Star Spangled Banger...RARE Australian Rock L.P...Psychedelic..Progressive. et

	A$		100
	$		64

Havoc records...1973.

"Star Spangled Banger was a short-lived studio project that resulted in a sole, self-titled album and single on the Melbourne Havoc Records label in 1973. With Havoc closing soon after its release, the album was quickly deleted and, over the years, has grown in stature, becoming one of the rarest Australian records ever. A hugely enjoyable mix of English-flavored progressive rock (Family, Cressida), reflective piano ballads, with a hint of Bonzo Dog DooDah Band like lunacy. Principal songwriter John Brownrigg (vocals, guitar), Ron Walters (vocals, piano, organ) and drummer Paul Doo formed Star Spangled Banger in 1972 from the ashes of their former band, The Sect. Brownrigg originally hailed from Liverpool and had played in several bands during the Merseybeat boom of the early '60s -- as his own brick on the Cavern Club wall of fame attests. Signed to Havoc in late 1972, the band were put into the studio with engineer/producer (and soon to be Aztec) Gil Matthews. Armed with a stack of sound effects records, the album was recorded at odd hours (in between Matthew's day job at Havoc and his night-time one as new drummer for the Aztecs) and resulted in an eclectic mix of progressive rock, protest songs and ballads -- with a healthy dose of humor (witness: 'Fancy Underpants!'). Added to this mix are: explosions, backwards tapes, crazy keyboards, nuclear explosions, crashing aeroplanes and fuzzed-out psych guitar.

Havoc Records was established in Melbourne in 1970 by Rod De Courcy and Frank Smith, and although it only operated for about three years, it made a significant impact on the Australian music scene in the early 1970s. Rod De Courcy is the brother of Brian De Courcy, the well-known Melbourne dance promoter and artist manager, whose clients included Merv Benton, Carol Cook and The Strangers. 

Rod's partner Frank "The Lion" Smith (1927-1974) was an important figure in Australian music, whose early death prevented him from becoming as well known as he deserved to be. A saxophonist of international repute, Smith was a leading figure on the Melbourne jazz and session scene from the late 1950s to the early 1970s and he was also a long-serving member of the house band on Graham Kennedy's IMT. Aztecs drummer Gil Matthews was the label's house producer-engineer; he produced, engineered and/or arranged all Havoc's original recordings and even released a single under his own name during 1971.

Although based in Melbourne, Havoc's records were reportedly manufactured in New Zealand. It's likely that it was cheaper to have them made there, but quality was probably also a major factor. Havoc was noted for the high standard and heavy weight of its pressings, and they were certainly superior to the average Australian-made record of the period. The comparitively poor quality of locally-pressed vinyl at that time was a common complaint, and this was compounded by the fact that local labels habitually cut back on packaging to reduce costs -- many albums released in gatefold sleeves overseas were only released in standard covers here -- and thse factors combined to create a strong ongoing demand for imported pressings of local releases.

Havoc's inaugural release appears to have been the 1970 single "Avignon" (b/w "Sable") by Melbourne band The Ash. It is notable that this was released in a picture sleeve -- prior to the late 1960s, picture sleeves were usually reserved for EPs, and well into the '70s singles were typically released in die-cut paper sleeves featuring the label and/or the distributor logo. The catalogue number for this release (HS 7003) is atypical, but it was common for small labels to number the first release in this way, making it appear that they already had several releases under their belt. From their next release onwards (The Ash's second single, numbered H-1002) the numbering followed a regular sequence.

Havoc released nineteen singles and five albums during its three-year life. A few titles were licenced from overseas labels, but the bulk of its output consisted of original recordings by contemporary Melbourne acts. The roster was headed by the 'new' Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs but also included The Carson County Band, Lobby Loyde & The Coloured Balls, Michael Turner In Session, Abacus, Star Spangled Banner and The Ash. Havoc's biggest LP release was the 2LP set Aztecs Live At Sunbury, but by far the most successful of all its releases was the classic Billy Thorpe single "Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy)", which was a national Top 5 hit in 1972. Also of note was the one-off single "I Am The Sea", credited to The Wild Cherries which, for this release, was in fact recorded by Lobby Loyde backed by The Aztecs.

Havoc evidently ceased operations ca. 1974; the LP by Melbourne progressive band Star Spangled Banner (1973) appears to have been its final release. The label's closure was apparently precipitated by Frank Smith's untimely death in early 1974. 

condition:  very good. Album sleeve has slight water marks to left-hand/middle edge, one tiny nick at top. Record seems unplayed! Some light handling marks, not a scratch on it as far as I can see.

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