| MILESAGO: Australasian Music & Popular Culture 1964-1975 | Groups & Solo Artists |
FRESHWATER
NZ / Sydney 1968-1971
Tony Bolton (drums) Sep. 1971-1972
Rod Coe (bass) Sept 1971-1972
David Fookes (piano) Sep. 1971-1972
Daryl Jacobs (drums) 1969
Phil Jacobs (flute, vocals) 1969
Ian Johnston (vocals) Sep. 1971-1972
George Limbidis (bass) 1969
Allison McCallum (vocals) 1970-71
Dallas McDermott (bass) 1970-71
Milton Parker (guitar, vocals) 1969
Murray Partridge (guitar, vocals) 1968-71
Paul Reid (bass) 1969
Peter Roberts (bass) 1969
Billy Rylands (guitar) 1969
Peter Sheehan (keyboards, vocals) 1969-71
Joe Vella (drums) 1970-71
History
Freshwater was formed in New Zealand by guitarist Murray Partridge, who was the only constant member of the band during its lifetime. Originally formed as a blues group, there were several lineup changes in New Zealand during 1968-69, after which they came to Australia in May 1969. They signed with the W&G label, for whom they cut two pop singles, issued later in the year -- "Together, Till the End of Time" (August) and "Son of A Lovin' Man" (October).
They took on more progressive direction in 1970, influenced by the likes of Cream, Traffic and Hendrix, and in May that year they released the highly-regarded single "Satan" / "Satan's Woman" on the Caesar's International label (established by the owners of the Caesar's discotheque and management group.)
The single was a double-sided "concept" suite, inspired by the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders, carried out by the so-called "Manson Family". The A-side was written by organist Peter Sheehan and the B-side by Murray Partridge. ("Satan's Woman" is anthologised on Raven's essential Aussie progressive rock compilation Golden Miles, and Box The Jesuit covered "Satan" on the 1990 various artists compilation Waste Sausage.)
The title and subject matter were sufficient to send the conservative Sydney radio stations into a spin and there were calls for the single to be banned, but it still managed to reach #28 on the Sydney charts.
Singer Alison MacCallum (ex Dr Kandy's Third Eye) joined in late 1970 or early 1971, and later in the year the lineup changed again; by September the group comprised Partridge, Coe, Bolton, Fookes and McCallum. They moved into a soul/pop style, evident on their last single "I Ain't Got Time", which was issued on RCA in November 1971, after which MacCallum left. She had a brief stint in Ray Brown's One Ton Gypsy before going solo.
Although Freshwater didn't achieve national success, they were always a highly-regarded group, and many members went on to further success in subsequent years:
Tony Bolton was a longtime member of Country Radio and its successor Greg Quill's Southern Cross, as well as working in the Stevie Wright Band (1974)
Rod Coe had a very successful post-Freshwater career. After a stint in an early lineup of Country Radio, he moved on to the Doug Parkinson Band, Australia (1976), The Mangrove Boogie Kings (1978-9) and the Dan Johnson Band (1988). Rod also became a noted record producer and session player; among his many notable production and session credits, he performed on the Crystal Voyager soundtrack (1973), Peter Dawkins' zodiac-inspired concept album Star Suite (1974), and on albums for Shona Laing, Jon English (Hollywood 7) and Chris Duffy. From 1972, his numerous production credits include albums and singles for Carson, The La De Das, Lizard, The Four Kinsmen, The Foreday Riders, John English, Anne Kirpatrick, Johnny Ashcroft, Gary Shearston and Slim Dusty, but he is probably best known as the producer of The Saints' legendary 1977 debut LP I'm Stranded.
David Fookes played in One Ton Gypsy (1971-72) and also moved into production, working on albums for Buffalo Drive, Headband, Doug Parkinson and Air.
Alison MacCallum had considerable success as solo performer
in the early 70s, including several national Top 20 hits with "Superman"
and "Excuse Me"
Daryl Jacobs worked consistently in bands in both New Zealand
and Australia well into the 1990s, including Stoned Ostrich, The Mark
Williams Band (NZ), Free Kicks, The Champions, Howard I Know, The Blues
Doctors and Dave Warner From The Suburbs.
George Limbidis joined Tim Gaze's band Miss Universe (1972), followed by
Leo De Castro and the Cahoots (1976) and the 1981 version of Doug Parkinson
In Focus
Peter Roberts has played in many notable bands including Kahvas Jute, The Las De Das (1970-72), Band Of Light, Band Of Tabalene, Flake, Chariot and Rockwell T. James.
Discography
Singles
Aug. 1969
"Together, Till the End of Time" / "It's In Your Power" (W&G 8200)
Oct. 1969
"Son of A Lovin' Man" / "People Gotta Live Together" (W&G 8208)
May 1970
"Satan" / "Satan's Woman" (Caesar's International CP-001)
(#28, Sydney)
Nov. 1971
"I Ain't Got Time" / "Hello Sunshine" (RCA Victor 101944)
(#19, Sydney)
References/Links
Ian McFarlane
Encyclopedia of Australian Rock & Pop (Allen & Unwin, 1999)
Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara & Paul McHenry
Who's Who of Australian Rock (Five Mile Press, 2002)
Peter Roberts
"The Musical Meanderings of Pete" (.pdf document)
http://shazaamproductions.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=5
Shazaam Productions
http://shazaamproductions.com/