(Kevin Clancy - Peter Rechter)
Australia
Original version
Claudette Jones was written by Silhouettes lead singer and keyboardist Peter Rechter with lead guitarist Kevin Clancy.
The Silhouettes, from Bendigo in Victoria, were formed in 1964. Claudette Jones was one of two Silhouettes tracks included on The Scene… Northern Victoria, a 1966 LP recorded in Melbourne by various artists from Bendigo and nearby towns.
In 1966, with a partially changed line-up, The Silhouettes became The Tol-Puddle Martyrs, whose keyboard-driven r&b sound and lyrics of social commentary made them one of the hippest and most popular bands in their region. They recorded two still highly-regarded singles, Time Will Come/Social Cell (1967) and Love Your Life/Nellie Bligh (1968). [Watch Time Will Come at YouTube.]
In recent years there has been renewed interest in The Silhouettes and The Tol-Puddle Martyrs, especially by aficionados of overlooked 60s beat/garage bands. Reissues, broadcasts and remakes of Claudette Jones have come from a number of independent sources, often beyond Australia.
Update 2017: Peter Rechter has continued to write and record, and in recent years has released further Tol-Puddle Martyrs albums. The latest, Polyphony (2017), is available on CD or as a download through CD Baby. Also available: Psych-Out USA (2007), A Celebrated Man (2009) and other releases.
The Silhouettes’ original version of Claudette Jones is on the collection Tol-Puddle Martyrs, along with all four original sides of The Tol-Puddle Martyrs’ 1960s singles. Also included is a later recording of Claudette Jones by Peter Rechter’s band Secrets (see below). The album is also now available (2017) as a download or on CD from CD Baby.
Further reading: 1. Tol-Puddle Martyrs at Facebook. 2. Tol-Puddle Martyrs history by Richie Unterberger at All Music Guide.
Peter & the Silhouettes, as seen on the album
cover of The Scene… Northern Victoria.
(Kevin Clancy - Peter Rechter)
Italy
Later version
On Teen Trash Vol. 9 on the Music Maniacs label, by Italian "60s garage punk band" formed in Turin, 1989.
(Kevin Clancy - Peter Rechter)
Netherlands
Later version
Dutch sixties-style rock/surf band. On 7" EP Special Request on Teenscream label. Also on the Firebirds' album My First Sonny Weissmuller Album (2000) on Ahoea label.
(Kevin Clancy - Peter Rechter)
Australia
Later version
Track by Melbourne post-punk band on the various artists album Wild About You! A Tribute to the Australian Rock Underground (1963-1968), on Weather Records. The album also included a version of The Tol-Puddle Martyrs' Time Will Come by Pink Stainless Tail.
A project of Melbourne community radio station 3CR.
(Kevin Clancy - Peter Rechter)
Australia
Later version
On album Contact by garage/punk/folk band on the Off The Hip label, by the record store of the same name at 381 Flinders Lane (via Tavistock Place), Melbourne.
7" single, Big Town Redneck / Claudette Jones, released on Melbourne label Corduroy.
(Kevin Clancy - Peter Rechter)
Australia
Later version
Peter Rechter's post-Tol-Puddle Martyrs band, first formed in 1977 as Ginger, became The Secrets in 1979. They disbanded in the 80s but were re-formed in 1996 by Peter with Graham McCoy, and continued to release fresh material into the early 2000s.
This was recorded at a Secrets session but has also been distributed with the old Tol-Puddle Martyrs name.
Now available on the retrospective album Tol-Puddle Martyrs, along with original 60s tracks by Tol-Puddle Martyrs and Peter & The Silhouettes.
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