what was the name of the maybe dolls before they that
Tim lane
Hoges
http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=546
Formed in 1978
Style Power pop
Original line-up: Annalise Morrow (bass, vocals), Chris Morrow
(guitar, vocals), Marty Newcombe (drums)
Numbers albums: The Numbers (Deluxe, 1980), 39.51 (Deluxe, 1982);
Maybe Dolls album: Propaganda (BMG, 1991).
History
sister/brother team of Annalise and Chris Morrow was the driving force
behind power pop outfit The Numbers. The band emerged from the
post-punk Sydney scene with a clean sound and a strong sense of
direction. In spite of a regular touring schedule and a brace of
accessible pop releases, the band never made the commercial
breakthrough for which they so vigorously strived.
The Morrows formed The Numbers in early 1978. Simon Vidale replaced
Marty Newcombe in January 1979, and the band supported UK visitors XTC
on that band's Australian tour. In September, The Numbers issued the
EP, `Govt Boy'/`Private Eyes', `Guerilla' on the Local label. The EP
featured three dazzling blasts of tough guitar pop reminiscent of The
Jam or The Buzzcocks. Somehow the band never sounded quite so
energetic on record again. At the end of 1979, the band signed to the
Deluxe label (home to INXS and The Dugites) and issued the single `The
Modern Song'/`Take Me Away' in March 1980. It sold well in Sydney
(#30) and just missed making the national Top 40. The band's next
single, `Five Letter Word'/`Alone', graced the lower reaches of the
national Top 40 for two weeks. The band's third single, `Mr
President', backed with the previously released `Private Eye' and
`Guerilla' (February 1981), failed to chart.
The band's Cameron Allen-produced debut album The Numbers came out in
October 1980 (#29 in November), and in January 1981 Russell Handley
(ex-Popular Mechanics) joined on keyboards. The arrangement lasted
just one month before Handley made his exit. Soon after, Vidale
departed and the Morrows added Gary Roberts (bass; ex-Moving Parts)
and original drummer Marty Newcombe. With Roberts on bass, Annalise
was free to concentrate on singing and playing rhythm guitar. That
line-up issued the single `Jericho'/`Turn Back' (August 1982). The
band returned to the studio at the end of 1981 to record a new album
with producer Graham `Buzz' Bidstrup (ex-Angels). Newcombe and Roberts
soon departed, and with Annalise back on bass and Bidstrup behind the
drums, the band completed the album 39.51. The album and single `Big
Beat'/`Telephone' both appeared in April 1982. The album's title was a
veiled reference to criticisms the band endured over the brevity (28
minutes) of its debut album.
The Numbers returned to the road with a new line-up of Annalise,
Chris, Colin Newham (keyboards; ex-Reels) and John Bliss (drums;
ex-Reels). Newham and Bliss left the band in September 1982, just as a
new single, `Dreams from Yesterday'/ `Again', emerged. The band went
into hibernation until March 1983 when Craig Bloxom (bass; ex-v Spy v
Spy), Marcus Phelan (guitar) and old drummer Simon Vidale all joined.
By August 1983, The Numbers were back to a three-piece of Annalise,
Chris and Vidale. With few prospects of making an indelible mark on
the Australian scene, Annalise and Chris decided to dissolve the band.
Annalise sang in jazz and blues clubs, and Chris issued a solo single
on WEA, `Just What I Needed'/`Big Money' (March 1987). Apart from that
very little was heard from the Morrows until 1990.
That year Annalise and Chris re-emerged as MPM with Barton Price
(ex-Models) on drums. MPM toured for three weeks before Price left. A
year later, Annalise and Chris formed Maybe Dolls with Paul Wheeler
(drums; ex-Icehouse). The band made an impact with the infectious
single `Nervous Kid' which reached #23 on the national chart in
September 1991. The Propaganda album (October 1991) and three more
singles, `Cool Jesus' (March), `Never Look Back' (May) and `Only Love'
(October), followed. The band toured to a positive response (including
a support slot to UK visitors Big Audio Dynamite in March 1992) but it
was all over again for the Morrows by 1993.
Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop / Ian McFarlane 1999
under licence from Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd
Jeßus
Hoges <googl...@yahoo.com.au> loose on on a computer... and the
unfortunate result was:
: The Numbers & MPM (Morrow Price Morrow).
: http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=546
: Formed in 1978
: Style Power pop
: Original line-up: Annalise Morrow (bass, vocals), Chris Morrow
: (guitar, vocals), Marty Newcombe (drums)
: Numbers albums: The Numbers (Deluxe, 1980), 39.51 (Deluxe, 1982);
: Maybe Dolls album: Propaganda (BMG, 1991).
Ah the memories this brings back :)
Does anyone know if any of their material (Numbers) made it onto CD?
If so, any info on where to buy a copy etc would be great.
I'd really like to get ahold of that album... if anyone can help me out I'd
appreciate it!
I once had the album, NFI whatever happened to it now though.
Even some MP3's would suffice for the time being...
Thanks,
--
Jeßus