The Strangers (Australian band)
| The Strangers | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | Rock |
| Years active | 1961–1975 |
| Past members | Laurie Arthur Peter Robinson Graeme (Garth) Thompson Fred Weiland John Farrar Terry Walker John Cosgrove Bill Pyman Jim Sifonious |
The Strangers was an Australian band based in Melbourne, that existed from 1961 to 1975. The band started out playing instrumental songs in a style similar to The Shadows, with influences from Cliff Richard. The original line-up included Peter Robinson (bass), Graeme ('Garth') Thompson (drums), Laurie Arthur (lead guitar) and Fred Weiland (rhythm guitar). Robinson had previously played with The Thunderbirds, and went on to replace Athol Guy in The Seekers from the late 70s.
At the end of 1962 they signed with Ron Tudor's W&G Records, after working as the studio band for artists including The Seekers, Frankie Davidson, Johnny Chester, Merv Benton, Little Gulliver and the Children, Pat Farrar and Joy Lemmon. Arthur left the band in early 1964, and was replaced on lead guitar by John Farrar.
In 1964 they supported Colin Cook and released an LP called Colin Cook and the Strangers. The first charting record in The Stranger's own name was Cry of the Wild Goose (an instrumental by Terry Gilkyson) / Leavin' Town, which was released in January 1963 and reached number 12 on the Melbourne charts. This was followed by three original instrumentals, Torlido, The Outcast and Undertow, which were released in 1963, two of which reached the Top 40. Other singles included Happy Without You (Kenny Laguna, Shelley Pinz, 1968), Melanie Makes Me Smile (Tony Macaulay, Barry Mason, 1970), Looking Through the Eyes of a Beautiful Girl (1970), If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody (Rudy Clark, 1965) and Western Union (Mike Rabon, Norman Ezell, John Durrill, 1967).
Also in 1964, the band supported Roy Orbison and Paul and Paula on an Australian tour which featured The Surfaris and The Beach Boys. These support gigs influenced some early vocal recordings in Poppa Oom Mow Mow, Sunday Kind of Love, If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody and later In My Room, a Beach Boys ballad.
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