Hunters & Collectors

The 'classic' Hunters and Collectors line up (for the last ten years together):. One of their more famous songs from this period was "Cherish," part of their album Emergency.
. Their fame quickly diminished in the later part of the decade, though they continued releasing albums throughout the 80s and 1990s. Their breakthrough commercial success was the album Human Frailty which featured the single "Throw Your Arms Around Me". More hits followed in the early 1980s, including "Big Fun" and "Get Down on It". However, the record, regular airplay on the radio station JJJ (then Sydney-based) and video play on Countdown and other music video shows, and especially their consistent live performances brought Hunters & Collectors a strong and devoted following on the Australian pub scene. Their only #1 hit was 1980's "Celebration", off Celebrate!, produced by Eumir Deodato.

It featured the single "The Slab", which was an underground success (mainly thanks to the support of radio station Triple J), but didn't make any inroads on the commercial music scene, possibly because of the masturbatory subtext of the lyrics. The late 1970s saw a lull in Kool & the Gang's career that ended (after new lead singer James "JT" Taylor joined the group) with 1979's Ladies Night, the title track from which spawned a 25-year-long tradition of ladies' nights in New Jersey dance clubs and bars. The first album featuring the new line up was The Jaws of Life (1984). Several live and studio albums followed, but 1973's Wild and Peaceful broke the into the mainstream with "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging". This line up also featured keyboards and a three-piece horn section. This was the period during which Hunters & Collectors enjoyed their greatest success. Though none of the three singles from the album went far on the pop charts, their R&B success was swift and massive. In 1984 they briefly disbanded but reformed later in the year without Lubran. The group first hit the pop charts with their debut, self-titled album.

The band was signed to White Label, part of Mushroom Records. Their first single was "Talking to a Stranger" which was accompanied by an influential music video directed by Richard Lowenstein, who went on to make many successful videos for INXS and the features 'Strikebound' (1984) and 'Dogs In Space'(1987) (which starred INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence). The Bell Brothers' father was an acquaintance of Thelonious Monk and the brothers were friends with Leon Thomas. Seymour is also the older brother of bassist Nick Seymour of Crowded House and in the mid-1980s he was romantically involved for a time with Do Re Mi (band) lead singer Deborah Conway. November 1, 1951, Youngstown, Ohio); George Brown on drums; Robert Mickens on trumpet; Dennis Thomas on saxophone; and Rick Westfield on keyboards. As lead singer, guitarist and principal songwriter, Seymour was the lynchpin of the group, and Archer and Falconer are widely regarded as one of the best rhythm sections ever to emerge from the Australian rock scene. October 8, 1950, Youngstown, Ohio) and Ronald Bell on saxophone (b. Tosti-Gueira was later replaced by Martin Lubran, then Barry Palmer. The group's main members over the years included brothers Robert Bell (known as "Kool") on bass (b.

The first version of the band was: Mark Seymour (guitar & vocals); John Archer (bass); Doug Falconer (drums); Geoff Crosby (keyboards); Greg Perano (percussion); Ray Tosti-Gueira (guitar); and Robert Miles (who would stay with the band throughout their career, usually being credited with "live sound" and "art direction/design"). They started out as practitioners of R&B and funk, eventually went through a phase where they were a smooth disco ensemble, and wound up the successful period of their career recording tunes that were a mixture of pop and R&B. The band took its name from the track "Hunters & Collectors", on the German band Can's album Landed. They went through several musical phases in their career. The sound was in the vein of Remain in Light, the Talking Heads album of 1980. They originally formed in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964. The original band was influenced by the Krautrock genre and the productions of Conny Plank and featured strong percussive influences, coupled with noise guitar and driving bass lines. Kool & the Gang was a massively successful rhythm and blues and disco group.

They were noted for songs such as "Throw Your Arms Around Me", "Talking To A Stranger" and "Say Goodbye" and were renowned as one of the best live acts of their day. "Stone Love" [1987, #10]. Hunters & Collectors were an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1980. "Victory" [1986, #10]. Ray Tosti-Gueira - guitar, backing vocals (1981-1982). "Emergency" [1985, #28]. Greg Perano - percussion (1981-1983). "Cherish" [1985, #2].

Chris Malherbe - trumpet (1981-1982). "Fresh" [1985, #4]. Andy Lynn - trumpet (1981-1982). "Misled" [1985, #10]. Martin Lubran - guitar (1982-1983). "Tonight" [1984, #13]. Geoff Crosby - keyboards, artwork (1981-1985). "Joanna" [1983, #2 (#1 R&B)].

Nigel Crocker - trombone (1981-1982). "Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)" [1982, #30]. Michael Waters - trombone, keyboards, finance (1981-1998). "Big Fun" [1982, #21]. Jeremy Smith - French horn, guitars, keyboards, programming, backing vocals (1981-1998). "Get Down on It" [1982, #10]. Mark Seymour - lead vocal, lyrics, guitar (1981-1998). "Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)" [1981, #17 (#1 R&B)].

Barry Palmer - lead guitar (1988-1998). Jones" [1981, #39]. Robert Miles - live sound/mixing, art/design (1981-1998). "Jones vs. Jack Howard - trumpet, keyboards, backing vocals (1981-1998). "Celebration" [1980 #1, (#1 R&B)]. Doug Falconer - drums, percussion, programming, backing vocals (1981-1998). "Too Hot" [1980, #5].

John Archer - bass guitar, P.A., backing vocals (1981-1998). "Ladies' Night" [1979, #8 (#1 R&B)]. Natural Selection (CD, 2CD, DVD) (Liberation BLUE034.5, 13 October 2003). "Spirit of the Boogie"/"Summer Madness" [1975, #35 (#1 R&B)]. Collected Works (CD, video) (White Label TVD93338, 19 November 1990). "Higher Plane" [1974, #37 (#1 R&B)]. Under One Roof (live) (White Label MUSH33176.2, 11 November 1998). "Hollywood Swinging" [1974, #6].

In Large Rooms And Lounges (White Label D98017, 27 November 1995). "Jungle Boogie" [1974, #4]. Living .. "Funky Stuff" [1973, #29]. The Way To Go Out (CD, video, DVD) (White Label L27148, 6 May 1985). Victory (1986, Mercury, #25). Living Daylight (April 1987). Emergency (1985, De-Lite, #13).