The Clarion Set, Various Artists 3CD Clamshell Box Set
Various Artists

• Four-hour 3CD compilation of the pioneering 60s/early 70s Australian independent Clarion label.

• A smorgasbord of driving R&B, sunshine pop, studio psychedelia and progressive rock recorded in Perth, Western Australia.

Based in the Western Australian city of Perth, teenager Martin Clarke was working at a local radio station when he converted a spare bedroom into a makeshift recording studio.

That modest early venture evolved into Martin Clarke Recording Studios, which opened in 1962 to become Perth’s first professional recording facility.

By the time the studio purchased a four-track in 1966, Clarke had launched the Clarion label, working with a constant stream of solo singers and beat/R&B groups.

With a raised profile after Perth TV personality Johnny Young had a national hit with the Easybeats-penned ‘Step Back’, Clarion signed a number of promising new acts that included The Valentines (featuring a pre-AC/DC Bon Scott) and Young’s TV colleague Robbie Snowden.

Clarion went on to have a number of regional and national successes, releasing interesting music into the 70s (British expatriates The Birds and Chalice, plus local progressive rockers Fatty Lumpkin) before Clarke wound down the label and relocated to England.

A four-hour 3CD anthology, ‘The Clarion Set’ assembles the pick of the label’s roster, with choice selections from the aforementioned acts as well as female-fronted folk rockers Gemini, powerhouse R&B/soul vocalist Ray Hoff, pre-Valentines garage band The Spektors and in-house psychedelic experiment The Vegetable Garden.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

1965-1967
1 I’VE GOT MY EYES ON YOU (AND I LIKE WHAT I SEE) – Russ Kennedy & The Little Wheels
2 GLAD, NOT SAD – The Times
3 BAMA LAMA, BAMA LOO – Ray Hoff & The Off Beats
4 GLORIA – The Spektors
5 CARA-LIN – Johnny Young
6 CHOOSE WHO I LIKE – Mort & The Mobees
7 LONG TIME GONE – Terry Walker with The Hi Five
8 THE UNCLE WILLIE – Ray Hoff & The Off Beats
9 SKYE BOAT SONG – Glen Ingram with The Hi Five
10 TELL HER NO – The Kompany
11 I’VE BEEN WATCHING YOU – Russ Kennedy & The Little Wheels 12 MY GOOD FRIEND MARY JANE – Ray Hoff & The Off Beats
13 ON MY MIND – The Spektors
14 STEP BACK (demo) – Johnny Young
15 LITTLE WHEEL – Russ Kennedy & The Little Wheels
16 GO LADDIE – Maggie Hammond
17 TAKE THIS HAMMER – Glen Ingram with The Clan
18 CRY I DO – Colin Cook
19 EVERY DAY I HAVE TO CRY – The Valentines
20 LOOKING FOR MY PIG – Ray Hoff & The Off Beats
21 CAN’T YOU SEE – Mort & The Mobees
22 HIGH FLYING BIRD – Maggie Hammond
23 I CAN’T DANCE WITH YOU – The Valentines
24 GOOD EVENING GIRL – Johnny Young
25 TOSSIN’ AND TURNIN’ – Ray Hoff & The Off Beats
26 TOO MUCH MONKEY BUSINESS – Russ Kennedy & The Little Wheels 27 THAT IT’S ME – Glen Ingram with The Clan
28 NO ONE REALLY LOVES A CLOWN – Robbie Snowden 29 YOU WON’T BE LEAVING – Maggie Hammond
30 AIN’T DOIN’ TOO BAD PTS. 1 AND 2 – Ray Hoff & The Off Beats

DISC TWO

1967-1969
1 HOLD ON – Johnny Young
2 KING OF THE MOUNTAIN – The Proclamation
3 LOVE MAKES SWEET MUSIC – The Valentines
4 THE FAMILY WAY – The Kompany
5 PEEPING TOM – The Clan
6 DA DOO RON RON – Chris James
7 LOVE, LOVE, LOVE – Ray Hoff & The Off Beats
8 COME ON UP – Johnny Young
9 TALKIN’ – Robbie Snowden
10 I’LL BE DOGGONE – Glen Ingram
11 NO GOOD WITHOUT YOU – The Birds
12 SOOKIE SOOKIE – The Valentines
13 CRAISE FINTON KIRK (ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS) – Johnny Young
14 SUNSHINE RIDES ON A TROLLEY – Robbie Snowden
15 COME HOME BABY – The Troupadors
16 YOU BABY – Colin Cook
17 I’VE GOT TO GET YOU – Ray Hoff & The Off Beats
18 HIP HUGGIN’ MINI – Soul Purpose
19 DO YOU WANT TO DANCE – Robbie Snowden
20 NEAR TO ME – The Troupadors
21 PECULIAR HOLE IN THE SKY – The Valentines
22 GENO PTS 1 AND 2 – Johnny Young
23 SUNDAY AFTERNOON – The Clan
24 JUST A LITTLE – Robbie Snowden
25 LITTLE BOAT – The Troupadors
26 LITTLE JOE THE BOXER – The Kompany
27 COME BACK AND SHAKE ME – Strawberry Fair
28 TEA AND SYMPATHY (DON’T YOU WORRY) – The Proclamation 29 EVERY CHRISTIAN LIONHEARTED MAN WILL SHOW YOU – Johnny Young
30 SHE SAID – The Valentines
31 RIOT IN CELL BLOCK NUMBER 9 – Colin Cook

DISC THREE

1969-1974
1 MAGIC WORDS – The Birds
2 IN MY WORLD – Chalice
3 SOMEBODY TO LOVE – Swingshift
4 HYPNOTIC SUGGESTION – The Vegetable Garden
5 SUNSHINE RIVER – Gemini
6 SOUL FINGER – Willpower
7 BOOGALOO DOWN BROADWAY – Soul Purpose
8 THINGS WE SAID TODAY – Strawberry Fair
9 EVEN STEVENS – The Vegetable Garden
10 GOT TO GET BACK T’ NELLIE – Fatty Lumpkin
11 EBENEZER – Chalice
12 DUST IN MY PANTS – The Birds
13 TWELVE THIRTY (YOUNG GIRLS ARE COMING TO THE CANYON) – Gemini
14 MR. WON’T YOU HELP ME – Chalice
15 SHARE – Soul Purpose
16 SPINNING WHEEL – Willpower
17 WE CAN WORK IT OUT – Swingshift
18 RENE – The Birds
19 DON’T KNOCK MY BOOGIE – Fatty Lumpkin
20 NEARLY GONE – Chalice
21 BUTTERFLY WINGS – Gemini
22 HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE – Swingshift
23 I SEE THE RAIN – The Birds
24 NINE TO FIVE GIRL – Chalice
25 MILLIONAIRE – Fatty Lumpkin