Do the best you can (Billy Thorpe) (LP 4672 - 4678)

Billy Thorpe  Million Dollar Bill  (Vinyl, Infinity Records, 1975) ***  

Billy Thorpe  Pick Me Up and Play Me Loud  (Vinyl, Infinity Records, 1976) ***  

Billy Thorpe  Children of the Sun  (Vinyl, Capricorn Records, 1979) ***  

Billy Thorpe  21st Century Man   (Vinyl, Mushroom Records, 1981) ** 

Billy Thorpe  Stimulation  (Vinyl, Mushroom Records, 1981) *** 

Billy Thorpe  East of Eden's Gate  (Vinyl, Pasha Records, 1982) ***

Billy Thorpe  Solo - The Last Recordings  (CD, Liberation Records, 2007) ****

Genre: Rock

Places I remember: Record shop in Melbourne, Slow Boat Records, Real Groovy Records.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Girls of Summer (Solo),  I Really Miss You on YouTube (Million Dollar Bill)

Gear costume: It's Almost Summer (Million Dollar Bill), I Can't Stand It on YouTube (East of Eden's Gate), Since You Been Gone (Solo - on YouTube)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: Billy's solo debut, Million Dollar Bill, was a new look in some ways with horns, strings as well as the usual pop smart hooks getting a look in. It was also the old Aztecs in disguise - with Gil Matthews, Warren Morgan, and Billy Kristian all appearing. The album under his own name was a statement of intent, Billy was back and doing it his way.

It's a bit inconsistent as Billy tries out a variety of styles, which generally sound sharp and in the pocket thanks to the production by Peter Dawkins (NZ's finest). Billy also includes a Beatles' cover (Drive My Car) and tries out a theme song (Theme from Million Dollar Billy). So, although commercially successful, it's a transitional album in some ways as Billy looks for a way forward as a solo artist via some funk/ rock music.

Pick Me Up and Play Me Loud came next in 1976, with the same lineup as Million Dollar Billy. It's a Billy Thorpe album, even if it's confusingly got 'Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs' on the cover!

It's similar to Million Dollar Billy in that he goes for a funk rock approach and even re-records Most People I Know (not sure why). The highlights are Bassballs and Long Live Rock'n'Roll.

The third album, Children of the Sun saw a few massive changes as Billy settled in America and used a few American session vets on the album (Leland Sklar on bass and Alvin Taylor on drums). The first side was a set of basic rock songs while side 2 features a full-blown nutso concept piece about the massive transportation of humans to a new world in outer space somewhere. Okaaaay.

Billy had indulged in lengthy tracks in The Aztecs years, fueled by acid trips, but I'm not sure whether Children of the Sun was similarly inspired. Whatever the case it's quite good as it happens, at least musically speaking. As with many concept albums the storyline makes my eyes glaze over.

The eighties dealt to many a seventies rocker and Billy is no exception. His first album of that synth led decade was 21st Century Man. Gil Matthews returns on drums, Leland Sklar on bass and Billy the rest. It's pretty meh but okay if you'd never heard him at Sunbury. 

Stimulation was a second album from 1981. On side one he moves away from the proggy psych rock of the previous two albums and returns to a more stripped back rock sound, which suits him a lot more. Gil provides the solid base and the drums at least sound like he's playing them again, while Billy rediscovers his guitar prowess at long last.

Side two is largely back to eighties synths/beats and it doesn't work as well to my ears. Not terrible, but I prefer side one.

The same dualism works for East of Eden's Gate. Some songs have the more synth driven approach, while others feature Billy showing again why he matters as a guitarist. If all of the tracks were as strong as I Can't Stand It this album would have been a monster.

The final album in my collection is Solo: The Last Recordings (although he was working on a studio album when he died called Tangier - which I'd love a copy of at some stage).

Solo is just Billy on guitar and voice - doing it his way, as he lived his life. The liner notes mention that he lived a thousand lifetimes in one, and that sums it up nicely, as does this double CD. It's superb and Billy's stories are a hoot! 

Where do they all belong? That's it for Billy Thorpe for the moment. He's a crucial guy in Aussie rock and his early death was a cruel blow for this larger-than-life rocker. His two autobiographies are awesome as well and work checking out.

Rock me baby (Aztecs) (LP 53)

Aztecs Live! at Sunbury (Double vinyl - Havoc, 1972) *****

Genre: Australia/NZ rock

Places I remember: St Kevin's Arcade, K Rd.,  Auckland

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: C C Ryder kicks us off, literally!! The sound isn't great on this historic video clip of Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs at Sunbury, but you get the idea. The man can sing! The man can play guitar!




Gear costume: Most People I know Think That I'm Crazy was the big hit for Billy and the song is fabulous live! Momma and Be Bop A Lula are totally gear!

Active compensatory factors: Sunbury '72 was kind of Australia's answer to Woodstock (except it featured NZ/Australian bands).

It was thanks to my Aussie friend Noel Forth that I discovered the joys of Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. Noel is an wonderful, altrusistic guy who loves music and loves sharing his knowledge. He sent me a couple of his self compiled best of Aztecs tapes, that I still have! 

One thing lead to another and I managed to find Billy's  double live set second hand.

This is a monster of an album. The volume must have been huge - it feels a little like Motorhead's No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith in that the feedback/distortion is actually captured and makes these live versions throb and breathe. 

Where do they all belong? Nambassa was the NZ version of Sunbury/ Woodstock.

The sheriff said, "Hey, are you Billy Thorpe?", in a really deep voice. (The Aztecs) #3 of 300 singles

The Aztecs Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy)/ Regulation 3 Pufff (Havoc H 1012, 1972)

Billy Thorpe was an original rocker bless him. Although he passed away in 2007 he has a solid couple of big footprints in Aussie Rock History.  As I said - he was one of the big Aussie rock and rollers in the sixties but I only know him for his hard rock hirsute version of The Aztecs in the early seventies.

Aztecs Live! At Sunbury from 1972 is a classic double live album. It REALLY rocks and includes a seven plus minute wig out on their then current single Most People I Know Think That I'm Crazy.

I used to buy GoSet magazine in the early seventies. It was like an Australian version of Sounds and had good articles on Aussie bands and the glam acts from overseas.  So I was able to keep up with the news on Sunbury festivals (Australia's Woodstock) and all of the popular Aussie bands like The Aztecs.

I became aware of the Most People I Know single via the charts printed in GoSet. It peaked in the Australian Top 40 Singles Chart at number 3 in May 1972.

Hidden gem - the B side (yes 'Pufff' really has three f's, at least it does on my version) is a nifty piece of jazz rock fusion. It's an instrumental and largely a vehicle for some horn players to show their chops. Nice.

I feel it in my leg I feel it in my shoe, tell me purty baby if you think you feel it too (Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs)

The latest Rolling Stone magazine with Steve Jobs on the cover had a number of rockers writing about their favourite playlists. Mick Jagger's top 10 on reggae, Gregg Allman's top ten on blues vocals, Billy Gibbons' top ten on blues guitar and so on...you get the idea.

It was called The Playlist Special.

Magazines like to do this from time to time and I am an absolute stone cold rickem ruckem pass the ammunition all day SUCKAH for them.

Can't help it, the boy can't help it - I LOVE LISTS.

So armed with the excuse of  if-it's-good-enuf-for-Rolling-Stone-it's-certainly-okay-for-me, here is the first of my Playlist Specials (an occasional series).

Wozza's Top Five (it's a short party - my knees aren't what they used to be) Party Starters

My parties have always been of the jump and jive around the room to loud music variety. The next ten songs are guaranteed to get the leg twitching and then I'm motorvatin' to the centre of the lounge and doing moves that David Byrne would relate to (if not exactly envy).

1. Let's Have A Party Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs 1974

This was a B side to a great version of Over The Rainbow. Talk about slow and fast. The version of Let's Have A Party zings along at a million miles an hour. It bears all of Billy Thorpe trademarks - terrific impassioned vocal, guitars turned up to 11, a stellar group of okkers called The Aztecs (a bit of a revolving cast around the central figure of Billy). It's impossible to sit still!

Jump to 2.40 in the youtube link below for the skinny on Billy!



2. Highway Star Deep Purple 1972

The live version on Made In Japan trumps the studio one on Machine Head but only just. Mainly because it's longer. Ritchie Blackmore is the ultimate air guitar hero. When he and Jon Lord get together to duke it out, like they do here, there is no one to touch them.



3. Model Gary Myrick & The Figures 1980



This song pretty much sums up 1980 for me - being a student, living in my parents' basement, beautiful summer sun and bopping and a jiving to the first Gary Myrick album. Amazingly Model is one of about five songs in a row that maintain a relentless energy.

4. Save Us Dream Evil 2002

Just to prove that age shall not weary me - this track on the Evil's 2002 Dragon Slayer album is a keeper for the next party. I play it a lot in the car and it's able to propel the car forward on its very own.



5. I Don't Want To Spoil The Party The Beatles 1965 

Part of a party should be a good old fashioned singalong and wind down before it comes to its proper conclusion. If you haven't got The Beach Boys Party! album on hand then try this lung buster from the mighty Beatles.

When you get to this bit in particular John (and a bit of Paul) gives us 100% permission to sing along at the top of our lungs. Try it - it's very therapeutic!

Though tonight she's made me sad,
I still love her,
If I find her I'll be glad,
I still love her.

And then it's time to sit down, have a rest and dig out a chill out album!

P.S. I know what you're thinking - Holy Fulele Wozza - five bopping party songs and no Madonna?? How is that possible? To be honest I'm not quite sure myself so next list will be five of the best from The Divine Miss M (the younger).