THE ANGELS
Welcome to Azza’s Half Hour, today we focus on Australian pub rock legends, The Angels.
1. “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again”
Welcome to the show that was “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again” by The Angels.
In November 1970 two brothers, Rick and John Brewster, formed a group with some friends named the Moonshine Jug and String Band. The band performed at South Australian university campuses and in 1973 released their debut EP “Keep you on the Move”, which made the top 5 in Adelaide.
In 1974 the Moonshine Jug and String Band decided it was time for a change becoming a Rock n Roll group named The Keystone Angels. The first song written and the first single released after the renaming of the group was “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again”.
In 1975 The Keystone Angels were the support act for AC/DC in South Australia and the rock legends were so impressed with the up and comers that they helped them get a recording contract with Albert Productions. After gaining their contract the group dropped Keystone from their name and simply became The Angels.
August 1977 marked the release date of The Angels self titled debut album, a record that featured “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again” along with their second single “You’re A Lady Now”.
The band’s second album, “Face to Face”, was released in 1978. It reached number 16 on the Aussie charts and stayed in the charts for 79 weeks. The first song that was recorded for the record was “Comin’ Down” which is one of The Angels great anthems.
Here is “Comin’ Down” on Azza’s Half Hour.
2. “Comin’ Down”
A single from The Angel’s second album, “Face to Face”, entitled “Take a Long Line” is one of the bands most-recognised songs. It was released before the band’s supporting slot for singer Meat Loaf on his “Bat out of Hell” tour and the track gained great acceptance in the United States.
Here is the classic that reached number 29 on the Australian charts, “Take a Long Line”.
3. “Take a Long Line”
Alongside bands such as Cold Chisel and Rose Tattoo, The Angels were a ruler of the Australian live music scene of the 1970’s and 80’s. The Angels energetic concerts were a must see and lead singer Doc Neeson was known as a live wire on stage often seen dressed in a tuxedo and shaking maracas. Rick Brewster who was the band’s lead guitarist would remain motionless on stage for the entire performance keeping his head cocked to one side. The Angels also raised the expectations for live music in Australia and set the standards for what we now see today.
Here is the first track off the “Face to Face” album entitled “Straight Jacket”.
4. “Straight Jacket”
On the 23rd of June 1979 The Angels third album “No Exit” was released. It reached number 8 on the Australian Album Chart and included the songs “Mr. Damage”, “Out of the Blue”, “After Dark”, the title track “No Exit” and “Shadow Boxer”.
“Shadow Boxer” was a song inspired by a man seen sparring with a No Standing sign in Kings Cross, Sydney. The track reached number 25 on the Aussie charts and is one of the band’s classic hits.
Here is “Shadow Boxer” on Azza’s Half Hour.
5. “Shadow Boxer”
Welcome back that was “Shadow Boxer”.
The Angels released an album entitled “Dark Room” in 1980 it reached number 6 on the ARIA charts.
The band’s fifth Australian album “Night attack” was released in November 1981 and songs included on the album were “Runnin’ Wild”, “Night Attack” and “Living on the Outside”.
The Angels record “Watch the Red” was then issued in 1983 the first single from this was “Stand Up”. “Watch the Red” was a critically acclaimed album and featured the use of a saxophone and even a piano accordion during some tracks.
Following this in 1984 was “Two Minute Warning” an album recorded during a three month recording session in Los Angeles. “Between the Eyes”, “Look the Other Way” and “Underground” were singles from “Two Minute Warning”.
Two years later an album entitled “Howling” was released which featured an impressive cover of The Animals hit, “We Gotta Get out of This Place”. The track became The Angels highest charting single reaching number 6 on the Aussie charts.
Now on Azza’s Half Hour is “We Gotta Get out of This Place”.
6. “We Gotta Get out of This Place”
In December 1987 The Angels released a live album called “Liveline” performances featured on the record took place between 1983 and 1987. Following the success of the album that reached number 2 on the ARIA charts, The Angels embarked on a lengthy tour of Australia where they would perform a two-hour set covering their entire history.
When 1990 came around The Angels released their next Australian album entitled “Beyond Salvation”. This album was a success for the band as it was their only album to ever hit number 1 on the ARIA album charts. Songs featured on “Beyond Salvation” were “Let the Night Roll On”, “Dogs Are Talking” and “Back Street Pickup”.
The album “Red Back Fever” was released in 1991 and songs on that record included “Tear Me Apart”, “Some of That Love” and the title track “Red Back Fever”. After this came a greatest hits album entitled “Their Finest Hour…. and Then Some” in 1992 and in 1994 The Angels released an album called “Evidence” which featured four previously unreleased songs and some of the bands classics.
Another album entitled “Skin & Bone” was then released in 1998 and some of the standout tracks were “Call That Living”, “Caught in the Night”, “Northwest Highway” and “Invisible Man”. In 1998 The Angels were also inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame by Aussie rocker Angry Anderson and in November of that year the band performed at the Mushroom Records 25th Anniversary event.
In 1999 The Angels ceased to continue when Doc Neeson was forced to leave the band after a major car accident left him with neck and spinal injuries. But in 2001 the band minus Doc reformed under the name of Members of The Angels. This would soon change however when the group used the original name without Doc. A legal dispute then took place between the two parties but they would all eventually reunite in 2008 to perform a string of concerts together.
The Angels will go down in history as a legendary Australian band and they are still touring together to this day. Thanks for listening I hope you join me again in a fortnight same time and place.
Now to close the show is “Dogs Are Talking”.
7. “Dogs Are Talking”
1. “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again”
Welcome to the show that was “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again” by The Angels.
In November 1970 two brothers, Rick and John Brewster, formed a group with some friends named the Moonshine Jug and String Band. The band performed at South Australian university campuses and in 1973 released their debut EP “Keep you on the Move”, which made the top 5 in Adelaide.
In 1974 the Moonshine Jug and String Band decided it was time for a change becoming a Rock n Roll group named The Keystone Angels. The first song written and the first single released after the renaming of the group was “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again”.
In 1975 The Keystone Angels were the support act for AC/DC in South Australia and the rock legends were so impressed with the up and comers that they helped them get a recording contract with Albert Productions. After gaining their contract the group dropped Keystone from their name and simply became The Angels.
August 1977 marked the release date of The Angels self titled debut album, a record that featured “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again” along with their second single “You’re A Lady Now”.
The band’s second album, “Face to Face”, was released in 1978. It reached number 16 on the Aussie charts and stayed in the charts for 79 weeks. The first song that was recorded for the record was “Comin’ Down” which is one of The Angels great anthems.
Here is “Comin’ Down” on Azza’s Half Hour.
2. “Comin’ Down”
A single from The Angel’s second album, “Face to Face”, entitled “Take a Long Line” is one of the bands most-recognised songs. It was released before the band’s supporting slot for singer Meat Loaf on his “Bat out of Hell” tour and the track gained great acceptance in the United States.
Here is the classic that reached number 29 on the Australian charts, “Take a Long Line”.
3. “Take a Long Line”
Alongside bands such as Cold Chisel and Rose Tattoo, The Angels were a ruler of the Australian live music scene of the 1970’s and 80’s. The Angels energetic concerts were a must see and lead singer Doc Neeson was known as a live wire on stage often seen dressed in a tuxedo and shaking maracas. Rick Brewster who was the band’s lead guitarist would remain motionless on stage for the entire performance keeping his head cocked to one side. The Angels also raised the expectations for live music in Australia and set the standards for what we now see today.
Here is the first track off the “Face to Face” album entitled “Straight Jacket”.
4. “Straight Jacket”
On the 23rd of June 1979 The Angels third album “No Exit” was released. It reached number 8 on the Australian Album Chart and included the songs “Mr. Damage”, “Out of the Blue”, “After Dark”, the title track “No Exit” and “Shadow Boxer”.
“Shadow Boxer” was a song inspired by a man seen sparring with a No Standing sign in Kings Cross, Sydney. The track reached number 25 on the Aussie charts and is one of the band’s classic hits.
Here is “Shadow Boxer” on Azza’s Half Hour.
5. “Shadow Boxer”
Welcome back that was “Shadow Boxer”.
The Angels released an album entitled “Dark Room” in 1980 it reached number 6 on the ARIA charts.
The band’s fifth Australian album “Night attack” was released in November 1981 and songs included on the album were “Runnin’ Wild”, “Night Attack” and “Living on the Outside”.
The Angels record “Watch the Red” was then issued in 1983 the first single from this was “Stand Up”. “Watch the Red” was a critically acclaimed album and featured the use of a saxophone and even a piano accordion during some tracks.
Following this in 1984 was “Two Minute Warning” an album recorded during a three month recording session in Los Angeles. “Between the Eyes”, “Look the Other Way” and “Underground” were singles from “Two Minute Warning”.
Two years later an album entitled “Howling” was released which featured an impressive cover of The Animals hit, “We Gotta Get out of This Place”. The track became The Angels highest charting single reaching number 6 on the Aussie charts.
Now on Azza’s Half Hour is “We Gotta Get out of This Place”.
6. “We Gotta Get out of This Place”
In December 1987 The Angels released a live album called “Liveline” performances featured on the record took place between 1983 and 1987. Following the success of the album that reached number 2 on the ARIA charts, The Angels embarked on a lengthy tour of Australia where they would perform a two-hour set covering their entire history.
When 1990 came around The Angels released their next Australian album entitled “Beyond Salvation”. This album was a success for the band as it was their only album to ever hit number 1 on the ARIA album charts. Songs featured on “Beyond Salvation” were “Let the Night Roll On”, “Dogs Are Talking” and “Back Street Pickup”.
The album “Red Back Fever” was released in 1991 and songs on that record included “Tear Me Apart”, “Some of That Love” and the title track “Red Back Fever”. After this came a greatest hits album entitled “Their Finest Hour…. and Then Some” in 1992 and in 1994 The Angels released an album called “Evidence” which featured four previously unreleased songs and some of the bands classics.
Another album entitled “Skin & Bone” was then released in 1998 and some of the standout tracks were “Call That Living”, “Caught in the Night”, “Northwest Highway” and “Invisible Man”. In 1998 The Angels were also inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame by Aussie rocker Angry Anderson and in November of that year the band performed at the Mushroom Records 25th Anniversary event.
In 1999 The Angels ceased to continue when Doc Neeson was forced to leave the band after a major car accident left him with neck and spinal injuries. But in 2001 the band minus Doc reformed under the name of Members of The Angels. This would soon change however when the group used the original name without Doc. A legal dispute then took place between the two parties but they would all eventually reunite in 2008 to perform a string of concerts together.
The Angels will go down in history as a legendary Australian band and they are still touring together to this day. Thanks for listening I hope you join me again in a fortnight same time and place.
Now to close the show is “Dogs Are Talking”.
7. “Dogs Are Talking”