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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZLITTLE RIVER BANDAustralian AOR group formed '75 from international pool: singer Glenn Shorrock (ex-Esperanto) and drummer Derek Pellicci were from UK; guitarists were Beeb Birtles from Holland, Australian Graham Goble and Italian Rick Formosa (had been resident in Canada); bassist was New Zealander Roger McLachlan (ex-Godspell tour band). Birtles had played with future teen star Rick Springfield in Zoot, also with Goble and Pellicci in Mississippi, whose West Coast- influenced sound was apparent in the new band's eponymous '75 debut album: single 'It's A Long Way There' was no. 28 hit in USA, reminiscent of CSN&Y or Eagles at their most melodic. Formosa and McLachlan replaced before After Hours '76 by George McArdale and David Briggs respectively; Diamantina Cocktail '77 was compiled from Australian LPs and went gold in USA, incl. no. 14 US single 'Help Is On Its Way'; from then on big success was easy with top ten singles made for US radio: Sleeper Catcher '78 incl. 'Reminiscing', 'Lady'; First Under The Wire '79 incl. 'Lonesome Loser', 'Cool Change'; Briggs was replaced by Steve Housden and Wayne Nelson joined on bass but sound remained harmonious soft rock. Live two-disc Backstage Pass '80 was followed by Time Exposure '81 incl. 'The Night Owls', 'Take It Easy On Me'. Shorrock went solo '82, replaced by John Farnham; they fell out of the top 20 for the first time since '77; prod. John Boylan went with Shorrock and like fellow CSN&Y imitators America they enlisted George Martin. More LPs: The Net '83, Playing To Win '85, No Reins '86 (with Farnham, Goble, Housden, Nelson, newer members). Success inspired Air Supply etc to imitate them. Reminiscing was a two-CD compilation on Rhino. |