(Bill Walsh - Joe Ahern [Thomas J. Ahern])
Australia
#18 Sydney #1 Brisbane
Single on Columbia April 1968, also on EP Gee I’m Gonna Miss You (1968).
His first single, Baby Let Your Hair Down is anthologised on Ace Records’ Of Hopes & Dreams & Tombstones: Beat ‘n’ R&B from Down
Under [Amazon
Graham Chapman (1949-2009) was a British-born singer whose family had emigrated to Brisbane. He recorded seven singles 1966-1971 on Kommotion, Columbia and HMV of which Gee I’m Gonna Miss You was the best selling.
His first single, Baby Let Your Hair Down (1966), earned some later critical recognition and was anthologised on Big Beat’s Of Hopes & Dreams & Tombstones (Beat ‘n’ R&B From Down Under).
In the mid-70s Graham Chapman moved to New Zealand and soon after became lead singer of Salty Dogg, a band that released two singles and an album 1976-1977. After Salty Dogg broke up, he stayed on in New Zealand for a while before returning to Sydney where he worked in the clubs for many years as a singer and compere. See the Salty Dogg page at Bruce Sergent’s NZ Music site.
Thanks to Mike Harvey of Salty Dog and Bruce Sergent.
(Bill Walsh - Joe Ahern [Thomas J. Ahern])
USA
Original version
Single on Minuteman (Boston) November 1967 then on Coral December 1967.
Band from Boston that had four singles on Minuteman 1966-67, representing a third of the label’s total output. Four of the
eight Improper Bostonians tracks were Walsh-Ahern
compositions, and another was written by Walsh alone. The first two A-sides How Many Tears
(Walsh-Ahern) and Set You Free This Time had some radio airplay, mainly in Boston.
Personnel: Dick Jeffrey (lead guitar), Pat O’Connor (drums), Peter O’Connor (rhythm guitar) and David Peterson (bass).
Further reading The Improper Bostonians from New England Music Scrapbook [archived].
New
Zealand
Later version
Single on Master August 1969 by Christchurch singer-guitarist, real name Pat Kearns, also in bands Funnie Feeling and Moviez. He often worked as back-up singer, rhythm guitarist or soloist on New Zealand TV music shows including Popco, That’s Country, Movin’ and Happen Inn.
Master was a Christchurch label formed by Hoghton Hughes, best known for the successful Music World label.
Sources, further reading: 1. Mark Antony page at Bruce Sergent’s NZ music site. 2. AudioCulture’s Popco page includes comments by Pat Kearns about the show. See site search: “Pat Kearns” for other mentions and photos. 3. Profile of Master label owner Hoghton Hughes at AudioCulture.
At YouTube: Pat Kearns’s channel (still active 2024).
Pop Archives
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Website by Lyn Nuttall. © Lyn Nuttall 2004-2024. Chart positions courtesy of Gavin Ryan’s Australian Chart Books and Dean Scapolo’s Complete NZ Music Charts. Special thanks to Terry Stacey for information, corrections and suggestions. Thanks also to Tony Watson, Philippe Edouard, Dave Overett.., More…