Some sad news doing the rounds is of the passing of one the pioneers of the Australian music industry, producer and engineer John French. ILYOS became aware of the news via a post from the legendary Normie Rowe yesterday.
If you were buying Australian records in the ‘70s you’re more than likely to own some that he recorded. He worked at Melbourne’s two legendary studios, Armstrong’s and TCS, and was involved in a significant number of classic albums and hit singles. Often he was just credited as the engineer, but in the early ‘70s, when Australian recording budgets were cheap, there was often no real producer, and the engineer had to really step up. Any song that John worked on was beautifully recorded.
John famously also engineered the live recordings made at Sunbury ’72 and ’73, and G. Wayne Thomas’ soundtrack to Morning of the Earth.
ILYOS sends its condolences to John’s friends and family, and urges you all to enjoy John’s work once again via the staggeringly impressive collection of recordings presented here.
RIP John.
Skyhooks - Living in the ‘70s
Matt Taylor – I Remember When I Was Young
Blackfeather - Boppin’ The Blues
Country Radio - Gypsy Queen
Madderlake – 12lb Toothbrush
Sherbet – You’ve Got The Gun
Carson – Boogie
Aztecs – Momma
Coloured Balls – GOD
Dingoes – Way Out West
Band of Light – Destiny’s Song
G Wayne Thomas – Open Up Your Heart
Dave Warner’s From the Suburbs – Just A Suburban Boy
Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons – Security
Stars - Land of Fortune