Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs - Baby Hold Me Close (1965)

(Bob Tubert - Jerry Lee Lewis - Shelby Singleton)
 Australia
#4 Sydney #24 Melbourne #4 Brisbane #14 Adelaide #19 Perth

Double-sided hit in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with Hallelujah I Love Her So.

Billy Thorpe (1946-2007): British-born singer, guitarist and songwriter whose family emigrated to Brisbane in the 1950s. Based in Sydney from 1963, 'Thorpy', with The Aztecs, had numerous pop hits in a variety of styles, but at the end of the 60s, then in Melbourne, he fronted a loud, rocky, blues-based formation of the Aztecs that contrasted with his earlier pop idol image. Later, his solo and business career took him to Los Angeles, and he wrote two popular autobiographical books, Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy) and Sex And Thugs And Rock'n'Roll [AbeBooks link].

Further reading: Paul Culnane's account of Billy Thorpe's career at Milesago.