AUSTRALIA
VA - A Reefer Derci [1976]
Released in 1976 on Mushroom Records, A-Reefer-Derci! is a live double‑LP drawn from the final concerts at the Reefer Cabaret, recorded at Dallas Brooks Hall in Melbourne on December 30 and 31, 1975. Produced by Michael Gudinski with engineering and remix work by Ernie Rose, it captures a cross‑section of mid‑seventies Australian rock and cabaret at full stretch, framed by a fold‑out sleeve that underlines its role as a valedictory document.
Early tracks centre on the Renée Geyer Band and Split Enz, moving from a fierce version of “It’s A Man’s Man’s World” into three Enz pieces that show the band in its early, theatrical phase. Then appears Ayers Rock occupy the second side with extended takes on “Boogie Woogie Waltz” and “Gimme Shelter,” stretching jazz‑rock and imported repertoire into long, exploratory forms. The third side shifts to Ariel, whose originals carry a tighter, song‑based focus, before the Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band bring their mix of jug‑band humour and sharp playing, including “Roll That Reefer.” The final side belongs to Skyhooks, closing the set with “Revolution,” “Smut,” and “Saturday Night,” songs that anchor the compilation firmly in the heart of the Australian rock mainstream of the time.
The album stands as a vivid snapshot of the Reefer Cabaret scene: a blend of serious musicianship, theatrical presentation, and relaxed, late‑night atmosphere, preserved just as the moment was ending, varied, and unmistakably local. (B)
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Track list
01 Intro - Intro/Welcome 0:22
02 Renee Geyer - Intro to Renee Geyer Band 0:43
03 Renee Geyer - It's A Man's Man's World 5:29
04 Split Enz - Intro to Split Enz 0:51
05 Split Enz - Amy 5:23
06 Split Enz - Lovey Dovey 3:52
07 Split Enz - Time for A Change 3:39
08 Ayers Rock - Boogie Woogie Waltz 11:11
09 Ayers Rock - Gimme Shelter 7:38
10 Ariel - I Can't Say What I Mean 5:02
11 Ariel - Rock 'n' Roll Scars 4:18
12 Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band - Roll That Reefer 4:38
13 Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band - The Prefect 3:18
14 Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band - Out in The Suburbs 4:51
15 Skyhooks - Revolution 5:16
16 Skyhooks - Smut 5:02
17 Skyhooks - Saturday Night 2:57
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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.
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BB, thanks for this - part of the soundtrack of my early teenage years. Split Enz grabbed me from the start (especially the version here of "Lovey Dovey" - this version's still my favourite).
ReplyDeleteWorking out the meaning of "The Prefect" opened my young eyes to politics. Renee Geyer, though - she deserved to get far more recognition that she had, even now.. If she'd had greater success in the States she'd be up there with Janis Joplin.
There was something about those days. You never got a crook chook, either :).
A great way to start the week, BB!
Hi twinsoulz,
DeleteThis set really does carry the feel of those early teenage years, the mix of discovery, surprise, and the sense that music was opening doors you didn’t even know existed. Split Enz were magnetic from the start.
Your note about The Prefect is spot‑on. It’s one of those songs that sneaks up on you, playful on the surface but quietly pointing toward bigger ideas. And Renee Geyer, absolutely. She had the voice, the presence, and the emotional weight to stand with the greats. If the U.S. had embraced her the way Australia did, her legacy would be talked about very differently today.
Those days had a feeling all their own, and it’s lovely to hear this collection brings some of that back for you.
Cheers.