December « 2009 « Off The Record

Hammard – Labels Gallery

Posted by Bruce on December 28, 2009 in Labels with No Comments

tonight, I would like to end 2009 with the first of a regular posting of record labels ((or, at least more regular than it was this year) and probably the first of the hard to read labels, more of which will appear in a later post)

the first of the galleries is for TV promotional record label Hammard (which was in operation between 1974 and 1990)

below is the first label (which appeared on Hammard’s releases from 1974 until about 1979)

The label’s design remained the same (although I have seen the label in either pink (as it was for the 1976 LP “Keep Smiling with Daryl and Ossie”) or blue (as it was for Sally’s second and final LP “A Day in A Life”)

by 1981, Hammard’s second label appeared (and is the first candidate for the first ‘Hard To Read’ label design (despite it’s patriotic design of green and gold.)

finally, the label introduced it’s third label design (which appeared on all Hammard releases from around 1982 until 1990)

Christmas in Australia – Joe Dolce Music Theatre

Posted by Bruce on December 25, 2009 in What the?... with No Comments

For the history of Hammard, please go here

And now, something for the holidays…

Christmas in Australia - Joe Dolce Music Theatre

Performed by the Joe Dolce Music Theatre

Label: Hammard TV Productions

Category: Holiday

Release Number: HAM 065

Produced and Directed by Steve Tyrell

Arranged and Conducted by Chris Dedrick

Starring Joe Dolce as Guiseppi

Guest Stars: Mary Wilson as The Supremes and Joey Perrone as Little Guiseppi (Courtesy of Television House)

Engineers: Ian McKenzie, Robin Gray, Paul Reeve, Jim Burton and Scott Henning

Catering: Bande-Aide Catering

Art Direction: Paul Pantelis

Cartoon Illustration: Neil Curtis

Released: November, 1981

Side 1: Christmas In Australia, I Saw Mommy (Mama) Kissing Santa Claus, Blue Christmas, This Time Of The Year, Christmas Medley: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bells, Frosty The Snowman, Here Comes Santa Claus, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Winter Wonderland, The Little Drummer Boy, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (reprise)

Side 2: Jingle Bell Rock, Christmas At Our House, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Silent Night, Open Your Heart

This 1981 LP contains a huge collection of Christmas songs by the now seemingly forgotten Joe Dolce (who the previous year had a monster smash hit with the song “Shaddup You Face”. That single became the most successful single released in Australia (taking in sales of 375,000 copies) beating the previous record holder, The Two Man Band’s AFL anthem “Up There Cazaly” by 125,000)

The LP is a mix of poplar carols (Silent Night) major Christmas hits (Blue Christmas) and some originals (Christmas in Australia). My favourtie track on this LP is the Italian flavoured version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”.

This song (and “Christmas in Australia”) was also released as a single by Polygram.

Hey, Mama's a telling a me a something...