Album:
The song is on Duck’s limited-release 1972 album Laid.
Songwriter:
Paul McCartney
Producer:
G. Wayne Thomas
Record label of Australian release:
Warner Bros
Bonus tracks below:
Southern Man
The Man in Me
Ain’t No Sunshine
The full Laid album
Milesago:
Studio group Duck was the brainchild of musician and producer G.Wayne Thomas, featuring some of the best performers in Sydney at the time, under the leadership of ex-Blackfeather guitarist John Robinson. Duck recorded a highly regarded album of rock and R&B covers at Armstrong’s Studios in Melbourne, engineered by the legendary Roger Savage.
Laid was one of the first local albums recorded by the fledgling Australian division of the Warner group and was released on the Warner Brothers label.
Issued in mid-1972, it featured Jon English and Bobbi Marchini on lead vocals, with backing provided by John Robinson, renowned jazz pianist and session cat Bobby Gebert, percussionist Larry Duryea (ex Tamam Shud), former Aztec Teddy Toi on bass and Steve Webb on drums. The LP was given only limited release and is now a prized collectors’ item.
Two singles were released: Sweet Inspiration / Southern Man came out in May 1972 (the A-side is the only track that does not appear on the LP). It was followed in September by Paul McCartney’s Maybe I’m Amazed, backed with Bob Dylan’s The Man in Me.
A short-lived touring version of the group was put together but by the time it was ready to go on the road Jon English had joined the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar, so he was ably replaced by former Wild Cherries frontman Danny Robinson. Former Company Caine guitarist Russell Smith was also added for some gigs.
Read more: www.milesago.com/artists/duck.htm and The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop (2nd edition) by Ian McFarlane (Third Stone Press)
Laid tracklist:
Maybe I’m Amazed (Paul McCartney)
Southern Man (Neil Young)
Anyway You Want Me (Chip Taylor)
Dog Breath (Frank Zappa)
Burned Alive In The Blues (Nick Gravenites)
Memo To Turner (Keith Richards, Mick Jagger)
The Man In Me (Bob Dylan)
How Long Before I’m Gone (Aram Schefrin, Michael Zager)
Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers)
Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress (Allan Clarke, Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway)
Mother (John Lennon)
Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up (Jeff Simmons, La Marr Bruister (Frank Zappa))
Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (Chips Moman, Dan Penn)
Also on Bang a Gong: Maybe I’m Amazed by Paul McCartney / Wings
BONUS SONGS
The Neil Young song Southern Man (Bobbi Marchini lead vocals) was released as a single with Sweet Inspiration
The Man in Me (Jon English lead vocals)
Ain’t No Sunshine (Bobbi Marchini lead vocals)
The full album Laid
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