VA - Crunchie (Cadbury, Australia, [1980]

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VA - Crunchie (Cadbury, Australia, [1980]

In 1980, Cadbury Australia did something few confectionery brands dared: it pressed a vinyl LP. Not just any vinyl, but a gold-colored compilation titled Crunchie, named after its iconic honeycomb chocolate bar. Released by PolyGram under catalog number CAD 1, this promotional record was more than a marketing stunt—it was a snapshot of the era’s musical landscape, wrapped in commercial whimsy.

The track list reads like a jukebox of late ’70s and early ’80s radio staples. From John Stewart’s “Gold” to Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”, the compilation blends rock, pop, disco, and soft balladry. Dire Straits’ “Water of Love” and Eric Clapton’s “Promises” lend credibility, while Jon English, Max Merritt, and The Boomtown Rats anchor the Australian and UK connection. Even Peaches & Herb appear twice, adding a touch of groove to the mix.

What makes Crunchie unique isn’t just its content, it’s the context. This was a corporate-branded LP, distributed not through record stores but likely via promotional channels, giveaways, or in-store campaigns. The gold vinyl itself was a nod to the Crunchie bar’s golden wrapper, turning the record into a collectible artifact. Today, it circulates among crate-diggers and nostalgia hunters, often fetching modest prices.

For collectors of branded vinyl or Australian rock ephemera, Crunchie is a golden nugget, literally and figuratively. (B)

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Track list

01 John Stewart - Gold 4:25

02 Jon English - Hot Town 3:48

03 Voyager - Halfway Hotel 3:53

04 Peaches & Herb - Reunited 4:00

05 Graham Gouldman - Sunburn 2:58

06 Dire Straits - Water of Love 5:26

07 Thom Pace - Maybe 2:35

08 Alicia Bridges - I Love the Night Life 3:25

09 Gloria Gaynor - I will Survive 3:15

10 Peaches & Herb - Shake your Groove Thing 3:26

11 Elton John - Part Time Love 3:15

12 Boomtown Rats - Rat Trap 4:48

13 Max Merritt - Dirty Work 3:23

14 Paul Evans - Hello this is Joannie 3:09

15 Eric Clapton - Promises 3:01

16 Jon English - Six Ribbons 3:14

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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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