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That Summer Feeling In Song

Posted on by Ian Wright

This ‘young bloke’ has had a blast putting together this completely biased, non-scientific, certainly NOT researched list of songs/instrumentals, that to my mind reflect Summer ‘Down Under’. I’ve featured quite a few Aussie acts + US & UK talent from the late 50’s through the 80’s. I’m sure there are a stack of great, summer inspired songs from the 80’s forward, however they may surface at a later date.

As a radio person for a few decades or four, I’ve played all of these tracks many times over the years BUT they survive (at least in my audio head) as music cuts that create the mood, images and sound of an Aussie summer. In my role as a voice over actor and writer, music is both a relaxant (yes, it is addictive) and an everyday tool in both the broadcast and VO business.

My selection is not presented in any particular numerical/favourite order. It’s not a countdown as such, but rather 30 odd tracks that I happen to enjoy and believe me the list IS eclectic. I hope you enjoy them !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksrAaV2ZC88 – ‘It’s Almost Summer’ – Billy Thorpe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC1K1AYvtAo – ‘Summer Breeze’ – Seals & Crofts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C070_4ya98Y – ‘The Heat Is On’ – Glenn Frey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5bUmx-hk-c – ‘Summer In The City’ – The Lovin’ Spoonful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coBwk8v9KPQ – ‘The Summer Wind’ – Frank Sinatra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gc4QTqslN4 – ‘Surfer Bird’ – The Trashmen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcNeOw4ZAlo – ‘One Summer’ – Daryl Braithwaite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx8iMzdzUds – ”Ride The Wild Surf’ – Jan & Dean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tDDL1RxXRc – ‘Summer (The First Time)’ – Bobby Goldsboro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZZD8ckwLJA – ‘Summertime Blues’ – Eddie Cochrane

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvD0_aeAf2E – ‘A Summer Song’ – Chad & Jeremy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3agVtY4Z6M – ‘Bombora’ – The Atlantics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F24LC0QsYTQ – ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ – Beach Boys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f06QZCVUHg – ‘Summer Of 69’ – Bryan Adams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiISrw2GTXE – ‘Summer Wine’ – Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFIVQms3SAk – ‘Summer Of ’81’ – Mondo Rock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE2fnYpwrng – ‘Heat Wave’ – Martha & the Vandellas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG0oBPtyNb0 – ‘In The Summertime’ – Mungo Jerry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuxiLtP7xTw – ‘Beach Baby’ – First Class

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LSnovsmS1g – ‘I Live For The Sun’ – The Sunrays

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmzCj01VfFM – ‘Lake Side’ – Australian Crawl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wssIZOBV9i4 – ‘Summer Rain’ – Belinda Carlisle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5D07c0dJuQ – ‘Wipeout’ – Surfaris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fUyRp0NEzo – ‘Do It Again’ – Beach Boys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQTVpem9-hI – ‘On The Beach’ – Chris Rea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS_sLUVuKTs – ‘Mississippi’ – John Phillips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blghTWXqwys – ‘He’s My Blonde Headed Stompie Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boy’ – Little Pattie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAP1AgSwN18 – ‘Summertime’ (long version) – Billy Stewart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh-5SyBn4fY – ‘Summer Samba’ – Astrid Gilberto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl1ydqS4bFQ – ‘Summer Love’ – Sherbet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqKi_9p1zks – ‘Little Honda’ – Hondels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=379SyVbbj34 – ‘Summer Rain’ (2013 LIVE version) – Johnny Rivers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSsiS-v6_6M – (Theme From) ‘A Summer Place’ – Percy Faith & Orchestra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGALtkbk37Y – ‘Summer Breeze’ – Stylus (LIVE)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Viqr6KHwJjc – ‘Albatross’ – Fleetwood Mac

 

 

The Original Voice Of Apple’s ‘Siri’ – Age, Colour, Build, Blonde, Brunette etc ?

Posted on by Ian Wright

The Apple Corporation’s trade marked voice recognition gal as you probably know is named ‘Siri’. But ‘who’ is she ? Is it a computer generated voice, a real person, a mix of both or what ?

There have been a number of Apple ‘Siris’ (accents and languages) but who was the original ? Check out the link below for the answer.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-live-chat-susan-bennett-the-voice-of-apples-siri-today-20131010,0,2326019.story

Radio News Man Mystery Solved After 46 Years !

Posted on by Ian Wright

Back in 1967, Sydneysider Ray Brown of Ray Brown & The Whispers fame (’20 Miles’, ‘Pride’, ‘Devoted To You’, ‘In  The Midnight Hour’, ‘It’s The Same Old Song’ and many other radio friendly hits) released a really unusual and out of character song. It was called ‘Ivor The Engine Driver’ written by Pete Townsend of ‘The Who’. The song had previously been recorded and released in the UK and Ray Brown, along with his recording company Festival Records, decided to do an Oz version.

The song didn’t chart nationally, however it did receive turntable action, primarily on New South Wales radio (city & regional). I have the song on a double CD compilation, however what you’ll hear now from the CD differs from the original 7″ single, vinyl, version…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpqBiUx6tk0

What’s missing from this version is the news flash ! Y’see, in the original version there was a very apt and colourfully presented news flash re the train accident, delivered by a radio newsman. For 46 years on and off I have wondered ‘who’ is the radio news guy ? I raised the subject recently amongst radio friends from the era and collectively we nominated, eliminated, listened again and finally cracked the mystery voice.

For those who remember the days of Katrina Lee presenting TEN Eyewitness News on the box, you may also remember her husband or maybe not ? He was an out and about reporter for Channel 10, often covering police, accident and court cases. In the 60’s he also did some news moonlighting on Sydney radio station 2SM. Thanks to my good friend Phil Hunter, a former radio personality of the era on 2KO Newcastle and 2UW Sydney the mystery voice has been identified. Ladies & gentleman, now have a listen to the original news flash excerpt from ‘Ivor The Engine Driver’ featuring ‘Harry Potter’, veteran TV and Radio news man……http://www.voiceovertheworld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Ivor-The-Engine-Driver-Ray-Brown-01.-Track-01.mp3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Problems ARE Minuscule By Comparison

Posted on by Ian Wright

An amazing account of a voice over talent, based in Egypt ! Talk about survival of the fittest in a competitive business world. This is a real account of survival PERIOD. Thanks to Voice Over Xtra, an industry leading resource, for the account.

 

 

http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=00waqyle&fb_action_ids=10151661618339748&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=timeline_og&action_object_map=%7B%2210151661618339748%22%3A156410534560812%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210151661618339748%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

As far as radio personalities and news greats go, John Laws & Jim Angel were ‘The A Team’

Posted on by Ian Wright

John (“Hello world”) Laws has been an Australian radio great for six decades. He’s worked his on-air craft since starting at 3BO Bendigo, Victoria in 1953. As at August 2013, ‘Lawsie’ is on-air doing Mornings across The Super Radio Network out of 2SM in Sydney.

Along the way, John teamed up for a time with a Sydney radio news ‘legend’ in the form of Jim Angel. Jim worked much of his career for 2SM (60’s through the 70’s) and later with John Laws at Sydney’s 2UE. Jim’s presentation and voice made him sound BIG. In fact he was a short man, with a great radio news voice and presence. In addition, Jim was a wonderful guy (passed away on December 24th 2007) with a fun personality. He became infamous for his rendition of the 60’s hit ‘Winchester Cathedral’ by The New Vaudeville Band.

One morning on 2UE, during a Jim Angel bulletin, ‘Lawsie’ decided it was time for Jim (completely sober) to have a crack, once again, at ‘Winchester Cathedral’. Here’s the result, with audio credits, thanks to 2UE…

 

 

 

Now, YOU Be The Judge – Steve Winwood OR Joe Cocker ?

Posted on by Ian Wright

Back in the back end of 1980 the incredibly talented Steve Winwood (ex Traffic, Spencer Davis Group and others) recorded a classic album, actually a vinyl LP (!) titled Arc Of A Diver. A wonderful collection of songs and instruments, with Steve Winwood doing the lot, thanks to multi tracking. One of the big songs from the set is Track 1 While You See A Chance Take it 

Steve Winwood – ‘While You See A Chance Take It’

 

Who would have thought that wild Yorkshire rocker Joe Cocker would later tackle the song ! “Tackle the song” !!!, he put out a cracker version in 1999, complete with violins in the band. Joe’s album (very good) is called No Ordinary World. Here is his take of the song. Personally, I love Joe’s interpretation BUT the original still sounds great. Enjoy from IAN’s VOICE OVER THE WORLD

Joe Cocker – ‘While You See A Chance Take It’

The Charm Of An Overseas Getaway

Posted on by Ian Wright

This won’t go down as the shortest voice over project ever, but it’s certainly my shortest word count to date – 8 words !

I auditioned for this voice acting job, after seeing the original vision. I loved the quality of the video production and the creative angle the producers were taking. Long story short (pardon the unrehearsed expression !) I recorded 3 versions of the voice over and Take 3 did the job.

My contact, Rebekah in Manila, was a joy to deal with and made my day when she emailed: “Hi, Ian. I wanted to send you a quick note, to thank you for the updated voice. Our client loved it”. I’ve included the ‘link’ not just to highlight my small part, but to show off the standard of video production I was working with + of course the natural and created charms of the holiday destination being promoted.

Beautiful, Relaxing, Holiday In ?

Sometimes, Where There’s Smoke – There’s Steam

Posted on by Ian Wright

In my part of the world on the South Coast of South Australia we are blessed by nature and skilled volunteers. As a radio broadcaster and voice over actor I’ve certainly done my bit for the various communities I’ve worked in. But, there is a local bunch down here who take volunteering to another level !

The Steam Ranger group of dedicated volunteers run the line between Victor Harbor (correct, no ‘u’ in Harbor, down here) and Mt. Barker in the Adelaide Hills. They are not funded by the State or Federal Government and work damn hard to keep the ship afloat or rather the train on the rails. Depending on the fire rating at any given time, they either run diesel or steam locos.

This piece of video I took in Winter shows the steam loco (minus carriages) taking off after arriving at Goolwa railway station. It then proceeds to fill up the water tanks, take on coal, eventually returning to the station on the adjacent line, to couple up for the return trip to Victor Harbor. There’s something very special about steam trains and the memories they conjure, yet they also fascinate the young, guaranteeing the memories will stay alive for a long time.

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My Top 10 Piano Inspired Songs/Tunes – An Eclectic Mix At That !

Posted on by Ian Wright

Piano Man – Billy Joel

You Never Can Tell – Chuck Berry

Lucille – Little Richard

Cast Your Fate To The Wind – Sounds Orchestral

Dancing Queen – Abba

I Don’t Like Mondays – The Boomtown Rats

A Walk In The Black Forest – Horst Jankowski

The Valley Road – Bruce Hornsby & The Range

Hold The Line – Toto

Keep On Rockin’ – Brian Cadd