VA - Cooking with George Box Set [1984] (5 x LPs 12 inch)

JJJ

VA - Cooking with George Box Set [1984] (5 x LPs 12 inch)

Cooking with George Box Set [1984] is a rare set, a vibrant mosaic of Australia’s emerging underground sound, curated with flair and a wink by Triple J and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Released in 1984, this limited edition set is a collectible treasure that captures the pulse of alternative music communities from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide, etched into five separate 12" discs spinning at 45 RPM.

Each vinyl features two or three bands, handpicked for originality, energy, and regional representation. We're talking pre-mainstream I'm Talking (with a young Kate Ceberano), the punchy grit of Huxton Creepers, synth-pop duo I.T., and the raw rhythm section of Skel-E-Tones and Dance Theatre. These weren’t just rising stars, they were local heroes, getting studio-grade exposure thanks to the ABC’s national reach. The recordings themselves reflect the diversity and charm of early '80s Aussie creativity: funk grooves, post-punk bite, experimental synth textures, and new wave polish.

The packaging itself oozes character, each sleeve sporting its own studio identifier and subtle messaging, including cryptic runout etchings like “Rotting for mental health” and “Filled with desire.” Arnold Frolows, Triple J's pioneering music director, served as executive producer, lending the project a curatorial credibility that collectors and historians both appreciate.

And yes, this set is rare. Released in minimal quantities with no reissue, original copies command high interest among vinyl connoisseurs and cultural archivists. With each disc recorded in different ABC studios, the sonic character is delightfully varied, raw in places, refined in others. No two sides sound alike, yet all contribute to the overarching narrative: that Australia in 1984 was bursting with uncompromising, genre-defying talent.

What elevates Cooking With George from sampler to statement is its refusal to filter or smooth over regional differences. It’s an honest, playful snapshot of who we were musically, before fame, before polish. It’s exactly the kind of overlooked goldmine that deserves re-examination and revival. Whether you’re digitizing, contextualizing, or drawing parallels to current sounds, this box set stands tall as a beacon of artistic courage and public broadcasting’s role in nurturing it. (B)

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Track lists

LP1

01 I.T - Dance 5:36

02 I.T - Real Love 3:39

03 Dance Theatre - Another Day 4:16

04 Dance Theatre - Laugh it Loud 4:37

LP2

01 Skel-E-Tones - Auto Go Go 3:28

02 Skel-E-Tones - Never Never 4:59

03 Skel-E-Tones - Wild Youth 2:57

04 Huxton Creepers - Slow Attack 2:51

05 Huxton Creepers - Happy Days 2:49

LP3

01 Great Outdoors - Eyes Forward 3:17

02 Great Outdoors - From The Beginning 3:39

03 Poles Apart - Tropical Air 4:23

04 Poles Apart - Waterfall 4:30

LP4

01 Sea Monsters - Trouble 3:19

02 Sea Monsters - Love Won't Bring Me Back 2:23

03 Shower Scene From Psycho - I'm Into Something Good 3:15

04 Shower Scene From Psycho - Cara-Lyn 2:56

LP5

01 I'm Talking - Here, There & Everywhere 3:32

02 I'm Talking - Scratching 3:31

03 Flotsam & Jetsam - R27's in God-Like Intercession 4:48

04 Shake 288 - Beaten to A Pulp 3:48

05 Shake 288 - No Death 4:07

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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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