thepenandthesword
A Legal Deposit of documents archived by one of Australia's most prestigious archival institutes,the National Library Of Australia,indicate that the costs incurred for the recording of The Wiggles debut album 1991, which was recorded at Tracking Station in Sydney totaled $1650.00. According to a breakdown sheet,the greater portion of those costs were met by Phillip Wilcher.
An archived typed document from the Wiggles Management lists the following reimbursements made to each member of the group from a Publishing Advance received from EMI after the release of the debut album through ABC for Kids:
$825.00 recording costs to Wilcher
$750.00 recording costs to Field
$50 reimbursed tape stock to Page
$25 reimbursed tape stock to Cook.
There was nil reimbursement to Fatt. Fatt did not contribute to the recording costs of the debut album. Fatt was brought into the project towards the end of the recording sessions to sequence all the material.
It would appear that Cook and Page only paid for tape stock.
A legal document also verifies that Wilcher had also loaned the group a further $1000.00 towards recording costs.This was later reimbursed him.His website says he contributed the most financially because the other members of the group were still students.
A typed document also gives the breakdown of the $20,000.00 Publishing Advance from EMI. Of the $20,000.00, 50% went to The Partnership less 20% to Management. The balance was divided up between Field, Wilcher, Page, Cook and Fatt with Wilcher receiving the greater percentage having composed and contributed the most to the debut album. Evidence shows that the majority of the arrangements attributed to The Wiggles collectively were arranged and performed by Wilcher.There exists handwritten manuscripts for the songs "Spot The Dalmation" and "A Frog He Would A Wooing Go".
The combined percentage of work done towards the debut album according to the breakdown sheet for Field, Page, Cook and Fatt totals 60.40%. The balance is atttributed to Wilcher.
There is evidence of a letter of resignation being written by Wilcher from the group in 1991.According to his website, after the album had been recorded he felt friendships had changed and he was no longer comfortable performing with the group. According to various press releases,he says it was later agreed he could stay as a writer behind the scenes and contribute to subsequent albums,the second cd release being "here Comes A Song".
A legal document indicates that a variation to The Partnership Agreement was drafted in 1992 (Wilcher had appeared in the film clip for Dorothy The Dinosaur in 1992 at Field's request) with the intention of varying Wilcher's duties to The Partnership.It provided that his duties excluded him from performing unless he so wished to, and that he would be restricted to writing and composing. Wilcher says he understood he had a verbal agreement to stay behind the scenes as a writer so it is unclear whether he knew or not that the variation had been drafted. The variation however was not executed.
It is evident from manuscripts in the archive that Wilcher wrote material for the second album "Here Comes A Song". The material was later self published by Wilcher as a set of early childhood music activities collectively called "A Musical Offering".
In May 1992 Wilcher went to the States to play at celebrations honouring the legendary showman/pianist Liberace.Wilcher first played at such celebrations in 1989 and 1990 before meeting Field.He also played at celebrations honouring Liberace in 1994.It was understood he would record what he had written for the second cd release "Here Comes A Song" on his return,some three weeks after leaving. Evidence in the archive shows that on June 23rd 1992 he received a phone call from Field telling him that the recording had been made during his absence and he was no longer required.
A Consummer Affairs document dates Wilcher's cessation as a member of The Partnership as July 6th, 1992,almost a year after his initial letter of resignation. There's evidence to show that Wilcher refused to sign the document sent him by Fatt without Fatt offering him a full explanation of its purpose.The document was not signed by Wilcher until November 26th 1992.
Curiously Wilcher incurred expenses for the second album "Here Comes A Song".This was later rectified and the amount reimbursed him by ABC through future royalty payments received for the debut album.
After being discovered in 1997 by Aussie Post Magazine in 1997,The Wiggles debut album was phased out and re-recorded as Wiggle Time without Wilcher knowing. Wilcher's original work was erased from the re-recording.
At the time the debut album was phased out it had been awarded a Gold Australian Record Industry Award in April 1994 and a Platinum Record Industry Award in October 1995. At the time of its phasing out in 1998,it is believed to have almost reached Double Platinum Status.
Wilcher continues to live an active life as a composer and musician.Over the years he has established himself as a leading composer in Australia.He has the respect of his peers and is a role model and mentor to many young musicians.
It could be argued that if it was not for Wilcher, The Wiggles might not be where they are today.
An archived typed document from the Wiggles Management lists the following reimbursements made to each member of the group from a Publishing Advance received from EMI after the release of the debut album through ABC for Kids:
$825.00 recording costs to Wilcher
$750.00 recording costs to Field
$50 reimbursed tape stock to Page
$25 reimbursed tape stock to Cook.
There was nil reimbursement to Fatt. Fatt did not contribute to the recording costs of the debut album. Fatt was brought into the project towards the end of the recording sessions to sequence all the material.
It would appear that Cook and Page only paid for tape stock.
A legal document also verifies that Wilcher had also loaned the group a further $1000.00 towards recording costs.This was later reimbursed him.His website says he contributed the most financially because the other members of the group were still students.
A typed document also gives the breakdown of the $20,000.00 Publishing Advance from EMI. Of the $20,000.00, 50% went to The Partnership less 20% to Management. The balance was divided up between Field, Wilcher, Page, Cook and Fatt with Wilcher receiving the greater percentage having composed and contributed the most to the debut album. Evidence shows that the majority of the arrangements attributed to The Wiggles collectively were arranged and performed by Wilcher.There exists handwritten manuscripts for the songs "Spot The Dalmation" and "A Frog He Would A Wooing Go".
The combined percentage of work done towards the debut album according to the breakdown sheet for Field, Page, Cook and Fatt totals 60.40%. The balance is atttributed to Wilcher.
There is evidence of a letter of resignation being written by Wilcher from the group in 1991.According to his website, after the album had been recorded he felt friendships had changed and he was no longer comfortable performing with the group. According to various press releases,he says it was later agreed he could stay as a writer behind the scenes and contribute to subsequent albums,the second cd release being "here Comes A Song".
A legal document indicates that a variation to The Partnership Agreement was drafted in 1992 (Wilcher had appeared in the film clip for Dorothy The Dinosaur in 1992 at Field's request) with the intention of varying Wilcher's duties to The Partnership.It provided that his duties excluded him from performing unless he so wished to, and that he would be restricted to writing and composing. Wilcher says he understood he had a verbal agreement to stay behind the scenes as a writer so it is unclear whether he knew or not that the variation had been drafted. The variation however was not executed.
It is evident from manuscripts in the archive that Wilcher wrote material for the second album "Here Comes A Song". The material was later self published by Wilcher as a set of early childhood music activities collectively called "A Musical Offering".
In May 1992 Wilcher went to the States to play at celebrations honouring the legendary showman/pianist Liberace.Wilcher first played at such celebrations in 1989 and 1990 before meeting Field.He also played at celebrations honouring Liberace in 1994.It was understood he would record what he had written for the second cd release "Here Comes A Song" on his return,some three weeks after leaving. Evidence in the archive shows that on June 23rd 1992 he received a phone call from Field telling him that the recording had been made during his absence and he was no longer required.
A Consummer Affairs document dates Wilcher's cessation as a member of The Partnership as July 6th, 1992,almost a year after his initial letter of resignation. There's evidence to show that Wilcher refused to sign the document sent him by Fatt without Fatt offering him a full explanation of its purpose.The document was not signed by Wilcher until November 26th 1992.
Curiously Wilcher incurred expenses for the second album "Here Comes A Song".This was later rectified and the amount reimbursed him by ABC through future royalty payments received for the debut album.
After being discovered in 1997 by Aussie Post Magazine in 1997,The Wiggles debut album was phased out and re-recorded as Wiggle Time without Wilcher knowing. Wilcher's original work was erased from the re-recording.
At the time the debut album was phased out it had been awarded a Gold Australian Record Industry Award in April 1994 and a Platinum Record Industry Award in October 1995. At the time of its phasing out in 1998,it is believed to have almost reached Double Platinum Status.
Wilcher continues to live an active life as a composer and musician.Over the years he has established himself as a leading composer in Australia.He has the respect of his peers and is a role model and mentor to many young musicians.
It could be argued that if it was not for Wilcher, The Wiggles might not be where they are today.