The Hooter Sisters: a one-off collaboration of three outstanding Australian voices

Although they recorded just one single together, The Hooter Sisters brought together three of Australia’s finest female vocalists of the 1970s: Janice Slater, Alison MacCallum and Bobbi Marchini.

Formed in 1974 after MacCallum signed with Albert Productions, the trio released a spirited version of Phil Spector’s classic To Know Him Is to Love Him, backed with So Tough, a song co-written by Janice Slater. Despite the quality of the performances, the single attracted little commercial attention and remains the group’s only release, making it something of a collector’s gem today.

Each member already enjoyed an impressive reputation. Alison MacCallum had established herself as one of Australia’s leading blues and rock singers with the solo hit Superman (written by the super duo Vanda and Young) and as a member of Freshwater. Alison also provided lead vocals for the Australian Labor Party’s memorable It’s Time campaign in 1972. Her powerful, soulful style made her one of the country’s pioneering female rock performers.

Janice Slater was one of Australia’s most respected professional singers, equally at home as a solo performer, television favourite and session vocalist. She toured internationally with the progressive rock group Esperanto (Glenn Shorrock was also a member) and later recorded or performed alongside artists including Cliff Richard, Shirley Bassey, Billy Preston and Cold Chisel.

Bobbi Marchini also forged a successful career as a solo artist, as a member of Duck (sharing lead vocal duties with Jon English), and as an in-demand backing vocalist. After recording several polished pop-soul singles for Albert Productions, she became a familiar voice on countless Australian recordings.

Although The Hooter Sisters were short-lived, their lone 1974 recording remains a wonderful snapshot of three exceptional singers whose combined talents represented some of the very best female vocal talent Australia had to offer at the time.

A-side: To Know Him Is to Love Him