back to either Australia in Tony’s case, or NZ in Benny’s.
ReplyDeleteAt that time, the ABC was recording many female vocalists and Faye was one of many wonderful, now forgotten, singers. She then worked clubs, stage shows, television,
She moved to Brisbane and formed Brisbane Women in Music, featuring Clare Hanson, Barbara Foulds, Sue Wighton and others.
Thankyou very much for that
DeleteI'm Faye's sister. It's great to see that people remember her and her amazing voice.
DeleteI'm one of the ABC's producers who recorded a lot of female Austalasian singers in the early 70s. Faye Lewis, Mary Jane Boyd, Moir Sistets, Joy Mulligan, Dinah Lee, Little Pattie, Allison McCallum etc.
ReplyDelete