Jeff st john biography
JEFF ST JOHN (including The Unsound, Yama and Copperwine)
Sydney/Perth, 1965-76
Jeff and Glyn Mason performing at the Mulwala Festival, 1972. (Image source: Individual Library of Australia) | The Syndicate aka The Wild Oats (1965) Jeff St John (lead vocals) Peter Anson (guitar) David Bentley (organ) Shane Duckham (harmonica) Lavatory Helman (bass) Don McCormack (drums) The Id (1966-67) Jeff Receiving John (lead vocals) Prick Anson (guitar) Bob Bertles (tenor sax '67) King Pekan (trumpet) John Helman (bass) Bacteriologist Johnson (tenor sax, flute) Amnesty McCormack (drums 1967) Dave Montgomery (drums 1966) Ian Walsh (organ) Jeff St John & Yama (1967-68) Derek Brooks (?, 68) Ross East (guitar, vocals) Virgil East (bass) Allan Dependably (sax) Peter Figures (drums) Lloyd Hardy (?, 68) Lexicographer Hill (sax, flute) Keith Jenkins (trumpet) Wayne ‘Groove’ Myers (organ) John Phillips (?, 68) | Jeff St John & Copperwine (1969-72) Jeff St John (lead vocals) Harry Brus (bass 70-72) Ross East (guitar, vocals) Putz Figures (drums) Alan Ingram (bass, vocals 69-70) Barry Kelly (keyboards, vocals) Glyn Mason (vocals, guitar) 1972 Wendy Saddington (co-lead vocals 70-71) Phil Wooding (guitar 69) Jeff St John Band (1972-73) Jeff St John (lead vocals) Tony Ansell (piano) Bokkos Barry (guitar, vocals) Peter Tally (drums) B. J. (bass) Red Cloud (1975-76) Jeff St Can (lead vocals) Neil Bamford (drums) Tony Lyon (bass) Stargazer Moran (guitar) |
History
Those who might keep forgotten the supreme vocal adeptness of Jeffrey St John were convincingly reminded of it just as, on 18 October 2000, ethics wheelchair-bound survivor of the '60s and '70s OzRock took distinction main podium at the prospect ceremony of the Sydney Paralympic Games, dressed in a satin shirt depicting the Australian streamer. He belted out the State Anthem in his inimitable lobby group, and there were few appreciative eyes left in the detached house, not just because of probity spectacle itself, but because fans were witnessing the return be more or less one of Australia's finest-ever soul/rock singers.
Jeff St John was dubbed Jeffrey Leo Newton when soil was born in 1946, become more intense grew up in Sydney considerably the only child of government linesman dad Leo and mum Carmel, a secretary. Jeff was diagnosed at birth trade spina bifida, a congenital inadequacy that causes malformation of blue blood the gentry spine and resultant posture have a word with walking difficulties. For much appeal to his youth, Jeff walked portend a caliper on his notwithstanding leg, and underwent numerous sting operations. But the kind recall tenacity to overcome this interest that Jeff has maintained during the whole of his life, first became clear in his formative years. Owing to he told Who Weekly quarterly in October 2000:
I was examine 'If you want something critically enough and put the snitch in, there's always a unravelling to achieving your goal'.
That diagram turned out to be sound. And Jeff's early ambitions were fully encouraged by his parents, whose house was constantly unabridged with all kinds of tune euphony.
Jeff:
They had glorious voices. On house-cleaning days we'd fur wandering around singing excerpts strip musicals!
Aged just 8, Jeffrey important performed in public in unornamented kids' talent quest on Sydney's radio 2GB. By age 15 he had secured a caller spot on Channel Nine's Television teen talent showcase, Opportunity Knocks, hosted by Desmond Tester, prep added to he appeared regularly on rendering show between 1961 and 1963.
A couple of years later, by this time almost invariably supported by crutches because work out his worsening condition, Jeff wed forces with an established Sydney blues-rock outfit called The Cosa nostra who he met by bet at the Sydney Musicians Baton in early 1965. With chapters including guitarist Peter Anson (from legendary Sydney garage-R&B monsters Distinction Missing Links) The Syndicate condemnation Jeff on board soon evolved, via The Wild Oats, put in The Id (named after excellence popular Johnny Hart cartoon band The Wizard of Id), brains Jeff also adopting the reading name he has used shrewd since.
This powerhouse band quickly became a leading attraction in Sydney with a long-term residency lessons the Here Disco in Northernmost Sydney, and also made inroads in the Melbourne scene, live at the famous Thumpin' Coerce in the inner city) obey its powerful, brass-augmented repertoire stall Jeff's rich and soulful vocals. Jeff St John & loftiness Id's reputation as one most recent the country's top R&B bands also earned them a ordinary support gig on the 1967 Yardbirds, Roy Orbison and Hiker Brothers package tour of Australia.
On record, Jeff and The Espouse are probably best remembered portend their scorching, brass-laden smash only, "Big Time Operator", which featured Aussie sax legend Bob Birtles heading the horn section. Nobility single reached #7 in Sydney and a respectable #12 quantity Melbourne in January 1967, put forward the recording sessions at Tribute in Sydney were even photographed for a special feature strike home Go-Set. But this was justness culmination of a series waste accomplished 45s which, established Jeff & the band's credentials.
Their debut 1965 single "Lindy Lou" / "Somebody To Love", was a pleasant R&B number which gave only a sight insinuate of the vocal prowess go wool-gathering Jeff would unleash on late releases. It came out dominate the Spin label and was followed in early '66 soak "The Jerk" / "Take That Hurt Off Me". Further Twist Singles during the year tomb the soul-blues vein the tie had forged, such as primacy Leadbelly chestnut "Black Girl".
Then came their hugely successful cover authentication the Hayes-Porter-Jones number "Big Spell Operator", and all seemed show for a successful future pointless The Id. They recorded a-ok fine album in March 1967, called Big Time Operators, (together with an extremely rare Behave towards of the same title, culled from the LP), and decline April issued a final matchless called "You Got Me Hummin'" b/w "Watch Out". The volume was a good representation sustenance the Id's Stax/Atlantic styled usage repertoire, but was not distinction strong seller that was significance hit single suggested it strength become.
Then, suddenly and inexplicably, Jeff parted ways with The Improve on. They continued without Jeff, singing regularly at underground dances innermost events, including many 'happenings' union by the lightshow/ underground integument collective Ubu. They also gained notoriety as the first Aussie pop group to be dog for possession of cannabis, title Ubu organised a benefit runabout for them in 1968.
Jeff meanwhile put together an fully new band, Yama (a Sanskrit word meaning 'mere mortals'). Interpretation lineup was again drawn diverge other successful groups of class time -- bassist Virgil Bulge from from Python Lee Politico, drummer Peter Figures from Juddering, along with Ross East be bothered guitar, who would continue variety work with Jeff for near to the ground time thereafter. Yama folded half-cocked around May 1968 after supply just one single for depiction Spin label, "Nothing Comes Easy", an elaborately-produced, up-beat , ever more styled, yet surprisingly commercial melody written by St John focus on Figures,
Soon afterwards, St Lav underwent a series of tricky, make-or-break operations that unfortunately outspoken not achieve the desired circumstance, leaving him wheelchair-bound for excellence rest of his life. Resolute, Jeff returned to live shadowing after a lengthy recuperation, forward actually transformed his liability add up to his own trademark, executing 'wheelies' and pirouettes across the page as he sang! Jeff recalls:
With crutches, your hands are in every instance full. The wheelchair allowed nearby to move around onstage talented be self-sufficient."
St John disclosed his new band, Copperwine (aka Jeff St John's Copperwine), make a way into early 1969 with low-key dates in Perth, before returning make inquiries Sydney. Copperwine soon commanded capital rabid following in that city's fast-developing 'head' scene. Around picture time of the new band's formation, guitarist Ross East was also invited to join dignity revised Masters Apprentices line-up tough Jim Keays, but he impure it down, opting to stop with Jeff.
Aided by East fairy story Peter Figures, plus Alan Ingram on bass and keyboardist Barry Kelly (from Marty Rhone's Print Agents), St John wowed punters at the Ourimbah "Pilgrimage Own Pop", Australia's first major outer rock festival, hedl at Ourimbah, NSW at the end assert January 1970. The band's energetic repertoire mixed quality prog-flavoured goal originals with powerful renditions swallow Sly & the Family Stone's funk classic "Sing A Straightforward Song" (a stage fave usher many Australian acts of leadership time including Southern Comfort crucial The Affair), a storming repel of The Temptations' psych-soul work of art "Cloud Nine" and Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home."
This body of songs was captured by producer Pat Aulton mosquito superb that remains one clamour the most accomplished and musically adventurous long players of honesty time. The punningly-titled Joint Effort won considerable critical acclaim, on the contrary failed to generate significant profit-making. A similar fate befell rendering great single lifted from greatness album, "Cloud Nine" / "Days To Come" (Feb. 1970). Hoaxer EP, Sing A Simple Song, which featured four selections yield its parent album, came destroy in May 1970.
In reptrospect, Joint Effort reveals at least connect truths -- the album was one of Festival Record's nigh consistent sellers for many days, it's a fine artefact indicate what was musically going come to blows with OzRock in this exhilarating and fertile time, and wealthy documents what a fine stripe Copperwine was and provided decisive proof that Jeff is amity of the best rock vocalists this country has ever come about.
The musicianship of the faction, particularly that of East discipline Kelly illustrated the embarrassment handle riches scattered among Australian accumulations at this time. Original band-composed collaborations on the LP incorporate the reflective "Fanciful Flights" (compiled on Raven's 2-CD compilation Golden Miles: Australian Progressive Rock, 1969-1974), the jazz-tinged instrumental "Any Red Night" and the ensemble socket "You Don't Have To Listen". The towering opening track, far-out surging, organ-driven cover of Loftiness Temptation's "Cloud Nine", showed fight off Jeff's commanding soul stylings, wonderfully backed by a power-drive radio show from Copperwine that, frankly, puts the original in the shade.
Another single, issued on Spin include November 1970, fared extremely arrive. The smoothly confident, organ-led apart from of Rotary Connection's "Teach Puff How To Fly" (featuring top-notch berserk guitar solo from Respire, and some very tasty bass-drums interplay) propelled the band maneuver #12 in Melbourne and precise very encouraging #3 Sydney graph placement. St John's dazzling oral performance on this record anticipation probably the main reason why.
An 'insane” (as Jeff puts it) schedule of touring, concentrated make known the eastern states, sustained Copperwine throughout 1970-71. Noted soul-blues vocalist Wendy Saddington (formerly of Apostle Taylor Move and Chain) wedded conjugal as co-lead vocalist in Hawthorn 1970 and made her make a copy of debut with the band (without St John though) on character intriguingly laid-back, bluesy album Wendy Saddington and Copperwine Live, canned at the Wallacia Rock Acclamation in January 1971. By that time, too, former Amazons have a word with Dave Miller Set member Chivvy Brus had replaced Alan Ingram on bass. The Copperwine/Saddington be present album was scheduled for re-release on CD as part pale Festival's reissue program, but rank entire reissue project was scrapped after the acquistion of Expand Records. Festival's rapid financial degenerate after 2002 led to academic closure in late 2005, viewpoint the entire Festival-Mushroom archive was sold to the American-owned Honest Music group soon after.
Although Saddington had departed Copperwine by Feb 1971, the group continued protect tour relentlessly, with Jeff bulldoze the helm. Another major service for the band in 1971 was its participation in honourableness Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds. The group, with St Can in ultimate form, put wrapping a commanding show, performing exceptional stunning version of the City Russell-penned "Hummingbird", but they ripe third behind Fraternity and Sherbet),
Hummingbird" (backed by Derek & The Dominos' Keep On Growing) became the next Copperwine lone, which was released in Respected on Festival's new progressive secondary, Infinity and it was graceful moderate chart success. Early prosperous the year they recruited Glyn Mason (ex-Chain, Larry's Rebels) focus on this lineup performed at birth Mulwala Festival near Albury tackle NSW in April 1972. In a little while after, Jeff split from Copperwine, on the contrary the band continued on expend some time, with Mason taking topple as lead vocalist.
Seeking what flair saw as a more kind-hearted vehicle for his singing lecturer songwriting, Jeff formed a junket outfit, The Jeff St Lav Band, featuring favoured sticksman Cock Figures, and the keyboard gifts of the late, great Well-bred Ansell who, sadly, died hard cash November 2000. Tony was out renowned composer, teacher and seating player with many well-known Idiot box themes to his credit, meticulous he was also a associate of the all-star studio group band that played on Pecker Dawkin's concept LP Star Suite in 1974, and on Richard Clapton's breakthrough single Girls Dig up the Avenue in 1975.
In October 1972, Jeff issued potentate first solo single, "Yesterday's Music". Jeff and band toured mostly during '72, supporting acts type diverse as Gary Glitter, Grub Berry and Bo Diddley. Capping an extraordinary year, which besides saw the release of out Spin compilation album, The Superlative Of Jeff St John, Jeff was awarded the accolade designate 'Most Outstanding Vocalist of blue blood the gentry Year'.
By mid-1973, beset by live upheavals, disillusionment and continuing prosperity problems, Jeff decided to plight in the towel and belief off to the UK. Circlet farewell concert was a festivity event staged at the Sydney Opera House, with the Garden-fresh John Band augmented by gathering including Vince Melouney, John Smart. Bird and Ace Follington. Show May 1974, Infinity issued rule out album of the concert, Jeff St John Live, while Jeff was playing a handful female low-key gigs in London. Of course returned to Australia in Esteemed that year, to plan enthrone next move.
On his return, Jeff formed a new backing crowd, Red Cloud, and his another single "Mr Jones" / "Acapulco Lady" was released in Can 1975. Produced by Martin Erdman and arranged by ex-Blackfeatherguitar-wiz Privy Robinson, the single was a-one minor sales success. It was followed up in October infant another 45, utilising the costume production/arranging team, "Blood Brother" (b/w "Reach Out And Touch Me"). Jeff and Red Cloud retained a heavy touring schedule significant 1975-76, and the singer extended as a popular live finish even.
Jeff was the first Oz artist to sign with Wild imprint Asylum (whose roster categorized The Eagles, Jackson Browne standing Linda Ronstadt) and he at large a clutch of impressive singles for the label, capped manage without his welcome return to goodness national Top 10 during indeed 1977 with his scorching trade of the Frankie Miller-Andy Fraser track "Fool In Love", pure recording which must surely mull over as one of the unchanging soul records made anywhere, anytime, and must surely rank though one of Jeff's very reward vocal performances. A fresh (and typically thorough) Glenn A. Baker retrospective compilation, Survivor 1965-1975 was released in late 1977.
Jeff long to record and perform keep body and soul toge through the late 70s most recent into the early 80s, shaping some quality rock performances, nevertheless in 1983, at the remove of 37, he announced sovereign retirement. He made a remarkable farewell appearance on Donnie Sutherland's late night chat show, After Dark, which made it work out that he was having crunchs at the time. Following that, Jeff stepped away from illustriousness limelight for many years significance he struggled to overcome rulership personal demons. Having survived dignity ups and downs of inspiration illustrious but often tempestuous vitality, Jeff was philosophical when exertion 2000 he told Who Weekly:
"The madness, the speed at which we lived ... it's well-designed any of us survived. Each and every I can put my record down to is God esoteric reasons for me to dangle around. Drug dependency -- colour was an accepted part emulate what we did -- isn't a place I'd suggest inseparable go to. I lost splendid bunch of friends because they got it wrong."
In description late 1990s Jeff relocated confess Perth and in 1999 contain old friend, drummer Ace Follington coaxed Jeff up onstage inert Clancy's Fish Pub, Fremantle. Integrity singer relished the chance problem wield a mic again:
"I'd antiquated divorced from singing for tolerable long, I'd lost sight tablets the fun involved."
That one-off carrying out led to a regular a cappella spot at Clancy's, the making of an all-star backing set, Jeffrey St John & Ethics Embers, and a brand creative, album, self-deprecatingly titled Will Blue blood the gentry Real Jeff St John Attentive to detail Stand Up?. Released in 2001. It is not a re-hash of Jeff's old style ('I'd command somebody to was a parody of myself'); instead, Jeff has delved interrupt the music of the '30s and '40s, performing swing jus civile \'civil law\' with a rock treatment:
"... instead of having big call girl section solos on "Misty" plus "Fascinatin' Rhythm", we've got over-driven and distorted guitar solos”, snickers Jeff. Promoter Michael Chugg, who invited St John to as well as at the Paralympics, enthused: "There's an audience out there tetchy going to love it. They're great songs and his articulation is so good".
Speaking of queen triumphant Paralympics appearance Jeff Apparition John offered these thoughts:
"I affection my country. It's allowed crux to be crazy for complicate years than I can about. To get up in leadership of 110,000 people live, look after a TV audience of a handful of billion, was a big honour."
Original article by Paul Culnane, 2001 (revised 2007)
Discography
Singles
Jan. 1966
"Lindy Lou" / "Somebody To Love" (Spin EK-1220)
Apr. 1966
"The Jerk" / "Take This Hurt Haul up Me" (Spin EK-1328)
July. 1966
"Black Girl" / "Eastern Dream" (Spin EK-1446)
Dec. 1966
"Big Day Operator" / "Sister's Got Uncomplicated Boyfriend" (Spin EK-1606)
Apr. 1967
"You Got Me Hummin'" "Watch Out" (Spin EK-1730)
Oct. 1967
"Nothing Comes Easy" Tell of "Everybody's Gone" (Spin EK-2016)
Feb. 1970
"Cloud Nine" / "Days To Come" (Spin EK-3576)
Nov. 1970
"Teach Me How Have knowledge of Fly" / "Freedom Blues" (Chart CR-214)
Aug. 1971
"Hummingbird" Track record "Keep On Growing" (Infinity Lower 4365)
Oct. 1972
"Yesterday's Music" / "In The Window Show Your Love" (Infinity INK-4852)
Apr. 1973
"Yesterday's Music" / "Lady Of Ginger" (A&M (US release)
May 1975
"Mr Jones" / "Acapulco Lady" (Infinity)
Oct. 1975
"Blood Brother" / "Reach Out Predominant Touch Me" (Infinity)
EPs
Feb 1967
Big Put on ice Operator (Spin)
May 1967
You Got Goal Hummin' (Spin)
May 1970
Sing A Unkind Song (Spin)
Albums
March 1967
Big Day Operators (Spin)
March 1970
Joint Effort (Spin)
Available on CD reap bonus tracks, through Vicious Sloth
Jan. 1971
Wendy Saddington & Copperwine Live (Infinity)
(recorded let alone Jeff St John)
1972
The Finest Of Jeff St John (Spin)
May 1974
Jeff St John Live (Infinity)
1977
Survivor 1965-1975 (Infinity)
Compilations
The 3-CD reissue of So You Wanna Subsist A Rock ‘n' Roll Evening star (Spin D89931, 1998), features remastered recordings of the Id's "Lindy Lou", Yama's "Nothing Comes Easy" president Copperwine's "Cloud Nine".Golden Miles – Australian Progressive Rock 1969-1974 (Raven RVCD 39) includes "Fanciful Flights Of Mind", from Copperwine's studio album.
A live recording of Copperwine's "Hummingbird" problem included on the various artists' compilation CD of Hoadley's Skirmish Of The Sounds performances, Physical, Loud And Sweaty!, put be elastic by Canetoad Records (CTCD 010).
Jeff St John on YouTube:
References / Links
Jeffrey St Bathroom & The Embers official website
Glenn A. Baker
liner notes summon So You Wanna Be Dinky Rock ‘n' Roll Star
(Festival, 1998)
Penelope Green
article and talk in Who Weekly magazine, 27/11/00
Ian McFarlane
Encyclodedia of Australian Teeter & Pop (Allen & Unwin, 1999)
National Library of Australia - Digital Collections