Cirrus@Austlit

Australians in Jamaica at the birth of ska? Australians in Eurovision 40-odd years before Jessica Mauboy and Kate Miller-Heidke? Australians showing The Beatles the way just as Beatlemania finally exploded around the world? Australians propelling the world’s most famous Time Lord into our hearts and minds? And all of this in the Swinging ‘60s, when the world only had ears for Liverpool and London? Believe it! The world might only remember The Bee Gees, The Seekers and The Easybeats, but while they might have been the unlikely vanguard, there was a lot of extraordinary music being made in Australia and by Australians (and a few expat New Zealanders) on the other side of the world than anyone realises. That’s why this series of books on the history of Australian rock and pop from its beginnings through to today is titled What’s Been Did (And What’s Been Hid). You’d be surprised. Welcome to the stories of the artists and acts that began their careers between 1964 and 1969 in Volume II: Beat Boom to Blues Pop: 1964-1969. Some you’ll know, many you thought you knew and some still shaking the tree even today.