Release 1997
UK born but raised in Brisbane Australia started as child actor  and toured with Johnny O'Keefe before moving
to Sydney  and started with his AZTECS by late 1963 playing Beat and R&B, in 1964 he had his first number 1
hit with POISON IVY. He became the biggest act gathering more people in a concert than the BEATLES and
getting a own TV-Show. In 1968 he formed a new lineup AZTECS including LOBBY LYODE and changing the
sound to heavy Bluesrock to excite many fans in the next years, he became the biggest act at the SUNBURY
festival  (Down Under Woodstock). His 1974 album MILLION DOLLAR BILL was the first LP which changed
his music again, this time with funk influenced mainstream Rock.
Good Mainstream Rock for the Radio hearing crowds are his albums productions since 1977, when he settled
in the USA he toured sometimes with special formed bands in Australia. Bill Thorpe  died in 2008.

Style:  Beat ; 60s R&B ; Progressive Bluesrock ; Mainstream Hardrock ; Funky-Mainstream-Rock ;

see: 
Johnny O Keefe ; Vibratones ; Bee Gees ; Tony Barber ; Ray Hoff & The Off Beats ;John Paul Young ;
Vince Maloney Sect ; Wild Cherries ; Tony Wosley ; Python Lee Jackson ; Coloured Balls ;
Lobby Loyde ; Levi Smiths Clefs ; Phil Manning & Chain ; Max Merritt ; Mondo Rock ;   etc. etc.


Musicians:
Billy Thorpe - lead vocals, guitar;
1964-1967:
Vince Maloney, Col Risby (65) - lead guitar; Val Jones, Tony Barber, Mike Downes (65) - rhythm guitar, voc.;
John Watson, Teddy Toi (65) - bass; Col Baigent, Johnny Dick (65) - drums;
Tony Buchanan (66) - sax;
1968-1977:
Johnny Dick (68; rejoined 74) , Jimmy Thompson (8-68), Kevin Murphy (70) , Gil Matthews - drums;
Mike Liber, Lobby Loyde (69-71), Derek Griffiths (76)  - lead guitar; Warren Morgan (70) - piano, voc.;
Paul Wheeler (-73) , Barry Sullivan, Teddy Toi, Billy Kristian (76) - bass; John Le Vine (76) - keyboards;

23 Original Hits – It’s All Happening! (1964-75)

Tracks:

1. Poison Ivy   (Leiber-Stoller)
2. Mashed Potato  (Rozier)
3. That I love you   (Tony Barber)
4. Sick’n’tired   (C.Kenner-D.Bartholomew)
5. Don’t you know    (Tony Barber)
6. Hi heeled Sneakers   (R.Higginbatham)
7. What I say   (R.Charles)
8. I got a Woman   (Ray Charles)
9. Don’t you dig this kind of Beat    (C.Andrews)
10. Funny Face    (T.Crane)
11. Talkin’ ‘bout you   (Chuck Berry)
12. Dancing in the Street   (M.Gaye-W.Stevenson)
13. Baby hold me close  (Tubert-Lewis-Singleton)14. Twilight Time  (Ram-Nevins-Dunn)
15. Love Letters   (E.Heyman-V.Young)
16. I told the Brook   (Marty Robbins)
17. Over the Rainbow   (E.Y.Harburg-H.Arlen)
18. I’ve been wrong before   (R.Newman)
19. The New Breed   (J.Easter)
20. Wee bit More of your lovin’   (J.Aken)
21. The Word for Today    (M.Seigel)
22. Most People I know   (B.Thorpe)23. It’s almost Summer   (B.Thorpe)