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Music We Played

Most of the performances were outstanding (and some not so) but it all improved our musical capabilities and provided the right atmosphere for the occasion. From beat retreats to wardroom dinners, concerts in the middle of nowhere and massive official openings. We entertained and continue to do so. This section devotes itself to archived recordings, album covers and aspects of the music we played.



ON THE QUARTER DECK No 2 1967
Recorded EMI Studios Sydney 1967
Original Album From Ed Thring 

On_the_Quarter_Deck_front

LCDR George Hooker, Director of Music. M.B.E., L.R.A.M., R.A.N.
This is the same track listing as Sounds From The Seas. So The date is possibly the date of the original recording thats on the back cover.
The selection on this record again reflects the bands versatlity with marches on side 1 and as the cover notes say, toe-tapping tunes that are indicative to the navy's modern outlook in regard to music as well as with ships and training. The cover also states that it was made and printed in Great Britian under the REGAL Label.

This Album has Mp3 recordings.



ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR/SONG OF AUSTRALIA.
Recorded EMI Studios Sydney 1975?
Album from Ed Thring. 

LCDR Don Coxon, R.A.N., Director of Music.Advance_Australia_Fair_FrontAnother EP released in 197 ?, with Advance Australia Fair arranged by K Brown (interesting to know which K Brown) and on the "B" side, Song of Australia arranged by (Rank Then)Vic Knowles. No Band acknowlegements or why it was recorded.

Cruising_Stations1CRUISING STATIONS.
Recorded at RAN Band Studios, Waterloo 1996
The Royal Australian Navy band deploys throughout Australia and internationally in support of naval ceremonial, musical and public relations interests. Its musicians are highly skilled and versatile, able to perform traditional ceremonial and concert music, jazz, pop, swing, classical and vocal harmonies. The band is one of the few platforms in which the Navy can take its message to the people of Australia. Its musicians promote awareness in the wider community of Navy's critical contribution to the nation.
The music on this compact disc represents some of the band's capabilities outside of its ceremonial and wind orchestra roles. The band's seven detachments are represented on this album. "Taken from the cover notes" by Lt CDR Phil Anderson RAN.



MASSED BANDS OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY.
Original recording, "GOLDEN JUBILEE"
Original Album from Roger Downton. 
Conducted by LCDR George Hooker, M.B.E., L.R.A.M., A.M.U.AMassed_Bands_front1

This album has the same tracks as the "GOLDEN JUBILEE" album and being a Paul Hamlyn, " Music for Leasure" release, it would definitely be a reprint. Reading the cover notes it mentions 60 years since men of the navy have been marching to these pieces, that puts it around 1970 ?. Must have been  released to fill a gap or was just picked up as part of EMI producing Australian content. 

This Album has Mp3 recordings. 



POP GOES THE NAVY.
Pop_Goes_Front1Original Album from Roger Downton.
Recorded 1975 EMI Studios Sydney.
LCDR Norm Gullick, Director of Music. 
Relatively close-cropped hair is essential. Climatic conditions dictate that white is summer dress and black is worn during the winter Their scene alternates between parade ground and the concert platform, but they are equally at home on both. Some cover note words written by LT Bill Farrell .

He goes onto say,
Hardly a line-up to record up-tempo pop numbers, you might say, but they are the credentials of one of Australia's most versatile musical combinations - The Bamd of the Royal Australian Navy.

This Album has Mp3 recordings. 



BLUE WATER MEN
Recorded at EMI studios Sydney 1972
Blue_Watermen_front4501Conducted By,

LCDR Don Coxon LRAM RAN.
Includes wonderful arrangements by Tommy Tyco, John Sangster and Bob 'Beetles' Young and featured Don Burrows.
A progressive step for the RAN Band at the time from the more traditional march style recordings. The atmosphere at the recording sessions were very exciting as we were dealing with styles way outside our comfort zone. For those that participated, I'm sure they left with a better understanding of what a Military/Concert band could produce.




THOROUGHLY MODERN NAVY.
Recorded EMI Studios Sydney 1977
Original Album from Roger Downton. 
LCDR Jim McDonough, Director of Music. Thoroughly_Modern_front4501For many years the Royal Australian Navy Band has maintained its world standard in Martial and Military music, both in concert and on parade. With this great album it now shows that the Navy knows what "TODAY" is all about.

This Album has Mp3 recordings. 

All_hands_on_deck1ALL HANDS ON DECK.
Recorded at RAN Band Studios, Waterloo 2006

The Royal Australian Navy band plays an invaluable role in keeping Navy's image in the public consciousness and it maintains one of navy's most consistent and significant public engagement profiles.

The music on this compact disc represents the broad capabilities employed by the band and showcases the many very talented instrumentalists, soloists, vocalists and technicians who are engaged to promote the Royal Australian Navy.





PACIFIC HORIZONS.
Recorded EMI Studios Sydney 1973
Original Album from Ed Thring Pacific_Horizons_front

LCDR Don Coxon, Director of Music. L.R.A.M., R.A.N.

This album seems to be dedicated to the Sydney Opera House which opened the same year as this recording. Notable composers were used on this album, one which Don enjoyed was Percy Grainger. The band did some recordings of Percy grainger for the world record club, I wonder whatever happened to those recordings.

This Album has Mp3 recordings. 
 



MARCHES OF QUALITY.
Recorded EMI Studios Sydney 1978
Original Album from Ed Thring 

Marches_of_Quality_front


LCDR J.D. McDonough, Director of Music. L.R.A.M., R.A.N.

An album of marches carried through by the drum corp on both sides. They managed to squeeze 7 marches a side, the average on previous albums were 6. A relatively compact band of 30 players (including drum corp) produced a great marching album.

This Album has Mp3 recordings. 



LEST WE FORGET. 1974
Recorded EMI Studios Melbourne ? 1974
Original Album From Ed Thring 

LCDR Don Coxon, R.A.N., Director of MusicLest_we_forget_front
An interesting album to say the least, very traditional with the Ceremonial Sunset, Last Post and Reveille as major pieces along with Colonel Bogey Parts 1 and 2. The only person to get a mention apart from LCDR Don Coxon and LT Bill Farrell (Where's the notes) is Blue McNally for his excellent Bugle work.

Great cover photo of the HMAS Cerberus Band led by CPOMusn Tony Webber.

This Album has Mp3 recordings.

Generations_1_resize
GENERATIONS OF SWING.
Recorded at RAN Band Studios, Waterloo 1996
The Swing genre has been a staple of the Royal Australian Navy's musical performances for many years. It was necessary in part, to support Ship's Company dances and to provide Navy musicians with a diversion from their traditional concert and ceremonial roles.

Swing bands and the military forged a partnership beginning with the great US forces' bands of the war years and, of course, through the imaginative pen of the legendary Glenn Miller. On this recording, the youthful excellence of the Navy's "ADMIRAL'S OWN" Big Band, has been yoked to the ageless mastery of Australia's father of Jazz, Don Burrows. This well entrenched and highly regarded association began in 1971 when Don first appeared on the Navy's "Blue Watermen" album.

"Taken from the cover notes written by CMDR Ashley Greedy.
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