The McAskill’s Notice Board:

Hi,

Please let me know if you would like a copy of Levi Smith’s Clefs ~ Empty Monkey reissue double CD for airplay/review.

Many Thanks,

Lou

Barrie McAskill was the lead singer, band leader and driving force of one of the greatest progressive soul / R&B institutions in the annals of Australian rock and pop history: Levi Smith's Clefs.

Their sole LP, the pioneering heavy soul classic Empty Monkey, has been a much requested title in our reissue series, as it meets both collector’s requirements: not only it is very collectable, it is a bona-fide Aussie classic (possibly the best Aussie 70’s LP you’ve never heard).

McAskill encouraged his band members to improve as musicians, and for them to move on as the urge arose (not unlike an antipodean John Mayall). Accordingly, up to 60 musicians passed through the band including former and future members of: Tully, Aztecs, Fraternity, SCRA, The Groove, Jeff St. John & the Id and La De Das.

Between 1966 and 1971 (first as The Clefs, then Levi Smith’s Clefs – and later, McAskill’s Marauders), the band released one LP, a handful of singles and an EP – all collected here, along with some live-in-the-studio rarities.

Buried Treasure

Whilst searching for the masters, we lucked upon the master tapes of, not only their Empty Monkey, but many of their singles and EP tracks – PLUS the master tapes of Empty Monkey: The First Sessions from late 1969. This live run-through, recorded in the early hours of the morning – straight after a gig – was originally thought “too loose” to release, so the band were allowed to record it again. Listening to it today, it is an unexpected delight, a testament to the live power of the band. The only known copy was a warped and scratched acetate, so the remastered version from the original masters is a revelation. It is, in fact, different enough and, more importantly, so magnificent, that we had no choice but to expand our release from one to two CD’s!

So, for the first time anywhere – the complete Empty Monkey sessions – remastered from the original tapes plus a further 13 bonus tracks. Digitally remastered by (one-time member of The Clefs: Gil Matthews). Deluxe 8 panel digi-pak, double CD, a 24 page booklet with many rare photos and liner notes by Ian McFarlane.

Take Care,

Lou Ridsdale

21^st August / 2006

 

Hi Folks,

 

Welcome to our world

 

 

Well our lives are very full of projects, Jan has joined an organisation called “The Independent Music Tutors” and now services the East Adelaide School, Goodwood and Plympton Primary Schools also the Marryatville High School. She has 19 students that she coaches in singing or piano, so her time has become fairly tight.

 

Jan has also created a niche in the spruikers market and has been hired to spruik for many varied business houses here in Adelaide; she has a booking coming up in September for the Adelaide Royal Show in the children’s Zoo area and is quite excited about this gig. I guess she’ll have to wear a hat so’s they’ll let her out. (Ho Ho Ho).

 

Jan has also developed a large clientele in the Community Clubs & Retirement homes with her singalong shows.

 

We are still doing Duo gigs around the traps and playing many 50^th & 60^th Birthday Parties (Great market, minimum amount of fuss and well looked after).

 

We’re regulars at the Southern Districts Working Men’s Club at Morphett Vale.

 

We have been booked by Howard & Caryl Michael to appear at their Mallee Fowl Restaurant at Berri to take part in the Riverland Food & Wine Festival coming up in October, we’ll need a big doggie bag!

 

There has been some talk with J.A.M. (Joint Artists Management) about putting a Levi Smith’s Clefs tour together; I am hoping something will develop in the near future.

 

I have contacted some of the past Levi members and they are also a bit chuffed and look forward to seeing and performing with each other again. J.A.M. toured the Doobie Brothers and are currently getting Randy Bachman’s tour together.

 

I personally have become a computer nerd and can now burn and package CDs. I can also take music off tapes and vinyl records and convert them onto my hard drive, edit and burn onto CDs.  The next task is to hook up a video recorder and be able to convert tracks to burn DVDs.  I now have a fourteen channel Ross mixing desk and Alesis mini verb hooked into my computer and can record directly on to a Cakewalk program which allows us to record at home when ever the mood strikes.

 

I have also created our own website and have thoroughly enjoyed this challenge.  Please have a look at it and let me know what you think. www.mcaskill.com.au

 

There are still a few things to get together but I suppose a website is a never ending project. There are plenty of samples of our songs and jingles and our musical history is straight from the horse’s mouth.  We hope to sell a few CDs on the way.

 

I would like to get some DVD tracks up and our Photo Gallery is yet to be attacked.  Having demos that play will allow us to chase the Jingles & Live Music gigs a little easier, in the sense of: “could you send us your bio and a demo, please”.

 

Well that’s the story till now, stay healthy and we hope to see you all some where in the future.

 

 

Kindest Regards,

Barrie & Jan McAskill