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Sweet and Sour (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Sweet and Sour is an Australian television series which screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(ABC) in 1984. It was created by Tim Gooding and Johanna Pigott
and was produced internally for the ABC by Jan Chapman
. "It was great fun, a mixture of drama and music."
The main storyline of the series followed the efforts of a fictional band, The Takeaways, to break into the Sydney
music scene. "The Takeaways have so far eluded commercial success. However, negotiations are presently underway for the band to sell their story to a prominent TV station, and really clean up."
a band called The Takeaways is formed. Initially it consists of Carol Howard, Martin Kabel and George Poulopoulos.
Carol Howard (Tracy Mann
) is an attractive vocalist and novice guitarist from Melbourne; she had pursued an acting career with little success but is now focussed on her music. Carol wrote her first song on the train to Sydney.
Martin Kabel (David Reyne
) is an established, albeit unsuccessful, guitarist who wants to branch out from his current band: he would like to sing his own songs. Martin gets his chance with The Takeaways.
George Poulopoulos (Arky Michael) is more interested in playing soccer for the Combined Hellenic Travel Agents but reluctantly joins to play bass. He learns how to play at the band’s first practice session; slowly he overcomes his shyness to become a confident performer.
Darrell Winters (Ric Herbert) sees a quick dollar to be made as their manager; Darrell talks the talk and tries to walk the walk. He sets out to organise their first gig: a backyard barbecue! Fortunately better gigs followed in various Sydney pubs.
Their first jam sessions are in an old boot factory.
Meanwhile Christine Yates (Sandra Lillingston
) breaks into their house and rather than turn her in to the police they offer her a spot in their band. Christine’s father, legendary 1960s saxophonist Shrug Yates (Martin Vaughan), taught her to 'feel' music while playing sax. Christine sings lead vocal on some songs.
Initially they play their gigs using a drum machine until Johnny Black (Robin Copp), an established drummer, joins.
Some six months later, The Takeaways release an independent single, Sweet and Sour, and await the pressing of their first album. They meet recording executives and media personalities including Ian "Molly" Meldrum
and artist Jon English
. They undertake a tour of Melbourne to promote the first single.
There is some romantic tension between Carol and Martin, and between George and Christine. Martin is brash and confident but his Lothario
image is belied by his naivety when he deals with a female music executive (Megan Williams). Darrell starts to believe his own PR
and eventually becomes more interested in his music video career than the band. Manipulation by music industry insiders sees both Martin and Carol tempted by solo deals; eventually the group splits.
The outer cover of their first Soundtrack album shows The Takeaways in a similar pose to the inner cover photo but has them as neon outlines whereas the second Soundtrack has the same neon oultlines but with a reversed design. The neon outlines were also animated and used on their first promo video (see YouTube).
Other actors in the show included Megan Williams, Martin Vaughan as Christine's father Shrug, Jane Clifton
, Daniel Abineri
, George Spartels
as Nick, George's older brother, Carmen Tanti and Michelle Stayner.
The TV series launched the career of David Reyne (TV Week
Logie Award
1985 Best New Talent in Australia) as the charismatic band member Martin, contrasting the introverted George (played by Arky Michael).
The title song of the series,"Sweet and Sour", was written by Sharon O'Neill
, who also recorded the song in 1987 as "In Control" on her album Danced in the Fire. Deborah Conway
(Do-Ré-Mi
) was actor Tracy Mann's
'singing voice' and sang the hit "Sweet & Sour" (# 13 Australian national singles chart
). The song's lyrics relate to self-empowerment in the face of life's vagaries: "Life can be sweet and sour, But I am in control. It can chill me to the bone, Give me wings to fly on my own."
Music was directed by Martin Armiger
(The Sports
, Stephen Cummings
Band) who also provided backing vocals, lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums and lyrics. Associate Music Director: Graham Bidstrup
(The Angels
, GANGgajang
) also provided backing vocals, keyboards, percussion and lyrics. 1n 1980, Bidstrup had produced a single, "Russia Rocks" for an Australian group The Takeaways. Assistant to Music Director: Stephen O’Rourke also provided backing vocals.
The list of recording musicians/songwriters includes Tommy Emmanuel
, Chris Bailey (The Angels
, GANGgajang
), Eric McCusker (Mondo Rock
), Red Symons
(Skyhooks), "Freddie" Strauks (Skyhooks), Todd Hunter
(Dragon
, XL Capris
), Rick Grossman
(Divinyls
, Hoodoo Gurus
), Mark Edwards (The Runners), Tony Buchanan (Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs mk2
) and Reg Mombassa
(Mental As Anything
).
Cathy McQuade (Deckchairs Overboard
) was Sandra Lillingston's 'singing voice' and John Clifforth (Deckchairs Overboard
) was David Reyne's 'singing voice' (both Reyne and Herbert sang backing vocals on some tracks).
The soundtrack album went platinum, selling over 70,000 copies.
Australian band GANGgajang
were formed as a direct result of four of their members involvement as musicians/songwriters for this show: Chris Bailey, Graham Bidstrup, Mark Callaghan and Kay Bee.
show, there was a natural tie-in to Countdown, with guest appearance by Ian "Molly" Meldrum
. "Sweet & Sour" (lead vocal: Conway) was shown on the 12 August 1984 episode of Countdown. The promo clip does not show The Takeaways 'bass player' George (Arky Michael); but does include a juggler, acrobat and stage magician. On the same Countdown episode were O'Neill performing "Power" and Stephen Cummings performing "Gynasium" (Armiger as producer/musician/songwriter). "Glam To Wham" (lead vocal: Conway, backing vocal: McQuade) was broadcast Countdown on 7 October 1984, with guest hosts Michael, Lillingston and Herbert of The Takeaways (during which Herbert refers to Arky Michael as "Spartels"!). It shows Lillingston miming to Conway's vocals, however in the "Sweet and Sour" TV series Lillingston's vocals were supplied by McQuade and she rarely sang lead. Also on the 7 October episode was Cummings performing "Another Kick to the Head" (Armiger as producer/musician/songwriter).
The pilot episode was directed by Grant Rule, an Executive Producer of Countdown, it was shot in an old warehouse in Pyrmont and starred Terry Serrio from the Elks and Joy Smithers
, who would later star in Bangkok Hilton
mini series with Nicole Kidman
. The guitar player was Marty Shiel (Juggernaut
) as well as many other fine support actors. Another link to Countdown was the briefing of songwriters by Countdown Awards co-producer Carolyn James and Graham Thorburn, who come up from producing and directing Countdown to direct 4 episodes. Together they negotiated a "No Favoured Nations" contract for songwriters to receive royalties over a limited time frame rather than ABC purchasing songs outright. This meant the music budget stretched much further, and that signed and unsigned writers received same revenue and so provided significant income to lesser-known songwriters such as David McComb
of The Triffids
.
New Zealand's TVNZ series, Heroes, released 21 October 1984 "is about a group of musicians just getting started as a rock 'n' roll band". It ran for 8 episodes in 1984 and 6 in 1986. Actors included: Michael Hurst
, Jay Laga'aia
, Margaret Umbers and John Gibson.
(1978–1982), record producer Todd Hunter
later joined them on guitar. Pigott and Hunter wrote "Rain" for Dragon
and "Age of Reason" for John Farnham
. Gooding and Pigott have both written for the TV Series Heartbreak High
(Hunter composed its music) and for Mortified
.
Writers for Sweet and Sour were: Gooding, Pigott, Michael Cove, Paul Leadon, David Poltorak, Bert Deling, Forrest Redlich and Debra Oswald
. Directors were: Geoffrey Nottage, Riccardo Pellizzeri, Graham Thorburn, Posie Graeme-Evans
(aka Posie Jacobs) and Helena Harris.
(ABC) advises that
Sweet & Sour OST was released on CD on 17 September 2010.
Track listing
Sweet & Sour Volume Two, ABC RML 53143 © 1984.
Track listing
"Glam to Wham" (O'Neill) - 4:17 /"Can't Stand Still" (Armiger) - 2:16
"No Focus" (Steven Leeson, Sally Ford) - 2:33 /"Down the Road" (Callaghan) - 2:41
Love So Sweet (Anthony Backhouse
) performed by Renée Geyer
Romeo Romeo (Ford, Leeson)
That's the Way (Ken Campbell, Paul Hester
, McQuade, Clifforth) written & performed by Deckchairs Overboard
. Available on YouTube
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
(ABC) in 1984. It was created by Tim Gooding and Johanna Pigott
Johanna Pigott
Johanna Paton Pigott is an Australian musician, singer/songwriter and screenwriter. Her best known hit songs are Dragon's "Rain" which peaked at #2 on the Australia singles charts in 1983 and John Farnham's "Age of Reason". "Rain" was co-written with partner Dragon's Todd Hunter and his brother...
and was produced internally for the ABC by Jan Chapman
Jan Chapman
Jan Chapman is an Australian film producer.Spouse= Jam Alex 2006-2010Films produced by Chapman include The Last Days of Chez Nous, The Piano, Love Serenade, Holy Smoke, and Lantana.Chapman met her first husband, film director Phillip Noyce, whilst studying English and Fine Arts at university in the...
. "It was great fun, a mixture of drama and music."
The main storyline of the series followed the efforts of a fictional band, The Takeaways, to break into the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
music scene. "The Takeaways have so far eluded commercial success. However, negotiations are presently underway for the band to sell their story to a prominent TV station, and really clean up."
Plot & cast
In mid-1983 SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
a band called The Takeaways is formed. Initially it consists of Carol Howard, Martin Kabel and George Poulopoulos.
Carol Howard (Tracy Mann
Tracy Mann
Tracy Mann is an Australian actress. Her film credits include Hard Knocks, The Scarecrow, and Fast Talking.Mann got her first big break playing Tina Harris in the 1970s television soap opera The Box. She is possibly best remembered to audiences for playing a character who ended up behind bars, deaf...
) is an attractive vocalist and novice guitarist from Melbourne; she had pursued an acting career with little success but is now focussed on her music. Carol wrote her first song on the train to Sydney.
Martin Kabel (David Reyne
David Reyne
David Nicholas Reyne is an Australian actor, musician and television presenter. He was educated at The Peninsula School, Mount Eliza.-Music career:...
) is an established, albeit unsuccessful, guitarist who wants to branch out from his current band: he would like to sing his own songs. Martin gets his chance with The Takeaways.
George Poulopoulos (Arky Michael) is more interested in playing soccer for the Combined Hellenic Travel Agents but reluctantly joins to play bass. He learns how to play at the band’s first practice session; slowly he overcomes his shyness to become a confident performer.
Darrell Winters (Ric Herbert) sees a quick dollar to be made as their manager; Darrell talks the talk and tries to walk the walk. He sets out to organise their first gig: a backyard barbecue! Fortunately better gigs followed in various Sydney pubs.
Their first jam sessions are in an old boot factory.
Meanwhile Christine Yates (Sandra Lillingston
Sandie Lillingston
Sandie Lillingston is an Australian actress active between 1984 and 1994.Lillingston appeared as a presenter in a short 1983 documentary One Last Chance on the probation system in South Australia. Her first acting role was as the on-going character Christine Yates in the Australian Broadcasting...
) breaks into their house and rather than turn her in to the police they offer her a spot in their band. Christine’s father, legendary 1960s saxophonist Shrug Yates (Martin Vaughan), taught her to 'feel' music while playing sax. Christine sings lead vocal on some songs.
Initially they play their gigs using a drum machine until Johnny Black (Robin Copp), an established drummer, joins.
Some six months later, The Takeaways release an independent single, Sweet and Sour, and await the pressing of their first album. They meet recording executives and media personalities including Ian "Molly" Meldrum
Ian Meldrum
Ian Alexander "Molly" Meldrum AM is an Australian popular music critic, journalist, record producer , and musical entrepreneur...
and artist Jon English
Jon English
Jonathan James "Jon" English is an Australian rock singer, musician, actor and writer. English emigrated to Australia with his parents in 1961...
. They undertake a tour of Melbourne to promote the first single.
There is some romantic tension between Carol and Martin, and between George and Christine. Martin is brash and confident but his Lothario
Lothario
Lothario is a male first name which came to connote an unscrupulous seducer of women.In The Impertinent Curiosity, a story-within-the-story in Don Quixote , by Miguel de Cervantes, a man named Anselmo coerces Lothario, his faithful friend, to test the virtue of Anselmo's wife, Camila...
image is belied by his naivety when he deals with a female music executive (Megan Williams). Darrell starts to believe his own PR
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
and eventually becomes more interested in his music video career than the band. Manipulation by music industry insiders sees both Martin and Carol tempted by solo deals; eventually the group splits.
The outer cover of their first Soundtrack album shows The Takeaways in a similar pose to the inner cover photo but has them as neon outlines whereas the second Soundtrack has the same neon oultlines but with a reversed design. The neon outlines were also animated and used on their first promo video (see YouTube).
Jane Clifton
Jane Clifton is a Gibraltar-born actress and singer who lived as a child in Cardiff, Wales. In 1961 she emigrated to Perth, Australia. Her best known acting role is probably that of tough prison bookie Margo Gaffney in Prisoner...
, Daniel Abineri
Daniel Abineri
Daniel Abineri is an English actor, songwriter and playwright, famous for writing the book, music and lyrics for the controversial musical Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom....
, George Spartels
George Spartels
George Spartels is an Australian actor of Greek descent, who is best known for his role on the television soap opera Neighbours, playing Benito Alessi. He was married to actress Elizabeth Alexander....
as Nick, George's older brother, Carmen Tanti and Michelle Stayner.
The TV series launched the career of David Reyne (TV Week
TV Week
TV Week is a weekly television magazine in Australia, first published as a Melbourne-only publication in December 1957 , and bearing a strong affiliation to television station GTV.The publication is still publishing weekly...
Logie Award
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
1985 Best New Talent in Australia) as the charismatic band member Martin, contrasting the introverted George (played by Arky Michael).
Episode Guide
- Martin quits Lone Sharks (fronted by Mark Edwards of The Runners) who are shown performing Crocodile Shoes. He moves into a warehouse with Darrell who is an amateur music photographer. Carol moves from Melbourne to Sydney for a new start and joins them. George has trouble collecting the rent for his brother Nick, whom he works for at his Travel Agency. Martin performs Down The Road. Guest appearance is Renee Geyer as the train hostess.
- Darrell shoots a video to the sound of the Sweet And Sour theme and tries to get Carol and Martin to form a band while trying to buy time paying the rent to Nick. Carol sells her own designed clothes while at the Dole office Martin tries to avoid work. George is invited to join as bass.
- The band go to a record executives party. Christine breaks into the warehouse and stalks Martin. Darrell still steals every scene. Carol pens Sweet & Sour. Martin introduces Christine to the band who endears herself to the group by fixing the keyboard.
- Darrell prepares for his 21st and gets the band to make their debut there. Christine starts practicing the saxophone again with help from her father Shrug (Martin Vaughan) and joins the band.
- After their first gig the go to the beach dancing to Singing In The Shower. George and Nick's dad buys 4000 dolls. Martin and Ric try to raise funds with an escapologist act in the mall while Nick and George ponder what to do with 4000 dolls. Nick's wife Nina (Carmen Tanti) is supportive of George's music.
- Martin's mystery woman (Urszula Anna-Teresa) turns out to be his mother who wants to stay in touch. Ric and George try thinking of how to sell the dolls. George stumbles as he tries to tell Christine how he feels. Christine and George perform a routine/clip for Image Of An Angel.
- Darrell gets the bands' first pub gig booked. George's dad has a 65th birthday party and George inadvertently invites the whole band plus the Telecom man when he tried to ask Christine to come. Robert Hughes (as Darrell's tech school teacher) and Kirk Pengilly make guest appearances.
- Martin starts his night cleaning job as the band gets ready for their first gig at the Garry Owen Hotel where they perform Too Hot To Move.
- Johnny is invited to join the band as drummer. Martin quits his cleaning job. Darrell interviews Ignatius Jones in a cemetery at night. George is in love. Carol performs No Focus.
- Darrell tries to get No Focus picked up by radio only to find out it is similar to Dead Lions song Psychosis. Carol confronts Leo (Daniel Abineri) about stealing her song but finds she is wrong. Shrug starts his job selling supermarket records. Christine performs Glam To Wham while taking on a job as a checkout chick. Peter Oxley of Sunnyboys is the guest appearance in this episode buying mountains of Lux soap powder. The band get invited to a Dead Lions gig and to join them as a support act.
- Carol and Leo meet up. Darrell tries his managerial skills against the Dead Lions manager Pat Mason (Amanda Muggleton) and comes up a bit short. George's dad buys a bus which Nick thinks they can use for Nite Tours of Sydney. The band don't do well as a support for the Dead Lions. Special guest is Marc Hunter as Pat Mason's secretary. Tim Gooding (co-creator) makes an appearance as a postman.
- The band want out of supporting Dead Lions but can't get out of their contract. Leo tries to encourage Carol to join him in the US. George becomes tour bus driver while Darrell gets a touring German Rugby team to act as positive crowd support as the band perform Good Advice. Carol decides to stay with the band.
- Martin gets disenchanted with the bands' progress and is influenced by Charlie (Megan Williams) and her Fairlight. Darrell books a studio to do a demo but it costs $500 so they do a gig at the Pleasant Grove Bowling Club.
- Darrell makes documentaries about himself and discovers the Hoons. Carol feels under pressure, Christine feels rejected, George has computer problems, Martin heads in a different direction with Charlie. They get together for a great performance at the fashion parade to raise the rest of the money needed for the demo. Brian Kawolsky (Robin Stewart), a promoter introduces himself.
- Plans don't meet expectations. Darrell is persuaded to drop the Hoons and leaves the band to concentrate on videos. Martin finds he can't connect with Charlie's music and Shrug quits his record selling job that girlfriend Kerry (Michelle Stayner) had set up. Martin performs It's A Game
- The band hit the recording studio to lay down Sweet And Sour. Martin finally decides to show up. George quits the band and takes over as manager. Their gig, featuring Moon & Stars, is a success. Sweet And Sour gets played on radio.
- Sweet And Sour gets pressed and the band try to get it into the shops. A magazine interview doesn't go to plan. The gigs get better under George's management.
- The band respond to media and management issues. They make a clip for Sweet And Sour and make their TV debut late at night.
- The band travel to Melbourne with internal differences between the members exposed when George left too much to the booking agency and the trip bombed financially.
- The band plays their last gig, performing Heart Plays Tricks, Singing In The Shower, Hip Romeo, Glam To Wham, Party On Wheels. Johanna Pigott (co-creator) makes an appearance dancing to the music.
Musicians & songwriters
Numerous Australian and New Zealand musicians and songwriters were involved in this TV series.The title song of the series,"Sweet and Sour", was written by Sharon O'Neill
Sharon O'Neill
-Albums:*1979 - This Heart This Song*1980 - Sharon O'Neill*1980 - Words*1981 - Maybe*1983 - Foreign Affairs*1983 - Smash Palace *1984 - So Far - The Best 14...
, who also recorded the song in 1987 as "In Control" on her album Danced in the Fire. Deborah Conway
Deborah Conway
Deborah Ann Conway, is an Australian rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, and had a career as a model and actor. She was a founding member of the 1980s rock band Do-Ré-Mi with their surprise top 5 hit "Man Overboard"....
(Do-Ré-Mi
Do-Re-Mi (band)
Do-Re-Mi aka Do-Ré-Mi were an Australian Rock/Pop band formed in Sydney in 1981 when Deborah Conway and Dorland Bray joined Helen Carter and later recruited Stephen Philip...
) was actor Tracy Mann's
Tracy Mann
Tracy Mann is an Australian actress. Her film credits include Hard Knocks, The Scarecrow, and Fast Talking.Mann got her first big break playing Tina Harris in the 1970s television soap opera The Box. She is possibly best remembered to audiences for playing a character who ended up behind bars, deaf...
'singing voice' and sang the hit "Sweet & Sour" (# 13 Australian national singles chart
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
). The song's lyrics relate to self-empowerment in the face of life's vagaries: "Life can be sweet and sour, But I am in control. It can chill me to the bone, Give me wings to fly on my own."
Music was directed by Martin Armiger
Martin Armiger
John Martin Armiger is an Australian musician, record producer and film/TV composer. He was singer-songwriter and guitarist with Melbourne-based rock band, The Sports during 1978–1981, which had Top 30 hits on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart with, "Don't Throw Stones" , "Strangers on a...
(The Sports
The Sports
The Sports were a popular Australian rock group that performed and recorded between 1976 and 1981.Based in Melbourne, Victoria, the group released a number of successful singles and albums. Their sound fitted well with both 1970s British pub rock bands and British New Wave...
, Stephen Cummings
Stephen Cummings
Stephen Donald Cummings is an Australian rock singer-songwriter and writer. He was lead singer of Melbourne-based rock band, The Sports, during 1976–1981, followed by a solo career which has met with critical acclaim but has had limited commercial success...
Band) who also provided backing vocals, lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums and lyrics. Associate Music Director: Graham Bidstrup
Graham Bidstrup
Graham "Buzz" Bidstrup is an Australian musician, songwriter, music producer and artist manager. He has been a member of The Angels, The Party Boys and Gang Gajang. He has managed Jimmy Little, Nathan Cavaleri and Diana Ah Naid. He is part of the management team for the Jimmy Little Foundation.-The...
(The Angels
The Angels (Australian band)
The Angels are a hard rock band that formed in Adelaide, Australia in 1970. The band later relocated from Adelaide to Sydney and enjoyed huge local success until well into the 1990s. For the purposes of international release, their records were released under the names Angel City and later The...
, GANGgajang
GANGgajang
Gang Gajang are an Australian rock band who formed in 1984. The three principal figures in the original lineup were former Riptides frontman Mark "Cal" Callaghan and two former members of popular Australian hard rock band The Angels, bassist Chris Bailey and drummer Graham "Buzz"...
) also provided backing vocals, keyboards, percussion and lyrics. 1n 1980, Bidstrup had produced a single, "Russia Rocks" for an Australian group The Takeaways. Assistant to Music Director: Stephen O’Rourke also provided backing vocals.
The list of recording musicians/songwriters includes Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Emmanuel
William Thomas "Tommy" Emmanuel AM is an Australian guitarist, best known for his complex fingerpicking style, energetic performances and the use of percussive effects on the guitar. In the May 2008 and 2010 issues of Guitar Player Magazine, he was named as "Best Acoustic Guitarist" in their...
, Chris Bailey (The Angels
The Angels (Australian band)
The Angels are a hard rock band that formed in Adelaide, Australia in 1970. The band later relocated from Adelaide to Sydney and enjoyed huge local success until well into the 1990s. For the purposes of international release, their records were released under the names Angel City and later The...
, GANGgajang
GANGgajang
Gang Gajang are an Australian rock band who formed in 1984. The three principal figures in the original lineup were former Riptides frontman Mark "Cal" Callaghan and two former members of popular Australian hard rock band The Angels, bassist Chris Bailey and drummer Graham "Buzz"...
), Eric McCusker (Mondo Rock
Mondo Rock
Mondo Rock is a rock band from Melbourne, Australia, most prominent in the early 1980s. The band was formed in late 1976 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Ross Wilson.-Early years: 1976–1979:...
), Red Symons
Red Symons
Redmond Symons is an Australian musician, writer, actor and radio host, probably best known as lead guitarist with Skyhooks and as the snide judge of "Red Faces", a segment of the long-running Hey Hey It's Saturday variety television show...
(Skyhooks), "Freddie" Strauks (Skyhooks), Todd Hunter
Todd Hunter
Todd Stuart Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon. Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain"...
(Dragon
Dragon (band)
Dragon is a popular New Zealand rock band, they were formed in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1972 and relocated to Sydney, Australia in May 1975. They were previously led by singer Marc Hunter and are currently led by his brother bass player Todd Hunter...
, XL Capris
XL Capris
XL Capris were an Australian indie-punk band formed in Sydney in 1978 by Julie Anderson, Tim Gooding, Johanna Pigott and Kimble Rendall.Their best known single was a punk version of Tommy Leonetti's "My City of Sydney"...
), Rick Grossman
Richard Grossman (musician)
Richard Grossman is an Australian rock musician who has played bass guitar for two iconic bands Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus. Hoodoo Gurus iconic status on the Australian rock scene was acknowledged when they were inducted into the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame. For Grossman, this was his second Hall of Fame...
(Divinyls
Divinyls
Divinyls were an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980 and featuring vocalist Christina Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee. As the focal point, Amphlett performed on stage wearing a school uniform and fishnet stockings, often using an illuminated neon tube as a prop and displaying...
, Hoodoo Gurus
Hoodoo Gurus
Hoodoo Gurus are an Australian rock band, formed in Sydney in 1981, by the mainstay Dave Faulkner and later joined by Richard Grossman , Mark Kingsmill , and Brad Shepherd...
), Mark Edwards (The Runners), Tony Buchanan (Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs mk2
Billy Thorpe
William Richard "Billy" Thorpe, AM was a renowned English-born Australian pop / rock singer-songwriter and musician...
) and Reg Mombassa
Reg Mombassa
Reg Mombassa is the pseudonym of Chris O'Doherty, a New Zealand born artist and musician. Resident in Australia, he is as well known there for his musical exploits — founder and former member of the popular Australian band Mental As Anything and member of Dog Trumpet - as he is for his art...
(Mental As Anything
Mental As Anything
Mental As Anything are an Australian New Wave–rock music band formed at an art school in Sydney in 1976. Their most popular line-up was Martin Plaza on vocals and guitar; Reg Mombassa on lead guitar and vocals; his brother Peter "Yoga Dog" O'Doherty on bass guitar and vocals; Wayne "Bird"...
).
Cathy McQuade (Deckchairs Overboard
Deckchairs Overboard
Deckchairs Overboard was an Australian Pop music band based in Sydney . They developed from Melbourne based Cheks with the addition of Cathy McQuade and had some minor hit singles "That's The Way" , with Ken Campbell on vocals, "Shout", with McQuade on vocals, "Walking In The Dark" and "Fight...
) was Sandra Lillingston's 'singing voice' and John Clifforth (Deckchairs Overboard
Deckchairs Overboard
Deckchairs Overboard was an Australian Pop music band based in Sydney . They developed from Melbourne based Cheks with the addition of Cathy McQuade and had some minor hit singles "That's The Way" , with Ken Campbell on vocals, "Shout", with McQuade on vocals, "Walking In The Dark" and "Fight...
) was David Reyne's 'singing voice' (both Reyne and Herbert sang backing vocals on some tracks).
The soundtrack album went platinum, selling over 70,000 copies.
Australian band GANGgajang
GANGgajang
Gang Gajang are an Australian rock band who formed in 1984. The three principal figures in the original lineup were former Riptides frontman Mark "Cal" Callaghan and two former members of popular Australian hard rock band The Angels, bassist Chris Bailey and drummer Graham "Buzz"...
were formed as a direct result of four of their members involvement as musicians/songwriters for this show: Chris Bailey, Graham Bidstrup, Mark Callaghan and Kay Bee.
Countdown links
As an ABC TVABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
show, there was a natural tie-in to Countdown, with guest appearance by Ian "Molly" Meldrum
Ian Meldrum
Ian Alexander "Molly" Meldrum AM is an Australian popular music critic, journalist, record producer , and musical entrepreneur...
. "Sweet & Sour" (lead vocal: Conway) was shown on the 12 August 1984 episode of Countdown. The promo clip does not show The Takeaways 'bass player' George (Arky Michael); but does include a juggler, acrobat and stage magician. On the same Countdown episode were O'Neill performing "Power" and Stephen Cummings performing "Gynasium" (Armiger as producer/musician/songwriter). "Glam To Wham" (lead vocal: Conway, backing vocal: McQuade) was broadcast Countdown on 7 October 1984, with guest hosts Michael, Lillingston and Herbert of The Takeaways (during which Herbert refers to Arky Michael as "Spartels"!). It shows Lillingston miming to Conway's vocals, however in the "Sweet and Sour" TV series Lillingston's vocals were supplied by McQuade and she rarely sang lead. Also on the 7 October episode was Cummings performing "Another Kick to the Head" (Armiger as producer/musician/songwriter).
The pilot episode was directed by Grant Rule, an Executive Producer of Countdown, it was shot in an old warehouse in Pyrmont and starred Terry Serrio from the Elks and Joy Smithers
Joy Smithers
Joy Smithers is an Australian actress, best known for her acting performances on television, and her role as a television news presenter....
, who would later star in Bangkok Hilton
Bangkok Hilton
Bangkok Hilton is a three-part Australian mini-series, made in 1989 by Kennedy Miller Productions and directed by Ken Cameron. The title of the mini-series is, in the story, the nickname of a fictional Bangkok prison in which the protagonist is imprisoned.-Plot:Bangkok Hilton begins as Hal Stanton...
mini series with Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
. The guitar player was Marty Shiel (Juggernaut
Juggernaut (Band)
Juggernaut is an American technical/progressive thrash metal band who formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1984.-Biography:Juggernaut is an American technical/progressive thrash metal band who formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1984 by former Kamakazi members Scott Womack and Harlan Glenn who were...
) as well as many other fine support actors. Another link to Countdown was the briefing of songwriters by Countdown Awards co-producer Carolyn James and Graham Thorburn, who come up from producing and directing Countdown to direct 4 episodes. Together they negotiated a "No Favoured Nations" contract for songwriters to receive royalties over a limited time frame rather than ABC purchasing songs outright. This meant the music budget stretched much further, and that signed and unsigned writers received same revenue and so provided significant income to lesser-known songwriters such as David McComb
David McComb
David Richard McComb was an Australian rock musician. He was the singer-songwriter of the Australian band, The Triffids.-Early years in Perth:...
of The Triffids
The Triffids
The Triffids were a seminal Australian alternative rock and pop band formed in Perth, Western Australia, in May 1978 with charismatic, David McComb as singer-songwriter, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboardist. They achieved negligible success in Australia, but greater success in the U.K...
.
New Zealand's TVNZ series, Heroes, released 21 October 1984 "is about a group of musicians just getting started as a rock 'n' roll band". It ran for 8 episodes in 1984 and 6 in 1986. Actors included: Michael Hurst
Michael Hurst
Michael Eric Hurst, ONZM is a New Zealand actor, director and writer, mostly on stage and television. He is probably best known internationally for playing Iolaus in the television programs Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and companion series Xena: Warrior Princess...
, Jay Laga'aia
Jay Laga'aia
Jay Laga'aia is an actor and singer. He is best known internationally for his role as Captain Typho in the films Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.-Career:...
, Margaret Umbers and John Gibson.
Creators, Writers & Directors
Tim Gooding and Johanna Pigott were members of Sydney post-punk band, XL CaprisXL Capris
XL Capris were an Australian indie-punk band formed in Sydney in 1978 by Julie Anderson, Tim Gooding, Johanna Pigott and Kimble Rendall.Their best known single was a punk version of Tommy Leonetti's "My City of Sydney"...
(1978–1982), record producer Todd Hunter
Todd Hunter
Todd Stuart Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon. Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain"...
later joined them on guitar. Pigott and Hunter wrote "Rain" for Dragon
Dragon (band)
Dragon is a popular New Zealand rock band, they were formed in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1972 and relocated to Sydney, Australia in May 1975. They were previously led by singer Marc Hunter and are currently led by his brother bass player Todd Hunter...
and "Age of Reason" for John Farnham
John Farnham
John Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham , is an English-born Australian pop singer. He was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as...
. Gooding and Pigott have both written for the TV Series Heartbreak High
Heartbreak High
Heartbreak High is an Australian television series that ran for seven years from 1994 to 1999. The series dealt with the students of Hartley High, a tough high school in a multi-racial area of Sydney, and proved to be a more gritty and fast-paced show than many of its contemporaries...
(Hunter composed its music) and for Mortified
Mortified
Mortified was an Australian children's television series, co-produced by the Australian Children's Television Foundation and Enjoy Entertainment for the Nine Network Australia, Disney Australia and the BBC. The series premiered on 30 June 2006 and ended on 11 April 2007 with two seasons and a total...
.
Writers for Sweet and Sour were: Gooding, Pigott, Michael Cove, Paul Leadon, David Poltorak, Bert Deling, Forrest Redlich and Debra Oswald
Debra Oswald
Debra Oswald is an Australian writer for film, television, stage, radio and children's fiction. In 2008 her Stories in the Dark won Best Play in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards. She is creator and head writer of the Channel 10 drama series Offspring, for which she won the 2011 NSW Premier's...
. Directors were: Geoffrey Nottage, Riccardo Pellizzeri, Graham Thorburn, Posie Graeme-Evans
Posie Graeme-Evans
Posie Graeme-Evans spent her childhood travelling between Europe, Asia and Australia. Having worked extensively in the Australian film and television industries as an editor, director, writer and producer/executive producer, Posie is now a full-time novelist .-Early life:Graeme-Evans is the...
(aka Posie Jacobs) and Helena Harris.
Availability
The series is currently unavailable on video, DVD or online. The Australian Broadcasting CorporationAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
(ABC) advises that
"Due to copyright restrictions this program is unavailable for sale as it was produced on a broadcast only basis; thus restricting ABC Commercial from selling the material. There are no plans to re-broadcast this program."
Sweet & Sour OST was released on CD on 17 September 2010.
Discography
Albums
Sweet & Sour - TV Soundtrack by Takeaways & Various Artists, ABC Records L-38159, Cassette C38159 © 1984.Track listing
- "Sweet and Sour" (Sharon O'NeillSharon O'Neill-Albums:*1979 - This Heart This Song*1980 - Sharon O'Neill*1980 - Words*1981 - Maybe*1983 - Foreign Affairs*1983 - Smash Palace *1984 - So Far - The Best 14...
) - 3:03 Lead vocal by Deborah ConwayDeborah ConwayDeborah Ann Conway, is an Australian rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, and had a career as a model and actor. She was a founding member of the 1980s rock band Do-Ré-Mi with their surprise top 5 hit "Man Overboard".... - "Hip Romeo" (Jennifer Hunter-Brown aka Jennifer Jewel Brown) - 2:21 Lead vocal: Conway
- "Moon And The Stars" (William "Billy" Miller (The FerretsThe Ferrets (band)The Ferrets were an Australian pop / rock band from Melbourne and Sydney, which formed in 1975 and disbanded in 1979. Their second single, "Don’t Fall in Love", was released in 1977 and peaked at No. 2 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart...
)) - 2:17 Lead vocal: Conway - "Chicken Feed - Part 1" (Words: Tim Gooding, Music: Martin Armiger) - 0:25 spoken by Ric Herbert and Tracy MannTracy MannTracy Mann is an Australian actress. Her film credits include Hard Knocks, The Scarecrow, and Fast Talking.Mann got her first big break playing Tina Harris in the 1970s television soap opera The Box. She is possibly best remembered to audiences for playing a character who ended up behind bars, deaf...
- "Singing In The Shower" (Michael Walker, Glenn Muirhead, John Barnes) (all in Solid Citizens) - 2:43 Lead vocal: Conway. Solid Citizens released their own version as a single.
- "It's A Game" (Don WalkerDon Walker (musician)Don Walker is an Australian musician and songwriter known for writing many of the hits for Australian pub rock band Cold Chisel. He played piano and keyboard with the band from 1973 to 1983, when they disbanded. He has since continued to record and tour, both solo and with Tex, Don and Charlie,...
(Cold ChiselCold ChiselCold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
)) - 2:31 Lead vocal: John Clifforth - "Glam to Wham" (O'Neill) - 4:10 Lead vocal: Conway, backing vocal: Cathy McQuade
- "Heart Plays Tricks" (Mark Callaghan (RiptidesRiptidesThe Riptides were a band from Brisbane Australia and worked largely as a vehicle for the song-writing talents of Mark "Cal" Callaghan. Over a career spanning 6 years from 1979 to 1983 the band also featured a number of notable musicians.-History:...
), Kay Bee aka K Bidstrup, G BidstrupGraham BidstrupGraham "Buzz" Bidstrup is an Australian musician, songwriter, music producer and artist manager. He has been a member of The Angels, The Party Boys and Gang Gajang. He has managed Jimmy Little, Nathan Cavaleri and Diana Ah Naid. He is part of the management team for the Jimmy Little Foundation.-The...
) (all in GANGgajangGANGgajangGang Gajang are an Australian rock band who formed in 1984. The three principal figures in the original lineup were former Riptides frontman Mark "Cal" Callaghan and two former members of popular Australian hard rock band The Angels, bassist Chris Bailey and drummer Graham "Buzz"...
) - 2:47 Lead vocal: Conway - "On the Street Where You Live" (David McCombDavid McCombDavid Richard McComb was an Australian rock musician. He was the singer-songwriter of the Australian band, The Triffids.-Early years in Perth:...
(The TriffidsThe TriffidsThe Triffids were a seminal Australian alternative rock and pop band formed in Perth, Western Australia, in May 1978 with charismatic, David McComb as singer-songwriter, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboardist. They achieved negligible success in Australia, but greater success in the U.K...
)) - 2:50 Lead vocal: McQuade - "Too Hot to Move" (McComb) - 4:16 Lead vocal: Conway. The Triffids recorded their own version on The Black SwanThe Black Swan (The Triffids album)The Black Swan is an album by The Triffids, released in April 1989 and reached No. 59 on the Australian Album Charts. The album was originally conceived as a double album....
. - "Little Boxes" (Words: OswaldDebra OswaldDebra Oswald is an Australian writer for film, television, stage, radio and children's fiction. In 2008 her Stories in the Dark won Best Play in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards. She is creator and head writer of the Channel 10 drama series Offspring, for which she won the 2011 NSW Premier's...
, Music: Armiger) - 1:04 spoken by David ReyneDavid ReyneDavid Nicholas Reyne is an Australian actor, musician and television presenter. He was educated at The Peninsula School, Mount Eliza.-Music career:...
and Megan WilliamsMegan WilliamsMegan Williams was an Australian actress and singer, who played a continuing role as Alice Sullivan in the television drama The Sullivans, and won a Logie Award for her work in Anzacs .-Early years:... - "No Worries" (Reg MombassaReg MombassaReg Mombassa is the pseudonym of Chris O'Doherty, a New Zealand born artist and musician. Resident in Australia, he is as well known there for his musical exploits — founder and former member of the popular Australian band Mental As Anything and member of Dog Trumpet - as he is for his art...
(Mental As AnythingMental As AnythingMental As Anything are an Australian New Wave–rock music band formed at an art school in Sydney in 1976. Their most popular line-up was Martin Plaza on vocals and guitar; Reg Mombassa on lead guitar and vocals; his brother Peter "Yoga Dog" O'Doherty on bass guitar and vocals; Wayne "Bird"...
) as Christopher O'Doherty) - 2:20 Lead vocal: Clifforth - "Party On Wheels" (Chris Bailey, Callaghan, G Bidstrup) (all in GANGgajangGANGgajangGang Gajang are an Australian rock band who formed in 1984. The three principal figures in the original lineup were former Riptides frontman Mark "Cal" Callaghan and two former members of popular Australian hard rock band The Angels, bassist Chris Bailey and drummer Graham "Buzz"...
) - 2:31 Lead vocal: Clifforth - "Sweet" (Johanna PigottJohanna PigottJohanna Paton Pigott is an Australian musician, singer/songwriter and screenwriter. Her best known hit songs are Dragon's "Rain" which peaked at #2 on the Australia singles charts in 1983 and John Farnham's "Age of Reason". "Rain" was co-written with partner Dragon's Todd Hunter and his brother...
, Todd HunterTodd HunterTodd Stuart Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon. Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain"...
) - 2:50 Lead vocal: Conway
Sweet & Sour Volume Two, ABC RML 53143 © 1984.
- "Sweet & Sour Theme Tune" (O'Neill, Armiger) - 0:57 (instrumental)
- "No Focus" (Steve Leeson, Sally Ford) (both from The Kevins) - 2:33 Lead vocal: Conway
- "Crocodile Shoes" (Edwards) - 3:08 Lead vocal: Clifforth
- "The Kiss" (Bert Deling, Armiger, Gooding) - 1:20 spoken by Sandra Lillingston and Arky Michael
- "Image Of An Angel" (Roger Hart-Wells (Little HeroesLittle HeroesLittle Heroes were a popular Australian rock band in the 1980s. They are best known for their hit single "One Perfect Day", which was released in 1982.-Biography:Little Heroes were formed from the remnants of The Secret Police...
) aka Roger Wells) - 3:05 Lead vocal: Clifforth, McQuade - "Down The Road" (Callaghan) - 2:41 Lead vocal: Clifforth
- "Good Advice" (McCusker) - 2:29 Lead vocal: Conway
- "Psychosis" (Symons) - 3:17 Lead vocal: Daniel AbineriDaniel AbineriDaniel Abineri is an English actor, songwriter and playwright, famous for writing the book, music and lyrics for the controversial musical Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom....
- "Popstars And Politicians" (Pigott, Liz Munro aka E Kalkipsakis) - 3:01 Lead vocal: Conway
- "Digging A Hole" (McComb) - 2:28 Lead vocal: McQuade
- "The Rain" (Armiger) - 0:23 (instrumental)
- "Can't Stand Still" (Armiger) - 2:00 Lead vocal: Clifforth
- "Two Of The Boys" (Armiger, Michael Cove, Gooding) - 1:12 spoken by Mann and Lillingston
- "I'm A Genius" (Pigott, Hunter, Gooding) - 2:18 Lead vocal: Conway
- "Bill Posters" (Armiger) - 1:07 (instrumental)
- "Can't Imagine" (Pigott) - 2:39 Lead vocal: Conway
Singles
"Sweet and Sour" (O'Neill) - 3:10 /"Image of an Angel" (Hart-Wells) - 2:51 Reached #13 Australian National Chart."Glam to Wham" (O'Neill) - 4:17 /"Can't Stand Still" (Armiger) - 2:16
"No Focus" (Steven Leeson, Sally Ford) - 2:33 /"Down the Road" (Callaghan) - 2:41
Other songs
Back Tonight (Armiger, Conway, Clifforth, Kim Deacon)Love So Sweet (Anthony Backhouse
Tony Backhouse
Tony Backhouse is a musician from New Zealand. He played in NZ bands such as The Crocodiles, and formed Australian a cappella groups, the Elevators, the Cafe of the Gate of Salvation, the Honeybees and the Heavenly Lights...
) performed by Renée Geyer
Renée Geyer
Renée Rebecca Geyer is an Australian singer who has long been regarded as one of the finest exponents of jazz, soul and R&B idioms. She had commercial success as a solo artist in Australia, with "It's a Man's Man's World", "Heading in the Right Direction" and "Stares and Whispers" in the 1970s and...
Romeo Romeo (Ford, Leeson)
That's the Way (Ken Campbell, Paul Hester
Paul Hester
Paul Newell Hester was an Australian musician and television personality; he was the drummer for the related bands Split Enz and Crowded House.-The early years:...
, McQuade, Clifforth) written & performed by Deckchairs Overboard
Deckchairs Overboard
Deckchairs Overboard was an Australian Pop music band based in Sydney . They developed from Melbourne based Cheks with the addition of Cathy McQuade and had some minor hit singles "That's The Way" , with Ken Campbell on vocals, "Shout", with McQuade on vocals, "Walking In The Dark" and "Fight...
. Available on YouTube
External links
- Sweet and Sour (1984) entry at Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Sweet and Sour at the National Film and Sound Archive
- Sweet and Sour at MySpace