Music and sounds from The Castanet Club album recorded at Trackdown Studios, Sydney, 1986. The "Go Giddy" cassette only release 1987 and more...

The Castanet Club album 1986

Recorded in 1986 this was a live favourite. Featuring the golden vocals of Lance Norton. One of the first songs a young Castanet Club band learned in 1982 while the house band for the actual Castanet Club in Burwood St, Newcastle. Audio restoration by Geoff Overmyer.

The Castanet Club - Venus

Recorded in 1986 this song was always an unforgettable moment in the live show. Featuring haunting vocals from Nastassaja Bassi (Jacqueline Amidy)and the virtuoso violin of Kid Paganini (Kathy Bluff). Audio restoration by Geoff Overmyer.

The Castanet Club - Wuthering Heights

The Castanet Club at the University of Newcastle Orientation Ball 1983. Glen Miller wasn't there. A good thing.

The Castanet Club- American Patrol

Tron Wexler (Russell Cheek)the BIG man of rock and roll takes on the even BIGGER song...! Originally recorded for "The Castanet Club Go Giddy!" cassette only release in 1987. Audio restoration from 2 track open reel audio tape by Maynard & Geoff Overmyer.

The Castanet Club - Sixteen Tons

The Medley Sisters, Kid Paganini (Kathy Bluff)and Doris Crawley (Penny Biggins)brought an element of musicianship and contraction of long classical pieces that had been sadly lacking to The castanet Club repertoire. 
Restored audio by Geoff Overmyer & Maynard, previously only released on 1987 Go Giddy cassette.

The Medley Sisters - Classical Medley

Lance Norton (Glenn Butcher)ably backed up by The Castanet Club brings you this song that you might encounter while watching a TV movie on a Sunday afternoon with your Grandma.
Recorded for Go Giddy cassette only release 1987. Audio restoration from 2 track open reel tape by Geoff Overmyer & Maynard.

The Castanet Club - Save The Last Dance For Me

Betty B Plate out front of The Castanet Club getting all Country. From the 1987 Go Giddy cassette only release. Audio restoration: Geoff Overmyer & Maynard.

The Castanet Club - Tapedeck In His Tractor

Johnny Goodman tells this Brechtian tale of burglary, from the 1986 Castanet Club album. Side two, track three.

The Castanet Club- The Ballad Of Victor's Menswear (The Middle-Class Thief)

The Castanet Club bring their treatment to Johnny Cash's classic. The bass guitar really pumps this along with the help of that Rodney Cambridge MBE drum sound. Castanet Club album 1986, side two, track four.

The Castanet Club - Ring Of Fire

From The Castanet Club album 1986. Track 1, Side 2. The velvet voice of confirmed bachelor Lance Norton leads us through a 60s freak out. Possibly the best track on the album, despite my trombone playing.

The Castanet Club - Aquarius

Natassaja Bassi (Jacqueline Amidy)sings a tune we loved from Herb Alpert. From The Castanet Club album, side one, track six, 1986.

The Castanet Club - The Work Song

Opening track on The Castanet Club album 1986. Describes a fictional Club that exists mainly in the imagination of fictional lead singer Lance Norton.

The Castanet Club - Castanet Club Theme

A fun cover of The Cowsills song from The Castanet Club. Note subtle change to backing lyrics.

The Castanet Club - The Rain, The Park, & Other Things

Betty B Plate sings her surf-side feminist anthem. From The Castanet Club album 1985.

The Castanet Club - (I Like To Watch My) Boyfriend Surf

Everyone's SPECIAL in this country shuffle. Vocals from Stomping' Betty and Lance Norton.

From The Castanet Club 1986 album, side two, track five.

The Castanet Club

The Castanet Club - S-P-E-C-I-A-L

A bitter sweet finish as the final song on The Castanet Club 1986 album. A Hank Wangford song. Beautiful harmonies between Lance Norton(Glenn Butcher) and Natassaja Bassi (Jacqueline Amidy). Listen to the orchestra, we could only afford it for 8 bars.

The Castanet Club - Anyway

Warren Coleman was Bowling Man, an alien from another planet that had abolished war and famine because they had discovered ten pin bowling. They got those cool shirts and shorts too. He came from the sky, with a plan.

The Castanet Club - Bowling Man Rap

Maynard F# Crabbes sings the Broadway medley of the 80s or any other decade. Be warned, this singing may cause gout in the listener. Not sure I got the lyrics quiet right. But the backing keyboard from Doris Crawley is "relentlessly cheerful".

From The Castanet Club album 1986. Track 5, Side 1.

Produced by Chris Harriott. Engineered by Simon Leadley & Tim Ryan. Recorded & Mixed @ Trackdown Studios, Sydney. Cover designers Therese Kenyon & Jodi Shields.

The Castanet Club - Broadway

Opening song on side 2 of the 1986 Castanet Club album. Conceived during the Giddy People side project period and first turning up in the Hunter Valley Theatre Company show Mission Molly Morgan (if I am wrong about any of this please, let me know).

Vista captures a spirit of the group and the time as very fun and original track. I love the nod to James Brown and the "funny dances" that are called out, Zonta was my favourite, named after an imaginary European art film director who enjoys storming off the set. Now THAT is a dance. 

The Castanet Club - Vista

When going nowhere fast, isn't fast enough


The Castanet Club album 1986

Maynard Productions