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The Whitlams
The Whitlams
carried on into the Nineties the storytelling character in the music of
earlier bands like the Triffids, Blackeyed Susans and Jackson Code.
The
Whitlams was originally a sideline band formed by two Sydney songwriters in
search of a bit of extra action. Steve Plunder (real name Anthony Hayes)
had spent eight years in power-pop group The Plunderers with Nic Dalton
(later of Godstar fame). Tim Freedman had experimented with ska (Itchy
Feet) and indie pop (Penguins On Safari) and for two years shared a band
called Olive Branch with his brother Nick. Nick ended up an actor on 'Home
And Away', while Tim and Olive Branch bassist Andy Lewis formed The
Whitlams with Steve Plunder. The group name came from their political hero,
former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. Like the name, the band was
serious fun.
The
Whitlams put together two self-financed albums and two CD EPs of
piano-driven pop, the sound of two very different singers and songwriters
at play with their friends, records designed to do no more than support the
band's growing reputation as live carousers.
Everything
came to a sudden standstill on January 24, 1996 when Steve Plunder was
found dead at the base of a cliff at Wentworth Falls in NSW's Blue
Mountains, either the victim of suicide, or of an accidental fall after a
night out. Tim Freedman was about to leave home to pick Plunder up prior to
a gig when he heard the news. After the wake, Tim retreated to Thirroul on
the NSW coast, unsure about the Whitlams' future. What made up his mind was
hearing the group's latest release 'I Make Hamburgers' on the public pool
PA via Triple J.
Putting
the Whitlams back on the road, Tim Freedman decided to write a sad record
to get out of his system all his feelings about Stevie, before and after his
death. While he was writing, and touring Triple J kept playing 'I Make
Hamburgers', building up the Whitlams' profile. On tour Freedman met a
woman who inspired a new group of songs - 'No Aphrodisiac' and 'Melbourne'
- to balance against those inspired by Steve. Over the course of a year,
with a lot of help from a lot of friends, a new Whitlams was assembled, and
a new album recorded at various studios. Original bassist Andy Lewis played
on half the 'Eternal Nightcap' album, which was dedicated to Steve's
memory. The result put the spotlight firmly on Tim Freedman, vocally,
musically and emotionally. The public liked what it heard and saw. 'No
Aphrodisiac' became a big radio hit. People went straight to the album and
'Eternal Nightcap' went on to sell in platinum numbers. 'No Aphrodisiac'
became a big radio hit.
The
album's success put The Whitlams in an envious position. They had a huge
success on their hands, which the band (i.e. Tim Freeman) owned lock stock
and barrel. The big record companies now came calling, offering
unimaginably advantageous deals for the follow-up. Having backed themselves
in the beginning, The Whitlams were now reaping the rewards.
'Love
This City' did its best to repeat the 'Eternal Nightcap' experience, and
move on at the same time. The album was again recorded in a number of
studios, with a changed line-up, leaning on the same and new songwriting
collaborations. It couldn't match the emotional charge that came with
'Eternal Nightcap' but did enough to ensure The Whitlams' survival. On
stage they never let a gig go by without playing a Steve Plunder song.
2002's 'Torch The Moon' was an attempt at more of a group album.
In early
2004 Tim Whitlam rented a loft in New York and waited for new songs to
come. Eventually they did, and over the course of three months he wrote
three quarters of the songs he recorded with producer J.Walker of Machine
Translations back in Sydney. The rest of the songs on the double album
'Little Cloud/The Apple's Eye' were inspired by his homecoming to an Australia
about to re-elect John Howard as Prime Minister.
The next
Tim Freedman release didn’t surface until November 11, 2011 not
accidentally the anniversary of former Prime Minister and namesake Gough
Whitlam’s “dismissal’. The title of the album, ‘Australian Idle’ was
another piece of Freedman whimsy, seemingly a reference to the television
reality show, but in fact noting Tim’s own “idleness”. It was five years
since Australia had heard anything new from Tim Freedman. In fact he hadn’t
been totally idle. He’d played and toured the Whitlams catalogue with
orchestras around the country.
There
had always been a hint of musical nostalgia in Freedman’s music,
comparisons to Elton John vocally. Now he decided to give himself to it,
incorporating four cover songs with his own, bringing together the love for
bright pop instilled in the teenage Freedman and the reflections of the
adult Freedman. The ‘Little Cloud’ period had been dark. ‘Australian Idle’
put that behind him. Tim Freedman chose to draw the line by putting The
Whitlams behind him too, perhaps temporarily, perhaps forever.
-Ed.Nimmervoll
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