Ayers Rock - Crazy Boys/The Hamburger Song (vinyl)

Images used for this video are taken from photos and scans of my original vinyl copy of Ayers Rock 'Big Red Rock'.
The audio is sourced from my vinyl copy utilizing an Oracle Delphi MKIII turntable, an SME45 tone arm, and a Vanden Hull MC-10 MC cartridge.

Ayers Rock was a jazz fusion/progressive rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The group formed in 1973, and included many well-travelled rock performers; drummer Mark Kennedy had previously played in Spectrum, and played on sessions for King Harvest and Friends. Bassist Duncan McGuire, who was also an experienced recording engineer and producer, had been in Australian groups since the late 1950s, including The Phantoms, The Epics, and The Questions (which later became Doug Parkinson In Focus) and also played with King Harvest. Guitarist Ray Burton had played with The Dave Bridge Quartet, The Delltones and The Executives, and worked with Helen Reddy in the U.S., where he wrote the music for Reddy's international hit "I Am Woman".

The trio joined forces with guitarist Jimmy Doyle, whose previous credits included The Delltones and Dig Richards and worked as musical director for pianist Winifred Atwell on her Australian tours; Doyle was also an in-demand session player who featured on the 1969 Neil Sedaka LP Workin' On A Groovy Thing and the Australian hit single "Wheeling West Virginia", which were recorded in Sydney.

The new group was initially dubbed McGuire, Kennedy & Burton but changed their name a few months later to Ayers Rock, when they were joined by saxophonist Col Loughnan. Loughnan had started his music career as a vocalist, and became well-known in Australia in the 1960s after he took over as lead singer of popular vocal quartet The Delltones, following the death of founder member Noel Widerberg.

Ayers rock signed to Mushroom Records and issued their first single, "Rock 'N Roll Fight", in December 1973. In 1974 Ayers Rock issued their first full-length, Big Red Rock, which was recorded live at Melbourne's Armstrong's Studios and included a new version of McGuire's "Lady Montego", which had originally been performed by Friends. The success of the album allowed the group to tour the United States in 1975-1976. After their second album, Beyond, was released in 1976, the group went on a hiatus; in 1979, some members reconvened for a third LP, 1980's Hotspell. They disbanded in 1981.

McGuire died in 1986 from a brain tumour. Doyle died in May 2006 from liver cancer.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ayers
• Rock
• Crazy
• Boys
• The
• Hamburger
• Song
• Australian
• 70's

[muzboz]

Very King Crimson. These Aussie boys must have been inspired by those best Crimson years around '69 - '73.

This stuff is HOT!

[drprogensteinphp]

@muzboz

Yes...also very Zappaesque as well :)

[buggadugg]

I am a new fan .... I am sure I am going to like more of their stuff.

Even a Hodaka showed up.

[drprogensteinphp]

Glad you liked it. Their follow-up LP 'Beyond' was much more in the jazz fusion vein, but still quite good. I might upload some more in the not too distant future!

[Boddo1221]

Thanks for putting up crazy boys by ayers rock.

I bought that album when I was 14 and completley wore it out. One of my favorite pieces on vinyl from them was there version of boogie woogie waltz they did on the reefer cabaret live double album. I cant find it anywhere and wondered if you had it?

[samjenp]

@johnnyguitarbaker, I'm pretty sure this was recorded at the 'Refer Cafe'

The dope ran freely in those days and if i remember correctly it was busted more than once.

Not sure why it closed it down, but they had a fair well gig that included a number of great artists.

This gig was recorded and called 'Areeferdeci' (a play on the Italian word Arivadeci)

A great recording - wish I still had it !!

[gcgolday]

I have the vinyl also. I play cuts quite often on my radio show, Greg's Grooves. Their cover of Weather Report's "Boogie Woogie Waltz" still ranks as one of the best jazz-rock,fusion tracks of all time. They made me check out WR immediately. I am forever thankful for that. A great band!!

[mugwamp4]

what ...comment pending approval !!whats that shit???

[mugwamp4]

@drprogensteinphp absolutely...."free"

[johnnyguitarbaker]

@drumsontherange It was recorded at the ormond hall Melb. at a gig called the reefer caberet. Album was called areeferderci or something similar

[Bloodaxe1300R]

I love these guys, We used to own the Sydney Cove Tavern & have these guys on quite often on a wednesday night, They were one of the best live acts by far back in the mid to late 70s

[sorbelloc]

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