In Episode Three of The Judy Stone Story, we cover the period 1965-69. Within this timeframe, Judy released her biggest hit, “Born A Woman”, recorded after her shift from Festival to the ATA label. We’ll hear a couple of tracks that found their way onto EPs and LPs but were never on a 45 single. Also, we’ll hear the A side of a 45 release on which a then up-and-coming Australian songwriter named Kevin Johnson wrote both sides. And, towards the end of the episode, we’ll hear a track from Judy’s EP, “Italian Style”, on which all tracks are sung in Italian! Enjoy Part 3 of The Judy Stone Story.

Episode Two of THE JUDY STONE STORY covers the years 1963-64. In a strange quirk of fate, Judy only released three 45 singles in these two years, including the big hit, “4 003 221 Tears From Now”. In the same period, five EPs were released and three LPs, including “The Best of Col and Judy”. There’s a number of lesser-known recordings, including a couple that should have found their way onto 45 singles. One of those five EPs was titled, “Once in a While”, a track that never appeared on a 45 single; very unusual! Enjoy some great Judy Stone vocal performances in this episode.

After a “voice rest” break, we are back with the promised Judy Stone Podcast Part One. This first episode of Judy’s story covers her recordings for the period 1961-62. There is also a bit of background, delving into her very early career, including her ‘discovery’ by Reg Lindsay. As always, this podcast is mainly about the Music and, wow, did Judy record some songs that go way back. The oldest was first recorded in 1924! That particular song also, in a strange bit of trivia, has a link to Gilligan’s Island! Judy’s biggest hit for this period was “I’ll Step Down” but there was also one 45 single that did not chart; the vagaries of the Music Industry. I hope that you enjoy this ‘deep dive’ into Judy Stone’s early career.

JUDY STONE & COL JOYE

Straight off, I need to tell everyone that this will be the last Podcast for about three months. The combined effect of Long Covid and Chemotherapy has left my voice in a bad way, so I will give it three months of rest and treatment.

As promised, this Podcast focusses on the collaborations between Col Joye and Judy Stone. I’ve divided the Podcast into three parts;

1. The Bandstand duets
2. The Col and Judy LP
3. A 1998 CD single

Within that division, we talk a little about the “Col & Judy thing”, which led to speculation about marriage which, of course, never happened. The Col and Judy LP only enhanced the speculation. The liner notes of the LP clearly define the purpose; to broaden the appeal of Col and Judy to a more mature audience.

The 1998 CD single is a beauty which, I believe, was Col and Judy’s final collaboration. They sing “Love is a Rose”. Along the way, we find the source of this and other songs, some going way back!

Until next time……

Another Podcast for the instrumental fans; The Joy Boys Story Part 2. Interestingly, we will hear The Joy Boys “voices” towards the end of this episode but perhaps not in the way that you might be expecting?! This episode picks up the story in September of 1962, through to December of 1964. With the late Norm Day now established in the group, we will hear a number of his compositions. We will also hear a track written by Tony Barber (Aztecs) that incorporates his wonderful sense of humour. The Surf Era is covered in this episode and we’ll hear a few Joy Boys’ tracks that were ready made for the Australian Summer of Surf 1963-4. Enjoy the music!

Apologies for the gap since the last episode. The “Studio” has now moved from Pyrmont to Port Macquarie. Also, and alas, those wonderfully-titled “Side-Effects of Chemo” have continued. Anyway, this episode is Part 3 of The Col Joye Story, covering the period from late-1961 to December 1963. The biggest hit in this period was “Today’s Teardrops” and perhaps, the low-point was the nursery rhyme turned pop song, “Ring Around My Rosie”. I’ve cherry-picked some songs from Col’s LPs and EPs, including a song titled “What About Me” (Don Gibson - not the Moving Pictures song). Take a listen to the opening chords of the song which, to my ear, sound very much like those used in the introduction to a major hit in 1979. Towards the end of the episode there are a couple of real ‘rockers’; “Be Bop A Lula” and “I Need Your Love Tonight”. Enjoy Part 3 of the Col Joye Story!

Part One of The Joy Boys’ Story takes us from November of 1960 through to mid-1961. This was an incredibly fertile period for the group, as a standalone group, backing Col Joye and backing other artists on studio recordings. This episode will focus on The Joy Boys releases as a standalone group. As well as the 45 hit singles, we’ll dig out some great LP and EP tracks that never appeared on a 45 single. That theme of “Everything Old is New Again” certainly permeates through the episode. There’s even an opportunity to singalong with an instrumental version of a big hit for Col Joye and The Joy Boys! And even if instrumentals are not your ‘thing’, there’s plenty of fascinating back stories. Enjoy!

I enjoyed putting together Part 2 of the Col Joye Story, covering the years mid-1960 to 1961. It was a time when I first started to understand that there was such a ‘thing’ as Rock/Pop Music. Part 2 only covers 18 months but it’s a time in which Col Joye (and The Joy Boys) were at the ‘top of their game’. It was a time when the “Golden Boy” persona really came to the fore. It was also a time of ‘Dreamy Pop’ but we do unearth a couple of rockers that appeared on EPs. And there’s a track from a 1961 Bandstand episode thrown in for good measure! Enjoy Part 2 of the Col Joye Story.